Chapter 371: Retirement Plans

Chapter 371: Chapter 371: Retirement Plans

Arik had expected the remainder of their visit to Agaron to be relatively peaceful.

That expectation lasted until the following morning.

He was sitting in one of the palace’s smaller reception rooms with Liam and Severin when Damian arrived, accompanied by General Theron Aradia and a visibly suspicious Mezos.

The general wore his usual black military uniform with crimson detailing, every fastening perfectly aligned and his silver insignia polished to an almost offensive degree. His gray-streaked hair was cut short, his posture remained rigid, and his expression suggested that he had come to discuss something of considerable military importance.

Mezos, walking beside him in civilian clothing, looked as though he had been summoned to an unexpected disciplinary hearing.

Arik immediately became interested.

"Father."

Damian smiled.

It was a particularly bright smile.

Arik narrowed his eyes.

"What happened?"

"Nothing," Damian replied, taking the chair opposite him. "General Aradia has something he would like to discuss."

Severin looked up from his tablet.

Mezos stopped beside his father.

"Your Majesty, I was informed that this concerned my current military appointment."

"It does," Theron said.

Mezos looked toward him.

"Father, I already explained that my service transferred to Nuria when Arik accepted the imperial oath."

"I am aware."

"And Severin approved my continued appointment as chief of imperial security."

"I am also aware of that."

"Then what exactly are we discussing?"

Theron adjusted one cuff before turning toward Arik.

"Your Majesty, I intend to submit my retirement from the Agaronian military."

Silence settled over the room.

Severin slowly lowered his tablet.

Mezos stared at his father.

Arik blinked.

Damian started laughing.

Not a discreet chuckle.

A proper laugh that made him lean back in his chair while Gabriel, who had apparently followed them into the room without anyone noticing, stopped at the doorway.

"What happened?"

Damian waved one hand toward the general.

"Theron is retiring."

Gabriel looked at him.

Then at Theron.

"Oh."

His expression brightened.

"Oh, that is wonderful!"

Mezos looked increasingly concerned.

"Father?"

Theron ignored the growing audience.

"I have served Agaron for forty-six years. My current command has several qualified successors, and I have already submitted the necessary recommendations to His Majesty."

Damian was still smiling.

"You certainly have."

Arik leaned back in his chair.

"And what do you intend to do after retirement?"

Theron turned toward him.

"I would like to relocate to Nuria."

Mezos stopped breathing.

Liam looked up.

Severin’s expression changed into one of profound delight.

Arik stared at the general for several seconds before slowly looking toward his father.

Damian laughed again.

"You knew."

"Of course I knew."

"And you did not warn me?"

"Where would the entertainment be in that?"

Mezos finally recovered enough to speak.

"Father, what?"

Theron turned toward him.

"I intend to move to Nuria."

"I heard that."

"Then why are you asking?"

Mezos opened his mouth.

Closed it.

Then looked helplessly toward Arik.

Arik was enjoying himself far too much to intervene.

Liam, however, appeared genuinely interested.

"You want to join Nuria’s military?"

"No, Your Majesty. I intend to retire."

Severin raised an eyebrow.

"Entirely?"

"Yes."

"From military service?"

"That is the usual meaning of retirement, Commander."

Severin smiled.

Mezos looked at him with clear warning.

Theron continued with the composure of a man presenting an entirely ordinary residential decision.

"I have spent most of my life serving Agaron. My son has established his career in Nuria, and I see no reason to remain here once my obligations are transferred."

Mezos stared at him.

"You want to move because of me?"

Theron looked almost offended.

"You are my only son."

"That has never previously influenced your military assignments."

"You were stationed in Agaron."

"You recommended me for Arik’s guard."

"And I consider that an excellent decision."

"You also spent my entire childhood telling me that personal considerations should never interfere with military obligations."

"They should not."

Mezos spread both hands.

"Then what is this?"

Theron straightened.

"I am retiring. There will be no military obligations to interfere with."

Damian covered his mouth.

It did absolutely nothing to conceal his amusement.

Arik finally laughed.

Mezos turned toward him.

"Do not."

"I said nothing."

"You are enjoying this."

"Immensely."

Theron glanced between them with mild disapproval.

"I fail to see what is particularly amusing."

"Of course you do," Damian said.

The general inclined his head, apparently deciding that arguing with the Emperor of Agaron was unnecessary when his retirement had not yet been formally approved.

Liam rested his chin against one hand.

"So what will you do in Nuria?"

Theron considered the question.

"I have several interests I would like to pursue."

Mezos looked toward him with renewed suspicion.

"What interests?"

"Gardening, perhaps."

Severin made a choking sound.

Arik turned toward him.

The commander was staring at Theron with an expression that suggested he had just heard something considerably more disturbing than another declaration of war.

"Gardening?"

"Yes."

Theron folded his hands behind his back.

"I understand Nuria has a remarkable variety of native plants. I would like to establish a garden, perhaps acquire a small property outside Deira, and spend my retirement somewhere quiet."

Mezos stared at his father.

"You hate gardening."

"I have never had sufficient time to determine whether I enjoy it."

"You once ordered the removal of the flowers outside your office because they interfered with the security cameras."

"They did interfere with the security cameras."

Liam pressed his lips together.

Arik looked toward the ceiling.

Severin had abandoned any attempt at maintaining his composure.

Damian finally leaned forward.

"Theron, tell them what you told me yesterday."

The general looked at him.

"I believe I have explained my intentions adequately."

"About your son."

Mezos’s expression changed.

Theron remained silent for a moment before looking toward him.

"You spent more than a year behind the Gate."

The amusement around the room softened.

Mezos straightened slightly.

"I did."

"For most of that time, I had no reliable information concerning your survival."

His father’s voice remained measured, but Mezos remembered the thirty-one calls waiting on his phone when Nuria finally reopened.

The messages.

The summons that had gradually become requests.

Son, if you receive this, call me.

Theron continued.

"I have no intention of preventing you from serving the emperor you chose to follow. I would, however, prefer that the next time you finish an assignment, you have somewhere nearby to return to."

Mezos looked at him.

For once, he had absolutely nothing to say.

Theron adjusted his cuffs.

"I also understand that Nuria permits retired officers to reside there under certain conditions."

Arik smiled.

"We do."

"Then I would appreciate your assistance with the application."

"Of course."

Mezos turned toward him.

"Arik."

"Yes?"

"You cannot simply agree."

"I am sovereign of Nuria."

"That is not an argument."

"It has been working remarkably well lately."

Severin laughed again.

Theron looked toward him.

"And, Commander, I trust my presence will not interfere with my son’s duties."

"Not at all," Severin replied. "In fact, I think having you nearby will improve his punctuality."

Mezos closed his eyes.

"I hate all of you."

Damian stood, still smiling, and placed one hand on Theron’s shoulder.

"You see? I told you he would take it well."

Theron nodded.

"Eventually."

Liam looked between the two emperors, the retired general who had apparently decided to follow his son across international borders, and Mezos, who looked ready to request another assignment behind the Gate.

Then he turned toward Arik.

"Are we ever going to have peace?"

Arik considered the question.

His gaze moved from Mezos to Severin, who was already discussing Nurian residential arrangements with Theron.

Then toward Damian, who appeared to be enjoying the situation more than anyone else.

Arik put one arm around Liam.

"Probably not."

Liam sighed and rested his head against his husband’s shoulder.

He had married into a very strange family.

Unfortunately, it appeared that everyone else was moving in too.