Chapter 190: In-Law?

A faint smile touched Amber’s lips as he stepped closer and placed a hand on Felipe’s shoulder.

"I’m glad Sector Leader Anatolia finally understands me."

Felipe nodded repeatedly.

Amber kept his hand there for another second before letting it fall.

"I was also upset by what happened to Galithe," he said, and for the first time since the meeting began, his voice carried a harder edge. "I had considered her a suitable bride candidate, and she could have become my Guide partner. Her death was unfortunate, especially under circumstances like this."

Felipe’s expression softened.

Amber gave his shoulder another reassuring pat.

"As I said, I’ll raise the matter again when we meet the Association in three days. We’ll discuss what happened and see what compensation can be made for your family as well as for the Federation."

Felipe’s eyes brightened.

"Really?"

"It will depend on how the Association responds," Amber reminded him. "Nothing can be promised before they answer. But I’ll make sure the matter is brought up."

Felipe immediately bowed.

"Thank you, Commander. I truly appreciate this."

The answer gave Felipe something he had desperately needed—a direction for what to do next.

"If Galithe had only been alive," he thought, "everything would have been different."

He might have already been preparing for the engagement announcement instead of standing here mourning his daughter. And if Amber truly became his son-in-law, the Anatolia family would have gained a connection to one of the most powerful military positions in the Federation.

There were few people Felipe respected as much as Amber.

The young commander had risen into his position through his own ability, and unlike many young nobles, he had not been handed everything simply because of his birth. He was an S-rank Sentinel, the Commander of the Golden Wings, and one of the Federation’s most promising military leaders.

Even his composure impressed Felipe.

If Galithe had married him, the Anatolia family would have been tied directly to that power.

"Commander, thank you again."

Felipe reached for Amber’s hand and held it between both of his own.

"Although..." He gave a strained smile as his eyes filled with tears again. "It’s such a shame we won’t be in-laws after all."

Amber returned the smile.

"It is."

Felipe held his hand for another moment before finally letting go, then turned and walked toward the door.

His steps were still heavy, but at least he was leaving with something he could take back to his family.

The door slid open, and Felipe disappeared into the corridor.

Silence returned.

Amber’s smile remained on his face for several seconds.

Then it vanished.

Whatever warmth had been in his expression disappeared with it.

Darius watched him carefully.

Without saying anything, the Major General removed a small metal tray from his uniform case and held out his hand.

Amber looked at it.

He raised his gloved hand and placed it over the offered palm, allowing Darius to pull the glove free.

Darius took it.

"Burn it."

"Immediately?"

"Immediately."

Darius inclined his head once and turned away.

Amber watched him leave before his attention returned to the closed doorway.

A quiet scoff escaped his lips.

"’Such a shame we won’t be in-laws.’"

He repeated Felipe’s words with open contempt.

His jaw hardened.

"If it weren’t for that bitch forcing her way into that Association expedition, she wouldn’t have died."

The words were spoken in a restrained voice, but the anger behind them was unmistakable.

Amber remained where he was, his attention fixed on the door.

Galithe.

Even thinking about her was enough to sour his mood.

Felipe probably still believed his daughter had wanted the engagement.

He probably believed Galithe had been happy about the arrangement between the Anatolia and Cedar families, and that she had looked forward to marrying him.

That was one of the reasons Amber had found the old man’s desperation almost amusing.

Galithe had never wanted him.

Amber had known that long before their families began discussing the engagement.

It wasn’t difficult to notice.

Even before the engagement arrangement had reached his ears, Galithe had already been watching several high-ranking Sentinels within the Federation. She had a habit of lingering around officers who came from influential families, and she had never been particularly subtle about the attention she gave them.

Then the family discussions began.

That was when her attitude toward Amber changed.

She had looked at him differently after learning that he was the man her family had chosen for her.

Not with affection.

Not even with basic respect.

With disdain.

Amber remembered the first time he had noticed it clearly.

To Galithe, being an S-rank Sentinel was not enough.

She looked down on the fact that he came from Sector Thirteen, a lower sector compared to the places where the Federation’s wealthiest families held their influence. He did not come from an ancient noble family, nor did he inherit a military title from his parents.

He had worked for everything he possessed.

Apparently, that wasn’t good enough for her.

She had always preferred Sentinels whose names carried more weight than their achievements, and Amber had heard enough rumors to know she continued looking toward them even after she learned that her family intended to marry her to him.

It was irritating.

Not because Amber had feelings for her.

He never had.

He simply disliked knowing that the woman his family had chosen for him was constantly chasing after other men while looking down on him at the same time.

Then she had done something even more foolish.

She entered a contaminated zone that wasn’t even part of her assigned mission.

Amber’s fingers curled inside his remaining glove.

The reports had reached him quickly.

A high-risk contaminated zone was being investigated by the Association after unusual miasmic activity had been detected, and Galithe had no reason to enter.

Yet she went anyway.

She must have known Admiral Zeke Valaerion was leading the expedition.

That was the only explanation Amber could find for her decision.

She couldn’t wait.

She had seen an opportunity to approach one of the most powerful Sentinels in the Federation and Association, and she had thrown herself into danger to get closer to him.

Now she was dead.