Chapter 55 - 54: A Game Changing Moment
"Well, the thing I wanted to talk about is... actually….I want to quit the Military Training Program.."
Aaron's eyes were wide, he seemed to have frozen to his spot. And, it took a good while for him to understand what Leo had just said to him.
"You are kidding me, right? This has to be a joke. Please tell me it is."
The reaction was not something Leo had expected. The terrified look on Aaron's face was more than enough to tell Leo that this was something which would shake the entire house.
He was definitely not seeing something that Aaron was seeing, and now he wondered what it was.
"Why? Is there something wrong with it? I don't think I like the idea of being a soldier," Leo said as he forced a smile on his face.
Aaron went silent on hearing that. He kept his hands over his face, and laid down on his bed.
"..."
Leo really didn't know what was going on, but it soon would become all clear to him.
"It isn't possible." Aaron finally got back up, and shook his head.
"Why?" Leo couldn't help, but ask. "Even Amelia seemed to have been forced into this, is there some reason behind it?"
Aaron sighed, looking at Leo.
"Well, it's not your fault that you don't understand it anymore." Aaron shook his head, with a depressed smile on his face.
There was never a need to explain things to Aiden earlier. He was always prepared before you even looked at him. But, unfortunately Leo was not him.
"You know we are a Military Family, don't you?" Aaron asked as he looked at Leo, and he nodded in reply.
"Even though I hate to say it, people in our position can die at any time," He said with a helpless smile, and Leo kind of understood it as well. Edgar was a soldier after all, even as a Marshal, he had to take the lead when the situation called for. And, even if we left that there were tons of people scheming behind them.
Let's take his example, he was just a student, basically a nobody. Yet, people were still after him. He could only imagine it being a hundred times worse for Edgar.
"Since, it is very easy for accidents to occur, what do you think will happen if anything happens to father?" Aaron asked with a serious face. Even though he didn't like talking about it, he knew that Leo needed to understand this thing very clearly.
Seeing that Leo didn't know how to reply to him, Aaron continued, "In that situation, I will have to take up after him once I am capable enough to do so."
"And, if I am gone, you will follow.." The words spoken in a calm manner were indeed chilling. But, the guy was just spitting out straight facts.
"How can I-"
"I know.." Aaron interrupted him, and took over to answer his doubts.
"Whom do you think the Emperor wants to lead his army?" He asked, looking at Leo.
"Someone Strong, and capable?" Leo replied feeling it was all too obvious.
But, Aaron shook his head, "The Emperor doesn't necessarily want an extremely strong person to lead his army. The first thing he will look for is trust and loyalty."
"And, currently we, the Silvers, have it."
"So, in this situation. If father has to back out from his post, I can take over even if I am not as strong as him. After all, we have our people, who will support me until I am capable enough to lead. And, the same could be said for you. Your individual ability is just for name, after all wars are not a one man show."
"But, in all of this, there is one thing which is extremely necessary fpr us even as an individual. And, that is a military background.."
Realization finally struck Leo.
If he was just a bum with no military knowledge or background, even the crown would have no way to support him. After all, this would just show their blatant favoritism towards one family.
"This is the reason that we are forced to pursue this Military Training. Because, if needed to be, we can step up one day to take that position. Even if it's just in name. After all, if we end up losing our position as a Military Family, it would be disastrous to us."
"How low do you think the previous Military Families have fallen now? It's really not something one would be willing to see."
"Not to mention, the current three Military Families are really hated by the Bureaucratic Families. You can expect them to not let us go that easily, if we ever were to fall low."
Leo really had no idea that there was so much behind such a simple thing. It seemed that the world of rich and powerful was way different than he ever imagined it to be.
"It will be better if you don't talk about it mom or dad. They already feel bad for forcing Amelia into this, if you too act like that..." Aaron looked at Leo, and spoke with a heavy expression on his face. But, it was really hard for him to continued his words. He too didn't like the idea of stopping his siblings from pursuing what they wanted.
"I understand." Leo nodded his head in understanding, seeing that Aaron was struggling with his words.
"And, don't tell Amelia about it.." Aaron further said with a sigh, and Leo gave a nod as he got up to leave.
It was all clear now.
No wonder the girl was unhappy with it. But, being able to live in ignorance was a bliss in itself. After all, if she knew about the reason for her forceful admission in the Military Training Program, Leo doubted that she would still be complaining like that.
'I guess Aiden really cared for her as well, even if there were occasional episodes of jealousy and anger.'
Leo walked back into his room, and fell flat on his bed. It seemed that he wouldn't be changing his course.
Only the future would tell what awaited him in this path. But, he wasn't discouraged. He had the inheritance book, and he would continue doing what he liked.
For now, he needed to concentrate on the upcoming fight.
"Where do I find a workshop, asking Viona might create another problem. She likes to worry too much after all.." Leo sighed just thinking about it. After hearing Aaron, he knew it was better not to talk with Viona about it.
"Hmmn?" Suddenly, his hand felt something on the bed, and he picked the object up only to find the storage capsule which Viona had won from the claw machine.
"I wonder what's inside it."
Leo unsealed the item in curiosity, and opened the storage capsule.
"Pop!"
A kitten popped out of the storage capsule, and it honestly scared Leo a bit. If not for the fact that it came out of a storage capsule, Leo would really have believed it to be real. He would surely have been filing the company for animal abuse.
"Well, it's kind of cute," Leo muttered with an amused face as he looked at it.
He at this moment had no idea that the game was about to change.