Soren remained calm, showing no hint of guilt as he explained, "There's nothing between us. It's our grandfathers who are friends."
Noticing my confusion, he continued, "Commander Frieze was one of my grandfather's most trusted subordinates back in the day. That's why my grandfather recommended him for promotion to military district commander.
"Remember when I mentioned my older brother? He's the orphan of my father's comrade and has been in the military ever since. For years, he served under Commander Frieze, who mentored him.
"My brother is highly capable, earning two first-class merits—though one nearly cost him his life. Two months ago, Commander Frieze retired and has been visiting my grandfather frequently. They play chess and reminisce about the past."
I listened intently, my curiosity about Soren's older brother growing stronger after hearing about him again.
At the same time, learning about Candy's family background left me uneasy. Her grandfather had once been a military
