Commander's Rounds

Entry 9- The King's Honor

The commander was anxious, and he felt every reason to be. Not really because of his military duties- only one of his greatest fears had to do with the mission.

They had more to do with other things, like his relations with the living ships.

He and King George V had become quite close- at least as close as Atago and Friedrich, but in a different sort of way than those other two. There began to be an extra sort of tension between the two which the commander wasn't quite ready to name, but rather that both of them wanted to go at least a little further, but neither was quite ready to make the leap in suggesting it out loud. She had to keep her dignity and composure as the Knight Commander, and he didn't want to come off as a boor.

And so things continued in that pleasant way, though with that mutual, unspoken yearning. Though the commander was able to smother things in his work, he also cursed himself for not being more bold. It was something of a dilemma for him, and not one he felt all that comfortable talking to anyone about.

It would be a bit strange for him to go up to Friedrich and tell her- "Hey, I want to bang a battleship, but I don't know how to ask her."

No, no, that wouldn't do.

And so, things continued in that way. The commander went about his daily business, continuing to keep the lights on and help out those who needed his advice or other attentions.

However, it seemed that other parties had become wise to what was going on, and so the commander soon received a letter.

"Commander-

While I have dutifully served you as a ship of the fleet for some time, and I have obeyed your orders as a commander on the sea, your recent behavior as of late has, in my eyes, become intolerable. While at first I had believed, as many others do, that you were merely making a kind gesture on my older sister's behalf, it has become apparent to me that you have been doing your level best to work your wiles on my sister's confidence in order to seduce her into some diabolical relation, distracting her from her duty to the pride and tradition of the Royal Navy. So, forthwith, I challenge you to a duel by bouting sword in defense of my sister's honor.

I know that you are The Coward's son and that you have conducted yourself in a way to avoid living down to his egregious shame, so I expect you, on your honor as a man of the sea, to answer this challenge with your own person.

Prince of Wales (53)

Battleship of the Royal Navy

Defender of the crown and the sacred isles"

The Coward. Mention "The Coward" to any navy man at any port, and they would know who you were talking about without even having to give his name. He was someone whose actions became so notorious that he became the byword for an entire vice which was detested by any man in uniform. The commander had only managed to get into an academy because he had nothing else in his background to keep him out.

But while the living ships of Azur Lane had become his family, friends, and more, there were no friends to be found in humankind for The Coward's son.

He needed to show this letter to someone, but it had to be someone who was the closest thing to neutral that he could imagine- someone who was only loyal to Azur Lane and nothing else. Thankfully, he knew just the person.

Monarch had a look at the letter. "Frankly, this is a ridiculous challenge."

"Yeah."

"And it would be ridiculous to answer it."