As Adeline adjusted the cuffs of her decorated bzer, she took in the bustling marine base. The salty sea breeze filled her lungs, but the stench of oil and metal reminded her she wasn’t here to enjoy the view.

  Behind her, Martin stepped out of the car, immediately grimacing as the scent of the ocean hit him. He wrinkled his nose, adjusting his tie as if the very air offended him.

  Adeline turned to him with a knowing smirk. “You look handsome, but this environment doesn’t suit you.”

  Martin shot her a gre. “Do I look like I’m made for serving the country like this? I serve the country behind a desk, Madam President.”

  She chuckled, adjusting the hat on her head. “Yes, yes, my dear desk soldier.”

  But her amusement faded as her gaze flickered past Martin—to the swarming media cameras, their lenses reflecting the sharp glow of the afternoon sun. Of course, they were here.

  Suppressing a groan, she muttered under her breath, “Do you think Tess is worried about me?”

  Martin stiffened. His posture turned rigid, and he avoided her gaze. Why was she bringing Tess up here?

  His voice was carefully neutral as he replied, “We need to focus on the task at hand, Madam President.”

  Adeline sighed. He was right, of course. She had barely spoken to Tess since that brief phone call.

  But what could she do?

  She was the President first—before she was anyone’s lover.

  Tess sat behind the counter, her fingers anxiously tracing the rim of her coffee cup as her eyes remained locked on the television mounted against the wall. The usual hum of the café felt distant—muffled beneath the voice of the news anchor broadcasting a scene that made her stomach twist.

  On the screen, the cameras followed Adeline, cd in her military uniform, the wind catching strands of her dark hair as she spoke with Martin. Tess swallowed hard, watching the way Adeline carried herself—calm, commanding, and completely untouchable.

  The cameras followed as Adeline ascended the ramp of the Horizon’s Vow, the marine vessel standing tall and unshaken. Tess’s breath hitched as she watched her disappear into the ship’s depths, Martin following close behind.

  The footage cut to the dock, where reporters filled the space Adeline had left behind, their voices buzzing with praise for her bravery and leadership.

  But Tess wasn’t listening.

  All she could do was stare at the screen, her heart a tangled mess of pride, worry… and the suffocating feeling of distance.

  Standing tall on the elevated ptform where every soldier and marine could see her, Adeline surveyed the disciplined lines of men and women before her. The sea wind tugged at the strands of her hair as she offered a small, confident smile.

  “I didn’t expect the generals and commanders would all be here,” she said, voice carrying across the deck.

  One of the generals, a man with sharp eyes and a chest full of medals, stepped forward. “If the president is here, then shouldn’t we all follow your lead?”

  A sense of pride swelled in Adeline’s chest. These were the people who defended their nation, the backbone of its strength. She lifted her chin, her voice steady and unwavering.

  “This country is small, but that does not mean we are weak,” she decred. “For too long, rger nations have seen us as insignificant, as if we do not belong at the table of world leaders. But we are here. And we will stand, not as cowards, but as warriors who refuse to be stepped on. Bravery is not measured by size—it is measured by our resolve.”

  The crowd remained silent, captivated. She met their gazes, ensuring her words left an imprint.

  “If we wish to stand among the strongest, we must first prove that we belong.”

  A wave of appuse erupted through the ranks, and Adeline let the moment settle before lifting her hand in dismissal.

  “Return to your posts. Let’s set sail.”

  The deep bre of the ship’s horn echoed across the harbour, signaling their departure. The Horizon’s Vow pulled away from the dock, cutting through the waves like a silent predator.

  Adeline turned to Martin, her voice lower but firm.

  “When we return, I want to see Tess,” she said, her fingers curling into a fist. “And I want to hear it from her—if she truly wants to be with me.”

  Martin sighed, not meeting her gaze, but he nodded. “Then let’s make it back in one piece first.”

  The Horizon’s Vow sailed smoothly through the open waters, cutting across the ocean toward the borderline of their nation’s territory. Inside the control room, Adeline stood at the center, surrounded by Martin, the generals, and the ship’s captain. A heavy air of anticipation hung over the crew as they neared their destination.

  The moment they breached the edge of their national waters, the tension thickened like a storm rolling in.

  “Madam President,” one of the officers at the radar station called, his voice tight with unease. “Multiple vessels detected ahead. They belong to Velmora’s navy.”

  At the mention of the neighboring country’s name, Adeline’s jaw tightened, her gaze snapping to the forward dispy screen. The gray silhouettes of warships loomed in the distance, calmly stationed within her nation’s waters. The sight sent a surge of frustration through her veins.

  “They’ve crossed into our territory,” one of the generals muttered.

  Another marine at the comms station hesitated. “Technically, ma’am... they’re at the edge. Still within our waters, but barely.“

  The control room fell silent, all eyes flicking toward Adeline.

  She stood still, taking in a slow, deliberate breath. The president of a nation could not afford to act on impulse. Yet, here before her, was a btant dispy of disrespect.

  They were testing her.

  Her fists curled at her sides before she rexed them, cold calcution settling over her expression.

  “Fire a warning shot into the water,” she commanded, her voice steady. “Make sure it nds right in their faces.”

  The room stilled, the weight of her words sinking in. A few marines exchanged gnces, unsure, but none dared to object. Even the battle-hardened generals looked surprised by her direct order.

  Martin, standing just to her right, subtly shifted, his brows furrowing.

  But no one could disobey the president.

  The ship’s captain, standing near the weapons control, turned toward her. “Permission to fire?”

  Adeline nodded once. “Do it.”

  Within seconds, the first shot rang out, cutting through the tension like a bde.

  The thunderous bst of the artillery echoed across the ocean as the shell tore through the sky, plunging into the waters just meters away from the Velmorian ships. A towering wave of seawater exploded upward, drenching the nearest vessel.

  The control room held its breath, eyes locked on the screens, watching the aftermath unfold.

  The Horizon’s Vow remained steady, the waves pping against its hull as silence settled over the control room. All eyes remained fixed on the Velmorian ship, watching for its next move.

  Then—it turned away.

  A murmur rippled through the marines. Some sighed in relief, while others remained wary. Adeline, however, didn’t shift from where she stood, her arms crossed as she observed the screen.

  “Five minutes,” Martin muttered under his breath, watching the radar. “Let’s see if they actually leave.”

  And just as he spoke, the ship veered back into their waters.

  A heavy silence fell over the control room. Brows furrowed, hands clenched into fists, and a few soldiers muttered curses under their breath.

  Adeline? She smirked.

  “Raise the presidential fg,” she ordered, her voice calm and unwavering.

  The command was swiftly echoed, and outside, the ship’s crew raised the bold crimson fg adorned with the golden insignia of their nation’s leader. The moment the fg unfurled against the wind, a shift in the air could be felt.

  Then, two more Velmorian ships appeared on the radar.

  The tension in the control room thickened like smoke.

  Three against one.

  Some officers paled. Others tensed. The ship’s captain, a grizzled veteran, turned to her. “Madam President, we are outnumbered.”

  Adeline exhaled slowly, her fingers lightly tapping against her arm.

  Calmly, she turned to the weapons officer.

  “Since there are three of them… and only one of us,” she said, her voice steady, “send out three warning shots.”

  A sharp inhale echoed through the room.

  Martin visibly tensed beside her, his gaze flickering with concern. But he said nothing.

  The weapons officer hesitated for only a second before nodding. “Yes, ma’am.”

  The command was executed.

  The deep rumble of cannons firing filled the air.

  Boom.

  Boom.

  Boom.

  Three artillery shells tore through the sky, nding in the waters just meters from each ship. The ocean roared as pilrs of seawater exploded upward, drenching the decks of the enemy vessels.

  The control room waited.

  Would they retaliate? Would they flee?

  Adeline remained still, her expression unreadable.

  “Let’s see what they do next,” she murmured.

  The Horizon’s Vow sliced through the ocean, its engines thrumming as it advanced. The tension in the control room was heavy, every soldier and officer standing at attention, watching the three enemy ships with unwavering focus.

  One of the older generals stepped forward, a furrow in his brow. “Madam President—”

  Adeline raised a hand, cutting him off mid-sentence.

  “If you are scared now,” she said, her voice calm yet sharp, “you are welcome to jump overboard.”

  A few quiet gasps filled the room, but the general merely stepped back, not out of embarrassment—but pride.

  None of them were scared.

  But she was their President. She was on this ship. That was why they hesitated.

  And yet, Adeline moved forward without hesitation.

  The Horizon’s Vow sailed closer.

  The three enemy ships wavered.

  Then, just as Adeline expected, they began retreating.

  The Horizon’s Vow slowed, coming to a stop just at the border marker cones, a clear signal that they would not trespass—but neither would they back down.

  Adeline exhaled slowly, stepping away from the control room.

  Martin followed, silent, as she strode onto the deck, the wind catching the strands of her hair. She stood tall, where every soldier—and more importantly, the retreating ships—could see her.

  She watched, expression unreadable, as the three ships turned back towards their mainnd.

  Martin let out a relieved sigh. “I wonder what this was all about.”

  Adeline’s gaze flicked to him, side-eyeing him with amusement.

  “They must be bored.”

  He huffed out a short ugh, shaking his head. “I guess they didn’t expect Madam President to have bigger balls than a man.”