Raven's heart felt like it was trying to break out of his chest.
He never once imagined he would stand here, kneeling in front of his idol, about to receive a medal and a rank higher than anything he had ever dreamed of.
His excitement was almost too much.
It was the kind of feeling that made a person forget how to breathe for a second.
Being chosen by Vined meant everything to him.
This man wasn't just a general or a duke to Raven, he was the reason Raven even had a life worth living.
Years ago, Raven had been nothing more than a starving boy on the roadside in the Count Paper's territory.
His arms were like sticks, his ribs showed through his skin, and every day felt like it would be his last.
He remembered the cold ground, the hunger that never went away, and the way people walked past him like he didn't exist.
Then one day, Duke Vined stopped his horse in front of the group of begging children.
Instead of ignoring them, instead of turning away, he stepped down.
