By Zephyria 
The gathering of all the children was incredibly enjoyable.
How could it not be? Everyone had been so busy preparing for graduation over the past month that it had been difficult to find time to meet. As a result, not only Rubel but all the other children hadn’t seen each other throughout December.
They revisited stories about what each of them would be doing after graduation.
Jenny graduated at the top of the academic department. As she had hoped, she would be joining the Imperial Palace from March next year, and she boasted that she would be spending time with the Imperial administrative staff she already knew during the New Year Festival.
Damian and Shayden were also busy. As heirs to their respective Count families, they were about to inherit several businesses in earnest. They lamented that they would soon be settling near their respective territories and starting to work one by one, so they would have to make appointments to see the children in the capital.
Ivan announced that he would be holding his wedding ceremony in May.
The children didn’t react immediately and seemed to be gauging each other’s reactions, but Ivan alone remained calm.
Shayden cautiously opened his mouth in a gentle voice.
“Will you invite us to the ceremony?”
“I’d love to, but… due to the circumstances I mentioned before, I think we’ll be having a small ceremony with only family members.”
“That’s a shame. Then I’ll congratulate you in advance.”
“Yes, thank you.”
A neat congratulatory greeting, and an even neater response.
Only then did the other children slowly open their mouths. After a few words of congratulations were exchanged, Marianne cautiously asked, unable to hide a hint of nervousness.
“Um, Ivan’s bride… no, that person… that person is…”
“I’m the groom’s side. You can call her the bride-to-be.”
“Y-yes… Have you become close to your bride-to-be?”
Ivan nodded with a nonchalant attitude.
“Yes. I was only uneasy for the first month or so… I’ve met her a few more times this month, and we have more in common than I thought.”
“O-oh… In what ways?”
“Hmm.”
Ivan hesitated for a moment, unable to answer immediately, and then smiled awkwardly.
“I thought her strong sense of responsibility was not bad. She’s also quite good at her job, so it’s been easier for me to learn the business thanks to her. And since my major is what it is, we communicate well. I’m quite lucky.”
“I see…”
“It seems you’ve found a good match. Congratulations, Young Master Holmes.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
Rubel, who knew nothing of the inside story, also offered kind words to congratulate him on his marriage.
Ruben, being a year older, spoke informally, while the other children used honorifics, which had become familiar over the past few days. When he asked why, they replied that they would all be graduating soon and should be treated as nobles with titles, which he readily accepted.
Leaving that aside, Ivan’s satisfied expression was quite unsettling.
He couldn’t help but wonder if… Ivan’s preferences would be respected by his partner. But even if they were close friends, it would be a great discourtesy to ask about such matters first. Especially not in a setting like this.
Ivan, having received the polite greetings, maintained his usual calm tone and showed courtesy.
“I’ll arrange a meeting to introduce her to everyone sometime next year or the year after.”
“Okay, then I’ll prepare a wedding gift for then. Think about what you’d like to receive.”
“Can I ask for one from each person?”
“Wow, trying to fleece us completely.”
Playful banter went back and forth across the table.
As it was a meal in an open space, there were many eyes and ears, so the stories shared among the children were mostly things that even complete strangers could know with a little effort. Stories about each other’s personal lives, what they wanted to do in the future, and which regions they would be active in.
Rubel also mingled casually among the children, sharing various stories.
Last year, Rubel had been shy and sat quietly without saying much. But perhaps because they had become familiar with each other over the past few days, or perhaps because he had made a special resolution, Rubel steadily asked questions and answered easily, and the other children seemed to treat him comfortably, which was very pleasing.
It was clear that there would be no other day to gather everyone like this, so even though the hour was late, none of the children seemed willing to leave. While they were idly chatting about the attire they were wearing that day, Shayden yawned softly.
He was a very perceptive and self-disciplined fellow. The fact that a child who never showed signs of fatigue was pretending to be tired was obvious. Marianne immediately picked up on Shayden’s attitude, fanning herself lightly with a fan and smiling sweetly.
The children exchanged subtle glances.
“It’s already quite late. Shall we go somewhere quiet now?”
“Yes, let’s do that. Then Jenny and I will head in first. Have a good time, everyone.”
“Yes, then after the New Year dawns… let’s meet again on a new day. Sleep well.”
“Let’s meet under the clear and bright new sunlight.”
“Yes, have a happy New Year, everyone.”
Damian, with his characteristic gentle voice and demeanor, wrapped up the gathering, and all the children responded.
I also naturally rose from my seat with Rubel.
After exchanging a few more polite greetings, we headed to the secret chamber of the Opal Palace, which Rubel and I had visited before. The tapestries lining the walls, the fluffy cushions on the sofa, the curtains that stretched to the floor. Arriving at a place that looked exactly the same as before, as if time had stood still, I felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
Rubel, in the exact same way as before, drew the curtains and opened the window wide, then promptly sat down next to me. Only the child sitting closer than before was different from last year. I thought about pointing it out, but considering that we would soon be apart for a long time, I felt sorry and left it at that.
After hesitating for a moment, I joked in a light tone.
“I was actually a little worried.”
“…About what?”
“That the dinner with my friends would be uncomfortable for Ruben.”
“Well… I’ve come to realize that Mika’s friends are my friends, so it was okay. They’re all good people.”
“That’s true.”
If we were to split sides, it would be better for the children if I were closer to Rubel. Even as I thought that, I felt embarrassed, as if I had made an unnecessary request. Rubel answered obediently and stared at my face for a moment.
“Why?”
“No, …can I sit a little… closer?”
To sit even closer than this? I was puzzled, but I nodded in agreement.
Rubel hesitated for a moment, then gently leaned his head against the front of my shoulder.
I remembered the time when he had tried to lean on me like this before, and I had been so surprised that I had jumped up and almost broken a perfectly good chair. I chuckled softly, and the boy who was clinging to me also shook his shoulders and stifled a laugh.
It wasn’t as if it was the first time he had curled up his large body and tried to snuggle into my arms. Amused and endeared, I raised my hand and gently stroked the back of his head. We would be going to bed soon and wouldn’t be playing in the hall until after we had redressed after the new day dawned, so it would be okay if his hair got a little messed up. With that thought, I didn’t hesitate to stroke the child’s head.
The sound of Rubel softly inhaling and exhaling near my collarbone tickled me. His warm body temperature melted my heart like soft tofu.
My fingertips tingled, and I clenched and unclenched my fists tightly several times where the child couldn’t see. I was only now realizing that my throat felt numb when my heart raced. I felt embarrassed that the boy next to me might be startled by the sound of my heartbeat, but he remained still, leaning against me as if he were about to snuggle into my arms, and didn’t raise his head.
It was a moment when there was no need to say anything more.
When the boy tried to hug my waist, I blocked him with my hand, but I couldn’t bring myself to reject him from grabbing the hand that was trying to push him away. We sat side by side on the plush sofa, our shoulders touching and our hands clasped, waiting for the sun to rise.
After spending a long time in a strange state where I couldn’t fall asleep even though it was long past bedtime, Rubel rubbed his cheek against my shoulder a few times, then brought his lips close to my ear and whispered.
“Hey, Mika.”
“Yes.”
The boy gently moved his thumb over the clasped hands, stroking the back of my hand. I told him not to play around and firmly held his hand to keep it from moving. A soft laugh resonated against my chest. Rubel hesitated a few times, unable to open his mouth, then pushed against my shoulder and sat up straight.
A dark shadow fell on the boy’s face, which was facing away from the window. But it was clear that his expression was resolute.
“I’m going to go to the Yuil Mountains with you in the New Year.”
“…Excuse me?”
What was he talking about now?
Caught off guard by the completely unexpected words, I straightened up as if I had been pulled up from the sofa. Rubel’s dark eyes sparkled brightly. It was hard to believe.
Most of those who climbed the mountains were Knights or Wizards who wanted to improve their Internal Energy.
Hadn’t this boy, Rubel, spent the past year learning politics and refining policies in order to become Emperor? He would have to continue to find his way in that manner from now on, so why would he insist on following me? Surprised, I couldn’t open my mouth immediately and stared at him.
If it weren’t for the faint trembling that had transferred from Ruben’s hand, which was holding mine tightly, I wouldn’t have noticed that the boy was nervous at all. Rubel continued in a calm voice, without blinking an eye.
“You were right, Mika. None of the Knights who went to the Yuil Mountains with Wesley Kiadris sent a single letter to their families and friends, and they didn’t return to the capital either. Wesley is the only one who has returned to the capital and set out again in the past year.”
“…But if Rubel leaves his position now…”
“I’ve done so much in the past year.”
I closed my mouth. I stared at the boy in silence. Rubel continued with a determined attitude.
“All the policies I promised to implement have been framed. The academies in each region have now broken ground, and there are other things that are still in progress… but these are things that require a change in social perception, so I can’t touch them right now.”
The clasped hands were damp with tension. A surprised breath leaked through my teeth.