By Zephyria 
I sat still, quietly waiting for Maelo Sanson.
I had heard that it was customary for the homeroom teacher to gather the children in the classroom before the summer break began to give various announcements.
Although I had already exchanged final greetings with the professors of each subject during the final exam period, I was overjoyed because I secretly wanted to see Maelo’s face one last time before the term ended.
The children, gathered in a circle, chattered excitedly as they waited for Maelo Sanson to arrive.
Most of their conversations were about where they would go during the vacation, which banquet they were planning to attend, and promises to meet there, looking forward to the future.
To me, who was experiencing a vacation for the first time, it was all incredibly fascinating.
In the Central Plains, on particularly hot days, we would go swimming, and on cold days, we would light a brazier indoors and rest. However, unless it was a holiday, we never had such extended time off together.
Only during major events like the Mid-Autumn Festival did we receive guests and indulge in food and festivities…
Come to think of it, that wasn’t quite right. Even here at Shierun, they gather young children to find them partners, but they wouldn’t give such long holidays to older individuals.
No matter how good the times, who could afford to do nothing but play?
Creak. The sound of the door opening.
Maelo Sanson, who could move without revealing his presence, would deliberately make his presence known like venerable monks clearing their throats when entering a classroom.
It was obvious he was making an effort to allow the children to notice him easily.
At the sound, the noisy children fell silent and looked forward with bright, eager eyes.
“Did you all do well on your exams?”
At his teasing question, the children feigned distress noisily.
Even though I had only gone through two exam periods, exams were always like that. If I did well, I felt regret that I could have done even better, and if I did poorly, I felt regret and disappointment.
As I watched the children’s displeased expressions and chuckled, Professor Maelo Sanson gently tapped the podium to quiet the commotion.
“Alright, alright. I won’t ask. Your report cards will be mailed to the address you provided at the entrance ceremony sometime in June. If your home address has changed, please go to the department office today to submit a change request. And also, don’t get carried away by the vacation and go to dangerous places…”
I quietly listened to the few announcements he made. Although I had been receiving his help until now, looking at Maelo Sanson made my heart flutter for some reason.
I felt both wonder and envy.
It was truly elegant how he spent his later years caring for the children after reaching the realm of Hwagyeong.
Rather than wandering alone in remote mountains for a lifetime, a life where he was visited by dozens of children even in his old age and he looked after their well-being seemed more appealing.
Having a direct disciple and experiencing the ups and downs of that child’s life would be good, but by caring for and paying attention to so many children, he would surely lose track of time and find each day joyful.
Lost in such thoughts, my eyes met Maelo Sanson’s, and I gave him a gentle smile.
There were many rules to follow: do not go to dangerous places, always be accompanied by a trustworthy adult on dark nights, and always check the Nobility Yearbook to ensure the seal on banquet invitations is correct before attending.
Maelo Sanson, who had also provided guidance on meal times and the usage hours of common facilities for students who would remain at the Academy during the break, concluded with a strong voice.
“I know some of you won’t listen no matter what I say. But in case you need help from anyone during the break and have no one suitable to turn to, send a telegram to Shierun Academy. I will take care of the students in my class.”
I was deeply moved by his words. I didn’t know if it was a rule in the school regulations to guide them this way. However, the deep sense of security that came from belonging somewhere warmed a corner of my heart.
I exchanged various greetings with my first-year classmates in the Swordsmanship Department.
There were students whose faces and names I had memorized, and others whose faces I only knew, but we all promised to see each other again with smiles in the next semester, exchanging handshakes and hugs.
Shayden, with whom I shared the same path for a while, and I walked side-by-side towards the dormitory, having decided to share a carriage. On the way, we ran into a familiar face. It was that child, Rubel, again.
Dewdrops of sweat glistened on the child’s pale cheeks. He hadn’t made any prior arrangements, and he didn’t even know when the closing ceremony would end, but his appearance, clearly having waited vaguely, surprised me a little.
“Hello, Senior. How did you get here…?”
“Ah, just because. The break is starting soon… I wanted to see your face before going home.”
Shayden glanced between me and Prince Rubel for a moment, then said he had a lot of luggage to pack and would go ahead, promising to meet again around dinner.
I had intended to hold Shayden back, thinking it wouldn’t take long to exchange a few words, but I let him go, saying it was just what I wanted.
Being alone with Rubel wasn’t awkward.
Although we had been busy studying during the exam period and had been somewhat neglectful, I had a history of consistently spending time with Prince Rubel by practicing throwing knife technique every Friday.
Every Thursday, after the advanced swordsmanship class, I often had dinner with Benjamin, Lucilla, and Matt Nico.
Yet, standing face-to-face with the boy, I found myself with nothing particular to say.
It was because we weren’t eating or practicing Bido.
I couldn’t understand why I was scrutinizing him so intently, when a simple “Have a good break, see you healthy after the vacation” and a wave or handshake, like with other children, would have sufficed.
Observing the boy’s hesitant demeanor, I opened my mouth, wondering if he was worried about the secret of the Imperial Palace he had once told me.
“Would you like to walk a bit?”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
He replied quickly, as if he had been waiting.
There were many places to walk within Shierun Academy.
I led the way towards the pond, where I had once received a favor.
As we walked side-by-side, his head barely reached my shoulder. It felt strange to have to look down at a child much younger than me, as if I were a stooped elder, though it was a common occurrence.
We were both at an age where our bodies grew with each passing day.
I didn’t dwell on it too much.
Walking without a specific destination, I lengthened my strides and walked leisurely before stopping.
Standing on the bridge spanning the pond, I looked around for a place to sit but found none suitable.
Without adding any more words, I looked up at Rubel’s pale cheeks.
Summer was approaching, and a warm breeze blew.
As we stared at each other, our gazes met. These were the same eyes I often met during swordsmanship class. Only now, up close, I realized his pupils were larger than I had initially thought.
They were black and shiny, resembling pebbles. That must be why they always seemed teary-eyed.
Thinking of it, a smile crept onto my lips.
“Did you call me because you had something to say?”
“…I think I did… I can’t quite remember.”
“Hmm, that can happen.”
How could it be easy to speak out the doubts I harbored, even while thinking I had found a trustworthy companion? I decided to soothe the child so he could feel at ease.
I gave a suitable answer, then leaned my hands on the railing of the bridge, pretending to be lost in thought. Rubel followed suit, placing his hands on the railing in the exact same posture.
As I did so, I recalled the memory of when I first noticed the boy.
It was in the early morning, when I was trying hard to calm my mind. His appearance then, following me with teary, dark eyes like a black cat, was not much different from his current appearance.
“I am not the type to easily reveal what I hear outside.”
“…Huh?”
“I understand what you are worried about, but you don’t need to be concerned.”
I wasn’t accustomed to speaking in a roundabout way.
Looking up at the boy, who blushed even more deeply, his already large eyes widening, I wondered if he was embarrassed that his inner thoughts had been revealed. I knew he would be flustered, but this wasn’t something to be so ashamed about.
I patted his forearm a couple of times to comfort him. It was amusing how he flinched as if he were a woman whose wrist had been grabbed by a ruffian, but I tried not to laugh.
“No, that’s not it. What are you talking about…”
“It’s fine if you don’t know. Just know that this is the kind of person I am.”
“I… I don’t not know. It’s not that… What I wanted to say was.”
I watched him quietly, wondering what he was going to say. His fair, lovely face was gone; what had initially been just his cheeks turned bright red all the way to his neck.
“…I just… I wanted to say that I’ll miss seeing Young Master Ernhardt when the break starts. You won’t be attending the Shierun Royal Ball either… and I can’t invite you to the tea time afterward. So, just…”
These were not words for men to say. Watching the shy boy’s face, filled with embarrassment, I realized anew that despite his noble blood, he was still a child.
For me, who had long passed the stage of being swayed by the good or bad relationships between siblings, the heart to be moved by such things no longer remained.
However, thinking of the boy who must have agonized over not being able to immediately tell me that I was precious to him, and then followed me here, I couldn’t simply laugh it off.
Even as I thought, “What embarrassing behavior for men,” I decided to respond kindly to the child’s words. I looked at the pond, then the sky, and gave the most gentle reply I could.
“I will miss seeing you too, Senior. When the break ends and you return, let’s have a meal together.”
“…Okay. Sorry for bothering you for no reason…”
“Not at all. I think I will miss you often during the break as well.”
“…Mhm.”
What should I do with this delicate, pitiable child?
Feeling a sense of pity, I gently held the back of his hand. The boy flinched in surprise but didn’t pull his hand away.
My attempt at a kind farewell, which was not much different from the superficial pleasantries common in the Central Plains, seemed to have disappointed the boy, so I patted his hand gently in the Shierun style and added.
“I am also happy that you consider me a close friend, Senior. Although we won’t see each other for two months, we will be companions who will be together consistently at the Academy and even after graduation, so there’s no need to rush things.”
“…”
Rubel replied with a voice so quiet it was barely audible, “Thank you,” and I responded with a smile, finding the boy’s gentle nature endearing.
Not wanting to lose a companion with whom I could talk comfortably, and to soothe the frightened child, I spent a considerable amount of time walking with him that afternoon.
Shayden must have had the foresight to know that this child would act so delicately.
Indeed, that young boy seemed to have more wisdom than I did, which naturally filled me with admiration. He certainly had many points worth emulating by being close.