By Zephyria 
Bright daylight.
It was the backyard, where all prying eyes had been turned away. My four blood relatives stood beside Inseon, just as they had been when I arrived.
My parents, upon hearing we had to return to the capital, tried to keep us to tailor new clothes for our party, but clothing was not what was important now.
With time scarce, everyone in the party had barely managed to conceal their worn-out clothes, showing signs of frequent battles, with cloaks that fit and a few jewels. I had insisted on adding these trinkets, even when the party members demurred, because they could be sold for a good price if an urgent need arose later.
Of us all, only I had hidden my face most deeply. My robe, with its plush hood that covered my hair, was so large it obscured my vision. My mother readjusted the shoulder ornament that secured my robe.
After listening to blessings for my future for about ten minutes, I finally decided to leave. I embraced and then released my parents and the children one by one.
Michael’s face was resolute, as if he had never been one to whine, but Asdel grumbled in a small voice.
“Brother is too busy. It’s annoying.”
“But won’t we see each other again soon after your work is done? You’ll be coming to the Academy soon too.”
“That’s true, but… will you be in the capital until then?”
I didn’t know that either. I closed my mouth, unwilling to lie.
Then, the child, still pouting, clung to me and dangled.
“It’s really, really annoying that you’re leaving right after you arrived. I’m putting up with it because you came to see me before the Second Prince. Got it?”
“…Mm.”
“Please send my regards when you go. And be sure to thank him for sending the doctor.”
So that doctor was sent by Ruben.
After standing speechless for a moment, I nodded once more.
While I was having my final moments with my family, the rest of the party was busy dealing with Spiritus.
“How far outside the city walls counts as ‘outside’?”
“It would be best if we’re not noticed by the guards. This is the capital, not some other place, so even a sudden shift in Mana could attract the Magic Tower’s attention.”
“What a bother.”
Spiritus grumbled for a long time but agreed to cross only up to the vicinity of the capital by magic and then travel by human means. Once again, a golden portal opened. Seeing the green forest beyond, it seemed to be some roadside.
Everyone in the party bowed to my parents, showing the proper respect for the parents of a close friend, and stepped into the portal.
Still, I was returning to the capital before the promised three years were up.
I felt sorry for not being able to visit my Uncle, who lived far away, but since Ruben was steadily looking after Valentia, I decided to send a Ranunculus to the capital to show my regards.
I hadn’t managed to apprehend Wesley Kiadris yet, but I figured I could catch him soon after compiling the list of Black magicians. With two gods on our side, anything should be resolved smoothly.
Most of all, I was desperately eager to see Ruben again.
I crossed the portal with a lighter heart than before.
❖ ❖ ❖
We entered the capital’s city walls, but there was still a long way to go.
As the capital of the Sierran Empire, the largest empire on the continent, it was vast and densely populated. If many people were to rush through at high speed, it would be easy to attract attention and might even lead to an accident.
Telling the Dragon, who grumbled that it would be better to just drop into the Imperial Palace rather than do such bothersome things, I bought a carriage. It was partly to comfortably transport Mage Boulder, but also a measure to conceal my hair color, which was too conspicuous.
We hitched four horses to the spacious six-seater carriage. Hugh and Elvin sat in the driver’s seat, while Benjamin, Leon, Boulder, and the two gods sat in the passenger seats with me. Leon had asked if it wouldn’t be better for him to ride a horse and follow behind, but I did not permit it.
We would have to travel by carriage for another three days like this. Fortunately, there were plenty of restaurants that stayed open late wherever we stopped, so there were no inconveniences. Most of the party didn’t require sleep, and even if we slept sitting in the carriage, it wouldn’t be a major issue, as long as we ate on time.
It was at a restaurant where we stopped for dinner that I heard a strange conversation.
“So, is it true that the Second Prince is marrying Lady Yeldidus?”
“Probably, right? There’s no one else he’s met so far.”
My gaze involuntarily snapped towards them.
Perhaps because it was a rather expensive restaurant, they were dressed quite well. Although it was clearly casual chatter during a meal, a pang of painful emotion surged from within me.
Shayden Rose had already told me. Ruben would still be waiting for me, so there was no need to be swayed by the words of insignificant commoners. I simply waited for the food to arrive, holding my breath. Yet, their voices continued to pierce my ears.
“Well, among the ducal ladies, Lady Yeldidus is still the best. Lady Valentia seems to be going around saying she might become the next Duke.”
“Wasn’t the Young Master in that family a bit older?”
“I don’t know. Well, since the two of them were known to be so close, they might just share what they want.”
The two men with handsome faces had loose tongues. Wearing fitted vests over loose shirts, they paid no attention to the food served and just kept talking. As I continued to be drawn to their conversation, Hugh Benson nudged my foot under the table to stop me.
I knew. It was rude to eavesdrop on others’ conversations in a public place.
However, it was the first time I was hearing rumors circulating in the capital so closely, and it bothered me.
“Now that I think about it, honestly, Lady Yeldidus was too good for Prince Richard. Is it even conceivable that she’d be mentioned in the same gossip as a daughter of Kiadris?”
“Right. Even if Kiadris doesn’t care what others think, he was quite ambitious. It would be insufficient even if the Princess of Floyd came to court him.”
“Even if a Princess were sent, he shouldn’t accept her. Isn’t there a rumor that they die young generation after generation?”
“That was just bad luck back then. They didn’t even reveal what illness she died from, so…”
For a very brief moment, the conversation touched upon the previous Emperor. On the surface, as they appeared to be around forty years old, they would likely know well about the era of Beneto’s ascension.
Listening carefully, the men next to us seemed to be merchants who supplied rare goods to the capital. Thus, they seemed to be keeping abreast of the relationships and trends among nobles to use them as trivial gossip for their business.
They also mentioned that ever since the First Prince appeared in all sorts of gossip magazines, they had been enjoying themselves immensely, as no one complained about using noble gossip for their own purposes.
Their interests mostly revolved around when the First Prince, who had gone to Floyd, would return, how the Second Prince was practically ruling the country, and who would be a suitable match for the Second Prince.
The merchant who had initially paired Yeldidus and Ruben declared again.
“In any case, I hope those two work out.”
“Why is that?”
“Then the next Crown Prince might have blonde hair! The First Prince, though his personality isn’t great, his looks were truly my type. Honestly, the Second Prince is so intimidating when you see him in person, you can’t even open your mouth.”
“What does your preference matter?”
“He’s the Emperor I’ll serve, wouldn’t I be prouder if he were a distinguished figure? Who knows, maybe a play starring Prince Rubel and Lady Yeldidus will be staged someday.”
Since it was initially brought up as a joke, refined laughter was exchanged.
Around that time, food was also served to our table. Only when I noticed the waiter’s startled expression did I realize I had crumpled the fork in my hand. The waiter offered a new fork with a friendly smile, but I was too ashamed to look up.
I ate quietly for a long time, listening intently.
However, my name was never mentioned by them.
It was only natural, and entirely expected. At Shierun Academy, Ruben hadn’t hidden his affection and care for me, but at that time, I hadn’t yet fully accepted the child in my heart.
I had always considered it like the first snow, which would melt away the first love of a child. I thought it would vanish quickly upon meeting a warmer affection.
Afterward, I did hold the child and dote on him. But since we were both men, anyone not very close to us wouldn’t consider it love. No matter how much Rubel cared for me, he would have thought of me as a precious lord and subject.
Furthermore, those close to us wouldn’t be the type to have my name appear in gossip magazines. In the first place, having one’s name appear in gossip magazines before an engagement ceremony was taboo until the previous generation. Even knowing that Ruben’s name was being written carelessly because of Richard, I felt inexplicably resentful.
What was most infuriating was that I couldn’t find any words to refute their claims.
I recalled the face of Lady Yeldidus from the Spirit’s memory. She was a beautiful woman. Her personality was also bold, and wouldn’t she be a good match for the gentle and soft-spoken Rubel? More importantly, she could bear children for Rubel…
Was I still the best choice for Rubel?
The merchants who had been chattering left after paying their bill, but my throat felt parched as if I had swallowed a hot iron ball, and I had no appetite. I just sat there, sipping water. Feeling embarrassed by my companions, who were quietly continuing their meals and glancing at me, I pulled my hood deeper over my head.
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s got something going on.”
“Why? Did he date that Lady Yeldidus or something?”
The Dragon’s question made my face burn again.
Come to think of it, I had lived quite comfortably until now. My family and friends were all broad-minded and benevolent, so even if they were surprised by my love for Rubel, they never blamed me. Because of that, I had always worried more about Rubel’s age than his gender.
But what could I do?
I had already become greedy for Rubel.
As my thoughts deepened, I grew afraid that he might have given his heart to someone else in the meantime. My body grew hot with needless worry.
What was there to do? Hadn’t I resolved long ago? I would wish for Rubel’s happiness, and I would return to my territory and… Just the thought made my mouth dry. Heat rose in my throat, head, and chest.
How could I face him now…
Before getting back into the carriage, I deliberately bought a few gossip magazines and brought them inside. Benjamin, seeing me, stopped trying to tease me. Annoyed by Spiritus, who kept glancing at me strangely after hearing Gano Paquin’s whisper, I told him to stop staring, which only earned me a laugh.