WNC 212

It was strange. Sitting across from Rubel made all the worries of the world seem to disappear.

When the boy wasn’t in front of me, I was often anxious, not knowing how to treat him, tormenting myself with pointless fantasies. But when he was before my eyes, I was simply delighted and happy, and there was nothing I disliked, no matter what I said, ate, or saw.

Ten days to the capital.

In the large, comfortable carriage, I sat facing backward, and Rubel sat facing forward. We left the large window half-open, watching the passing scenery, or gazing into the boy’s dark, clear eyes, sharing stories.

The stories we shared were about the political situation of the continent, or about a collection of poems I had read one day, or about the affection for close family and friends. Every moment was tender and comfortable.

Today’s topic was the five Duke Families and their subordinate families. They were already divided enough to be discussed routinely in academy classes. Duke Kiadris Family and Duke Yeldidus Family were on the First Prince’s side, while Duke Valentia Family and Duke Grimsbein Family were on the Second Prince’s side.

Duke Widrow Family was close to Duke Valentia Family and had frequent exchanges. However, they were too busy dealing with and blocking the monsters coming down from the Yuil Mountains, and the road connecting them to the capital was rough, so they rarely interfered in the succession dispute. Naturally, it was explained that they were unlikely to have a significant impact.

I had heard and learned about this many times, and I had also heard about Matt Nico’s case this time, so I brought it up.

“Did Ruben also know? That Matt Nico is protecting the heir of Duke Grimsbein Family.”

“Ah, …that’s right. I didn’t know in advance either. It was around the time I graduated and Wendy entered that Matt subtly told me.”

“Hmm.”

I thought it was amazing that such a clumsy guy had kept the secret so well. After thinking for a moment, I asked again.

“It hasn’t been decided yet whether Lady Kiadris or Lady Yeldidus will be the First Prince’s fiancée, has it?”

“No. But whichever of the two Duke Families it is… I don’t think the alliance will break. The two Duke Families are starting a joint project to develop the granary area near the Saras River.”

“Is that why Rubel keeps Edwin Kiadris at a distance?”

Rubel couldn’t answer easily and closed his mouth. I sat comfortably in my chair, keeping my back straight. It was because I wasn’t used to slouching. Rubel, who had been stretching his long legs loosely towards me, straightened his back and corrected his posture.

“No, um, yes. There are many… reasons. Why do you ask?”

“Isn’t Edwin on bad terms with Wesley? If that boy becomes greedy and takes his brother’s place, I thought it might be helpful to Rubel.”

“…Ah. Yes. That might be the case, but…”

“Is there a particular reason you dislike it?”

Rubel opened his mouth for a moment, then closed it tightly, and looked down at the carriage floor with a troubled face for a long time. I was thinking about how pretty his long, dark eyelashes cast a shadow on his white cheeks, and I was surprised when Rubel raised his head and our eyes met.

The boy opened his mouth in a gentle tone, as always, speaking softly.

“So that’s how it seemed. It’s not like we’re on bad terms. It’s just… Edwin Kiadris is in the Department of Magic. We didn’t have many opportunities to meet, and we didn’t have any particular reason to like each other… Duke Kiadris Family has been supporting his brother from very early on, so I didn’t pay attention to him.”

“Hmm.”

“Young Master Edwin Kiadris and I… well, if I had to say, we’re just polite to each other. I’d feel bad if I was too friendly and he had trouble within his family.”

“That’s true.”

After all, no matter how distant brothers are, they can’t hate each other more than strangers. I hadn’t been inside Edwin’s head, so I had no way of knowing how he felt about his brother. But that was Edwin’s business, and Rubel was different, so I opened my mouth again.

“But in my opinion… even if you divide into factions, shouldn’t Rubel embrace them all when he becomes Emperor? It would be good to leave a breathing space so that at least some members of each family can talk.”

“…Yes. I will. Mika… wants me to get closer to Young Master Edwin Kiadris?”

It was my turn to nod and say yes, of course.

But I couldn’t. I couldn’t speak for a moment and just stared into the boy’s dark eyes. The thought of Ruben being so cute, so friendly, and so affectionate to others besides me made my vision blur.

I was flustered and just moved my lips, and the boy urged me, looking puzzled.

“Mika?”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

The answer I finally gave was different from what I felt. I couldn’t help but imagine Rubel and Edwin standing side by side, smiling brightly. Rubel, who was already over six feet tall, had a strong masculine aura. The thought of putting the neat and pretty Edwin next to him bothered me.

No, what nonsense. I had repeatedly thought that Rubel should have a beautiful Empress by his side.

After thinking for a moment, I added.

“Getting along moderately, yes. That would be good.”

I didn’t know how much of my words the boy, who was answering so politely, understood. Moderately, to some extent… I wish they were close. I swallowed a sigh, thinking that. I leaned back deeply in my seat, and Ruben did the same.

Suddenly curious, I couldn’t resist and opened my mouth again.

“Now that you’ve graduated from the academy, will you have a chance to meet him?”

“Uh-huh. …Young Master Kiadris is currently going back and forth between the First Magic Tower and the Imperial Palace, spending his apprenticeship period. Asking for some time… wouldn’t be difficult.”

“…Hmm.”

“No. It would be better for me to go to the Magic Tower so that Brother Richard doesn’t notice. I need to think about what to talk about…”

I didn’t bother to answer. I just nodded a few times, and the boy assured me again that he would listen to me and smiled shyly.

Beauty was bound to attract attention. Below Rubel’s thick, straight eyebrows and sharply defined nose, his lips, which were not darkly colored, formed a small, perfect curve. Whenever Rubel smiled or spoke, his even, white teeth peeked out and hid like a white rabbit hiding in its burrow.

Since we were sitting facing each other, it was natural to look at each other’s faces. I accepted his gaze familiarly and scrutinized the boy’s face, who was fluttering his eyes and acting cute. I gritted my teeth to stop the sigh that was leaking out.

It was funny and strange that I felt good one moment, then confused and frustrated, and then good again when I looked at him quietly. Had I ever been so foolish in my life? No matter how hard I tried to remember, I couldn’t find an answer.

I didn’t say anything for a long time. The carriage continued to move in the direction it had to go.

Rubel, who had been looking at me and tilting his head, slowly closed his eyes and tried to sleep. The boy, sitting with his arms crossed, slept well without his broad shoulders slumping. Thanks to that, I was able to see the boy’s sleeping face to my heart’s content again.

I couldn’t control my troubled heart.

❖ ❖ ❖

When the sun went down, we stayed at a pre-arranged inn. Rubel’s servant never chose a resting inn carelessly, so the largest and best room in the village was usually reserved for Ruben. I usually took the room next to it, or the room below.

Even if we were only staying for a day, there were often times when we had to unpack our luggage to change clothes or find necessary items. I only brought a small amount of luggage that could be replaced with one bag, but Rubel had three bags in his room and seven bags he carried separately.

The servant took care of carrying the luggage, but Rubel, who often didn’t borrow other people’s hands when he was outside, often opened his luggage himself to find what he needed.

It was the evening of the fourth day.

Rubel said he wanted to put incense in his room and enjoy tea, so I helped him open his bag.

Small items such as incense were usually buried between clothes to prevent them from breaking or getting damaged. The servant said that one of the clothes bags he had organized would have the item he was looking for, so I opened the one in front of me and rummaged through it.

Then, instead of incense, a vest with three blue gem buttons was pulled out in front of my eyes.

I, who had inadvertently held the beautiful clothes in my hand, raised my surprised gaze and looked at Rubel. My heart was filled with an unknown emotion, and I was speechless.

Rubel, who had opened the right bag next to me and found the incense, looked at me and gasped in surprise.

“…That, Mika.”

“…”

“I brought it just in case, really just in case…”

Ah.

It wasn’t something you could accidentally bring.

The nobles of the Sierran Empire put great meaning into their clothes every time they made them. They tailored the fabric to fit the size and width of the body, carefully chose the color of the thread, made the clothes, and carefully examined and refined expensive jewels to attach the buttons. It took days and nights of effort to make just one piece of clothing.

I had revealed my feelings too much. I couldn’t manage it like an adult and made a mess, and everyone knew. I realized now that not only my friends, but also this boy had noticed it a long time ago.

What expectations did Rubel have when he made the clothes, and why did he bring them back without even taking them out once?

What on earth could I say? I sat there blankly like a lost child, stroking the blue button with my thumb. The inside of my chest was hot and stinging.

“…Just in case?”

“…”

It was a question I barely managed to ask.

The boy didn’t answer, so I raised my head. His white face and earlobes, his tightly bitten lips and neck were all bright red. It was a splendid redness that seemed to give off a fragrant scent if you touched it. Seeing his expression, which was getting wet as if he was about to cry, made me suffocate.

I folded the clothes back into their original shape and chose what to say, but it was difficult and difficult to make a proper voice because my head was hot. I knew that my voice was heavy.

“Ruben.”

“…”

I wanted to give him mine before he took his away. There was something I had to say before the boy spoke first. I was worried that my voice was full of breath and would sound like a sigh.

“I… like Rubel very much.”

“…”

The boy didn’t answer. No, he couldn’t speak. Rubel’s lips moved as if to say something, then closed again, repeating several times. The boy still had his eyes lowered.

I put down the clothes and got up. Seeing the boy holding the incense tightly in both hands, I was worried that the item might break and hurt him. I reached out my hand.

I saw the boy flinch and take a half step back.

And I saw myself, desperate to grab that boy again.

I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. I took what was in his hand and put it on the table, and led Rubel’s hand to sit him down. Rubel’s gaze didn’t leave me.

Like any other day we took classes together, like any other day we drank tea together.