By Zephyria 
I couldn’t believe I hadn’t thought of this until now.
Wasn’t it just Rubel who was blinded by love? I was the same. I was greedy because I didn’t want to leave Rubel, who said he would follow me up the mountain and learn the sword with me. I was complacent, thinking that all the monster-slaying under the watchful eyes of the Professors in a safe place seemed so easy.
Today, I saw that it wasn’t.
Benjamin was exceptionally talented and strong, even among his peers. He was perfectly fine even after deflecting the power of that incredibly huge Minotaur several times with his shield. Even though he couldn’t fully use Sword energy yet, he could create an effect similar to Sword energy with his strength and aura control.
And what about Marianne? She kept herself safe by shooting magic from a distance, far away from the Monster, and she ran as if the world would be cut in half if she even brushed against it. Even a flying squirrel wouldn’t be as fast as her.
Rubel was clearly weaker than Benjamin and Marianne.
He held a shield, but his strength was no different from that of a typical high-level Sword Expert warrior. He had to clash directly with the Monster, cutting its hide to fight, and no matter how good he was at running, there would definitely be moments when he couldn’t escape completely.
Rubel’s Sparring partners had been humans from the beginning until now. He had only been learning how to fight Monsters for a month. I was breathless with worry for the boy who had taken his first step on a rough path, following after me.
Rubel was greatly surprised, then, with a very disappointed look, he pulled a chair closer to me and sat even closer.
“…We were going to go together. You already gave me permission.”
“I’m saying this knowing that Rubel will be disappointed. After seeing today, I absolutely can’t allow it. Rubel is…”
“Knowing that there are many kids in other groups with similar skills to me?”
“They aren’t the same as Rubel…”
Those guys had thought long and hard and decided that this trip to the Yuil Mountains was absolutely necessary for their future. They were determined to join the Imperial Palace royal guard and improve their skills to aim for higher positions.
They hadn’t stopped training for a moment during the past few weeks, dreaming of going to the Yuil Mountains and slaying Monsters, building up their resolve.
But Rubel wasn’t like that.
He was going to be the Emperor.
If Rubel wanted to know something, I could find it out for him, and if Rubel wanted to do something, I could do it for him. The thought of this precious boy suffering and walking through hardships just because he wanted to spend more time with me made me feel dizzy and breathless.
Even though I knew nothing bad would happen, I was momentarily unable to come to my senses because my heart dropped at the thought that Rubel might get hurt. What would I do when we went into actual combat?
Rubel gently tugged at my sleeve.
My gaze was fixed on his arm. It was already healed, with not a single scratch left. But knowing that I was staring at it, Rubel held out his arm towards me so I could examine it. I obediently took it and gently stroked it.
My stomach churned. Heat soared.
I held the place where the boy had been hurt and looked into his beautiful face.
“I can’t allow it.”
“I’m going to get stronger, Mika. I did well enough today… And in actual combat, I’ll bring more Artifacts, and I’ll bring Flying Dagger too…”
“…That’s not it.”
“I really worked hard.”
Without me even realizing it, my grip had tightened.
Rubel spread my fingers one by one without showing any pain. …Belatedly worried that the boy might be in pain, I released the strength in my hand, and Rubel grabbed my wrist and made me cup his cheek.
He was trying to get me to let it go by acting cute again. I glared at him with a fierce look, not intending to give in easily, but the boy rubbed his cheek against my palm and said the same thing again.
“I really… worked really hard…”
“I know you worked hard. But that’s…”
“And, it was because you weren’t there today. Now you’re going to protect me.”
“Well, yes, but the sleeping arrangements are rough, and other things too.”
“You’re with me for that too.”
“Am I the same as Rubel?”
I didn’t want to be harsh, but a passionate voice burst out sharply. Anxiously swallowing my breath, afraid that the boy might get hurt, I soothed him again, rubbing his cheek a few times with my thumb.
Then Rubel blinked his eyes and smiled brightly.
“…I wish we were the same. You and me…”
I was speechless.
I had thought that using charm was a useless trick, but now I saw that I was also just a man. The anger and resentment that had soared to the top of my head melted away like sugar in tea, and I didn’t know what to do.
Rubel continued to rub his cheek against my hand affectionately, drooping his broad shoulders sadly and blinking his eyes slowly as he continued to speak.
“Throwing the sword… was wrong. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have let it go like that.”
I choked up, and a crooked voice replied.
“Yes. Isn’t a Sword Expert dropping their weapon the same as saying they want to die?”
“That’s right, I know now, so I won’t make the same mistake.”
“No matter how out of it you are,”
“I’ll look for at least three escape routes. I can do it, Mika. I didn’t know because it was the first time. Now I know, you’ll teach me and protect me. Huh?”
…I couldn’t answer any more and closed my mouth.
Seeing that I had become quiet, Rubel finally stopped acting cute with my hand and pulled my wrist down, holding it tightly. The way he was acting was so absurd and dizzying that I stared blankly.
Rubel opened his eyes sharply and looked straight at me, raising his eyebrows.
He thought he would look scary if he looked like that. He was just cute.
“But I’m also disappointed, Mika.”
“…”
“I know you’re worried about me. But I’ve also done everything I could for the past year to go to the Yuil Mountains. It wasn’t something I could decide with an easy resolution. I’ve been preparing so that my position can be fully secured even if I’m not there, only sleeping four hours a day and just working.”
“…That’s.”
“Even if I don’t want to be a knight, I can still want to get stronger.”
“…”
“You promised to be my opportunity. How can you change your mind so quickly after making a promise?”
He was right. I was so anxious with worry that I didn’t think about Rubel’s intentions. No, even though I knew that Rubel’s intentions were firm, I was trying to bend them arbitrarily. Even though I knew I shouldn’t…
I was very unfamiliar and awkward with myself for acting so recklessly, and I couldn’t even think of an excuse.
“We’re going together, right?”
“…Yes.”
Ha. I couldn’t stop a sigh from escaping, but Rubel seemed satisfied enough with that.
The boy quickly wrapped his arms around my waist and tried to hug me. Even though I was already troubled, I didn’t push away the boy who was pitiful and lovely, burying his nose in my shoulder.
I just patted his back for a long time. This time, the boy begged me to tell him what he had done well today. After thinking for a while, I praised him for running away nimbly, quickly finding the opponent’s weaknesses, and running endlessly without stopping out of fear.
When we returned to the room, Benjamin was showering, and Marianne was lying on the living room sofa, watching us come in. It was an excessively lax attitude, but it wasn’t the time to question such things, so I only pointed out that she was making a suspicious expression.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, I was just wondering if you made up well.”
“…Yes? We didn’t even fight.”
“Mikael went out with his forehead all wrinkled up like this. I thought Mikael’s eyebrows had become one today.”
I stood there, at a loss for words.
Rubel didn’t make any excuses for me. Instead, he covered his mouth with one hand to suppress his laughter and took a half step back. Marianne seemed to see Rubel’s actions as urging her to do more, so she jumped up and sat down, clinging to the back of the sofa and laughing like a donkey, “Hee-hee.”
“Well, it’s okay. It seems like you’ve resolved it well. If you have a marital spat next time, go out and do it like this.”
“No, we’re not like that.”
“Yes, we will. I’m sorry for causing you concern, Young Lady Marianne.”
“I wish Young Master Ernhardt would realize that, not just Professor.”
I was speechless at the back-and-forth.
I was even more tormented because I didn’t dislike the actions of the guy who was teasing me, knowing full well that I had put off what I had put off until Rubel grew up a little more. And what was Rubel, nodding his head in agreement with those words?
While I was scolding them to speak properly, watching the children go back and forth among themselves, Benjamin, who had come out of the shower, also made a nonsensical remark.
“…Ah. Weren’t you two going to sleep together outside today?”
“I must be crazy!”
I was about to burst out in anger, but I couldn’t bear to see Rubel looking at me with wide eyes, so I said I would shower first and hid in the bathroom.
Marianne joked from behind, “Oh, Mika, Your Highness is next in line,” but I didn’t respond.
❖ ❖ ❖
Wednesday of the fourth week.
With Professor Steven McCliff’s summary of what we had learned so far, the special training to climb the Yuil Mountains came to an end. Now, after spending three days with our families, we would be able to see a new world on the second day of March, taking the prepared carriages and horses from the north gate of the capital.
First, I went to Maelo Sanson and Douglas Mustang, who had worked hard, and gave them gifts to express my gratitude. The gift that the servant had brought in accordance with today’s date was a precious wine that I had asked my parents to carefully wrap in advance.
I wanted to give both Professors something good without discrimination, but I had been worried for a long time because their tastes were very different, so I decided on this item. Fortunately, both Professors gladly accepted the gifts, thanked me for saying they would drink them on a good day, and gave me words of blessing.
For some reason, I felt sad and looked at him for a long time, and Maelo Sanson stroked my head so hard that it made a sound.
“Why are you acting like you’re never going to see me again? Send me a letter when you come down from the Yuil Mountains. Let’s see each other from time to time. Work hard when you go, and make sure to eat well.”
“…Yes. Thank you so much for everything, Professor.”
Douglas also shook hands with me with a smiling face.
“You’ve worked hard, Young Master Ernhardt. Contact me anytime when you need me in the future. I’ll be at the Academy all the time.”
“I learned a lot and gained a lot thanks to you, Professor. Thank you so much.”
“I had a lot of fun thanks to you too, Young Master. Thank you.”
Only after saying goodbye to the Professors with regret did I realize that I was leaving this Academy.
I stood there blankly for a long time for some reason. Rubel, who was standing by my side as if he was assisting me, called a carriage, saying he would take me to the townhouse.
I hesitated, thinking that my blood relatives might be surprised again to see the carriage with the Imperial family crest emblazoned on it, but I was feeling empty and hollow right now, so I obediently took Rubel’s carriage and returned home.