WNC 275

For the past year since I turned my back on the capital to ascend the Yuil Mountains, the capital seemed to have been in an uproar.

After graduating from the Academy, it was common for most graduates to interact and engage with each other organically, expanding their businesses. Therefore, they often held tea parties and charity events, adhering to the intricate etiquette of high society. Through these, they sought good investment opportunities and found their partners.

The flow of capital and the business of the year were significantly influenced by which families joined forces, making marriage alliances one of the items everyone paid close attention to.

Richard Flo Searon, in particular, was the First Prince, and there were a considerable number of people who wished for him to become Emperor. Thus, many nobles were said to be keenly watching to see who would become the First Imperial Princess Consort.

Whether the First Prince met Lady Hestia Yeldithus or Lady Poplar Kiadris more frequently, and in which locations, was being consumed as gossip fodder in magazines daily.

“As for Princess Kiadris, setting aside the fact that it would be difficult for her to marry as a legitimate daughter unless it’s this marriage, any match would be incomparable to Prince Richard, so her desperation is natural. She always tries to create rumors by mingling with the First Prince in crowded places, accompanied by flamboyant clothes and numerous onlookers.

However, Lady Yeldithus honestly has no need to engage in such a battle of wills. She is the legitimate daughter of the Yeldidus family, recognized by all, and even if she doesn’t become the Duke of Yeldidus or the Empress, she could receive a decent County. Yet, she hasn’t given up on the First Prince and meets with Prince Richard with the exact same frequency as Princess Kiadris.

Honestly, I think Prince Richard should make a choice by now.

Whether he intends to keep both ducal families under his wing until he obtains the throne, or for whatever other reason, I don’t know. But if Lady Yeldithus’s mood sours, the consequences will clearly not be good.

Despite this, Richard behaves shamelessly. Some days, he meets Kiadris in the morning and Yeldidus in the afternoon. They even share a meal together sometimes. He gives jewels and flowers to both of them.

The types and prices of the jewels are already the subject of public discussion, and this has been going on for a year. Is this intentional? Honestly, it’s absurd. Everyone is whispering, wondering if Lady Yeldithus has no pride, yet all three of them remain unfazed. ”

It was fortunate that I gave up on social affairs early and ascended the Yuil Mountains.

I could be curious and find it endearing who was close to whom, or who loved whom. However, I have no interest in gossiping about others’ romantic relationships or analyzing their repercussions.

It simply felt like reading a sensational romance novel, so I read it twice and clicked my tongue inwardly.

As far as I knew, Richard Flo Searon was not such a dissolute person. Until the year I debuted, I heard he only ever spent time with Wesley Kiadris and never kept anyone else by his side.

I couldn’t tell if he had caused trouble while Wesley, who managed his reputation well, was away, or if this was another scheme that could be used in political maneuvering. However, if he truly valued people based on their worth and compared them, I thought his heart was petty.

Also, since reputation is important for the Emperor’s position, it was suspicious that Searon wasn’t preventing such rumors.

There were many other such tidbits of gossip. It was no different from how Shayden used to tell me various things or help me when I was at the Academy, which made me smile.

“Well then, stay healthy, Mika. Let’s meet in the capital next time.

Your top navigator.”

At the end of the thick letter, only a casual greeting, as if we would see each other again tomorrow, was written.

Is this all?

After leaving so many stories about other people, for some reason, he didn’t write a single word about himself. As I was flipping through the letter, feeling a sense of unwarranted curiosity, Rubel suddenly stood up and approached Ikyun.

“What is it, Young Master Rose? What did he say?”

“He simply relayed news from the capital. I sent a few magazines enclosed with the letter… it seems to contain some updates on the First Prince.”

“Can I see it too?”

There was nothing I couldn’t show him. I handed the letter to Rubel without much thought.

Rubel read the letter meticulously. From my seated position, I could see Rubel’s jawline as he looked down at the letter. Illuminated by the magic lamp on the desk, the child’s round earlobes and firm jawline gleamed softly.

I watched him for a long time, amused by his changing expressions as he read through the letter.

However, Rubel’s expression was not good by the time he finished reading the letter.

I wondered if he had discovered some hidden meaning in Richard’s behavior. As Rubel neatly folded the letter and put it back into the envelope, his jaw was clenched, making it bulge.

Thinking I should comfort him, I reached out and grasped his wrist.

“Is it something bad?”

“…Huh? No, …no. I’m just a little confused hearing about the capital.”

Rubel’s eyes drooped sadly, and he lowered himself, attempting to embrace me. He had been refraining from this kind of physical contact for a while. Surprised, I swayed my chair and opened my arms to pull him in. As he nuzzled his head against my neck and shoulder, I felt ticklish inside.

Ah. I want to kiss him.

No, no. Now is… a time when he simply needs comfort. Feeling strange and embarrassed that I was waiting for him to grant permission again, I cleared my throat to suppress my feelings. I gently patted Rubel’s back and made a casual remark.

“Do you understand why Richard is acting this way?”

“…Well… I don’t really know. More than anything…”

“More than anything?”

“Lady Yeldithus… is actually not such a meek person.”

“…What?”

That was also puzzling.

From afar, she had given off an impression of being gentle and pure. Compared to Poplar Kiadris in her red dress, she had seemed even more modest and chaste.

However, Rubel shook his head firmly, hesitated for a moment, and then sat on my thighs.

Even though he was quite large, I was not someone who couldn’t bear the weight of just one child. I held him securely by his waist, ensuring he wouldn’t fall. From that position, I looked up at him.

Rubel placed his hands on my shoulders and massaged them like a masseuse a couple of times before his expression finally softened. Only then did he continue speaking.

“Since she’s a young lady from a ducal family of similar standing, I’ve met her a few times with Lucilla.”

“…Is that so?”

Had Rubel also considered her as a potential marriage partner?

When I remained silent and watched him, Rubel continued in a gentle voice.

“Lady Yeldithus… is not someone who tolerates insults. From the letter, it seems like Princess Kiadris is deliberately provoking her, but she wouldn’t tolerate this to this extent.”

“…Mmm.”

“It’s possible that the two ducal families and Richard are enduring something for a purpose… but managing one’s reputation like this is not a characteristic move for a Searon noble.”

“Hmm.”

“I should tell Lucilla to talk to her about it. Thank you for showing me the letter, Mika.”

“Well… I thought it was something Rubel should know too.”

“Still.”

The arm that carefully wrapped around my shoulder was warm, and his gaze, which met mine directly, was clear. As if mesmerized, I stared at his face for a long time. Then, Rubel smiled brightly again.

…Oops, I snapped back to reality and released my hands from Rubel’s waist.

“Now I must write a reply.”

“…Mmm. Can I see the reply too?”

“Yes. Well, you may.”

However, as I wrote the letter, his breath touching my cheek felt so close that it made me embarrassed, so I ended up writing less than half a page and told him to go sit over there, promising to show him later.

Rubel didn’t argue and simply replied, “Okay,” and quietly went to sit on the sofa.

❖ ❖ ❖

Thursday of the second week of December.

As always, I trained my body in the martial arts training ground at dawn.

After breakfast, I practiced swordplay, and after lunch, I sparred with the two children or looked through the monster compendium together. Although I had little time to myself, I consistently used it for Breathing and regulating energy to absorb as much energy as possible into my body.

Also, after carefully filing away the letters I had received and sending them to the capital and the barony, I wrote new letters every day.

My intention was to write six months’ worth in advance. Even if I didn’t deceive my relatives by sending one letter each month, making it seem like I was still residing in the Duchy, I thought I could convey my longing to them by writing down various personal matters beforehand and sending them all at once before going on a subjugation.

Also… lately, Rubel comes into my room every night, and I feared I might harbor vain hopes if I didn’t occupy myself with such trivial tasks.

While I wrote letters, Rubel spent his time writing his own letters or browsing through various books. Just as he was curious about the letters I was writing, I was also curious about the books he read, so I sometimes followed suit and read books he had finished.

He read a lot about history and politics, but recently he had taken an interest in Theological Texts. Among ancient myths, there were many stories about defeating black magicians with the help of divine power. These were tales from a time when black magic was seen as divine punishment. He said that not many people believed such things nowadays.

I write letters, and he reads books.

When I finish writing my letters, he comes and reads what I’ve written, and I take the book he was reading.

Then, when it gets late, we exchange casual goodnight greetings, hold hands for a short, sweet moment, and I send Rubel back to his room, telling him to go to sleep. This has been my routine lately.

But today was different.

Rubel, after reading the letter to Shayden three times in a row, wouldn’t let go of my hand.

He held my hand tightly, his fingers intertwined, until they felt damp, and pouted. When I suggested we stop and go to sleep, he tightly clasped my index and middle fingers together. I ended up giving up on standing and sat back down on the sofa.

Rubel rested his chin on my shoulder and whined.

“…Can we stay together a little longer.”

“…Uh. Why? Can’t you sleep?”

“Yes.”

But he has to wake up early tomorrow. After a moment of thought, I asked again.

“Shall I go and tuck you in?”

“…”

There was no immediate answer.

Still, I waited with bated breath, believing he would answer someday. At the moment, the warmth touching my fingertips was precious, and I didn’t want to let go easily. Waiting was not tedious at all.