By Zephyria 
Wednesday of the second week of March.
It was a very early dawn, so quiet not even birdsong could be heard. For some unknown reason, my spine tingled and my stomach churned today. I couldn’t just lie there, so I sat up.
Ruben, who always snuggled up to me the moment I shifted even slightly in my sleep, once again nuzzled his forehead against my waist and tugged at the hem of my shirt.
Almost simultaneously, I sensed the presence of a servant hurrying towards me from the stairs at the far end of the corridor.
Before the servant could even knock, I pulled the bell cord beside the bed, granting permission to enter. The servant, who took a deep, audible breath at the door to steady their nerves, opened the door silently and stepped inside. Despite their composed demeanor, they were out of breath. They must have run up the stairs.
The servant reported, “Count Ernhardt and his family have just arrived at the Imperial Palace’s main gate. Shall I help you prepare?”
“…My family?”
Ah.
I thought they wouldn’t arrive until tomorrow or the day after.
Thinking of my family made my chest feel heavy, and I couldn’t answer promptly. It felt like indigestion, a heavy weight pressing down in my chest. They could have taken their time, come at a leisurely pace. Why rush so much, risking an accident, to arrive here without a proper night’s sleep?
“…Lord Ernhardt? Preparations…”
“No. I will handle it. Philip, you go now and prepare the east and west reception rooms. Bring three types of tea that will help calm the mind and body.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Ruben answered in my stead, as I sat there blankly, unsure what to say.
Ruben, who had been holding my waist, now had a face completely devoid of sleepiness. I stared at him blankly. The boy, who had seemed to furrow his brow for a moment, diligently added more instructions.
“What time is it now?”
“It is 4:20 AM, Your Majesty.”
“Tell the kitchen to prepare breakfast at 30-minute intervals starting at seven in the morning. Meals should be served immediately whenever the guests wish.”
“Will Your Majesty be joining them?”
“No. Today, they should spend time with their family. In case of any issues, exclude all strongly scented herbs and prepare easily digestible foods. Lady Ernhardt is allergic to shellfish, so please be especially careful.”
“Yes.”
Asdel was allergic?
It was a fact I never knew. In the Ernhardt Earldom, a landlocked region deep inland, there wasn’t much opportunity to encounter seafood. I, who had spent most of my growing years away from home and paid little attention to family matters, could only stare blankly at Ruben.
Then, the boy took my wrist.
“Let’s go, Mika. I’ll pick out your clothes.”
His gentle voice melted my ears and heart.
I put on the new clothes Ruben brought out and draped myself in a well-tailored cloak. After adding various accessories and styling my hair.
I wondered if I really needed to dress up so elaborately to meet relatives I could be completely at ease with, but I also wanted to show my family, who must have worried about me for so long, the best and most splendid version of myself, so I complied obediently.
❖ ❖ ❖
I headed to the reception room, guided by a servant.
Despite changing and preparing as quickly as possible, my relatives had already arrived. Through the open door, muffled voices thick with tears and sobs continuously leaked out.
Hearing the children’s voices comforting their mother and their father’s heavy breathing, my heart grew urgent, and I practically ran into the inner chamber. There, my mother, who had collapsed onto the sofa, sat up abruptly and looked at me.
Her blue eyes were filled with salty seawater. Seiren’s dazed gaze was fixed entirely on my face. I recalled seeing her crying face for most of the day when we last met, and the thought that she had cried again this time made me uneasy.
Instead of my mother, who couldn’t move, I stood before her. I took both her hands to support her.
“I am sorry for being late.”
“…Mikael?”
“Yes. It is me, Mother. I was trying to return home, but you had already departed.”
“…You, you wicked child…”
My mother leaned into my embrace, half-collapsing. I could tell how much she had suffered in the past few years; her already light body had become so frail it seemed it could blow away. As I patted her back, stroking her arms, I slowly surveyed the faces of my family.
My father’s eyes, already red, were now wet like a rabbit’s, crimson. The children’s faces, which had grown unfamiliar, were also full of tears.
Mikael, trying to be a man, kept staring at the ceiling, holding back his tears, his chin forming little walnut-like wrinkles, which was both cute and amusing. Asdel, dabbing under his eyes with a handkerchief, glared at me, so I beckoned him closer.
Asdel slowly shook his head. Then, with a soft chuckle, he gestured with his chin towards my mother.
Everyone must have worried greatly, but how could anyone compare to her, who had almost lost her grown child? I embraced Seiren tightly once more, then let go and looked at her face. Her chin was trembling. Just as I took out a handkerchief, unable to bear looking at her tear-streaked face any longer.
My mother opened her mouth, her voice trying to remain calm.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“I am unharmed. It was an easy battle.”
“A trap, you fell into a trap… The gods, they said you wouldn’t be able to return…”
“They are all young for gods. They are tender-hearted and know little.”
As she seemed on the verge of gasping for breath, I gently helped my disoriented mother back onto the sofa. Mikael quickly handed her a glass of water, which made me laugh again. He had truly grown so much. Truly.
Seeing my smiling face, my mother let out a playful remark like a sigh.
“…I should have pulled out all those dragon scales myself.”
“Haha, I will pull them out for you later.”
“I, with what heart…”
“I am sorry. I hurried as much as I could to return early, but it turned out this way.”
“No. You, what fault could you possibly have? You…”
My mother clasped my hand and stroked it tenderly.
Mikael quickly made space for me on the sofa next to my mother, as I stood awkwardly, only bowing my waist, and stood up. Now seventeen, the grown Mikael had become a young man over six feet tall. I savored the affectionate light filling his gentle blue eyes.
“How was it, brother? How did it feel to fight a god?”
“It was good.”
“I knew it. If it were you, ssup, heu… I knew it would be like that.”
“Yes. You are the only one who believes in me.”
Laughter erupted again. My mother, burying her forehead on my shoulder, began to weep uncontrollably once more. Asdel, squeezing his soaked handkerchief, also let out a sniffling laugh.
“Ah, what is this? You could have enrolled on time. You ruined everything because of me, brother.”
“Yes, it’s all my fault. If I had known it would take this long, I should have told you beforehand.”
“That’s right! What, I, I thought my brother…”
Asdel, about to say more, swallowed his words and grinned. It was a mischievous face.
“You have to come to the entrance ceremony and boost my morale, brother. That’s why I deliberately postponed my enrollment.”
“Alright.”
“I’m going to the academy in Valentia’s territory, not the capital. You’ll come all the way there.”
“Yes, I promise.”
“…”
“So please stop crying.”
“Hoohoo… I don’t need a hero brother. You know? Just a strange, handsome brother is enough…”
Now Asdel also clung to my other arm. Seeing me sitting with two women clinging to my arms, Mikael, with wet eyes, smiled and then quickly climbed onto my lap, making me burst into laughter. Even standing, I could easily bear the weight of three people, but I couldn’t shake them off.
I raised my head and looked at my father, William Ernhardt.
Then, my father, who had been patiently waiting his turn, strode forward and placed his hand on my head. I was surprised, as he hadn’t ruffled my hair like a child since I was over ten. He continuously stroked my hair, examining my face, his expression not unlike how he’d inspect grapes for quality.
“Thank you for returning, Mikael. You’ve been through a lot.”
“Yes. I missed you too. Were your travels not arduous?”
“What hardship could there be when you are alive…”
“Still, it would be best if you didn’t rush the carriage at night next time.”
At that, my mother grabbed my wrist and pulled, lifting her tear-filled face.
“Will there be more of this in the future?”
Oops.
“No, no. It’s all resolved now. I won’t have to be away from the Empire for long anymore. I apologize for causing you unnecessary worry.”
“Why should you apologize, why.”
“Hmm.”
I was truly glad Ruben had brought several handkerchiefs. Even after distributing one to each family member, there were still handkerchiefs left.
Seeing this, Mikael let out a disbelieving laugh, and my mother, realizing the situation belatedly, looked down at the handkerchief in her hand with a coy expression. Everyone here knew best that I was not adept at handling such small matters.
Indeed, her tears gradually stopped. Her weary voice was tinged with a hollow laugh.
“You said you had already departed and wouldn’t be coming to the Earldom.”
“Yes?”
“It seems you were doing well. Has His Majesty already proposed?”
“Um, well… I proposed first.”
“Huh?”
“Now that there seem to be no more dangers, I got a little greedy. I couldn’t wait any longer…”
“What? The ring?”
“…Um.”
There was a thud, not a snap.
Though it was the first time my mother had hit me on the back, I only felt joy. I laughed out loud, shaking with her exclamations of “How could you!” My startled younger siblings looked back and forth between my mother and me with wide eyes.
I was finally back in my place.
Finally, I knew these were my mother and my father. Realizing this fact overwhelmingly made me feel nothing but cheerful and amused. It was as comforting as being submerged head-to-toe in hot water.