By Zephyria 
Sansone was not surprised by the news that Rubel and I were getting married.
“Well, I kind of expected it. Now that I think about it, honestly, it was quite strange that you weren’t afraid even though Rubel pursued you so relentlessly. The first few times, I thought I couldn’t just let it happen and stepped in to stop him.”
“…Did you?”
“…”
“Honestly, Mikael, you were young, but you were also very pretty and so small. I thought you might get bullied. It wasn’t just me; many professors were worried about you two.”
A mischievous smile spread across Sansone’s wrinkled face.
Rubel sat upright with a green-tinged complexion, simply smiling. I knew his words were true because Rubel remained silent. It was amusing to hear that he had shamelessly pursued me despite knowing he was being looked at strangely by others.
“But Rubel wasn’t small and cute back then either.”
“…Huh?”
“Your cheeks were plumper than they are now, your body hadn’t fully matured, so your shoulders were narrower, and your thighs were thinner. You’d get shy all day from just one pat on the head… There was nothing for the professors to worry about. Rather, Rubel suffered a lot because of me.”
Sansone’s gaze slowly shifted to Rubel. Sansone scanned Rubel with a displeased expression.
“No, from my perspective, then and now…”
“No. Clearly,”
“Mika.”
Rubel firmly gripped my forearm.
Had my poor cheeks turned bright red again? Rubel had never bullied me during our school days. I thought it was only right to clear up any misunderstandings, so I intended to speak up for myself in front of the professor, but it seemed to be the wrong approach. I quietly closed my mouth.
Seeing this, Sansone, unable to suppress his laughter, let out a hearty chuckle.
“Right, even back then, seeing you like this, I let it be because you were bullying Rubel.”
“…Me?”
“Yeah. I’d never seen a junior bow their head and greet a senior first, but you used to mess up his hair every morning, making it look like a bird’s nest. It was so funny.”
“…”
I hadn’t realized my actions appeared that way to others.
The old stories that came from Maelo Sanson had a gentler, more tender side.
In Professor Sanson’s eyes, Rubel seemed like the most enthusiastic fan among those who praised my swordsmanship. It was true that I had shown early promise from a young age, and Rubel never hesitated to elevate me while lowering himself, which led to the misunderstanding.
He recounted how Rubel’s decision to retake an intermediate swordsmanship class, where he had received the highest score, was quite amusing. He also mentioned how, after me, no one else signed up for the extra Friday afternoon class for a while, making him bored. These stories continued at a leisurely pace.
“But, there was something I was curious about…”
“Yes? Yes. Please tell me.”
“Do you remember when you fought with His Majesty before?”
“…Yes?”
“You were so clingy and causing such a fuss every day, and then suddenly, a little after starting our second year, you started ignoring each other. I worried something big had happened, but then you were inseparable again… Was that the start of your lovers’ quarrels?”
“…”
It was the story of when I first realized Rubel liked me.
At that time, I was immature and clumsy, and I didn’t know what to do with Rubel’s sweet and pitiable love. I wanted to leave those memories buried in their immaturity. It was embarrassing to revisit them, but they were also precious memories that I wanted to cherish.
With as nonchalant an expression as possible, I placed the wedding invitation I had written myself on the table.
Maelo Sanson, with a mischievous smile filling his good-natured face, pounded his fist on the table like a child throwing a tantrum. Seeing that the table didn’t break under his large, sturdy fist, I knew it was a joke.
Sansone pressed again, urging me.
“Ah, what is it? I couldn’t ask back then because you two were such delicate children.”
“Here is the wedding invitation. And, Professor, there is one more thing I would like to ask of you…”
“What is it? Honestly, even if I prepared a wedding gift, it would only be within the range set by the Academy’s Council of Officials…”
“We would like to ask you to officiate our wedding.”
“…Me?”
This was the first time I had seen Maelo Sanson look so surprised since I met him.
Smiling broadly, I offered the invitation again. Maelo Sanson took out the invitation, which had only the last line changed to “We would be grateful if you would lead our happiness from the front row,” and examined it. He let out a few surprised gasps.
“No, as you know, I’m not good at speeches or anything…”
“It is said that a true teacher is like a parent. Professor Maelo Sanson, you saved my life multiple times when I was on the brink of death, so I sincerely wish for you to give a congratulatory address at the start of my new life.”
“…”
“Please, Professor.”
“Oh my… Alright, from now on, I’ll spend my Friday afternoons contemplating my wedding speech. If I were to refuse after you’ve asked this much, it would be mere petulance. I consider it an honor. Thank you.”
“Thank you!”
I hadn’t considered the possibility of refusal, but I was overjoyed.
After that, we continued talking for a long time until the bottom of our cups ran dry. Throughout the conversation, Maelo Sanson did not bring up Douglas or Wesley. It was evident that he didn’t want to revisit sad stories on such a happy day, so we fully respected his wishes.
❖ ❖ ❖
Calypse Agrigent and Walter Orgen met in Calypse’s professor’s office.
While Maelo Sanson’s office remained unchanged from ten years ago, Calypse Agrigent’s office had changed drastically, requiring a thorough look. Previously, the office was crammed with books, maps, and various documents; now, instead of document folders, vases were placed everywhere.
Sitting in a room filled with the fresh scent of flowers, we were formally served tea.
It was understandable that Calypse’s office was filled with flowers, as Walter Orgen had become a flower arrangement teacher. However, I wondered what the collection of snacks on top of a nearby cabinet was all about.
Since it wasn’t something Calypse would do, the culprit was obvious.
“It’s been a while, Professor. Thank you for making time for us despite your busy schedule.”
“I am merely grateful for the opportunity to share in this joyous occasion, Your Majesty.”
Rubel presented the gift he had prepared to Professor Calypse. Calypse Agrigent bowed politely with a cool expression, without even checking what the gift was. I also greeted Calypse respectfully and sat next to Rubel in the offered seats.
After the necessary pleasantries, I met the gaze of Walter Orgen, whose amethyst eyes were looking at us as if he found it hilarious. I smiled at Walter Orgen’s jovial face and asked what I was curious about.
“Did you open a snack shop within the Academy?”
“Ah, these are gifts. The students gave them to me. I must be quite popular.”
“…”
“This one is cute too. It’s a music box that plays a song when you wind it up. He made it himself and brought it.”
“Why… is that in Professor Agrigent’s office?”
“I’m an adjunct professor, so I don’t have an office. We’re here together every day anyway, so I put it here.”
He looked surprisingly happy.
Looking closely now, Calypse Agrigent had also gained a little weight. His usually stern and irritable demeanor had softened, and his long neck showed no signs of being gnawed or bitten.
And what about Walter Orgen? From the moment he greeted us, he had a constant, beaming smile on his face. As soon as he saw me, he snatched the wedding invitation I handed him, checked it several times, and let out a sweet sigh.
“You seem to be doing well.”
“Yes. It’s all thanks to you, you know. Did I tell you about how I volunteered for the Imperial Palace Guard after graduation?”
“Yes? I didn’t hear about that. …You took the exam for the Guard?”
“Of course. Are you worried I might have failed? I’m an Academy graduate, why are you acting like this?”
“No, that’s not what I’m doubting.”
The military forces of the Sierran Empire’s capital were broadly divided into the Imperial Knights and the Imperial Guard.
The Imperial Knights were the highest-ranking military organization directly under the Sierran Emperor.
Their primary duty was continuous training to improve their combat capabilities. Even the lowest-ranking Imperial Knight was a Sword Master with over two years of service in the Yuil Mountains.
Even when isolated, they could easily handle hundreds of small monsters, and thirty of them could eliminate a moderate to large monster pack in an instant.
Therefore, the Imperial Knights rarely mobilized unless the Empire faced a grave threat.
Those who joined the Imperial Knights immediately received the title of Baron. Their rank would increase with promotion, but promotion was difficult due to the high caliber of their colleagues.
On the other hand, the Imperial Guard was responsible for the direct security of the Sierran capital.
It was said that for every hundred people, a hundred problems arose, and for every ten thousand people, ten thousand problems arose. Amidst the vast and constant flow of people, thieves and beggars would spring up like dust and vanish like dew.
The Imperial Guard served as a public prosecutor’s office. When citizens directly filed complaints, they would register the case, investigate, apprehend the culprit, and hand them over to the judiciary.
In addition, they regularly patrolled designated areas within each administrative district to resolve all civil complaints among ordinary citizens that the Nobility Yearbook could not account for.
Since many personnel were needed for tasks such as processing documents and receiving complaints, not just Martial Artists, they were always short-staffed. Any adult citizen with a clear identity was eligible to apply for the Guard.
The monthly salary for a soldier was fixed and honest, but it was not generous enough for the spending habits of nobles. Work hours often changed with two or three shifts. Walter Orgen, who became a Sword Master without ascending the Yuil Mountains, was undoubtedly an overly talented individual for the Imperial Guard.
However, Walter Orgen seemed to have joined the Imperial Guard immediately after graduation, intending to live semi-dependent on his older lover, who was an Academy professor.
“Then, after about three years, I used that experience to apply for security support at the Academy. By chance, I ended up switching to a full-time instructor during a mana surge period, but I’ve lived steadily in the capital ever since.”
“…”
Just hearing about Walter Orgen’s career changes made it clear how much Calypse Agrigent had struggled. I let out a hollow laugh, looking at Walter’s handsome face beaming with a smile.