A Reunion Beyond Words

To the west of Luncandel lies Rahid, the City of Mages, and to the south lies the Academy.

When I first heard this, I thought, ‘No matter how important the Academy is, comparing a single institution to an entire city seems like a stretch.’ I could have understood if they said the Magic Tower instead. But seeing the Academy in person, I finally understood why the comparison was made.

The Academy sits at the end of the Path of Knowledge, which branches off from Sage Street—the grand boulevard cutting through the heart of Luncandel. Passing the newly built library, co-funded by the Magic Tower and the Imperial Family, you find the oldest and largest educational institution in the Empire. True to its founding philosophy, it is the only place open to everyone regardless of gender or social status. Of course, that was mostly on paper; the astronomical tuition meant most families couldn’t even dream of it. Unless they were wealthy bourgeois, the few commoners present were elite scholarship students.

The scale of the Academy was staggering. The perimeter fence stretched beyond the horizon, and the massive buildings stood with intimidating grandeur. I had imagined something like a foreign university campus I’d seen in photos, but I was dead wrong. To exaggerate slightly, it wasn’t that the Academy was in Luncandel; it felt more like a city named Academy was attached to the side of Luncandel.

Rich kids really do live in a different world. I peered out the window as our carriage traveled a long distance even after passing through the main gates. If it weren’t for Cedric Klein, I would have applied to the Academy’s swordsmanship department in a heartbeat. It was a shame I never got to enjoy facilities like these.

“Who are you trying to bewitch now?”

As the crowds outside began to thicken, Elliot pulled me away from the window and drew the curtains. I sat back down obediently, stunned by the shocking words coming out of his mouth.

“What kind of… bullshit is that?”

“I told you before. Look in a mirror.”

Discussing Llewelyn’s face myself was one thing, but hearing it from a friend dealt a different kind of damage. I trembled with a shame far greater than when Abel and Leo’s colleagues babbled about “fairies” and “angels.”

“Can’t you see I have goosebumps right now?”

“Most of the invitations sent to my house after your visit end with a request for you to come along. I could usually pass that off as people being curious because you’re an Edwill, but lately, some bastards are even sending love letters.”

“Bastards…?”

Not girls, but “bastards.” I was dizzy from the consecutive shocks since yesterday. How did this happen as soon as I grew up? I haven’t even made a proper appearance yet. I haven’t even had my debut, so I had no idea how they even knew what I looked like.

“It seems word got around that if they send letters to your house, they’ll be burned instantly, so now they’re coming to me… Did they think I wouldn’t burn them? They’re so desperate. It’ll be a spectacle when I gather them all up to set them on fire.”

Elliot snorted and sneered. “I even remember the contents of a few. I can recite them for you if you want.”

“How do they even know my face?”

“How do you think?” He smiled gently and lowered his voice as if sharing a secret. “When it came time to write the Knight Order applications and the sponsors were told to provide descriptions, your second brother personally brought along a portrait.”

It was Leo. I couldn’t even lift my head. The sheer embarrassment was enough to make me want to crawl into a hole. If the word had spread outside the Order, it meant everyone inside already knew. I felt a profound respect for the Commanders who hadn’t breathed a word of this to my face.

“This is crazy. Should I start wearing a mask?”

“I doubt it would be effective, but if it gives you a moment of mental peace, why not.”

“Abel said he was going to cast a curse that lowers the vision of anyone who looks at me. It sounded like nonsense, but since it’s Abel, it actually feels plausible.”

At that, even the mischievous Elliot showed genuine pity. “I never thought I’d realize the meaning of ‘moderation is best’ in this way. If you said this anywhere else, you’d get beaten up, but having a face this good is a poison if taken to excess. I’m just glad you learned the sword. If any bastard tries anything stupid, just stab him. The Count would probably come out of retirement just to make sure you’re found innocent.”

If it were truly just about the face, the Crown Prince would be surrounded by perverts too. I couldn’t blame the “original plot” in front of Elliot, so I just sighed deeply.

I knew it intellectually. But because I had been cooped up in the mountains with Spellman, I hadn’t realized the severity of the situation. My stay at the Spellman estate was too brief, and most of the people there were fanatics obsessed only with the sword. Dimension was an extreme case, but the others weren’t much different.

As I leaned my head against the carriage wall in frustration, Elliot seemed to think for a moment, then rested his chin on his hand by the window frame.

“Once you find a partner for your Vow here, it would be best to spread the rumors loudly.”

“Would that help?”

“If you act like you’re about to get engaged, they’ll at least watch their step. While you’re at it, keep the same partner for your debut banquet. Make it so people whisper that the two of you are the star-crossed lovers of the century.”

This made the conditions significantly more difficult. I thought of Lucia, whom Elliot had recommended. Even with the benefit of a high-profile debut in the capital, an engagement rumor wasn’t necessarily good for a noble lady of marriageable age. The capital was conservative; if we ended the “transaction” after the rumors spread, it would be Lucia who suffered the disadvantage. It wasn’t a light matter if I ended up blocking her marriage prospects.

Elliot spoke as if there was nothing to worry about. “Lucia will do it.”

“You sound so sure. Have you been in contact with her recently?”

“Do you think I spent my childhood mingling in salons just for those connections to snap the moment I went to the Academy? I’ve stayed in touch with everyone I befriended back then. Unlike someone, I don’t disappear for years without replying to a single letter.”

I had briefly forgotten—Elliot held a hell of a grudge.

Erkel had grown up exactly as I expected.

Neat, fine brown hair and hazel eyes that looked even lighter in the sun. The slightly drooping eyes that gave him a gentle impression, and the nose and lips that looked just like his mother, Rowena—everything was the same.

Despite the years that had passed, seeing his face felt as familiar as if I’d seen him yesterday, and something surged up in my chest.

It seemed Erkel felt the same. Biting his thin lips, his shoulders trembled intermittently. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he burst into tears. Of course, while I wouldn’t be shocked, the people around us would certainly make a fuss.

We stared at each other for a long time, sharing a silent conversation, until Erkel spoke first to welcome me.

“He-hic… You, you’ve been well.”

He barely managed to keep the tears from falling. Swallowing back a sob, he sniffled. His ragged breaths sounded like they were about to burst.

They say tears are contagious. Just as a child crying in a pediatrician’s office sets off the whole waiting room, seeing Erkel cry made my nose sting. I shouldn’t do this, I shouldn’t, I thought, yet the emotions kept overflowing.

From the scandalous rumors with the Crown Prince to the hellish training in the mountains and the events in Lovenus—there was a mountain of things I hadn’t been able to tell him directly. Though we’d communicated through Gredor’s letters, it had been a full six years since I’d seen his face.

Caught up in the atmosphere, I almost forgot there were people around and hugged him. I would have followed through if I hadn’t seen Elliot’s face, which was contorted as if he’d just witnessed the most bizarre sight in the world. Seeing him, with so much he clearly wanted to say, snapped me back to reality.

Elliot was beside me, and behind Erkel stood Aiden Rooster and Lewis Chloe, our childhood playmates. Furthermore, we were in a hallway where anyone could pass by at any moment. The situation was already strange enough.

Elliot didn’t even try to hide his expression, Lewis was smiling awkwardly, and Aiden was frozen stiff, creaking like a robot who forgot how to move. The thought running through all three of their heads was likely the same: ‘I know they were close, but were they really “long-lost lovers” levels of close?’

I quickly turned my head, covered my face with my sleeve, and tried to steady my breathing. I hadn’t expected such an overwhelming reunion, but I couldn’t help my lack of control.

After all, Erkel and I are the only ones for each other. No matter how close we get to other people, we are the only ones in this world who can truly trust and confide our innermost thoughts to one another.

Even if I trust Cale, cherish Leo, and like Abel, I can’t go to them and say, “Actually, this is a novel, and I’m a ping-pong ball being bounced between four men. In the process, Leo dies, so I’m trying to stop the plot from happening.”

But still, this wasn’t right. We had to remember our positions.