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Chapter 67
Judging by the expression of Sir Ethan as he closed the door and disappeared, it seemed that he had fallen into a deep misunderstanding.
“Sigh… this is troublesome.”
Rune, who had lifted his head thinking whether to wake Kylean, soon relaxed and leaned quietly into his embrace.
How am I supposed to wake him when he’s sleeping this soundly?
Seeing him asleep with such a tired face gave Rune a strange feeling. Even someone who always seemed perfect was still human, just like him.
“This is all because you looked exhausted, Lord. I’m just being considerate by letting you sleep a bit longer…”
Rune glanced up at Kylean’s face and whispered.
As if hearing him, Kylean nodded slightly and hugged Rune even closer.
“I don’t know anymore… Did he really nod his head?”
Thump, thump. Rune couldn’t even tell whether the racing heartbeat in his ears was his own or Kylean’s.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
“…What is this?”
A little later, Kylean woke up, furrowing his brows in disbelief.
His Esquire, who had intended to scold him sharply, had instead fallen asleep comfortably in his arms.
He exhaled a bitter laugh, watching Rune sleep with flushed cheeks, his head resting on Kylean’s arm.
Just as he tried to pull his arm away, Rune murmured sleepily and burrowed closer, as if in a sleepy tantrum.
“Mmm…”
The familiar scent he always carried wafted over him, momentarily clouding his mind. Feeling a tingling sensation down to his fingertips, Kylean clenched his fist tightly.
This is maddening.
Lowering his hardened jaw, he took in Rune’s soft face, unusually delicate for a man.
Long eyelashes shadowed a gently sloping nose and red lips.
At that moment, he didn’t even know what thoughts had crossed his mind.
And yet, such innocence, sleeping quietly in his arms.
“What the hell… are you?”
Just then, the clouds parted, and the afternoon sunlight poured over Rune’s face. Blinking from the brightness, his thin eyelids furrowed.
Kylean raised his hand to shield the light, and Rune’s frown softened, his eyes curving prettily.
“Ridiculous.”
Kylean let out a faint laugh, watching Rune smirk and chew his lips as if savoring something sweet in a dream.
Knock, knock. The door opened with a short knock. Ethan appeared, looking awkward but brightening upon seeing Kylean awake.
“My lord! You’re awake now? Why are you on that tiny sofa…?”
Kylean raised his index finger to his lips.
When Ethan’s eyes went wide, he nodded firmly with his chin.
“Go out quietly.”
Ethan shook his head, muttering something about overturning the capital all night searching for who knows what, then closed the door and left.
⚜ ⚜ ⚜
“You slept quite soundly.”
Kylean, sitting at his desk, looked at Rune and pointed at his cheek.
“Here. There’s a mark.”
Rune, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, pressed the back of his hand to his reddened cheek.
“I already told you, Lord was already asleep first, and it wasn’t like I hugged him… Ah, no, it’s all my fault.”
Rune decided to stay silent instead. The thought of explaining in detail how Kylean had hugged him, refusing to let go, made his whole body heat up.
Why did I fall asleep just like that?
As Kylean turned pages of his documents, he seemed somehow more relaxed than Rune had expected.
“So, what happened exactly?”
Kylean rested his elbows on the desk, interlacing his fingers tightly. Rune swallowed and spoke slowly.
“There was a place I needed to stop by, but the door was closed, so I was delayed returning. On my way back, I encountered a girl being threatened by men, which further delayed me.”
“So, you were late because you helped that girl?”
“Yes. I hadn’t intended to go that far, but she had a knife, so I had no choice but to intervene. I apologize.”
“What?”
Kylean raised one eyebrow, and Rune immediately shook his head in reply.
“Don’t worry. I didn’t use a real sword on civilians.”
“Incredible. Usually, someone with a knife isn’t called a civilian.”
Kylean studied Rune’s face closely and frowned. Sighing, he rummaged through a drawer and pulled out a small tin, about the size of a coin, then stood up.
He grabbed Rune’s wrist, sat him down on the sofa, and carefully held his chin.
“…Ah, so this is the wound from yesterday.”
Rune recalled the cut from the knife at dawn. The wound hadn’t hurt when he washed up, but now it started to sting stubbornly.
“It’s just a scratch. It’s fine.”
Frowning, Kylean began applying something to the wound. The pungent medicinal smell suggested it was an ointment.
Despite saying it was fine, Rune winced at the sharp sting.
“Ouch…”
“Lepium forbids students from using real swords. But in unavoidable situations that threaten life, some leeway is allowed.”
“Eh?”
Kylean continued while focusing on applying the ointment.
“From now on, if someone swings a knife at you, don’t hesitate to use your sword.”
“But even then, we can’t hurt people recklessly.”
“Your answers are unnecessarily long.”
Kylean pressed the ointment into the wound with his finger.
“Ouch! It hurts.”
The wound wasn’t that severe, so Rune felt it was unfair. Kylean, as his master, probably saw it as nothing. It seemed like he was deliberately teasing him. Kylean clicked his tongue and handed the ointment tin to Rune, speaking firmly.
“Don’t come back hurt.”
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“Open House?”
Rune asked while unwrapping his sandwich.
The weather was too nice to stay indoors. The three of them decided to have a simple lunch on the lawn, sitting under a large tree.
“The Academy is so strict about outsiders. We can’t just wander freely either.”
Daniel shrugged and answered. Rune tried not to laugh and teased.
“Ha, I didn’t think you, who used to sneak through small openings, would say that.”
Ellen, biting into her egg sandwich, nodded as if agreeing. Daniel, overwhelmed by their reactions, suddenly shouted.
“I had my reasons! How much could a part-time student earn? I had to do errands outside.”
“Ah, you worked hard. So what exactly is an Open House?”
Patting Daniel’s raised shoulders, Ellen explained.
“It’s when the Academy opens its doors to outsiders for a week.”
“Open to outsiders? Didn’t we invite guests at the festival recently?”
“That was different. This time, it’s limited to nobles.”
“Why?”
“Each with their own purpose, I suppose.”
Daniel laughed and flopped on the grass. Sunlight poured through the leaves, and he squinted.
“Hmph. Purpose my foot. They’re probably just picking people.”
“Picking people?”
Rune frowned. Daniel, hands behind his head, replied lazily.
“Exactly. Noble lords are looking for capable subordinates, and ladies are looking for suitable grooms.”
Ladies, indeed… though Rune thought it strange since Lepium Academy was not a women-only area.
“That’s the bigger event. They keep men at the Academy during their prime so that at least here they can meet, marry, and have children.”
“Often, engagements happen too.”
Marriage and children… Rune couldn’t understand why Kylean’s face popped into his mind at the mention.
Someday, Lord Kylean will marry and have children.
The thought felt strangely unsettling.
“Anyway! This is your first year, so you probably don’t know, but it’s better to just stay in your room during that week.”
Daniel suddenly sat up, hugging himself and shivering.
“Ugh, last year was terrible.”
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“Terrible indeed.”
Kylean frowned deeply.
“What’s gotten Princess Roselina interested?”
“It’s good for the Academy that the Rose of the Leonal Empire is showing interest.”
“Principal Gregory will certainly be pleased.”
Kylean tossed the telegraph sent from the royal family onto the desk. It announced that Princess Roselina would attend the upcoming Open House at the Academy.
So why would a princess, who usually enjoys quaint tea parties, even come to this Academy? Kylean pressed his temples and let out a low sigh.
Should I be thankful that Lawrence isn’t involved?
If his sister had gone along, things could have become troublesome.
After the Privy Council, Kylean had to exercise considerable patience to curb Lawrence’s curiosity.
Having finished washing up, his gaze drifted to the closed door, then naturally to the wall clock.
Tick-tock. The second hand pushed the long minute hand forward.
Click. Four o’clock in the afternoon.
Knock, knock. The door opened.
“Lord Kylean, Sir Ethan is here.”
“Ah. You’re here, Rune.”
Ethan welcomed Rune warmly as he entered, then hurriedly left for the administration office with some documents.
“Good afternoon, Lord Kylean.”
Kylean nodded shortly, and Rune smiled brightly, sitting on the long wooden chair by the window—his designated spot for some time now.
Kylean, leaning slightly on his desk, quietly watched Rune sitting upright.
Always at the same time, always in that spot, it felt as though he had been there from the very beginning.
And suddenly…
The fact that it had become so natural to him felt strangely unfamiliar.
