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Chapter 25
Behind a crumbling ivory-colored building, a silver-haired boy ran swiftly. His eyes—tinged with the vivid yellow of freesia—sparkled with joy.
He had just heard incredible, long-awaited news from Lilith.
“Starting tomorrow, you can attend the Academy too. It’s all thanks to the person who saved your life.”
Passing the entrance to the kitchen garden paved with fine gravel, Richard quickly scanned his surroundings.
He had come looking for the person who had immediately come to mind the moment he heard the news.
But unfortunately, the person he sought was nowhere to be found in the garden.
“Til, find Lise!”
Richard snapped his fingers sharply, calling Til.
Lilith had advised him to avoid summoning his guardian beast whenever possible, since it consumed a great deal of mana.
Richard intended to do so. But when it came to seeing Alina, he made an exception.
“Lise! Lise!”
At Richard’s call, a bird like a white snowflake immediately appeared.
The bird circled in place for a moment, then sensed something and flew toward a red building.
“Lise! Lise!”
“Al… Lise!”
Chasing after the bird, Richard called out Alina’s name. His voice was steeped in a joy he had never felt in his life.
There had been countless moments when he had missed Alina, but never had he felt so desperately eager to see her.
Raising his voice toward where her lodgings should be, Richard shouted again.
“Lise!”
At his cry, one of the second-floor windows opened. Beyond it appeared the pale face of a girl with pink hair tinged with gold.
Looking for the one who had called her, she slowly moved her large eyes, shining like summer leaves.
Richard waited anxiously for her gaze to land on him.
“Lise, over here! Here!”
When Alina didn’t spot him right away, Richard waved his hand impatiently.
At his call, Alina’s slightly drooping eyes curved into a bright smile.
“Richard.”
At her smile, Richard swallowed unconsciously.
There it is again.
Lately, two strange changes had come over him. He was still adjusting to them.
One of them was that every time his eyes met Alina’s, his mouth went dry—
Just like now.
“I’ll come down right away. Wait.”
Looking down at him, Alina raised her voice, then quickly turned away.
As her hair—sparkling transparently in the sunlight—disappeared from view, Richard bowed his head deeply.
“Ah… this again.”
He muttered to himself, clenching his fist tightly.
The second change was that every time he met Alina, his heart went wild.
Just thinking about seeing her made his heart pound as if he had been running at full speed.
“Haa… hoo…”
Waiting for Alina to come down, Richard took deep breaths.
He hoped she wouldn’t notice these changes.
If she ever learned the cause, she might start treating him differently.
Not yet. I can’t let her find out.
He reassured himself.
Alina was the single ray of light that had settled into his dark life. He didn’t even want to imagine that precious light recoiling from him.
“Lise! Lise!”
While he tried to calm his pounding heart, Til noisily shouted Lise’s name beside him.
By now, Til called her name so often it was as if “Lise” were its original cry.
That was the result of Richard habitually murmuring her name whenever he was alone.
“Be quiet.”
Pressing a hand firmly to the left side of his chest, Richard muttered. His heart was still racing.
Normally he could endure it, but today his emotions refused to settle.
He wished both Til and his heart would just quiet down.
Otherwise, it would be hard to properly tell Alina the happy news.
Calm down.
Richard soothed himself.
He wasn’t a child—getting unnecessarily excited and making a fuss would be unsightly.
Though, to be fair, Alina did tend to treat him like one.
“Richard!”
Lost in bitter thoughts, Richard jerked his head up at the clear voice calling him.
Somehow, she had already come out of her lodgings and was walking toward him.
Unlike Richard, who was bursting with excitement, Alina looked as she always did. As always, she was lovely and beautiful.
Or maybe… she’s even prettier today?
Richard stared blankly at Alina as she approached.
This was the first time he’d seen her since they parted at the hunting grounds.
Since that day, he’d wanted to visit her again and again. He couldn’t bear the worry, knowing she’d suffered from a high fever all night.
But for Alina’s sake, he held back. He wanted her to focus on the banquet competition judging.
Part of it was also his resolve to stop acting like a child.
There was nothing more pathetic than whining to see someone just because you missed them, or begging them to play.
Richard didn’t want to be a burden to Alina. He wanted to be of help to her.
That was why he went to Lilith. He even threatened his sister, demanding she heal Alina no matter what.
He went so far as to make the ridiculous threat that he’d curse her for life if she didn’t.
Lilith was more than a little taken aback by Richard’s uncharacteristically bold demands.
But in the end, she granted his request.
Of course, it was probably because she liked Alina too.
After all, there couldn’t be anyone in this world who disliked Alina.
Thinking in such an utterly biased way, Richard smiled brightly.
“Lise!”
When Alina smiled sweetly at him, Richard ran toward her.
Despite his vow to remain calm and composed, his body moved first.
He realized it too late—but when Alina patted his head, he decided he didn’t care.
Alina spoke to him gently.
“So you’ve already heard the news?”
“Yeah. Congratulations, Alina.”
Richard offered his congratulations before anything else.
He had believed she would win, but since her opponent was the sous-chef, he’d been secretly worried.
Still, as expected, his Alina had won. A perfectly natural result.
Richard took the hand that was stroking his head and rubbed it against his cheek.
“Really… congratulations.”
He was happy that Alina had obtained what she wanted.
Alina caressed his cheek and spoke.
“I think I should be congratulating you, Richard. You know you’re going to the Academy, right?”
“Yeah. I heard from Lilith. Thank you.”
Richard leaned his face against the nape of Alina’s neck and closed his eyes.
She smelled fresh and bright, like lemons. He loved that scent.
Then suddenly, Richard lifted his head.
“But is it really okay to use such a precious opportunity on me? You could’ve asked for something better.”
“Right now, there’s nothing better for me than you going to the Academy.”
Alina said softly, her voice tinged with loneliness.
“…The Academy is safe. You can learn so much there. If things go well, you might even become the captain of the knight order.”
“Captain of the knight order?”
“Ah, it’s nothing.”
Laughing it off, Alina patted Richard’s back.
The gesture felt oddly like a nanny soothing a child to sleep, so he naturally pulled away from her.
He didn’t like being treated that way.
Startled by his movement, Alina asked,
“What’s wrong?”
“There’s something I need to say.”
“What is it?”
“I’m leaving for the Academy tomorrow.”
Alina’s eyes widened at the news.
“That soon?”
“Yeah. Lilith said I’m already two years behind the other students, so it’s better to go as soon as possible.”
“Well… that makes sense.”
Folding her arms, Alina nodded. She looked at Richard, then turned her gaze toward her room’s window.
“Why? Did you leave something there?”
As Richard followed her gaze, Alina spoke as if to divert his attention.
“So… once you enroll in the Academy, does that mean we won’t see each other again for six years?”
“No. There are vacations, so we can meet in winter. In three months! Wait for me until then.”
Richard spread three fingers wide and grinned.
But unlike his cheerful expression, his heart was in shambles.
Three months. It was an unbearably long time.
Not seeing Alina for the past week had already been painful—three months meant enduring that same week twelve times over. Just imagining it killed his appetite.
“Three months will pass in no time. Don’t you think?”
He added, trying his best to sound nonchalant.
Even if it was hard, he had to endure. That was his decision.
Rather than staying by Alina’s side every day in the imperial palace and never growing, he wanted to become someone strong enough to protect her—even if it meant a brief separation.
So that when she was sick, hurt, or in danger, he could step forward without hesitation.
“Right. Three months will fly by.”
Alina smoothed his hair with her hand.
Her voice was low and husky—slightly rough, like someone who had just woken up.
“Go and make lots of friends. Study magic diligently. You need to do well even without my help. You know this is as much as I can do for you, right?”
“Of course, I know! Lilith said if I make even one big achievement, my position will be secured. Like capturing a Zenotat royal or something.”
“Zenotat…?”
The hand stroking his hair stopped.
Richard immediately caught her reaction and stepped closer.
“What is it? Are you worried I might get hurt if I step in?”
“Huh? Y-yeah. That’s right.”
Taking her hand and lowering it, Richard spoke warmly.
“Those kinds of things are still far off, so you don’t have to worry. I’ll make plans for that later—”
“Stop.”
“Alina?”
