Chapter 386

“S-Senior… *hic*… C-Congratulations… *sniffle*… I-I’m so happy for you…”

“…”

This was awkward. So awkward.

…It was awkward when a child cried, but it was even more awkward when a grown woman cried.

“Ugh.”

Camian, why were you being so dramatic?

Was this a funeral?

“Are you really going to abandon us?”

“Cough?”

I barely managed to stifle a cough.

Abandon them? What was he talking about?

Someone might misunderstand…

No, the atmosphere had already turned strange.

I needed to fix this quickly.

“Hey, hey, come here.”

I hurriedly pulled Annette, who was still sniffling, and Camian, who was being overly dramatic, closer.

I was now surrounded by my juniors.

I whispered to them, as if sharing a secret, “I know you’re sad that I’m leaving the Holy City. But things aren’t always what they seem.”

“*Sniffle*… W-What do you mean…?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll tell you the truth somewhere else. If you want to know, come to my wedding.”

“Huh? W-Wedding?”

“S-Senior, you’re getting married?”

They were shocked by the word “wedding.”

It was a ridiculous reaction.

“What’s so surprising? I have a fiancée. Isn’t it natural?”

“W-Well, yes, but… For some reason, I didn’t think you’d settle down with just one person…”

“…I-I’m sorry, Senior. I shouldn’t have, but I honestly doubted your relationships. I’m truly sorry.”

“Cough, cough, cough!”

I coughed violently.

These guys… They were sharp.

No, no, it was probably because I had been surrounded by beautiful women throughout my happy academy life.

“Y-Yes, I know, I know. I know what you mean. Anyway, here’s the invitation.”

I took out a beautiful, ornate wedding invitation and handed it to them.

“S-So you’re really getting married, Senior.”

“I-It’s finally sinking in.”

“…Yes, it’ll sink in even more if you come. Make sure you come.”

I continued, “I’ll tell you the truth.”

Their eyes turned serious.

“Alright.”

“Yes, of course we’ll go, Senior.”

I managed to calm them down.

And then I continued to greet the other guests without any further problems.

Until,

“Congratulations on your graduation.”

Finally, a female friend I was concerned about appeared.

Elaine, who had given the farewell speech as the student representative.

“Congratulations to you too.”

I smiled.

We exchanged warm greetings.

It was a beautiful scene, without any awkwardness.

But…

“I heard.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll definitely come to your wedding.”

Elaine smiled brightly, but it felt strangely ominous.

“Cough?”

My eyes darted around nervously.

Honestly, I should have told her already.

She was a precious friend.

But I had hesitated.

Because that precious friend happened to like me.

Being invited to the wedding of the friend you liked…

And being invited by that friend directly…

Just thinking about it made me feel like it was wrong.

That’s why I had hesitated and agonized over it…

She already knew?

“Ah, I’m sorry… I should have told you sooner…”

I awkwardly handed her an invitation.

She took it without any hesitation.

“No, it’s fine. I know how you feel. You hesitated because you were sincere, right?”

Sincere.

This wasn’t the first time I had heard her say that.

I remembered it clearly.

I couldn’t forget her impressive words.

– It’s true that Max has a lot of women, but he’s not just some horny animal! He’s sincere!

Her words had revealed her true feelings.

I had been truly grateful at that time.

And I could at least affirm that those words were true.

“Yes, I’m definitely sincere. So…”

“That’s enough. And don’t worry too much. I’m genuinely happy for you.”

…Elaine was different.

She must have been feeling complicated emotions, but she was being considerate of me and not showing it…

“Don’t be mistaken. She’s crying a river on the inside.”

“Huh?”

My gaze automatically shifted to the side at the sound of that unique voice.

Of course, it was her.

Riviera.

She stood there, blinking.

I knew it the moment I saw her.

…It was you, wasn’t it?

The one who told Elaine?

“W-W-What are you talking about…?”

Elaine blushed, flustered.

“I gave her hope, so she revived.”

…Wait, why did you kill and revive a perfectly fine person?

“The Duke will never have just one wife. All the books I’ve read say so.”

“Pfft!”

I couldn’t help but spit.

S-So that was it?

You told her that, so she was at least like this…

“Oh my, that’s an interesting story. I’d love to hear it too.”

Who was it now?

I turned my head, bewildered.

And then,

I froze.

An unexpected person was standing before me.

“Y-Your Majesty…?”

“Huh? Who’s that? I’m not that person.”

Empress Oscar denied it firmly.

She had tried her best to disguise herself… No, she had at least made an effort.

She was wearing black sunglasses, and her hair was tied up in a cute bun.

She was also wearing a school uniform.

She seemed to be trying to look like an ordinary academy student, but…

No, anyone who knew her would recognize her immediately.

…And this academy was full of people who knew her.

As if to prove it, the surrounding area became noisy.

“T-That person is…”

“I-It’s her, right?”

“D-Don’t acknowledge her. It seems like she has some important business…”

I suddenly felt like an animal in a zoo, surrounded by onlookers.

Not because of me, but because of the person in front of me.

“W-What are you doing here…?”

Marquis Celtrine was flustered and didn’t know what to do.

Normally, he would have bowed, but she was clearly in disguise, so he was confused about how to treat her.

Anyway, his words were exactly what I wanted to say.

Why would the empress leave the country at a time like this and come all the way here?

“Oh my, Father. I’m not the person you think I am. You’re mistaken, Father.”

“Cough, cough?”

Never mind the disguise, why was she calling him “Father”?

Marquis Celtrine seemed horrified and knelt down, his face pale.

“G-Gasp?! P-Please don’t say such things!”

“I-I beg you too.”

Countess Celtrine also knelt down and pleaded.

Ugh, what was I going to do about this atmosphere?

“Huh? It’s really not me.”

The empress tilted her head and then knelt down as well.

W-Why were you kneeling?

“G-Gasp?!”

“U-Ugh?!”

The Marquis and Countess were about to faint from shock!

Oh no.

I hurriedly forced the empress to stand up.

“Ah, y-yes. Thank you, Junior. Thank you so much.”

“Hehe, yes, Senior.”

The empress smiled innocently.

I gestured to the Marquis and Countess to stand up.

I mouthed the words, *Pretend you don’t know, pretend you don’t know.*

They finally stood up and moved to the side.

The noisy atmosphere calmed down a bit.

“Heh, it’s been a while, Concept Junior.”

Riviera greeted her casually.

She was probably the only senior in the academy who could greet the empress so casually.

“Oh my, yes, Sickly Pretty Girl Senior. You haven’t changed.”

The empress greeted her back cheerfully.

It seemed like they had something in common, being unique individuals.

“Anyway, what you said earlier was interesting…”

“It probably was. We’re in the same boat, after all.”

“Cough, cough.”

…What were they going to talk about now?

“Hehe, that’s right. We’re allies, aren’t we? Allies dreaming of a delightful rebellion.”

What delightful rebellion?!

“Yes, yes.”

Riviera nodded repeatedly.

“Student Council President Senior agrees too, right?”

Please don’t drag a normal person into your weird group!

“Yes, I agree.”

Elaine nodded with determination.

T-This was…

“Hehe, good. I’ll pave the way somehow.”

W-What way was she going to pave?

“Oh, right. This is a good opportunity. Let’s take a commemorative photo.”

The empress smiled.

“That’s a good idea.”

“I agree.”

Riviera and Elaine agreed.

“Alright, then let’s strike a pose.”

The empress shamelessly pressed herself against me.

Riviera, not to be outdone, did the same.

And… Elaine, blushing, also snuggled up to me, not wanting to be left out.

W-What was this?

I was so flustered I felt dizzy.

How would this look to others?

I was the worst kind of scumbag.

Hogging three beautiful women with different charms and striking a happy (?) pose.

“Max?”

“What are you doing, Max?”

“Shall we take it, Senior?”

The intense gazes of the three beauties pressed down on me.

…I couldn’t bear it.

“A-Ah, y-yes.”

I stuttered and looked at Dolph.

“T-Take it.”

“A-Alright.”

Dolph seemed flustered as well.

But he displayed his professionalism and carefully held the magic camera.

“Alright, the pose is perfect. But Your Grace, your expression…”

“A-Ah, y-yes.”

I forced an awkward smile.

“A-And the cute friend on the left…”

“Ah, her expression is always like that.”

I helped Dolph.

Her expression wouldn’t change even if he waited forever.

“A-Ah, I see. Alright, I’m taking it. One, two, three.”

*Click!*

Finally, a heartwarming yet chaotic photo was taken.

Sweat trickled down my forehead.

“Hehe, nice.”

“Yes, it’ll be a good memento.”

“I’ll cherish it.”

The women, on the other hand, seemed satisfied.

…Of course, it would be a precious memory for me too.

“Well, see you next time, Senior.”

The empress winked and waved.

Did she really come all the way here just to take this one photo…?

“I’ll get out of your way now. We have to compete fairly.”

“…”

I couldn’t even cough anymore.

“Stay healthy. I’ll definitely come that day.”

“A-Ah, yes, thank you.”

And finally, Elaine’s farewell.

And so, the two female friends I was concerned about and the junior-slash-superior left.

It hadn’t been a long time, but I felt exhausted.

“You look tired.”

Huh?

Wait, that voice?

My eyes widened.

Beautiful silver hair fluttering in the wind.

Silver eyes sparkling mysteriously in the sunlight.

A fresh smile, like dew on her lips.

“S-Senior?!”

“It’s been a long time. A year, right?”

I couldn’t help but rush towards the elf senior at her words.

…She dodged me easily.

Ugh, that was mean.

“What’s wrong? You’re embarrassing me. There’s a time and place for everything.”

Ah, right.

This senior had to maintain her image.

“Y-Yes, right? I was just so happy to see you.”

“Let’s take one.”

“Huh?”

“Let’s take a photo too.”

“…”

Ah, she had seen everything, this elf senior.

My mind went blank.