Chapter 430: The Sun Still Sets (6)

Finally, this year’s academy schedule came to an end.

Students who had spent three years at the academy received their diplomas amidst applause from their juniors, and graduates with close underclassmen exchanged farewells with promises to meet again in social circles.

As if to celebrate and encourage the graduates who were leaving the set path of the academy for various futures, snow began to fall from the sky. It was just enough to make this warm atmosphere more prominent, and just enough to leave footprints.

“Since you won’t have vacations anymore, rest well. This might be the last break of your life.”

I also exchanged greetings with the graduates who bore my deep influence, like footprints in the snow. Just as footprints in snow could never be undone, the graduates I had cultivated were precious personnel that no one could touch.

So I could at least offer such greetings and advice. How could I not do that much for the kids who would work hard for me in the future?

“Yes!”

“We’ll keep that in mind!”

Though it seemed like they were taking it as mere formality.

What a pity. Like high school seniors who burned their bodies and souls partying after getting into university early, this time was the last joy of life for these kids. There was no going back once they started their civil service life, and they’d rarely enjoy vacations.

It can’t be helped.

Suppressing my mixed feelings, I patted the shoulders of the future civil servants who kept bowing deeply.

I’d already given them ample warning and advice. Whether they properly accepted it or not was up to the listener, so I’d done my part. If they start their civil service life without enjoying their last taste of freedom, then that was their fate.

That’s what I decided to think.

“Carl!”

Meanwhile, Mar, who had finished greeting other graduates and juniors, approached from afar. Perhaps to maintain her dignity, she didn’t run, but she seemed far from dignified, already seeing how vigorously she was waving her right hand.

Of course, she was pretty even while being undignified, so it was fine. It wasn’t like I became lovers with Mar because of her dignity, anyway.

“I’ll definitely work hard to repay the Minister’s grace!”

“Alright, I’ll look forward to it.”

Seeing Amelia showing signs of retreating as Mar approached, I nodded and let her go. The future civil servants withdrew in an instant.

They’re quick.

I could keenly feel their fear of possibly encountering Mar from their retreating figures.

It was an excessive reaction. Mar wasn’t cold-blooded or ruthless, so she was likely to welcome acquaintances of three years who worked under me. If they met, she’d at least greet them warmly.

But this was from a superior’s perspective, and the view from the bottom might be different.

Are they being cautious on their own?

Well, I used to be hesitant about meeting the Crown Princess, too. It was best not to meet at all rather than risk making mistakes in front of a superior’s wife. If there’s no cause, then there’s no effect.

“Sorry, am I too late?”

“No, not at all.”

While thinking this, I gently embraced Mar, who had already reached me.

“And even if you were late, it wouldn’t matter. We’ll be together for life now.”

At those words, Mar’s ears turned red. Whether it was from the cold or embarrassment from my words, I wasn’t sure—but it was probably the latter.

For life, huh.

I smiled without realizing it. Now that Mar had left her student status behind, our marriage was just around the corner.

Yes, now I’ll have a lover who shares my surname. Mar will become Marghetta Krasius, not Marghetta Valenti.

“This time next year… we might have a child.”

When I said that while covering Mar’s reddened ears with both hands, her face turned red.

It was an amusing reaction. Having children was natural after marriage, but seeing Mar getting embarrassed at the mention of children made me laugh. I don’t understand why she shows such a shy side at times like this when she’s usually so confident.

“C-Carl, do you prefer a son or a daughter?”

It was even cuter that she stubbornly continued talking despite being shy.

“I’d be happy with either as long as they take after Mar and me.”

I meant it. Did gender really matter when a family member with my blood was born into the world? If there was anything I could hope for, it was just that they were born healthy.

With those feelings, I kissed Mar’s forehead, and she grinned with her still-red face.

…It’s cold.

By the way, we should head inside soon. Mar’s body was starting to get cold, probably because we’d been wandering around in the snow.

I might be fine even if I rolled naked in the snow, but Mar could catch a cold.

A sick Mar.

For a brief moment, my brow furrowed. It was a horrific future that made me shudder just by imagining it.

As soon as we entered the now-quiet auditorium, I saw the club members.

“Brother! Marghetta unnie!”

Thanks to Lise flapping both hands and showing off her presence, I could spot them immediately. If anyone can’t see that, they must have vision problems.

“Are we the last to arrive?”

“We’re second-years, so we have fewer people to greet. Don’t worry about it.”

When I spoke with an awkward feeling, Rin quickly shook her head.

Indeed. Among us, Mar was the only graduate. Unlike the current students who only needed to see off graduates they were close with, Mar had to exchange greetings with her peers and faculty, so it naturally took more time.

“Congratulations on your graduation, Lady Marghetta.”

“Thank you, Your Imperial Highness.”

Following Rin’s words, Mar bowed her head respectfully in gratitude to Ainter’s congratulations.

Until now, they had maintained a somewhat relaxed hierarchy as academy seniors and juniors, but with Mar leaving the academy, their relationship clearly shifted to a vertical one between the Emperor’s sibling and a duke’s daughter.

“You’ll soon be the Countess of Tailglehen, but I’ll congratulate you on that when the time comes.”

“Yes, Your Highness. I’ll be happily waiting for that moment.”

Of course, while clear, it wasn’t a rigid vertical relationship. They had built up too much affection over two years for that.

I felt a strange emotion as I watched Mar and Ainter exchange light jokes. It wasn’t jealousy, of course, but something closer to fascination.

This would have been unimaginable last year.

A pitiful prince whose life was in danger after losing the succession race to his older brother. A shabby prince who, though fortunate to keep his life, lived in constant fear of when the blade of purge might fall.

That same Ainter was now confidently conversing with a member of a ducal family in front of the Emperor’s closest aides and major foreign figures. This was only possible because he was certain that his life wasn’t in danger for doing so.

That was also why it was fascinating. When I first came to the academy, I even received orders to deal with Ainter if necessary, but after nearly two years, he had become a bona fide member of the imperial family.

“Do you know why I accepted Ainter? It was because I was swayed by emotion.”

I suddenly recalled the Emperor’s words. The Emperor who said this lamented that his choice was too emotional, but it was thanks to that emotion that such a change was possible.

…It’s not bad.

It was true that one should avoid following emotions as a leader. However, if the result of that emotion was saving a harmless blood relative, then wasn’t that okay? —That’s what I believe, at least.

“Unlike Ainter hyung, I won’t have another chance to congratulate you if not now. I’ll pray for Enen’s blessing on your future, Lady Marghetta.”

After that, starting with Tannian, the other club members began to speak up one by one. Especially Rutis, Lather, and Tannian, who wouldn’t have many chances to see Mar in the future, spoke at length.

As Tannian said, unlike Ainter who’s from the same empire, those foreigners wouldn’t have occasions to meet Mar after graduation. It was natural, as neither Mar would come to the academy nor they to her in the future.

“It’s a shame to think this is the last time. If you send a wedding invitation, I’ll drop everything and come running.”

“That would be troublesome as it might surprise the other guests. I’ll just accept your sentiment.”

I instinctively rejected Rutis’s joking words. I might have let it pass as a joke if someone else had said it, but with this guy, I felt uneasy that he might actually come.

“Well, if that’s the case, it can’t be helped.”

Seeing Rutis shaking his head as if disappointed, I was certain. This bastard would have really come if we sent an invitation.

“Instead, I’ll send a gift. It’s easy enough to send an object, so please accept it as a token of friendship.”

“Ah, thank you.”

I could finally nod at Lather’s words, who was looking at Rutis as if he were pathetic.

A gift from royalty was still burdensome, but hearing about a gift after the talk of wedding invitations made it seem angelic.

“Oh, then I’ll send one too!”

“…Right.”

And at Rutis’s words, who naturally piggybacked on the idea, I developed a reasonable suspicion.

Was he doing this on purpose? Shocking us with talk of attending the wedding, then achieving his real goal of sending a gift?

It was clearly paranoid, but with him, I developed a misplaced belief that it might be possible.

Only after exchanging final greetings did the club members start to return to their countries.

Just one more year and it’s over.

I let out a small sigh while seeing off the club members. Of the three years I thought would be hell, two had already passed. Just one more year to endure, and the club members would graduate, and I’d be free from the academy.

I wonder what ‘79 will be like.

Unlike the ‘77 members, the ‘78 members were relatively quiet and uneventful. This year’s members were weaker than last year’s.

So I believe next year’s members will please me, too. Please come back weaker than this year.

If that was impossible, then at least don’t get stronger.

Let’s end the last one on a good note.

Even if the process was hellish, it could be nostalgic if the result was good, right?

I just might end up hating you all if both the process and results are terrible.

Let’s part with smiling faces, okay?

“Let’s go now, too.”

“Ah, yes.”

Just as I was about to pray for light to shine on ‘79, I heard Trixie’s call.

We should stop by the territory first before going to the capital. Besides, we needed to drop off Erich and Sarah at the territory.