My mind went dizzy at the sensation of being pressed firmly.
This was 4D. Hearing his pounding heartbeat directly in surround sound while feeling the strong vibrations and even his resonating chest—this was unmistakably IMAX 4D.
And even through the uniform, the curves of his chest line touching my cheek and the firm bicep pressing against the back of my neck.
‘This is just like….’
Though my vision was dark, in my brightly lit mind, mini Cesare stood wearing a green apron, smiling cheerfully. Then the me in my head would go to him as if enchanted and place an order.
‘Brisket sandwich, double meat please. Bread should be a crispy buttered baguette.’
When I bowed my head and asked politely, mini Cesare smiled brightly and made me a brisket sandwich with his tiny hands. On top was written “Royal Sandwich” in black magic marker.
It was even warm and toasty, though I hadn’t even asked for it to be heated!
‘I want to become a regular and ask him to make me a membership card. Kheuk.’
Whatever was happening outside, I was devoted to this sudden windfall for now. Then Cesare asked me.
“Lionel. Do you have something special to talk about with Senior Cedric?”
I answered immediately without hesitation.
“No!”
Not only did I really have nothing to say to Cedric, but even if I did, I had to say I didn’t. If Cesare misunderstood that I, his only lifeline, seemed close to Cedric, I couldn’t guarantee my future would be safe.
I might immediately get brainwashed, write a will giving all my assets to the Yanox Ducal House, and go on a picnic to a cliff.
‘Cesare, the scenery here is really beautiful.’ ‘Yeah, I thought you’d like it so I brought you.’ ‘Thanks so much for bringing me!’ ‘The scenery is even prettier over here, Lionel. Want to come see?’ ‘Really?’ ‘Look at the spectacular view below.’ And then tap, whooooosh. By the time that happens, it’s too late.
And the next morning, an extra edition with the headline <Handsome Heir Dies Young: Close Friend Young Duke of Yanox Sheds Tears in Heartfelt Mourning…> would circulate throughout the empire. Sob. My poor end.
“You see that, Senior?”
“Gentlemen. If you’re not busy, may I take that fellow away? I’d like to have a word with him.”
Someone suddenly interrupted. It was Professor Peter’s voice. A summons from Professor Peter—I didn’t know whether he’d take Cesare or Cedric, but how pitiful.
Remembering the scary-looking middle-aged professor I’d seen earlier when caught slacking off made my legs feel weak again.
Having a one-on-one talk with that professor. I’d rather take a sword and go hunt magical beasts…
“Lionel Mellans. Come to my office for a moment.”
What? Who?
Too shocked, I pushed away the royal sandwich and hurriedly pulled my head out. This time even Cesare seemed a bit surprised and obediently let me go.
Appearing from somewhere, Professor Peter was looking straight at me with a benevolent—no, somehow sinister-looking—smile.
“Mellans. Shall we have some tea? Some good black tea just came in, and I’d like to chat for a bit.”
“M-me…?”
No matter what, I wanted to avoid spending time alone with this notoriously harsh professor, so I quickly made an excuse.
“I really want to, but oh no! I have a class right after this, so I’m afraid it would be difficult.”
Then Cesare urgently grabbed my sleeve and groaned through clenched teeth.
“Wait, Lionel…!”
“Haha! Since I ended class a full hour early, I think you’ll have time for a cup of tea.”
Right. It did end early. I’m going crazy. My stupid self. Just die. Let’s just give Cesare one kiss and die cleanly.
Still not wanting to actually die, I looked at Cesare and requested rescue.
‘Help me, Cesare!’
I moved my pupils left and right quickly without Professor Peter noticing, expressing my refusal with my whole body. Then Cesare sighed softly and stepped in for me.
“I’m sorry, but Professor Peter. We have a team project to work on, so it would be difficult to make time right now.”
Cesare! You’re helping me!
“I see. Then Yanox, you come along too!”
Yeah. No. You got caught too.
Cain cowardly kept his mouth completely shut, afraid he’d get caught too. Professor Peter gestured for us to follow and walked out into the hallway.
“Can’t be helped. Let’s meet again later, Junior Lionel.”
Cedric also turned away with an unconvinced expression. Cain just giggled and waved at us. Disloyal bastard!
Then Cesare patted my shoulder and bluntly said one thing.
“It’s okay. I’m going with you, so don’t be too scared.”
For a moment. I thought it really might be okay. That audacious thought that if I was with him, anywhere might really be okay.
‘I need to… run away quickly. This is dangerous.’
I bit my lower lip while looking at his back as he walked forward. Then Cesare, seeing me standing there as if nailed down, turned around and spread one arm.
“What are you doing not coming? Hurry up and come. Lionel.”
Ah. How could I refuse that pretty eye-smile? It’s clearer and prettier than any sunlight. How could I dare push it away?
“Yeah!”
I smiled broadly and immediately ran over, slipping right between his open arms. My heart melted softly at his arm wrapping firmly around my neck and shoulder.
“As expected. Your height is just right. It’s the most comfortable when I put my arm around your shoulders.”
“Really?!”
Hehe. Since our Cesare says this is most comfortable, I should drink less milk from now on.
* * *
Professor Peter’s office was a bit different from Professor Mahoff’s room, which was messily filled with books and papers. It was a room full of bright mahogany furniture that gave off the strong feeling of a noble’s study.
The black tea in the antique teacup was really refreshing and sweet with fruit jam added. I thoughtlessly emptied it in one gulp, but Cesare, who apparently didn’t like tea with jam, didn’t drink even one sip and pushed it toward me.
Aw. At least drink one sip before giving it to me. Then we could have had an indirect kiss…. I was having such sinister thoughts when Professor Peter spoke to Cesare.
“It’s been a while, Cesare Yanox.”
“…You look well too, Professor.”
“I thought you received your title to drop out of the academy, but it’s surprising you’re still here.”
“There’s nothing particularly for me to do even if I go to the Yanox Ducal House now, so I’m finishing my studies.”
I sipped Cesare’s tea too while watching them.
“After Harriet and Fargo, even Yut… I heard it was done.”
“…Yes. Even Yut.”
The names Professor Peter mentioned were all names of the empire’s first-tier financial institutions. They’re speaking ambiguously and indirectly now so I won’t understand, but I know this content from knowing the original work.
It meant those banks had handed over the authority to transfer the Yanox Ducal House’s assets to the imperial family. Simply put, while the Yanox Ducal House was accumulating territory taxes and stipends, they had to receive approval from the imperial family to withdraw any of it.
Strictly speaking, Cesare wasn’t without money. He just couldn’t take it out. Naturally, the imperial family immediately approved public funds used for estate maintenance and territory management, but thoroughly refused approval for anything else.
‘Even to personally buy a bag of bean sprouts, he’d have to submit it for inspection.’
If you ask whether he couldn’t complain about it, doing so would only publicly announce that the Yanox Ducal House had to receive and use an allowance from the imperial family, showing they were marked by the imperial family.
If that happened, even guys like me or Cain who still thought Cesare was impressive might all fall away at once.
‘Of course, I’d still love you, Cesare.’
I could even make you live eating only caviar three meals a day. Yeah. I was glancing at Cesare with sparkling eyes like that… and then dejectedly lowered my eyes. I got enchanted again, but now’s not the time to purely and innocently like this guy. Damn.
“Is the Duke still unable to come up to the capital?”
“Yes. I heard the work at the border is keeping him busy.”
Cesare’s father the Duke was, in a way, the most precious person after the imperial family, yet was a mage continuously drafted to dangerous battles at the border.
People gave the Duke nicknames like warmonger and terrifying butcher, which made them avoid the Yanox Ducal House. This was probably why Cedric said Cesare was gloomy.
Certainly, with the Duke’s level of skill and position, he didn’t need to go to the border, yet seeing him stubbornly go out suggested he wasn’t normal.
The reason Cesare showed psychopathic tendencies was probably because he inherited such genes from the warmonger Duke.
“Hmph. Busy, my foot. If he returns, it would be ‘not allowed.'”
Professor Peter snorted and grumbled.
Not allowed to return? Curious, I glanced at them, and he seemed to notice me, then cleared his voice and said.
“In any case, now that old folks like me have all retired from government service, there’s nothing we can do about that situation. My apologies.”
