Nigel’s lips moved right in front of his glass without warning. Ice-cold amethyst eyes collided head-on with Eden’s gaze.
He could feel Nigel’s eyes examining his expression.
Ah, damn. I stared too openly. Eden Lake realized his gaze had been rude to Nigel and immediately lowered his eyes.
“It’s nothing, senior.”
Then he continued.
“…The coffee smells particularly good today.”
It was clumsy deflection. There was no way Nigel Kaiserion, skilled in conversation and quick-witted, wouldn’t notice that awkwardness.
“……”
But Nigel merely looked at Eden Lake with a puzzled expression for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders and returned his gaze to the documents.
Unlike his cold-looking exterior, he had a rather generous side when it came to his people. As long as it didn’t interfere with work, that is.
All hundreds of pages were for the upcoming Academy festival, Mardinia. When he first enrolled, Eden Lake had thought of festivals as merely the amusement of wealthy students.
Something unimaginable in Sihar, where many commoners starved daily due to frequent civil wars—just a peaceful, extravagant event.
But while assisting with Student Council work at Nigel’s side, he realized this festival was not mere amusement. It was a gorgeously packaged war. A war between the Empire and non-Empire nations, and even between factions within the Empire itself.
Eden glanced sideways at the Alchemy Department’s budget proposal where Nigel’s fingers had stopped—the one he had just drastically slashed.
“……”
On the parchment was gold that a commoner would never touch in their lifetime, allocated for a single night’s performance. To use all that for just a few days of festivities.
At the festival, the Swordsmanship Department would showcase the Empire’s overwhelming military power, the Magic Department the intelligence of ancient families. And the Alchemy Department tried to prove their ‘technological prowess’ that surpassed both.
Except the material costs for the rare reagents and minerals they requisitioned to implement that technology were absurdly expensive. They had tried to slyly procure the finest materials using the school’s budget, but apparently couldn’t fool Nigel’s sharp eyes.
And those who controlled the budget for all these wars, established the rules, and moved the pieces—that was the Student Council’s role.
‘It suits Nigel Kaiserion terribly well.’
Eden Lake stirred his stew meaninglessly with his spoon. Yes, this was the Kaiserion Empire’s way. Subjugating opponents with overwhelming power and wealth, then packaging it under the name of order.
Something the nascent nation of Sihar could never replicate—the power of a thousand-year Empire.
Eden’s gaze settled calmly as he watched Nigel, a figure who shone second only to the Emperor even within that Empire.
* * *
Lunch time was wrapping up. Next on Nigel’s schedule was heading to the Student Council room for a meeting.
“When do you plan to get up?”
Ah, Nigel stopped making notes on the budget proposal and turned to Eden Lake. Time had passed so much already. Since Eden Lake was the quiet type, Nigel often became so focused on other work that he forgot Eden was even beside him.
“Is it that time already?”
“Shall we go? I’ll carry this for you.”
“Alright.”
As soon as permission was given, Eden Lake naturally took Nigel’s belongings as if they were his own.
Having been surrounded since birth by people constantly seeking to find fault with the Crown Prince, he used to find having someone nearby cumbersome. But Eden Lake assisted the Crown Prince’s side very skillfully and quietly.
Nigel glanced at him with quite a satisfied feeling.
“Eden Lake.”
Without stopping his walk down the corridor, he called to Eden Lake behind him.
“Yes.”
An immediate answer returned as always.
“You know this upcoming festival is more important to me than any other event, right?”
“Yes. I’m aware.”
Nigel added while looking at the scenery passing by outside the corridor window.
“On the final day, His Majesty will personally visit this place.”
“…His Majesty, you say?”
Nigel slowly turned to look at Eden.
“On the day His Majesty comes, I intend to show him a perfect festival without a single blemish. So he can confirm how sound his son, and this Empire’s future, truly is.”
That was the greatest proof Nigel could show the Emperor as Crown Prince. Nigel paused briefly, then raised the corners of his mouth as if sharing quite a pleasant secret.
“So if we conclude this festival perfectly, with not a single mistake, in great success…”
Eden’s eyes narrowed with puzzlement.
“I’m thinking of giving you a suitable ‘gift’ as well.”
“……”
“Think about what you want. If it’s something within my authority to grant, I’ll grant anything.”
This was the greatest goodwill Nigel could show. After all, solid loyalty ultimately stems from certain rewards. Moreover, he was the next Emperor. There was no wish he couldn’t grant.
For such a generous proposal, he expected an immediately grateful answer along the lines of “Thank you” from behind.
However.
“……”
The footsteps that had been audible from behind stopped abruptly.
What, didn’t he hear? Nigel turned his head slightly to look back. Eden stood stopped in the middle of the corridor, looking this way with an indecipherable expression.
As if lost in some other thought.
“Eden.”
“…Yes?”
“Didn’t you hear what I just said?”
“Ah, yes. I heard. …That you’ll reward me if the festival concludes successfully.”
Eden Lake recited exactly what Nigel had just said with a face mixed with unidentifiable emotions.
“Right. You’ll have plenty of time to think. The festival doesn’t start for another week anyway.”
Since the distance from the dining hall to the Student Council room was considerable, the two were walking down a marble corridor after passing through a large hall. As always, Eden Lake was following behind Nigel Kaiserion—
That’s when it happened.
“Senior.”
At the low voice from behind, Nigel’s gaze flickered back. Eden Lake standing behind him had his usual serious face. Because he was slightly taller, Nigel had to raise his gaze.
“Hm?”
“About the time to think.”
“Yes. Think it over carefully—”
“I don’t think I’ll need any more.”
Before Nigel could finish, Eden Lake’s blunt voice returned quickly.
‘Interrupting me?’
Nigel narrowed his brow subtly and looked back at Eden with questioning eyes. Normally he might have considered it insolent and been displeased, but because it was Eden who interrupted, suspicion came first.
He was someone Nigel had never once expected to act this way.
“I don’t need a reward. Being permitted to stay by Nigel-nim’s side is already enough.”
“…What? Just that is enough?”
Upon confirming this lukewarm reaction, a furrow appeared between Eden Lake’s brows. He lowered his head slightly and moved closer to Nigel, who stood facing him in the corridor.
“……!”
He’d gone far beyond personal space. Nigel frowned and pulled his head back.
Thud—he felt the wall behind him. As if displeased that Nigel had dodged, the bastard’s sturdy arm came to rest beside his body.
Though Nigel Kaiserion was also notably tall within the Academy, Eden Lake—whether it was a Sihar characteristic or not—possessed a height and build that seemed to exceed standard specifications from the start.
Enough that from his first day of enrollment, his appearance alone was comparable to knights or mercenaries active in the field.
Anyway.
“Senior. Do you happen to know about Sihar?”
Eden, who had blocked Nigel’s path, spoke quietly. What Nigel knew about Sihar was only the diplomatic matters that nation had with the Empire.
Nigel raised one eyebrow in a gesture to continue.
“In Sihar, once you receive someone’s trust, you dedicate your entire self to them.”
It was out of the blue.
“Senior, you have given me your trust. Such trust… probably can’t be received as compensation for any task.”
Blazing black eyes were directed entirely at Nigel.
“So please don’t misunderstand. My staying by your side, senior, isn’t to receive some mere reward.”
“……”
Nigel looked up at Eden Lake, who was suddenly acting crazy, with a blank expression.
“And actually, I…”
Eden Lake started to speak then pressed his lips tightly shut.
What are you trying to say, drawing it out like this.
“What is it?”
Nigel Kaiserion looked at Eden Lake with just his eyebrows slightly raised, as if daring him to continue.
“Eden Lake. Speak.”
“……”
“Tell me what you were going to say.”
But Eden Lake couldn’t continue speaking. He chewed on his lips while looking down at Nigel. Sparks were flying in his dark eyes.
It was when he finally opened his mouth to say what he’d been trying to say.
