Behind the noisy crowd, Nigel was adjusting his uniform along with the Student Council officers.
“Good work, President.”
Since the Student Council President had collapsed with weak legs after finishing his short speech, the actual department tours fell to the remaining Student Council members. One of the fourth-years said to the underclassmen.
“The President seems to need rest, so it would be good for the Vice President to take him back to the Student Council room. The rest of us should scatter to our assigned areas and prepare for the VIP guests’ movements and any potential incidents.”
“Yes.”
Preparing the remaining five departments and the festival, and operating large-scale events well during the Mardinia period. That was what the Student Council had to do instead of holding separate events like the other departments.
“……Ha.”
Because of the brief commotion, he hadn’t realized it had gotten this late.
Nigel tried to check his watch but looked at his gloved left wrist and unconsciously gripped it. The festival had finally begun.
In two more days, the Emperor would arrive at Kaiserion. Seeing that the Artifact was quiet, his physical condition seemed to still be okay.
“Nigel, are you going to the Student Council room?”
Eden Lake remained by Nigel’s side. His eyes behind his glasses were fixed on Nigel’s wrist. He seemed to have already noticed that Nigel was fidgeting with his left wrist unusually often today.
“……No.”
Nigel shook his head and turned his gaze away. Above in the sky, he could see the silver armor of the Swordsmanship Department students who had begun aerial surveillance riding Pegasus. There was someone Nigel needed to meet right now.
“I’m going to check out the Swordsmanship Department area.”
Eden’s eyebrows twitched subtly.
“The Swordsmanship Department is the Knights’ own security zone, so the danger level is low. Is there some special reason?”
“You don’t need to follow me either, Eden. Go to the Student Council room first.”
After saying that, Nigel turned sharply without even listening to Eden’s response. His cloak traced a large arc as it spun around, then swayed in the direction of his quick steps.
“…….”
Eden Lake’s expression was cold as he stared at Nigel’s retreating figure heading toward the training grounds.
***
“Wrong! You changed the swordplay for this part yesterday.”
“Ah, senior, I’m sorry! I’ll do it again!”
The training grounds plaza, the Swordsmanship Department’s area, was already full of vitality. Students dressed in armor were demonstrating sparring matches, and in the center, a massive outdoor stage was set up to recreate the chronicles of ancient heroes.
They were really preparing to put on a performance, just as he’d heard.
Clang! Clank! The sound of steel meeting steel rang out.
As Nigel stepped into the area, the movements of the Swordsmanship Department students who had been sparring under the seal of the silver sword and shield stopped all at once.
Everyone was wearing helmets, but Nigel could pick out Rowen Ashfield among the many students. Though the distance was far, he definitely thought their eyes met through the gap in the visor. However, Rowen soon continued sparring as before.
His swordplay was a bit rougher and more fierce than usual. Clang! The sound of his large longsword striking down his opponent’s sword from top to bottom rang out loudly.
…Did he not see me?
Rather, other Swordsmanship Department students who recognized Nigel standing against the wall at the entrance to the training grounds gave brief bows as they passed and glanced at Rowen Ashfield sparring in the center.
Their gazes held bewilderment, as if they’d detected an unusual atmosphere. Normally, before others had time to notice like this, Rowen would have been the first to approach with a greeting.
The sight of Rowen’s back as he concentrated on sparring without even noticing he’d come here felt strangely unfamiliar. Nigel pressed his lips together once in displeasure, then had no choice but to call out his old friend’s name.
“Rowen!”
“…….”
Only then did Rowen turn his head back. He was in the middle of live sword training, so his helmet’s visor was firmly lowered.
Rowen didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he slowly lowered the longsword he was holding and caught his breath. The sound of his rough breathing bounced off the helmet’s metallic walls and returned as an eerie echo.
Nigel strode toward him. Normally, Rowen would have thrown off his helmet first and smiled brightly, but now he just stood firm as a statue, watching Nigel’s approach.
“Didn’t you hear me calling?”
Even at Nigel’s question, Rowen remained motionless.
Only after a moment of silence passed between them did he slowly lift his visor with a clanking sound. The eyes revealed between the golden hair stuck to his forehead with sweat had completely erased their usual warmth.
“……I heard you.”
A low, sunken voice brushed past Nigel’s ear. Rowen didn’t look straight at Nigel, and while dusting off the dirt on the back of his hand, added.
Golden hair bright as the sun and blue eyes. It was the typical appearance of a knight, same as always, but….
“Why?”
His expression was nothing like usual. Nigel’s eyes narrowed thinly at Rowen’s behavior, as if he were treating him like a complete stranger.
“What?”
“Why did you come all the way here?”
“…….”
Why did I come….
At the chilly tone, Nigel’s brow visibly furrowed. It felt different from simply being sensitive because he’d interrupted a sparring match he was concentrating on. Only then did Nigel realize the astonishing fact that Rowen Ashfield was currently rejecting him.
“As you can see, I’m in the middle of live sword sparring right now…. It’s dangerous, so let’s talk later.”
After saying that, Rowen reached out to lower his helmet’s visor again.
Unable to hold back, Nigel roughly grabbed Rowen’s arm.
“Look at me.”
The coldness of the metal armor the guy was wearing transmitted through his palm.
“…….”
Only then did Rowen’s gaze fix on Nigel’s face.
The murmuring of the Swordsmanship Department students preparing for the festival around them rolled in like waves. Rowen and Nigel had been the exemplars of a knight and crown prince who got along like childhood friends.
Even though they’d attended the academy together for two years, this was the first time such a cold wind blew around the two of them, so the students couldn’t help but have their gazes fixed on them even while doing their work.
On top of the strange rumors already circulating, a lovers’ quarrel—it was excellent gossip material.
Nigel didn’t miss Rowen’s shoulders trembling slightly as he tried hard to maintain his cold expression.
This won’t work here. Nigel tightened his grip on Rowen’s arm and led him to the side.
“……Follow me.”
Rowen didn’t resist. Rather, as if he’d been waiting for an excuse to escape from those terrible stares, he moved his heavy feet and followed behind Nigel.
The two stopped in a narrow, quiet clearing between the old warehouse and the outer wall behind the training grounds. Only after a silence mixed with the smell of damp earth and rusty iron arrived did Nigel release Rowen’s arm.
“You brought me all the way here, so you must have something to talk about.”
After removing his helmet, Rowen roughly swept back his messily disheveled golden hair. Nigel was unreasonably shocked by the blatant fatigue and rejection in every single one of those movements. It was a side of Rowen he’d never once imagined.
No, I don’t need to be shocked by seeing him like that.
That emotion soon changed into an indescribable sense of betrayal and welled up inside him. They’d been close for so long, yet there was no need to treat him this coldly just because he’d told one lie, was there? Nigel spoke even more coldly instead.
“…I didn’t know you’d be this busy, Rowen. I’ll just go.”
At the sharp tone, Rowen Ashfield, who had tucked his helmet under one arm, also snapped his head up.
“Yeah, then go.”
A chilly answer fell from between Rowen’s lips. Huh? He’s really going this far? Nigel’s violet eyes twisted.
He’d been planning to apologize first if Rowen followed him pretending to give in, but after telling him to just go, Rowen tried to leave without a moment’s hesitation. At that attitude, Nigel’s patience ran out.
“Why are you acting like this today? When I’m trying this hard to apologize, you should at least listen a little.”
“……What?”
“I am sorry, but I don’t think I did something wrong enough to deserve this kind of treatment from you.”
At Nigel’s confident attitude, Rowen’s steps stopped abruptly. Rowen’s face as he slowly turned around was of a kind he’d never seen before. He was always the guy who smiled and went along with anything, but when he got angry, he got angry like this—Nigel thought this as he stood firmly in place.
“That’s what you think?”
