The aged Chad quickly noticed what his young master was interested in and answered gently so he wouldn’t feel embarrassed.
“This old man, believe it or not, was quite popular in my younger days and had quite a few romantic scandals within the ducal family. I should be able to help you a little with what you’re curious about.”
Despite the considerate response, Cesare couldn’t relax and asked ramblingly.
“That… we progressed… but is it possible to not progress?”
“Oh my. It would be good if you could explain the situation in more detail so I know what you mean.”
Cesare opened his mouth with his face turning even redder.
“If you express the process of romance in numbers from 1 to 10, we progressed to level 7, ah, of course with mutual consent…! Ahem. Anyway, it was 7, but far from going beyond that, I’m wondering if it could drop even lower. When I see them doing it, they clearly have feelings.”
How refreshing it would be to just ask, ‘We definitely kissed, but now the other person refuses to kiss.’
Even with the metaphor he glossed over, Chad seemed to ponder it, then nodded and clearly organized his words.
“In short, you’re saying the atmosphere is good but you somehow feel like the other person is pushing you away?”
It was a moment that highlighted the convenience of a butler who had watched over him since birth. Instead of answering, Cesare sipped his tea as an affirmation.
Chad watched the boy with a pleased smile, then tilted his head slightly.
“Hmm. I feel like someone asked me the exact same thing as you, young master, once before. Who was it? Surely, long ago… Ah, my memory….”
Cesare spotted a dark rippling shadow in Chad’s eyes and waved his hand with a small sigh. It was a trace of Brainwashing Magic left by Lampel in the past. It was magic that had been cast on him too. Though he had broken the prohibition on his own.
“Forget about that. Anyway, what should I do?”
At Cesare’s dismissal, Chad’s eyes became clear again. Chad returned to his respectful demeanor and answered.
“Young master. Progress isn’t necessarily good just because it’s fast. Perhaps the other person was frightened by the too-fast progress.”
“Frightened? Not that they dislike me?”
“As the relationship grows closer, a fear that grows larger develops.”
“If you like someone, you should just keep liking them, why make it so complicated? As expected, being dense…”
When Cesare grumbled, Chad spoke somewhat sternly.
“That person is likely taking their relationship with you seriously. Not simply an academy romance game, but as a relationship looking toward each other’s futures.”
“……”
“What about you, young master? Do you think that person is a lady befitting our ducal family?”
“What’s your standard for befitting the ducal family? Family? Conduct?”
“Before daring to discuss that person’s family and conduct, I trust your discernment, young master. So what’s most important is whether they’re someone who will love you, support you, and be your strength no matter what happens.”
At Chad’s sincere advice, Cesare thought of Lionel and smiled unconsciously. Cesare’s eyes changed to a soft color and his fingertips also tapped pleasantly on the chair armrest. Yet the tip of his arrogantly crossed leg shook restlessly with tension.
At that sight, Chad burst into laughter secretly. The Young Duke, who seemed like he wouldn’t bleed a drop even if pricked with a needle, now looked completely like a boy fallen in love no matter who saw him.
“Young master. Pushing with progress alone isn’t the answer. It’s important to value time with that person, build memories that you can laugh about together when looking back in the future, and share trust.”
“Could you give me more specific advice?”
“It would be good to meet frequently or go on dates. Rose Day is approaching soon, so looking for a good place would be nice. If you’d like, shall I write up a list of recommended gifts?”
“Do you take me for a fool? I already prepared a gift. Well… if you’re free, it’d be nice if you wrote up that list separately too.”
“Understood. It’s late at night. You have class tomorrow, so it would be good to go to bed now.”
“Okay. I’ll go in soon.”
After dismissing Chad, Cesare confirmed no one was in the room and opened his desk drawer. Inside was a small box finished with velvet cloth.
Opening it revealed cufflinks with the Yanox family crest drawn in diamond and emerald grains. A crest with a giant snake coiled around a shield. He carefully held it against his chest.
The heart rate that had been running wild while talking with Chad felt like it was slowly calming down. Glancing at the desk, there was a letter full of goodwill from Admiral Enrico.
‘Lionel achieved all of this.’
When he was viewed favorably in the principality and even entrusted with the position of goodwill ambassador, the Imperial Family sent a small amount of gold as a reward. They probably gave it reluctantly because of the principality watching, but even that felt like getting some breathing room.
‘So it’s right to spend it for him.’
If he coaxed Lionel, he could order dozens of things like this, but more than anything, he wanted to give him gifts using only his own ability. No matter how desperate the situation was for every penny, imagining Lionel smiling after receiving the gift, it didn’t feel wasteful at all.
‘How will he smile?’
Lionel had hundreds of different smiling expressions. Sometimes he’d laugh carelessly saying he was stupid even after falling from a high place and nearly dying, and sometimes he’d smile awkwardly saying he’d go with him because he was scared to face a magical beast alone. During class when scolded by professors, he’d glance at him and smile as if asking him not to hate him, and when praised, he’d smile as if wanting him to praise him directly.
Suddenly feeling feverish, Cesare slowly stood up and looked at the glass window showing the night sky. Pressing his heated forehead against the cool glass, he chuckled and muttered.
“Lionel Mellans, cute puppy. I can’t sleep wondering what gift you prepared.”
Even knowing it’s fake makes his heart flutter like this, so how thrilling would it be to receive real love?
But what that guy’s real love was, he would never know even if he lived his whole life.
* * *
“Aren’t you two stuck too close together today? It’s hot too.”
Whether it was because I went to bed too late yesterday, or because of the hot weather. Or maybe because of the new theology doctrine class that started this semester.
I was dozing off in the long chapel pew when I opened my eyes drowsily at Cain’s rebuke.
“Kyaaawn?”
“It’s no different from usual, what are you talking about? Sleep more, Lionel. It’s not over yet.”
One side of my cheek, no, almost one whole side of my face was buried deep against Cesare’s shoulder and chest. On top of that, Cesare tilted his body toward me to make it more comfortable to lean on.
“Thaaanks…”
“Just don’t drool.”
“Hehe. Can’t promise thaaaat.”
I snuggled deeper into his embrace while half-asleep. I was so sleepy. This country should make it illegal to put theology doctrine classes in first period if they want to cultivate priests.
There’s second period, there’s third period, so why first period…? I thought I wouldn’t suffer anymore since magic class was gone, but there was an ambush waiting.
“Anyway. You’re doing all the cute things by yourself.”
His hand passed through my hair tickling it. It’s probably not really calling me cute but a sarcastic remark with bite to it.
“I am pretty cuuute… hmm.”
“Did you guys really eat something wrong? Especially Cesare, you weren’t the type to indulge Rye’s whining. You were the one leaning on him.”
Cain also said while yawning. He too seemed bored with the class and was doing origami by tearing up the doctrine book. Actually, most students were doing that.
Except for Jayden’s group, there weren’t any students listening earnestly to the sermon, and everyone was either doing other things or dozing off. Though when we had magic class, I was the only one dozing off.
This is probably why there’s subtle friction between mages and priests within the Empire. We’re an Empire with Saint Tors as our main deity, but divine power only manifests in a select chosen few, and anyway, if you donate a lot, second and third sons of noble families could easily receive honorary positions.
In other words, there’s no reason to study doctrine so earnestly. On the other hand, with magic, while innate mana capacity was important, there was opportunity for growth depending on one’s training process, and the convenience magic itself provided couldn’t be ignored.
Though there was an atmosphere of fearing magic as a dark power, clearly magic was more beneficial to learn. If divine power didn’t have the ability to nullify magic, the shrine might have become irrelevant early on.
Since the power of that divine force is gradually weakening, it’s natural that mages who had been watching for opportunities would be gaining momentum. It’s also natural for the Empire to step forward and keep mages in check since the shrine, which is the foundation of imperial authority, can’t lose power.
But why is divine power weakening now?
‘I used an enormous amount of power. The age of prosperity will repeat again.’
While dozing, Ju Shinyoung’s words suddenly flashed.
Used a lot of power? Where did she use so much power? She’s the main deity. If she used enough power, it surely would have been a big event that shook the axis of the world, but I couldn’t guess what.
Anyway, while dozing and struggling, quite some time passed and the priest who had been preaching the doctrine closed his book.
“Let’s stop here for today. May the grace of the main deity descend upon you all.”
Before the words of the priest in purple robes even finished, students began flooding out. Students rushed out of the chapel so quickly you’d think they were demon spawn. Cain also smacked my head and quickly ran out.
“I’m suffocating, this hyung is leaving first. If I stay in this steamer any longer, I’ll go crazy!”
I stretched and scratched my head.
“It’s not even that hot today, why is everyone making such a fuss?”
Far from being hot, it was a pleasantly warm summer day with nice wind blowing, making my skin feel refreshingly good. Cesare just smiled and only gathered his bag and writing instruments without saying anything.
Perhaps because I just had a nice nap and woke up, feeling more energized, I walked down the chapel corridor with Cesare, bringing up trivial topics about what today’s lunch box would be and which underclassman to send on a lunch box errand.
“Maaaa! Baaaa!”
Mitche, standing outside the wide-open chapel door with his head peeking out, looked at us and sniffled, then as soon as I stepped out the door, he rushed over and clung to my bag.
