“[Don’t you dare throw such pathetic warnings at me. Lionel has nothing to do with this.]”
Cesare’s palm, which was casting the Brainwashing Magic, trembled slightly. Cain, caught under the spell, couldn’t move an inch and just kept calling out for Lionel with trembling lips.
“Rye…. Rye. My Rye!”
“That’s right, Lionel is precious. That’s why [he’s someone we need to protect].”
“No. Rye has to accept me together with you…!”
“Cain Astol.”
Cesare strengthened the restraint by releasing even denser mana. Even Cain, who was strong in swordsmanship, seemed to have no resistance to magic, as he couldn’t overcome the spell and dropped his head with a thud.
“Ugh….”
Having settled the situation for now, Cesare let out a small sigh and turned his back on him. From behind, he could hear Cain’s delirious rambling, muttering like sleep-talk as he fell into unconsciousness.
“Cesare Yanox, you bastard….”
“That’s right. I became a bastard a long time ago.”
It was a mess. He felt like everything had gotten tangled up. Lionel and Cain. The result of toying with the hearts of the people closest to him weighed heavily on him.
‘Lionel.’
And he himself. A chill ran down his spine at the fact that just like Cain, the only thing slipping through the gap in his weakened unconscious mind was a single boy filled with the scent of sunshine.
‘I’m not obsessed. I just… I just need him to be safe. Because I promised to protect him.’
As if running away from something, he hurriedly left the library, leaving Cain behind, and ended up bumping into someone on the landing.
“Ah! I’m sorry! Huh? Cesare-sunbae!”
“Thompson Devier?”
“This works out perfectly. I was just looking for Lionel-sunbae! Do you happen to know where he is? I have something from the general store that he ordered, so I need to deliver it to him!”
He was one of the juniors that Cain and Lionel had brought along, saying he seemed useful. Somehow he got along well with Lionel and would even run errands on his behalf, which made him quite an annoying kid, so his words came out bluntly.
“What is it.”
“This. He requested special engraving, so it took a bit more time.”
Thompson pulled out a purple satin case from his pocket. Inside was a single platinum sleeve garter. It had a fairly ordinary design, but the dark red, ruby engraving surrounding it—a color similar to his own eye color, if he had to compare—stood out remarkably.
‘So this was it. My Rose Day gift.’
Cesare quickly closed the box, feeling his face grow slightly warm as if he had peeked at a secret.
“If you’re looking for Lionel, he should be at the billiard room in the community center right now. Go there and keep it a secret that you met me.”
“Yes! Thank you for letting me know, sunbae!”
Thompson bowed politely and immediately ran off.
So even in the midst of a battlefield, flowers bloom. Cesare walked away, unable to shake off the bitter taste somewhere inside.
* * *
[Chess Club]
“Wow. There are way too many people here.”
I was surprised by the students crowded in front of the chess club room. Wasn’t the chess club supposed to be a quiet, boring place where you could only hear the ticking of the second hand?
“The chess club is always crowded because of Cedric-sunbae.”
Lucy explained to my surprised self. She said students and spectators flocked to the chess club to meet Cedric, always creating a sea of people.
“I thought chess was a really quiet hobby, but I guess not.”
“It’s supposed to be.”
Lucy, who said this, looked tired. For her, someone without friends, having so many people around must be like poison. She guided me inside the chess club room.
Today, I came to meet Cedric and receive the artifact. It would be awkward to meet him alone, so I coaxed Lucy into coming.
“Wow. I’ve never seen such a bold move before.”
“I can’t even imagine how many moves ahead Cedric-sunbae is looking. He’s blocking every single attack, isn’t he?”
The thing the students, gathered like clouds, were watching and admiring was Cedric’s chess game. Cedric sat leisurely with his arms crossed, while his opponent was sweating profusely, struggling with each and every move.
‘No matter how I think about it, isn’t that chest even more amazing?’
I only knew the rules of chess but didn’t understand its profound world, so I couldn’t tell if the game was really that impressive. However, I felt momentarily dizzy looking at that thick chest visible even beyond his generous ruffled shirt.
Mitche, don’t just pluck roses, look at that. It’s what we like.
“Hmph.”
But Mitche just fiddled with a rose he’d picked up somewhere and primly turned his head away. Here I am being considerate, and this little thing is pouting. Tch. If you don’t look, it’s your loss.
“Checkmate.”
Just as I was looking at Cedric’s broad and magnificent ‘aspirations,’ he moved a chess piece and dusted off his hand. The students beside him cheered so loudly it was deafening.
“I knew you would win.”
“You’re amazing, Cedric-sunbae!”
I looked with disdainful eyes at the students who were excessively brown-nosing and clinging to Cedric, and Lucy asked for my understanding with an awkward smile.
“Sorry. It looks like it’ll take some time to see Cedric-sunbae.”
“Can’t be helped. He’s so popular after all. Should we play word chain while we wait?”
Just then, Cedric’s refreshing voice turned this way.
“Mellans! You came to watch the game!”
As soon as the name ‘Mellans’ was called, the room became quiet as if cold water had been poured over it. In an instant, dozens of eyes glared at me sharply. Lucy got even more scared and gripped my arm tightly.
“I mean, are they going to collect money and pay off some sexual harassment settlement for sunbae? I really don’t know why they’re only like this to me!”
As I passionately spoke while putting jam into the warm tea in front of me, Cedric and Lucy couldn’t hold back their laughter and covered their mouths.
“Actually, I think it’s partly your fault for not clearly saying from the beginning that it wasn’t sexual harassment.”
I looked at Cedric resentfully with eyes that said, ‘You, not me,’ and he laughed even harder, chuckling.
“You can just say it wasn’t.”
“I was in a coma, and you need to make a statement, sunbae, so I can make excuses. What if the imperial family issues a warrant for spreading false information if I bring it up first?”
“How strange. Your way of thinking is extremely commoner-like, yet not commoner-like. Ahaha. I don’t even know what nonsense I’m saying.”
I didn’t really know why I was funny, but Cedric even wiped away the tears from laughing and drank his tea. Thinking this was a good opportunity, I subtly brought up the artifact.
“Oh right. Sunbae. Actually, today I didn’t come to watch a game, but because of this—the pendant you promised last time. The other half was sent from my family home.”
“Mm.”
Cedric’s face, which had been full of laughter, became slightly stiff. I was worried he might easily break his promise, but since I’m with Lucy, he can’t say anything else.
I carefully took out the wing-shaped pendant that Lampel had sent from my pocket. Lucy’s eyes lit up with delight.
“Ah, this is pretty! Lionel, is it yours?”
“It’s my mother’s keepsake.”
I lied without batting an eye. Cedric took it and examined it from various angles, then let out a deep sigh.
“Right. Since it’s a symmetrical shape, it does seem to be one piece with that.”
The fact that the imperial family, and the Empress at that, had stolen goods seemed to weigh on him a bit.
“I hope you’ll keep your promise.”
“…….”
Cedric was ominously silent. He even sat there looking forlorn in that pose where handsome men slightly lower their eyes, which looks amazing.
I thought I’d gotten used to handsome faces after seeing Cesare, but that was my mistake. My heart weakened slightly, and I cautiously asked.
“Why, why?”
Cedric said with an awkward expression on his troubled face.
“Actually, the item from Mother’s jewelry box… I took it without permission, so I’m hesitant to hand it over….”
If it was an item connected to Lampel, it must be a meaningful object to the Empress as well. I didn’t know that at the time, but I was really glad I made that promise and pushed strongly.
“You promised. You swore on the imperial crest.”
I also took out the sword ornament that Cedric had given me with a serious expression, devoid of any smile. When Cedric tried to sneakily reach for it, I quickly blocked it.
– Thud.
“I can’t give it to you until you give me the pendant.”
His violet eyes gazed at me intently. It was clearly a forlorn look, but the sharp charisma that seemed to pressure me made the atmosphere heavy. However, I didn’t avoid his gaze and met it directly.
As the strange silence stretched on, Lucy finally hesitantly spoke first.
“I don’t really know what happened, but if you made a promise… I think you should keep it, sunbae.”
When I raised my eyebrows as if to say ‘see,’ in agreement with Lucy, Cedric also let out a small sigh and nodded.
“Alright. I’ll go get it from the dormitory now, so wait.”
“Wait a moment. Please take this first!”
I took out a box from my pocket, meaning to keep his word without backing out.
“What’s this?”
“I’ll treasure your item, so please look upon this favorably~”
Speaking playfully like a market merchant, I opened the box. Inside, a sleeve garter embedded with rubies sparkled and flaunted its appearance.
* * *
Friday. From Rose Day morning, the weather had been gloomy, and now the sky was full of dark clouds, looking like it would pour rain at any moment.
Still, since it was a commemorative season of sorts, colorful roses were procured and decorated throughout the academy and dormitory, making the interior bright.
For the past few days, Mitche had taken pleasure in holding rose stems and plucking petals one by one, and was now giggling while holding flower buds. Mitche was cute, but the rose scent filling the room in the humid moisture was a bit excessive and made me feel queasy.
I stared for a long while at the pair of wings placed on the desk. One was in the form of a brooch, so I had removed the pin attached to it, and one was a pendant, so I had removed the loop.
I couldn’t raise my head for a long time looking at the pair of wings forming a perfect symmetry. Mitche tilted his head as if finding me strange, but I couldn’t pat his head as I usually did.
“Whew!”
I took a quick deep breath and held the two wings in each hand. The moment I tried to overlap them in the middle!
– Thud.
“…….”
The two wings lay back on the desk without being joined. Cesare’s face flickered before me, and I couldn’t put strength into my hands.
‘As expected. I can’t do it yet.’
I can’t let go of Cesare yet. I like Cesare too much.
As I buried my face in my palms, wanting to cry my heart out, Mitche comforted me with his small hands.
