Chapter: 623
The event to welcome the pilgrimage group was going to include all members of the royal family, led by Father King.
Honestly, it felt like overkill to have so many greetings for our guests, but among the pilgrims were Tannian, who was destined to become a saint in the future, and Cardinal Alexandriana, the embodiment of growth in the Holy Kingdom. Saints are treated with the same gravity as a pope in the Dawn Sect. So even with Father King stepping in, it wouldn’t contradict the protocols.
“They said that when the pilgrimage group left the Empire, the Emperor and the Crown Princess personally saw them off. So, as the king, it’s my duty to welcome them when they arrive in Armain to keep up the emotional impact,” he explained.
“I really didn’t need all that detail.”
Father King’s kind explanation was met with a sigh from my eldest brother.
It was a reason that suggested we couldn’t afford to lose face in front of the Empire, yet neither Mother nor my eldest brother disputed the reasoning itself.
‘Father King is right.’
The pilgrimage group, which had left the Empire with grand send-offs from the Emperor and the Crown Princess, was arriving in Armain. Would it be fitting for a mere prince—or just any random prince—to greet them? Tannian, who I observed for three years, wouldn’t care about such formalities, but I wasn’t so sure about the other pilgrims.
Thus, following Father King’s words, it was indeed right for the entire royal family to be present. It was unavoidable that the king ranked below the emperor, but in numbers, our royal family had the upper hand.
“Rutis.”
“Yes, Father King.”
“It brings me great joy to see you reconnect with an old friend. I understand this father’s feelings profoundly. However, make sure to converse with the future saint in private.”
“Of course. It goes without saying.”
Despite my firm affirmation, there was a hint of doubt and worry still lingering on Father King’s face.
“…Right. I believe you will do well.”
Of course, it was only faint feelings. I’ve never made a fool of myself in public, even though I may have come close on a few occasions.
‘Being on the brink and actually crossing the line are two different things.’
I may have acted a little oddly a couple of times, but I’ve never done anything to damage the state’s interests or the royal family’s image. That was my position in Father King’s heart. That should be enough, right?
“It’s fascinating. When you said you’d be entering the Imperial Academy, I thought you might have hit your head during training. Who would’ve guessed that it would lead to this network of connections?”
Following up on Father King’s remarks was my second brother, chuckling.
Honestly, I didn’t see it coming either. I had heard that Ainter, the third prince of the Empire, would be attending, but who could have imagined that Lather and Tannian would also enroll?
“It must be because of Enen’s guidance, right?”
“Cough, it seems Enen intended to raise the next saint with strictness.”
Admiringly sipping tea, my sister suddenly burst into laughter.
“Sister?”
“Sorry! A funny memory just came flooding back…”
I quietly nodded at my sister’s hurried apology. If she said sorry, there was no need to press further.
The pilgrimage group arrived at Radus right on the dot as they had notified the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Welcome! We’re glad to have you in Armain.”
“May your protection be upon us. We sincerely thank you for the grand reception from His Majesty the King and the Robens royal family.”
As Father King extended his hand for a handshake towards Tannian, who stood at the forefront of the pilgrimage, Tannian took the offered hand and lightly bowed.
“Grand reception? I’m just disappointed that we couldn’t prepare a more splendid welcome due to the chilly winds.”
With Tannian’s bow, Father King shook his head while wearing a slight smile.
They exchanged greetings, showcasing mutual respect—an ideal first encounter.
“I heard you traveled from the Holy Kingdom through the three winter countries to reach the Empire. It must have been quite the ordeal in this cold weather. Please, make yourself comfortable during your stay in Armain.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty.”
As that remark concluded, Tannian glanced at my eldest brother and smiled faintly.
“Indeed, your friend’s bravery and charm are traits you have fairly distributed to your children, Your Majesty.”
“Distributed? They are far worthier than this old man.”
“Then I suppose your queen has been quite helpful too. Understood.”
Tannian’s very direct compliment about the kids, which included praise for their parents, made Father King smile even wider. Really, who wouldn’t appreciate sincere praise in the family?
Especially when the praise is directed toward family.
“Cardinal Denio was rather stern, making conversation hard, but the future saint emanates warmth like the sun. I was worried that everyone from the Holy Kingdom might be like Cardinal Denio.”
Then, noticing that Tannian’s comment pleased him, my eldest brother gently initiated a greeting.
“Cardinal Denio was indeed known for his reticent nature even while at the Holy Kingdom. However, he takes full responsibility for his words, hence the silence. So, please don’t hold it against him too much.”
“Haha, of course not. Everyone knows the cardinal is a cautious and responsible person.”
After exchanging their pleasantries, Tannian moved on to my second brother and then my sister, finally turning to me.
“It’s been a while, brother.”
“Yes, it indeed has.”
It was a bit awkward. This was my first time addressing Tannian with such formality.
Honestly, I wanted to celebrate this long-awaited reunion with a hearty shoulder embrace, but Father King insisted I express familiarity only in private. As a good son, I couldn’t ignore my father’s wishes.
Anyway, Armain is vast. While it’s not quite on the imperial scale, the pilgrimage group would be staying for quite a while. Meeting Tannian privately shouldn’t pose an issue then—
“I feel a bit stung. I can forgive Ainter for being formal, but hearing you speak so formally to me feels like there’s a wall growing between us.”
“Brother?”
“Please, don’t hold back. Our three years have been worth thirty for others, haven’t they?”
…
Hmm.
“It’s been 10 years. How have you been all this time?”
“Haha, thanks to your watchful guidance, I’ve been enjoying life. I’m relieved you seem to be well too.”
“I’m always doing fine.”
Even as our conversation flowed naturally, I noticed Father King rubbing his neck in the background, but there was nothing I could do.
It was the future saint’s request. As someone welcoming the guests, complying with their wishes was a given. If I had insisted on being cold and formal, Tannian might’ve felt slighted when he should have been treated with utmost respect.
So I maintain my confidence. I was speaking plainly not out of personal feelings, but for the sake of public duty.
“By the way, during our time apart, I heard Ainter has been spending cozy moments with his fiancée.”
“Are you referring to the daughter of Baron Barandi?”
“Yes. They seemed to care for each other wonderfully.”
That caught me off guard. While I was aware Ainter had become engaged to a noble lady of nomadic descent, I thought it was strictly a political alliance.
‘Looks like feelings have developed along the way.’
What began as a marriage for political advantage has blossomed into true affection. It’s a rather lovely story.
“Any good news for you, Rutis?”
At that question, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Who knew I would hear words from Tannian that echoed my mother’s?
“Your friend Ainter, the third prince, is engaged, you know. The Baron of Tailglehen has two brothers. You too must have spent the same years in school, so why no news from you?”
“Is it because of worries over your partner’s low status? That’s okay; as the third prince, I’d cheer you on if they were of lower nobility or knightly lineage.”
“If it’s a commoner, it’d be rather difficult, but just bring someone back. There’s a difference between not having someone and having a hard time finding one.”
“No one? If that’s the case, you should make one! You being without a fiancée is putting your siblings in a bind when they try to get married!”
Of course, Mother’s nagging would be more intense.
“Well, it seems you don’t have anyone, huh?”
Anyway, Tannian looked at me with a somewhat sympathetic expression after hearing my laughter.
“It’s fine. Fate is like the wind; it’s hard to grasp firmly, but it approaches silently like a breeze. Someday, you will also meet a wonderful partner.”
His heartfelt comfort left me with a strange feeling. Tannian and I aren’t so different—so why would I feel comforted…?
‘Could it be?’
Could it be that Tannian has found someone, just like Ainter or Erich?
If so, then that condescending look, along with his warm consolation, makes sense. He thinks he’s in some realm apart from mine.
‘… Impressive.’
Almost made me chuckle. If Tannian has found a partner, then more than half of our five-member pastry club has stumbled into romance. The unmarried folks are now in the minority.
No, considering Lather is one of only two princes in the United Kingdom of Yuben, he might be pursuing a political marriage right about now. Where does that leave me as possibly the only unmarried one?
‘Ugh.’
Just imagining being the only single member out of five makes me feel suffocated.
*
We decided to spend about three days in Radus, the capital of Armain.
No matter how comfortable teleporting may be, crossing borders is still a significant migration. Jumping right into the itinerary would be overexerting myself. Plus, as Father King said, the winds of Armain were quite chilly. Not as cold as the Northern Regions, but certainly cooler than the Empire’s mainland.
“Both the Empire and Armain are significant nations. Thus, even though our borders touch, there’s considerable distance between our capitals. It wouldn’t be bad to enjoy a little tour while noticing the difference between Ausen and Radus.”
However, there was no chance I was going to just sit in the accommodations provided by Armain for three days. If I was in a foreign land, I should explore its culture and religious customs.
I initially planned for a leisurely outing with Alexandriana, but—
“Oh!”
I stumbled upon an interesting scene while leaving the royal palace.
In the courtyard, I saw my brother Rutis sparring with a certain lady with a smile etched across his face while she was grinding her teeth, trying to defend against his sword.
Was her name Perosa Ganeli? I vaguely remember seeing her face. She’s definitely the daughter of Baron Villar Ganeli.
‘What an amusing combination.’
After watching the scene for a moment, I turned to continue on my way, satisfied with at least noticing Rutis might harbor a small possibility.
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