Chapter: 624
The day after the pilgrimage group from the Holy Kingdom arrived in Radus.
“It makes me think of the club days,” Tannian said, as he requested a face-to-face meeting, leading to an intimate mini tea party just for the two of us.
Originally, we were supposed to have a meal together, but Tannian, having enjoyed the sights of Radus, brought cookies to recreate the old atmosphere. How could I refuse when a friend wanted to relive our school memories?
“Those days were fun every single day. There were times I missed baking cookies and even poked my head into the kitchen,” I reminisced.
Coincidentally, I, too, had been nostalgic about my academy days and our club activities. It had only been a year since, but it felt like such a cherished and joyful time.
“In fact, I’ve baked a few times. I can sneak into the kitchen often under the pretext of serving the followers,” he bragged.
“Ah, I envy that. Just being near the kitchen sends the chefs into a panic for me!” I chuckled at his words.
I shook my head slightly. After spending three years as a member of the pastry club, I’d developed decent baking skills. However, being a prince meant stepping foot in the kitchen here was about as likely as a snowstorm in summer.
On the other hand, Tannian, unlike me, could still show off his baking skills. As a future saint, he emphasized service and devotion as much as his nobility.
“That’s enviable, indeed.”
It isn’t about the ability to bake that I envied, but the freedom to do what he wanted.
Thinking back, the most carefree time in my life was my three years at the academy. It’s truly a pity that it’s only three years long. How wonderful would it be if it lasted six years?
“Maybe the advisor would have kicked us out by then,” I mused, letting out a smirk at my idle thought.
Yeah, that was probably true. It was a miracle that someone like the advisor stuck around for three years at the academy. Keeping an external staff member for six years? Neither the Empire nor the advisor could tolerate that. They would have found a way to send us off or brought someone else instead.
But if someone else came in place of the advisor… they probably wouldn’t have managed us well. No one can compare to the advisor, no matter how much I think about it.
“Speaking of which, how has the advisor been doing?”
Thinking of the advisor, I inquired about him, and Tannian smiled warmly, placing his teacup down.
“He is doing splendidly.”
It was a brief yet satisfactory answer. It felt more trustworthy than any embellishments.
“His children are growing up healthy, and even his late-in-life little sister is adorable,” he continued.
“Oh, right. I heard the advisor had one more sister!” I responded, recalling my surprise and laughter when I first heard the news. Who would’ve thought the advisor and Erich would have a younger sibling?
Not just any younger sibling, but one younger than the advisor’s own children!
‘What a loving family.’
Sure, less so than our royal family.
“Both Brother Ainter and Brother Erich are doing well. They’re supposed to get married next year, and I’m thinking about what kind of gift to send them.”
“Seems like everyone is starting a family right after graduation. At this rate, I’ll be the only one left single!”
Right after that remark, I subtly checked Tannian’s expression.
If Tannian didn’t disagree here, then it was certain that he had found someone. He had always been too honest over the past three years; he had never lied.
“I still haven’t heard back about Brother Lather, so I can’t tell if Brother Rutis is single or not,” Tannian replied.
I couldn’t help but internally smirk at that response.
My theory that Tannian had indeed found someone gained strong confirmation. I had no clue what had transpired over this last year, but it was evident that Tannian had found his partner.
‘That means there’s a problem with me.’
A slight sense of crisis washed over me.
It’s completely understandable to fall behind Ainter and Erich. Ainter is the Emperor’s sole younger brother, always a card for political use, while Erich has Sara and Count Horfelt. They’re bound to marry before me.
But to fall behind a priest like Tannian is a serious concern. The Dawn Sect does not forbid priests from marrying, but it’s a serious issue if the next saint finds a partner before royalty. Logically, I, a prince, should be getting married or finding a partner before a priest devoted to faith.
“Well… being single isn’t the worst thing,” I consoled myself.
Truth be told, I had no particular attachment to marriage. My experience of love only lasted about half a year when I was infatuated with Louise. Other than that brief period, I hadn’t loved or even liked anyone.
But while I was indifferent, my mother was a different story, steeped in the expectation of marriage.
“I heard your friend, Emperor Ainter, is engaged. Count Tannian from Tailglehen has two brothers too. You must’ve shared the same school life, so how come you have no news?”
My mother was eagerly waiting to know when I would get married. While there was no helping my older brother, it was preferable that her children marry for love rather than for political ties.
I cannot predict how she would react if she finds out I am the only one among my school friends who’s still single. She can be a ticking time bomb between anger and reason. Naturally, this is a cause for concern as a son.
“Brother?”
“Uh?”
As I pondered how to prevent this horrible news from reaching my mother, Tannian spoke again.
“I mentioned before that fate is like the wind,” he said.
I nodded dully at his words. Tannian had indeed said that when he realized I didn’t have a partner.
“The wind cannot be seen or held in your hands. It is felt by the body and mind.”
“Did you read a romance novel on the way here?”
Suddenly, he was being overly poetic.
“Haha, you know how it gets when interpreting old scriptures,” he chuckled.
My joking made Tannian laugh, and he added, “And if you just lend an ear to your heart, you might feel that wind.”
He left me with a meaningful statement on his calm yet serious face.
‘If I listen closely to my heart, I could feel the wind. Though invisible, I can sense it in my body.’
‘Complicated.’
Tannian truly is a priest after all.
With a very vague and confusing comment, he sounded just like a traditional sermon.
*
As soon as the mini tea party concluded, I headed straight for the training ground.
Not only did missing one day of training make me feel stiff, but I also needed to clear my head from the complications that Tannian had thrown at me.
That troublesome guy. After meeting up with a long-lost friend, he sends me off into this maze of thoughts.
‘The wind, huh…’
As I swung the sword repeatedly, a sigh slipped from my lips.
If only there was a clear path or destination, I’d charge ahead with no second thought. Regardless of how painful the thorny path may be, as long as I don’t give up and can see my goal, I’d reach it someday.
But Tannian’s advice was, as he said, neither visible nor tangible. I couldn’t tell if it was right in front of me or something I’d have to chase for the rest of my life.
“Your Highness.”
Nothing is more terrifying than a fight with an uncertain outcome. Having an unknown enemy with unknown numbers and whereabouts is a chilling experience.
“Your Highness?”
Especially if that enemy lies within—
“Your Highness. Are you alright?”
“Ah.”
Snapping back to reality, I turned my head toward the voice calling me.
It was Lady Perosa.
‘Oh no.’
I felt embarrassed. How could I be thinking of something other than fighting while holding a sword? If this were a battlefield instead of a training ground, and she were an assassin instead of a lady, I’d be dead a dozen times over.
“I’m sorry, my lady. I was lost in thought about a gift from a friend. It was so impactful,” I overcompensated with a laugh, trying to mask my embarrassment; I couldn’t show any signs of doubt in front of my sparring partner.
“A friend, you say… Are you talking about the future saint?”
“Who else in Armain would I be talking about if not Tannian?”
I instinctively wanted to nod, then paused to study Lady Perosa’s expression.
What defines a friend? It’s someone who shares your joys, stays close by, and you meet often. Age and rank matter not in such relationships.
Then could it be that Lady Perosa is also my friend? We spent two and a half years together at the academy, and we’ve been sparring almost every day since graduation. As fellow knights, sharing the same joy, it would be inadequate to call her anything else.
“And if you just lend an ear to your heart, you might feel that wind,” his words echoed in my mind.
‘Hmmm.’
Suddenly, Tannian’s advice resurfaced in my thoughts.
Of course, Tannian likely meant that I would find a partner someday, but that doesn’t mean a partner always has to be a romantic one. It’s also important to find a worthy partner as a knight.
That must have been why a genuine smile broke through my past exaggerated laughter.
“Lady Perosa.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“I’m glad you’re by my side.”
“Th- Thank you!”
I reached out and patted Lady Perosa’s shoulder, expressing a small thank you.
Having graduated from the academy, I lost a friend and a wonderful training partner.
Lady Perosa was the one who saved me from falling into a gloomy state, where I might’ve lost my joy. I reflected that I should cherish that more than I have.
‘If I listen closely to my heart, I can feel the wind.’
Just moments ago, I struggled to comprehend those words, but now I finally get it.
*
That same weekend, while carrying Teresa around the castle, I ran into Erich. He seems to visit the castle every weekend.
“By the way, Brother,” Erich said.
“Uh, what’s up?”
“Rumor has it Rutis might get engaged or married?”
His abrupt statement made me stop in my tracks.
“Wha- Wha-!”
The attraction abruptly halted, making Teresa pout due to the sudden stop, catching me off guard.
“Where did you hear that?”
“From Tannian. He crossed over to Armain this time.”
Just hearing that the next saint was the source made my head spin. No matter how weird Tannian might sound, he doesn’t lie.
…
Wait just a second.
“You heard it from Tannian?”
“Yeah. We exchanged communication numbers the other day. It’s hard to meet in person, but we can at least keep in touch.”
That made sense. It’s not weird for friends to exchange numbers. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t realized that until now…
‘I had direct access to the next saint the whole time.’
I suddenly realized just how valuable my brother is.
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