Chapter: 627
Villar’s desperate confession held a power that made anyone listening feel solemn.
What kind of order is the Royal Knights? They are the shield that protects the royal family from the closest range and the sword boasting the strongest military force in the kingdom. Being part of the Royal Knights brings a pride that is the highest honor a knight can possess, coupled with incredible loyalty and reverence towards the royal family they protect.
But despite having been through hell together for three years, here he was, a deputy commander, casually telling a foreigner, “Our prince has become a total idiot.”
‘Just how bad must it have gotten?’
If a subject disrespects a member of the royalty, it’s usually that subject who’s to blame. However, if a loyal subject criticizes the royal family, then you know the royal is in the wrong.
Villar is closer to the latter. From what I have seen of him, he has always strived to uphold the honor of the Royal Knights against any adversity. The fact that he’s seeking counsel from a foreigner about his royal family’s bizarre behavior speaks volumes.
‘And I have no solutions either.’
The real problem is, despite Villar’s great resolution, there’s absolutely no way for me to help him.
Am I supposed to control Rutis’s actions? Rutis hasn’t been under my influence since season ’77, and if we’re talking about his wild antics, it’s not even up for debate. His relative calmness lately is likely just because Rizie has been putting him in his place. My influence is almost nonexistent.
And can I clean up Rutis’s trolling? That would require me monitoring club members 24/7, and right now, there’s a wall—the border that divides Rutis and me.
From the moment we graduated, Rutis and I have been on the opposite sides—me, just a civil servant of the empire, and him, a member of the Armain royal family. If a civil servant intervenes in the affairs of a royal, it could lead to diplomatic issues, you know?
‘As if anyone’s oblivious to that.’
I felt a growing sense of pity. How frustrated he must be…
“Baron Villar, while I may not know what’s happening in Armain, I can see how hard you’ve been trying. Every time I’ve seen you, you’ve been unwavering, no matter the challenge.”
– You flatter me.
“Because of that, I realize your contact means you’re at your wit’s end. You aren’t the type to call on others unless absolutely necessary.”
At my statement, Villar nodded with a bittersweet expression.
Yes, this is a last resort. Villar has declared his struggles openly; he’s trying to handle things on his own to the best of his abilities. There’s simply nothing more he can do.
“But Baron Villar, while I feel regret for not being able to return your trust, I currently have no standing to contact Rutis. He is no longer my student, after all.”
– Even if he graduated, the bond between a teacher and student—
“If we’re to take it that way, then the headmaster of the imperial academy would be a figure above the empire itself. As a former teacher, it would be inappropriate for me to meddle in the affairs of my former students.”
My firm stance drew no rebuttal from Villar. He must have known deep down that he was being unreasonable.
Honestly, it’s incredibly rare to maintain close ties with someone after graduation. As a teacher, you gain hundreds of students each year, and as a student, that person is just one of many instructors encountered over three years.
On top of that, I wasn’t even a formal teacher; I was just a club advisor. To claim our bond was that of a teacher and student is a bit embarrassing.
“So, I’ll give you a better suggestion.”
Thus, I need to introduce Villar to someone else for help.
– A better suggestion?
“Yes. It’ll probably be more effective than me getting involved.”
With that said, I relayed a unique contact number to Villar.
It belonged to a younger son of an imperial count, a junior member of the assembly, and a man engaged to two extraordinary fiancées.
“It would look strange for a teacher to interfere with a graduated student, but a good friend reaching out to another friend far removed, that’s a more beautiful sight, isn’t it?”
– Your Grace, you mean…
“A call from a friend with a romantic partner will surely provide good encouragement for Rutis.”
Villar remained silent for a moment before quickly jotting down the number I had given him.
With this, Erich has become a significant figure capable of direct contact with the Deputy Commander of the Armain Royal Knights.
– Thank you, Your Grace. I will not forget this kindness.
“Haha, do we really have kindness between us? Don’t take it too much to heart.”
I offered Villar a slightly awkward smile. This isn’t about kindness; it’s more about passing the bomb, if anything.
After all, just like Rutis and Erich drove me crazy in ’77, this is just a righteous transfer of the bomb.
“Wow, you threw it to your little brother.”
I ignored Eri’s mutterings from behind, confirming this as a righteous transfer.
“By the way, big brother, I heard Rutis might be getting engaged or married?”
Then Eri blurted out something she shouldn’t have.
Engagement or marriage? The Deputy Commander of the Royal Knights is practically begging for his life over there!
*
Today, just like any other day, I was once again drowning in assembly work.
It’s heartbreaking. Just because I’m the youngest, most of the paperwork from the assembly is piling up in my office. If I were an administrative worker, I could have gotten promoted and had some subordinates, but here in the imperial assembly, there’s no such concept as promotion. For someone below me to exist, the current assembly member would need to retire.
And sadly, retiring from the imperial assembly requires the permission of His Majesty the Emperor. It looks like it will be at least another 10 or 20 years before any retirements occur.
Such is the plight of being the youngest for a decade.
I could nearly burst into tears. Thank goodness for Sister Via; I’d be lost without her support.
‘What now?’
Just as I was feeling the weight of close relationships, my communication device shone brightly.
When my device activates, I can’t help but sigh. Calls at this hour are usually 99% work-related. Ignoring them might have serious after-effects.
“Assembly Deputy, Erich Krasius of Hardiner here.”
Thus, I activated the communication device with a bitter heart, and—
– Long time no see, Baron Hardiner.
“Sir Villar?”
What an unexpected face to see.
Like he said, it’s been a while, but despite the year gone by, Villar’s face and voice were unmistakable. A year is hardly enough to erase the intense memories of my three years at the academy.
‘…What’s this?’
I was glad, but also caught off guard. If Rutis were calling me, I might have been prepared, but Villar reaching out was beyond my imagination.
“Good to see you! I thought we wouldn’t meet again, but it seems Enen is cherishing our bond.”
Yet I quickly pushed my confusion aside and smiled.
It’s unexpected but not unwelcome. If it’s a call from a foreigner, at least it’s not to dump work on me. There’s no way Villar would contact me for any work-related reason since I’m not even on diplomatic duties.
—Or so I thought.
“Excuse me?”
– You heard me correctly.
Villar’s words about Rutis returning to his old self took a moment to register.
‘What does that mean?’
My hand holding the device trembled. Rutis returning to his old self is definitely not good news.
Including me, the five club members facing the hardest time had seemingly lost their grip there. A time when we were foolishly blinded by love and had no clue how to actually achieve genuine love. If we were to return to that time, I’d be grappling with the urge to either gouge my own eyes out or kick that third leg off.
That is the time that haunts my dreams, the time of Rutis’s old self.
‘Why’d it have to be that time? Why not any other?’
There’s nothing to laugh about. While Ainter and I are finding our partners, some are regressing back to a pathetic state.
…
‘But why?’
Finally, a growing question surged forth, too big to be suppressed.
It’s terrifying that Rutis has returned to that mindset. Even I, struggling under the mountains of work, found myself pausing while signing documents to seriously fiddle with the communication device.
Yet why is Villar telling me this? I mean, it’s odd that he should even have my contact number…
– To be honest, I initially contacted Count Tailglehen, but he suggested I ask you, a friend of His Highness.
‘What the hell.’
I bit my lip at the realization my brother had once again sold me out.
How unjust! Not only did he lock up my little brother in the assembly, but now he’s passing off foreign royal duties to me?
‘What kind of person are you?’
Of course, it’s shaky to call someone who can cut through to the heavens a person in the first place.
– I’m terribly sorry for dragging a foreigner like you into the affairs of our country. But with your friend getting ready for a beautiful family, I couldn’t stand by while His Highness walks down a solitary path.
“I understand. If you’re in a position where you can observe, that would make sense.”
Setting aside my grudge against my brother, I was sincere. Even just hearing it through the communication device, it’s dizzying for me, so Villar’s shock must be far greater.
‘Rumors say he might be getting engaged or married soon.’
And upon seeing the disheveled Villar, my resentment toward Rutis began to bubble up.
Just a few weeks ago, Tannian mentioned that Rutis might be getting engaged or married.
What a conundrum. Was Tannian just lying, or did Rutis really regress to that primitive state in just a few weeks? Or was Rutis a lunatic from the start, and Tannian misread everything?
No matter how you slice it, it’s a headache.
With that throbbing headache, I called Rutis.
– Oh, Erich! Long time no see!
His cheerful expression greeted me like the old days at the academy, but it didn’t feel very welcoming now. If it weren’t for a good reason, why would I feel warm happiness?
‘From graduation to such a nonsense conversation…’
How bitter. At least my reunion with Tannian had been calm and pleasant.
– Anyway, what’s up?
“Did you contact me during a busy time?”
– Haha, that’s not it! But since we’ve only been apart for a year, it wouldn’t make sense to struggle just to contact you out of longing, right? I must have an intention for calling you.
“Well, that’s true.”
Contemplating over what to say, I released a small sigh.
“I heard you’ve returned to your foolish self from four years ago, so I thought I might talk. If we spar now, I have a feeling I’d win hands down.”
After mulling it over, I decided to be direct. I mean, your stupid behaviors are echoing across the border, dude.
– …What?
Rutis responded with a dazed look, but I kept my gaze steady at him.
What now, kid? If you’re feeling confrontational, you can come over the border.
If you did, I’d run straight to my brother’s mansion. Even if I’d get hit, you’d get hit harder for returning to your pathetic self.
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