The end of the Sabbath Festival.
This meant that a long-awaited event was approaching for the students.
And a few days later, in the academy’s auditorium.
[Um… So, it’s vacation time, don’t get too relaxed, and make sure to supplement your lacking areas…]
[That’s all for the headmaster’s speech! I hope you all have a joyful vacation!]
[Waaaaaaah!!]
Interrupting the headmaster’s two-hour talk, the deputy head’s announcement sent cheers erupting from the students’ mouths as they began to file out of the auditorium in an orderly fashion.
Rudell and Leje also made their way out of the auditorium…
“What are you gonna do during the vacation?”
“Huh? Me? Well, I guess I’ll just go home first?”
Rudell replied with a look that said, “What kind of obvious question is that?” to Leje’s inquiry.
He needed to check if there was anything going on in his territory and greet his parents, meet Kyle after a long time, and possibly scout for talents, among other things…
The list of things to do was literally as high as a mountain.
“And what about you?”
“I’m planning to go home too, and then… maybe I’ll come visit your territory again?”
“Could you hold off on that…?”
Knowing how much trouble the staff went through every time she visited, Rudell couldn’t just wholeheartedly welcome her coming.
It was said that a frog dies after being hit by a stone thrown carelessly.
The people in the Duchy felt exactly the same about Leje’s visits.
“Well… how about you stay in the Duchy this time?”
“Me?”
“Yeah, my father mentioned he wanted to meet you.”
“Me? The Duke?”
At those words, Rudell’s eyes widened in surprise.
What’s going on here?
Could this be real?
With such thoughts, Rudell looked at Leje, who chuckled at his reaction.
“Why would he want to meet me?”
“Well, you’re my only friend, so maybe he wants to see your face at least once?”
“…Hmm.”
While that seemed like the most plausible reason given the situation, Rudell couldn’t shake off the feeling that it wasn’t the whole story.
Just then…
“Oh! Alma!”
With a cheerful voice, Leje waved and ran out, and when Rudell turned his head, he saw a carriage marked with the Duke’s seal.
And a woman with striking ruby-red eyes and glasses was approaching.
It was Alma, the head maid of the Duke’s household and Leje’s personal maid.
She had come all the way here to fetch her.
“It’s been a while. Miss.”
With a warm voice, Alma lightly bowed to Leje as she approached her.
“How have you been? It’s been so long!”
It had been nearly six months.
It wasn’t surprising that she would react that way.
“Yes, I’ve been well. You look healthy too, Miss.”
“Yep! I’ve been doing super great!”
“It’s been a while too, Alma.”
“Count Weinstein, it’s also been a while since I last saw you.”
As Rudell bowed his head toward Alma, she offered him a gentle smile in return.
And then…
“Count, please accept this.”
“Huh? What’s this?”
With a small envelope in hand, Alma presented it to Rudell, who received it with a puzzled expression.
It was a small envelope with the Lagrind Dukedom’s seal on it.
The moment he saw it, Rudell’s expression hardened.
“This is an invitation from the Duke for you.”
“T-the Duke…?”
“Furthermore, he specifically asked me to tell you to be sure to come.”
As Rudell asked in a bemused voice, Alma answered, crushing the last shred of hope.
This was what despair felt like…
He thought he might have collapsed if he hadn’t received a heads-up from Leje earlier, and Rudell lightly pressed his forehead.
“Well, I’ll just assume you’re coming and take my leave!”
“I’ll see you later, Count Weinstein.”
With that, Leje and Alma climbed into the carriage, and after a while, their figures began to fade away.
“Sigh…”
And a short sigh escaped Rudell’s lips as he watched that scene.
*
Two days later, Rudell returned to the Duchy.
“It’s been a while here…”
He murmured, feeling nostalgic as he gazed at the scenery of his hometown outside the window.
Even after six months, the landscape of the Duchy hadn’t changed…
Just then.
“Hmm…?”
He couldn’t hide his bewildered expression at the sight before him.
“What, what’s this…?”
The next moment, a surprised voice escaped his mouth.
And no wonder, the image of the Duchy he remembered was ‘completely’ flipped upside down compared to what was right in front of him.
The once modest town, akin to a larger village, was now surrounded by proper city walls and the number of buildings had noticeably increased compared to his memory.
But the most striking thing was none other than…
“W-why is there a castle…?”
A massive castle stood where the residence of the Count used to be.
While smaller than the Duke’s mansion, it was still large and magnificent enough to be called a proper castle.
“Ah, hey!!”
“Yes? What is it, young master?”
The coachman responded with a puzzled voice as Rudell leaned out the window shouting.
“What in the world is going on!? Is this really the Duchy?! It doesn’t seem like it?!”
“What do you mean? If this isn’t the Duchy, then where on earth could possibly be?”
“What…?”
Rudell’s voice came out as confused, as if the coachman saw him as crazy.
How could so much happen in just half a year?
As he pondered that, suddenly…
“Could it be you haven’t heard?”
“Huh? Heard what?”
“After you enrolled, the Lagrind Duchy decided to invest heavily in the Duchy.”
“What in the world…”
Rudell let out a low groan.
Such a situation had never occurred in the original story, leading to confusion about his words.
But there was no other way to explain the current situation before him.
“Wow…”
Seeing that Leje hadn’t said anything until now meant she was unaware of this matter either.
If that was the case, it had to be a decision made by the Duke…
But why?
While Rudell was organizing his scattered thoughts, the carriage drove smoothly along the well-maintained road…
Arriving at the now strangely familiar house of Count Weinstein… no, the castle.
“Welcome back, young master.”
As the carriage came to a stop and he disembarked, he was greeted by a young man with neatly combed hair and striking red eyes, dressed in formal butler attire.
It was Kyle.
“It’s been a while, Kyle. Has everything been fine?”
“Yes, the Duchy has been peaceful.”
Kyle replied, bowing his head to the pleasantly surprised Rudell.
Rudell, satisfied with his answer, looked around, taking in the transformed scenery of the mansion.
It was completely different from what he remembered.
As he scanned the surroundings, he suddenly heard…
“RUDEEEEEEEEL!!”
Out of nowhere, his father, Carlos Weinstein, charged at him with a wild scream and suddenly pulled him into a bone-crushing hug.
“Whoaah-!?”
Caught off guard, a painful groan escaped Rudell’s lips…
“This guy! What if you hurt him!!”
“Ugh!?”
Then, his mother, Maria Weinstein, rushed after Carlos and smacked the back of his head with a fan.
“Father…! I can’t… breathe…!”
“Oops! My bad!!”
As Rudell struggled to breathe, Carlos jumped back, releasing his grip.
“Th-thank you…!!”
Finally freed, Rudell exhaled heavily.
Wondering how such immense strength could come from such a slender body, Rudell quickly shook his head.
After all, this was a world where magic and monsters existed, so why not?
“It’s been a while, Rudell.”
“I’m back, Mother. Father.”
With a kind smile, Maria approached Rudell, and he lightly bowed his head to her.
After looking at him for a moment, Maria stepped forward, hugging him gently.
Feeling an indescribable warmth from that embrace, Rudell stood there for a moment.
And how much time passed?
“It wouldn’t do to just stand around, so let’s go inside; I’m sure you have many questions.”
“Yes. Mother, Father.”
First, he needed to ask why the Duchy had transformed into such a large city, and there were countless other things he wanted to know.
Nodding at Carlos’ words, Rudell got ready to enter…
“Kyle. Please take care of Rudell’s belongings.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“…?”
Kyle nodded in response to Carlos’ words.
And in that moment, Rudell couldn’t believe his ears.
