The Academy's Academic Festival – Part Three
Time always flowed steadily.
And the academy's academic festival, held right after midterms, was now right before my eyes.
Before the festival began, Professor Milaze had devoted herself entirely to her thesis during lecture hours.
She might not quite finish it in time, but the presentation would be no problem, she muttered while wielding her pen like a madwoman.
In the meantime, thanks to Senior Charlotte, I had learned a great many small details of elf society and received instruction on how to wield magic.
In return, I had to pay a cup of hot chocolate every day, yet watching the smiling elf who licked it noisily as if she had everything in the world wasn’t at all bad.
Aside from writing the thesis, I had also thrown myself into sword training with Rie.
Of late my offensive had improved noticeably, and I had reached the point where I could easily shift to a counterattack at any time.
Of course, I was still far from equal to Rie, but aiming for Sword Master was never on my mind, and this was already a tremendous success for me.
As time passed, the day of the academy's academic festival finally arrived.
New students like us had nothing special to do except skip lectures on that day.
For the upperclassmen, however, today would be a matter of utmost importance, comparable to midterms.
*Haa… There’s no class, so it’s impossible to feel relaxed on a weekday.*
*If only there weren’t sword training, I could have had an even more relaxed weekday, young miss.*
*Quiet down. I only did it a hundred times instead of the original thousand, so be grateful, Lucian.*
Who would ever follow a thousand swings without complaint?!
They’d have negotiated to halve it or reduced it to a hundred, that’s for sure!
With no morning or afternoon lectures thanks to festival preparations, I had planned to sleep in a bit then head out to watch, but suddenly Rie had appeared and dragged me along without a word.
The festival’s main events were scheduled for after lunch, when most guests would arrive.
And Rie’s father, Marquis Haniel, was sure to be there.
I had wanted to enjoy some leisure, yet he had dragged me out again.
*Rie, if you keep holding back all morning, you’ll end up dragging your feet when you meet Marquis Haniel.*
*No. Instead, I’ll present a calm mind sharpened by sword practice when I stand before Father.*
This was Rie, who normally yielded, and today she seemed utterly tense.
Honestly, I doubted Marquis Haniel would refuse.
And I remembered her swearing that she would give her unconditional approval.
The fact that she herself was visibly tense and groaning was the real point.
Since today was the important day, I had no choice but to grant her wish.
From early morning until lunchtime, I had sweated like rain before I could finally set the sword down.
After that, I returned to my room briefly to shower, changed into my most immaculate clothes, and inspected every detail to ensure nothing could possibly go wrong.
Only after confirming there was no flaw did I leave the room, only to see Rie waiting downstairs in attire that looked exquisitely refined.
*…Ready?*
*Yes.*
*Hoo. Good. There’s no need to be nervous. Just do as you normally would.*
*Of course I will.*
*Father doesn’t know you, but he’s praised you a few times before, so it should be fine. You could even say he had wanted to arrange this meeting long before you and I did.*
*Um, Rie?*
*Let me say it again. Never be nervous. Father will react exactly as you fear…*
Just then I pulled her into my arms to stop the endless stream of words.
Thanks to that, Rie fell into silence, still nestled against me, before she finally spoke.
*I’m not nervous at all. What would I be nervous about? Marquis Haniel will definitely approve. He already has that thought, or if not, I’ll make it happen. So you don’t have to be nervous either.*
*I… I’m not nervous.*
*Oh, I see. If you’re not nervous, let’s pretend that’s the case.*
With a light shrug that seemed to say she was pouting, Rie.
It looked as though she wanted me to loosen my hold, yet I had only to apply a little pressure and she could leave.
She had no need whatsoever to wiggle like that as if she were having a tantrum.
This girl was acting as if she wanted to stay, yet now she was deliberately complaining.
There was no harm in releasing her, I had even considered it.
But I decided it was still too early for that, so I kept holding her a little longer.
To be honest, I had received far too much from Rie, and kicking her out now for a tantrum would truly earn me the title of “world’s biggest scumbag,” which I was willing to accept.
*…Enough. We’ll be late if we keep this up.*
*Isn’t it time we went somewhere nice to eat? Just having tea here at the academy worries me a little.*
*That’s what I thought too, but Father said it would be enough to have a simple cup of tea. Since I couldn’t object, I agreed and answered on his behalf.*
Incidentally, Father’s response that it was only tea, not a meal, meant there would be little discussion between us.
I believed Marquis Haniel would far rather welcome me as his son-in-law than adopt me as Rie’s lover, though I could not be a hundred percent certain.
In the noble world, power was always linked to everything, and it was a strange place where anything could happen and you had no choice but to understand it.
Rie must have known that part as well, which was why she seemed so uneasy.
Thinking back, I finally understood why she had been tense until a moment ago.
As the external guests entered, Minerva Academy was briefly exposed.
Here and there, people greeted one another and exchanged pleasantries.
And the person I needed to meet was waiting in a corner of the garden.
*Welcome.*
The moment I saw Rie, I smiled and lightly patted the shoulder of the middle-aged man before me.
That man was none other than Marquis Grover Rogan von Haniel, head of the Haniel family.
I had met him a few times before, and though it had been quite a while since then, he now carried a somewhat more dignified and mature aura.
*It’s been a while, my daughter.*
*Father. I hope you’ve been well.*
*You don’t need to worry about me. I can still roll around on the battlefield even now.*
The Haniel family had held military command in Rebechia for generations.
In other words, they had served as commanders since ancient times, not merely issuing orders from a seat but personally leading charges when necessary.
They were true nobles who actually practiced *noblesse oblige*.
After hugging Rie lightly and continuing our conversation, Marquis Haniel turned his gaze to me.
He smiled exactly as he had to Rie and extended his hand.
*Long time no see, Lucian. How are you, my boy?*
*I am honored to meet you again, Marquis. Father is well.*
*You speak and act as though you are not worthy of the past or present. I thought you seemed a bit mature back then, but now you’re far superior to the children of other noble families.*
*Thank you, Marquis.*
*Sit. I’ve been meaning to arrange a meeting for a while, and just as I was about to, Rie said she would introduce you to Lucian, so I accepted at once.*
As he spoke, Marquis Haniel personally brought the tea.
I would never have dared say “No hot chocolate, just tea, please” in front of the man who might soon become my father-in-law.
So I sipped the tea quietly. Rie, sitting beside me, suddenly let out a tiny, suppressed smile.
It seemed she had found it highly amusing that I showed no discontent while drinking the tea.
*Lucian.*
When I had nearly finished my tea, Marquis Haniel called me cautiously.
I looked up from the cup, wondering if there was something he wanted to say.
He sighed, then, as though he had made his decision, got straight to the point.
*How do you feel about Rie?*
*Whoa, I thought Rie was just a bit unusual, but this was the family legacy?*
I was shocked by how direct he was.
I had expected him to speak more indirectly, perhaps hinting at age or engagement, but he had charged in without preamble.
I was briefly taken aback, yet I had not expected anything like this.
I had prepared all the proper answers in advance, so I straightened up immediately.
*I like her.*
*Hmm. The answer I wanted was simply what you think of Rie, but the way you answered so suddenly left me quite bewildered.*
*That’s a lie. One hundred percent a lie.*
If it weren’t, the way his lips curled and his eyes curved in a pleased smile would have been impossible.
Realizing this was indeed the answer he had hoped for, I moved on.
*When I was a child I was lacking in wisdom and didn’t understand. I often quarreled with her and sometimes even competed too harshly, but now that I’ve matured, I understand. That was why.*
*Indeed, we were a strange pair when we were children. I remember that.*
Marquis Haniel chuckled warmly and sipped his tea.
Then, with a solemn gaze and an even more serious tone, he continued.
*My daughter must one day become the head of this great Haniel family. There will certainly be many difficult matters ahead of her, Lucian.*
*I know.*
*Saying this to my daughter feels a bit strange, but she is a genius. She lacks nothing and may one day become a Sword Master. Her shadow will be deep indeed.*
*I know that too. But I’m no pushover either. There will never be a time when Rie’s shadow covers mine. I can swear on my honor.*
*You’re certain?*
*Yes.*
The Haniel family would certainly have heard of my recent feats.
When I entered the academy, people had called me a swordsman and magic prodigy, yet in midterms I suddenly grew tremendously, taking first place in swordsmanship and placing in the top ranks of magic.
Since Marquis Haniel already knew of my overwhelming abilities in other areas from before, there was nothing left to explain.
*Hmm.*
Marquis Haniel glanced briefly toward Rie.
In response, she gave a small nod and took my hand from the table.
Marquis Haniel noticed this and clicked his tongue sharply.
*It seems the two of you have already discussed everything. Not a word to your parents… and yet children are children, no mistake there.*
The sudden reaction from Marquis Haniel left Rie and me both sighing in unison.
He sipped the remaining tea, then looked at me again.
*There’s no talk of engagement or anything like that, is there, Lucian?*
*Eh? Ah, yes. There isn’t.*
*Exactly. Then I’ll have to arrange a meeting with Viscount Deodor. My daughter and your son have already promised a future without even discussing it with us. Heh, truly unfortunate! Ugh!!*
The corners of Marquis Haniel’s mouth had already lifted as though about to soar into the sky.