The Banquet and the Farewell
Anyway, the duel between Kyle and Elin came to an end.
The coming-of-age ceremony ended quite nicely thanks to the duel between the two of them.
After that, the banquet began.
The atmosphere inside and outside the Great Cathedral was filled with joy, without any distinction.
Although the weather was cold, the atmosphere was already heated up.
"Kyle! Before you go, how about having a drink first!"
"I'll drink after I come back."
"Aigoo... When I was your age, I was really into drinking and smoking magic tobacco."
"Dad! Are you going to keep recommending weird things to my brother?"
"I know..."
It was still before noon.
Since it was afternoon, Kyle was to depart, so there was still plenty of time.
I was sitting at a table with Elin and Louise, eating food.
Kyle was eating with his family.
"Elin was surprisingly good at acting, wasn't she?"
"Yeah."
"Ah..."
Elin covered her face, looking embarrassed.
I wonder why she was embarrassed when she was acting so well during the duel.
She fought well, got hit by Kyle's counterattack, and ended it properly as a knight, I thought.
"I'm embarrassed..."
"Eh? You did great!"
"But it was really embarrassing, right?!"
"After all, you were wearing the helmet and fully equipped with armor, weren't you?"
Was there really a reason to be embarrassed?
"How embarrassing it was when you were all staring at me during the duel! You wouldn't know, right?!"
"Hmm..."
"Is that so?"
I didn't know.
I hadn't faced dozens of people.
The only time I experienced the most people's gazes was at the boarding school.
"I don't know about that, let's drink~"
"Yeah~"
"Cheers~!"
We drank after a long time.
Of course, I had to dilute the alcohol with water.
After getting drunk last time and the film cutting, I always did this.
"Cheers~!"
"Now for a while, I can properly rest!"
Under the joyful festival atmosphere, we enjoyed the drinking.
Occasionally glancing at Kyle's side, sometimes our eyes met.
Each time, Kyle answered with a smile instead of words.
Since we had to stop by the castle before departing for the succession ceremony, we could talk then.
Now, it would be better to let Kyle enjoy time with his family.
Better for Kyle than spending time with me.
I was just borrowing some of the remaining time.
"Kya... Right. Sophia."
"Huh?"
While eating and drinking, suddenly Louise spoke to me.
Just as I was enjoying, why call me...
"You... are you going to quit your job?"
"Me?"
"Yeah."
"Quit my job..."
Probably not.
For now, as Kyle's tutor, the job is already over.
Hiring someone better than me would be better for Kyle.
"I guess so."
Of course not now.
As promised with Kyle, have to do a date with Kyle one more time...
"...Then when are you going to quit?"
"Huh? Well..."
I hadn't decided when to quit.
Just when Kyle becomes adult and the succession ends, think properly then.
Even if quit now, nothing to do.
"Maybe it's better to quit this year? Hiring someone better than me would be better."
Talking while tipsy but not too much.
Actually, thinking of quitting this year.
No need to drag it out.
Better to end it quickly.
"Hah..."
"What? It's a pity to part with Kyle, right? But it's unavoidable..."
"I see."
"Yeah. That's right."
Suddenly wondering why ask this.
Ah, Louise has to stay in the castle for a few years, so that's why?
For now, the closest friend in the castle is me.
Well, if she comes to visit the castle sometimes.
It takes time to come, but for a friend, couldn't not come.
"Hoo... The alcohol tastes good!"
"Elin, stop Elin from drinking more."
"Got it!"
"Eek..."
Trying to drink the next cup, suddenly Elin took my drink.
Even when the lips touched the cup!
"My drink..."
Unfair, but couldn't.
I was the one who lost to Elin in strength.
"Sigh.... What to do about her..."
"She'll do well."
"But..."
My two friends started talking to each other.
I didn't know what, just ate the food on the table.
"Hehe..."
*
"Ah... Young Master~"
"Sophia?"
"Yes?"
After the banquet, returned to the castle, came to find Sophia.
Thinking about it, gave alcohol at the banquet today.
Given the atmosphere, of course drank.
If not, thinking she drank all banquet...
"Have you drunk?"
"Hehe..."
Well, cute, so okay.
Didn't protest after drinking, just cute things.
Rather, liked the different look from usual.
"Young Master.... You must return safely."
"Yes."
Seeing her worry even while tipsy, indeed Sophia.
If Adela or Louise got drunk, they would have said weird things about alcohol.
Probably sleeping soon.
"Thinking we won't meet for a month, it's sad..."
"Is it?"
"Yes..."
A desire to stroke Sophia's head rose from my chest.
Of course, understood Sophia's heart.
Since the day we met, no day without meeting.
Roughly 2500 days a day.
"You must return safely...?"
"Yes."
Reassured Sophia who was worried while tipsy.
To say reassured, I only answered.
"Sophia, when I return, remember we said we'd date together?"
"Of course. The words with Young Master... I remember almost all of them?"
"So, stay healthy until I return."
While saying, honestly embarrassed.
Only meet for a month, saying such words.
If anyone saw, would think months apart.
Of course, in Sophia's room, no one knows.
"Now, it seems I have to go soon."
"...Really?"
"Yes, seems I have to pack."
"I see..."
Seemed like we had a few words, but time is almost up.
Honestly, wanted more time with Sophia.
Before leaving, really want even minutes, no, seconds more together.
Greed.
But couldn't have this much greed.
"Sophia."
"Yes?"
"Is it okay to hug just once?"
Before leaving, this much greed...
I think it's okay.
Knowing it's not good to say such to a drunk person, but still, not seeing for a month.
Isn't this okay?
Of course, if Sophia doesn't want, won't, but.
"Hmm..."
Sophia looking thoughtful, face red from being tipsy, cute.
Since always cute, natural.
How can one person be pure, cute, and sexy all at once.
That must be Sophia.
"Huhu.... Did you want support from noona?"
"...Yes."
"If Young Master wants, then once? Hugging is no problem!"
Sophia with energetic look.
Seemed wanting to give a reliable noona feeling, but more cute than reliable.
"Then I'll hug once."
"Yes, here. Hug me?"
"..."
I hugged Sophia without words.
Due to height difference, felt Sophia's big breasts around my chest.
But now, just hugging Sophia was good.
While hugging Sophia, not hugging tightly.
Maybe she might get hurt.
Just hugged appropriately.
Time had plenty left anyway.
From next date, step by step slowly again.
"Hoo! Young Master? Now you have to go?"
"Yes. I'll finish quickly and return."
"Yes."
Came out from Sophia's room.
Originally planned to pack for an hour, but 5 minutes late, no problem.
Just run.
"Hah..."
Running to the castle gate with luggage.
But in my mind, no thoughts about succession.
Just thoughts about Sophia remained.
That hug from earlier strongly hit my chest.
Just one hug.
If someday do other things with Sophia, how much faster the heart would beat.
Don't know.
So far, only handshakes and hugs in intimacy with Sophia.
"Haha..."
Thinking to do slowly, but too slow.
"Brother!"
"Why Adela?"
"Returned safely?"
"Yeah."
Before going to the gate, lightly talked with Adela.
Father would understand this much.
Only 2 minutes late.
Anyway, thinking about Sophia, arrived at the gate.
At the gate, only father was there.
No other servants.
"Father."
"Little late."
"Have something to say."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Father smiled slightly while looking at me.
He must have noticed who.
Originally, he knew who I liked.
"Hoo.... That you would do this already, honestly, I still can't believe it."
"Really?"
Sophia also, and I still can't believe I'm becoming adult.
"But I believe you can do it well."
"Of course. I'm your son."
"Haa.... At the coming-of-age ceremony, you didn't even talk about my story."
"Ah."
Perhaps a bit upset that I didn't talk about his story at the ceremony.
No such intention.
Just said it to make Sophia feel good.
"Jest. Actually, the one who raised you is your tutor."
"Haha..."
A bit self-deprecating.
I had no such feelings towards father, but father probably not.
"It's okay. Father."
"Then that's good. Now, let's talk about the succession ceremony."
"Yes."
Then father's words continued.
Already heard many times, not hard.
From the castle down to the snowy plains away from the territory for the succession.
That's it.
Already heard several times.
"Father, I'll go."
"Go safely."
Answered with a smile to father, moved my feet.
A month.
A month without meeting Sophia....
"Will take a really long time."