Graduation and a New Beginning
Winter had passed, and the season was slowly giving way to the first stirrings of spring.
“Some of you have spent long years within these walls, others only a short while…”
The grand auditorium of the Academy was packed wall to wall with students.
“Yet one truth remains unchanged for every one of us: we have all received the grace of His Majesty the King…”
It was the Academy’s graduation ceremony—an ending for some, and for others the first step of an entirely new beginning.
“…May you leave these halls and become those who serve the prosperity of the kingdom.”
With the headmaster’s final words, the national anthem of the kingdom swelled through the auditorium. At the same moment, a portion of the students tore off their formal caps and flung them high into the air.
Applause erupted. Amid the thunder of clapping hands, the newly graduated students began filing out of the hall.
“My Lady!”
Schwarz spotted Milia emerging from the auditorium near the very end of the procession. He waved and hurried toward her.
“Congratulations on your graduation.”
“It’s thanks to you. Without you it would have been so much harder.”
“You flatter me.”
He offered a faint smile; Milia returned it with one of her own.
“Time really does fly. To think My Lady has already graduated.”
“I know. It’s time to say goodbye to this place as well.”
She turned to look back at the Academy. Good memories and bad had filled the five years she had spent here, and it seemed the place had quietly taken root in her heart.
“Milia.”
“Hm?”
At the sound of her name she turned—and there stood her parents, Bernus Valentine and Melissa Valentine.
They had sent word they might be late, yet somehow they had arrived right on time. A bright smile lit Milia’s face as she hurried toward them.
“It looks as though the ceremony went smoothly.”
“It did!”
“Come here, then. Let your mother hold her daughter after so long.”
Melissa opened her arms wide. Milia, half-embarrassed, grumbled,
“Mother! I’m not a child anymore!”
“To your mother you will always be a child.”
Despite her protests she stepped into Melissa’s embrace. The countess smiled tenderly and stroked her daughter’s hair.
“Thank you for looking after Milia so well, Schwarz.”
“I only did what was expected of me.”
“But is it all right to leave the territory unattended?”
Still nestled against her mother, Milia asked the question. Bernus gave a reassuring nod.
“A few days will be fine. I’ve brought a teleportation scroll just in case.”
Milia’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re using something that expensive for a mere graduation?”
Spatial magic was notoriously complex; a scroll that recorded such a spell commanded a staggering price. The same sum could have funded any number of improvements for the territory.
“A daughter’s graduation is hardly a ‘mere’ occasion.”
Bernus folded his arms as he answered. Melissa leaned close to Milia’s ear, chuckling softly.
“Don’t be so hard on him, dear. Even your father needs a change of pace now and then. Lately he’s been grumbling that his hair is thinning.”
“Ahem—my lady!”
Bernus cleared his throat in flustered protest. Mother and daughter shared a quiet laugh at his expense.
“Have you decided where you’ll stay while you’re in the capital?”
“We’ll use the family residence in the noble quarter.”
North of the royal palace lay the noble residential district—home not only to the mansions of those who lived year-round in the capital, but also to the townhouses maintained by territorial lords for their visits.
“I must stop by the palace. My lady, take the children and go on ahead.”
Bernus turned and started toward the royal palace.
“Father? Is something wrong?”
“A letter arrived from His Majesty. He asked that I call on him as soon as I reached the capital.”
“I see…”
Given that he was known as the Shield of the Kingdom, the king’s interest in his movements was only natural.
“You heard him. Your father is busy, so let’s go to the residence first.”
Melissa smiled gently at her daughter. Milia nodded.
“All right.”
“Understood.”
Together with Melissa, Milia and Schwarz made their way to the carriage waiting behind them.
A short while later the three of them arrived at the Valentine family’s townhouse in the noble quarter north of the palace.
“It’s been ages since I was last here. Schwarz, do you remember this place?”
Standing before the mansion—smaller than the one on their territory, yet still impressively large—Milia let out a soft, nostalgic hum.
“Yes, I remember.”
He had stayed here briefly when he was about three years old. Why exactly…? He was frowning in thought when the front door opened.
“Welcome home, my lady.”
A woman in a Victorian-style maid’s uniform stepped out and bowed. Pale gold hair, golden eyes, black-rimmed glasses, a rather stern expression, and a height nearly matching Schwarz’s own.
“Heine!”
Milia rushed forward and threw her arms around the woman as though greeting a long-lost friend.
Heine—head maid of the Valentine household and, at present, housekeeper of the capital residence.
“Have you been well?”
“Yes, I’ve been quite well.”
Heine smiled with maternal warmth and gently stroked Milia’s hair. Then her gaze lifted to Schwarz, who stood watching.
“It has been some time, young master Schwarz. I trust nothing untoward has befallen you?”
“No, ma’am. I’m glad to see you looking healthy as well, Head Maid.”
He offered a polite bow. As the family’s head maid she held a position equal to that of the steward Robert; to Schwarz she was very much a superior.
“Good. See that you continue to serve the young lady diligently while you are here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Her tone was far more businesslike than the one she used with Milia, but Schwarz simply inclined his head, long accustomed to it.
“Heine, how is dinner coming along?”
“It will be ready shortly. Shall I have it served at once?”
“Please do.”
“As you wish.”
Heine bowed and withdrew into the house. The others followed.
“Nothing’s changed at all.”
Milia murmured as they crossed the entrance hall, memories rising unbidden. Unlike the glittering mansions of other noble houses, the interior was almost austere—only the barest of decorations. The Valentine family’s preference for the practical over the ostentatious was on full display.
“Schwarz! Look at this!”
She had wandered over to one corner of the wall, searching for something. Suddenly she gave a little cry of triumph and called out to him.
“What is it?”
“What’s the matter?”
Melissa and Schwarz both approached, curious.
“This doodle—it’s still here.”
Grinning, she pointed. In the corner of the wall, drawn in white chalk, was a simple sketch of a little girl and a tiny dragon.
“I remember. That’s the one My Lady drew and got scolded by the Head Maid for.”
“Ugh… you didn’t have to remember that part…”
Milia puffed out her cheeks in a pout. To a child of that age every blank surface was a canvas, and Milia had been no exception. After covering half the house in scribbles she had endured more than an hour of Heine’s stern lecture—only to start all over again within ten minutes. Schwarz chuckled softly at the memory.
“But why is it still here?”
The white chalk on the white wall was easy to miss unless one looked carefully, yet Heine’s meticulous nature made it hard to believe she would have left such a thing untouched.
“I told her not to erase it.”
Melissa answered with a gentle smile.
“You did, Mother?”
Milia sounded surprised.
“Little things like this gather together and become memories, don’t they?”
“That’s so like you, Mother.”
A soft smile touched Milia’s lips. She tried to hide it, but Schwarz could tell she was pleased—and he suspected Melissa felt the same.
Just then Heine reappeared and bowed.
“My lady, dinner is ready.”
“We’ll be there shortly. Please ask the staff to wait a moment longer.”
“Of course.”
Heine crossed the hall and vanished from sight. Melissa rose and looked at the two younger ones.
“You two get ready as well. It would be a shame to let a rare family meal grow cold.”
“All right.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Milia and Schwarz nodded, then turned toward the staircase leading to the upper floor.