Ruite looked at Chester once, then turned his gaze to Colin. When he gestured as if telling him to go, Colin pointed at himself and asked Chester, “Me?” It seemed the person they had each thought he meant was different.
Ruite was about to say, Who else would there be besides you? when Chester took one long step closer.
And he was staring directly at Ruite.
“You meant me?”
He asked just in case, and Chester gave one nod before turning around and leaving the lounge first.
Ruite reflexively tilted his head. Chester would surely want to avoid getting involved with him as much as possible within the academy. He hated rumors spreading about their marriage too.
Scratching his head, Ruite followed Chester, leaving Colin’s “Go on” behind him. They arrived behind the main building. Something felt familiar. The last time he had delivered Lea’s letter, he had brought Chester here too.
“You received a letter from the count’s house, didn’t you?”
“A letter?”
Ruite had been blankly counting the stars in the night sky, but at Chester’s sudden question, he slowly shook his head.
“Are you pretending not to know on purpose?”
“No, I’m telling you I haven’t received one.”
“……You really didn’t receive the letter about the luncheon invitation to the Callaway estate?”
Ruite suddenly recalled the mailboxes on the first floor of the dormitory that he had seen while leaving for the library. Now that he thought about it, there had seemed to be a letter. Was that what it was?
“But why?”
“It seems your count’s house proposed the luncheon first. Until the marriage, they’ll want to create points of contact somehow and strengthen the bond between the families.”
“Well, I suppose so.”
For House Everhart, it would be important to maintain a close and friendly connection with House Callaway until the marriage was completely finalized.
“I’d prefer you not come to the luncheon.”
“Hm?”
“I heard House Callaway invited you too, but I’d like you to refuse appropriately. Seeing you here is more than enough.”
Chester looked at Ruite once, then sighed and turned his head slightly. Ruite nodded as though he understood. It meant Chester did not want to be involved with him even outside the academy.
If the two families gathered together, the mood of the occasion was obvious. The adults would try to link their sons, the two parties to a marriage arranged for their own interests, however they pleased. Chester probably hated that immensely.
“Alright. I’ll do that.”
When Ruite nodded vigorously, Chester’s lips twitched.
“I’ll make up a good excuse. What should I write in the reply…… Ah, saying I’m not feeling well would be the most convincing, right?”
Ruite was already thinking of an excuse to use. It would be difficult to avoid such an occasion with an ordinary excuse, so he had to convey his absence in the most plausible way possible.
“Don’t worry. I’ll manage to get out of it naturally somehow.”
“……”
“But did you call me all the way here just to say that?”
“What about it?”
Even though the answer he wanted had come from Ruite’s mouth, Chester’s voice sounded a little aggressive.
“No, I just thought you could’ve quietly told me in the classroom tomorrow.”
“……I’ve conveyed my wishes clearly.”
“Yeah.”
“I definitely said it.”
“I said I got it, didn’t I? I clearly said I wouldn’t go too.”
Chester’s doubtful gaze touched every part of Ruite’s face. Even if he spoke like that now, pretending nothing was wrong, there was no telling what variable might arise on the day of the luncheon. Chester resolved inwardly not to let his guard down until the end.
A few days later, Chester submitted a special outing application to the dormitory supervisor’s office. Permission was granted quickly, and he was able to leave the academy at the appointed time.
Today was the day of the luncheon. With the tests not far off, he wanted to focus solely on preparation as much as possible, but there was no chance the adults would care about that.
“Young master.”
Outside the main building, a carriage engraved with the crest of House Callaway was already waiting. A servant who spotted Chester bowed respectfully and opened the carriage door.
As soon as Chester climbed in with an indifferent expression, the carriage set off with a jolt. Passing through the broad plaza area, the carriage rolled smoothly toward its destination. Before long, a road lined with trees on both sides appeared. The faint sound of leaves fluttering in the wind reached his ears.
Hearing that sound meant they had entered the grounds of the Callaway estate.
The servants guarding the enormous front gate noticed the carriage from afar and opened the gate wide. They did not forget to bow their heads toward the passing carriage.
Along the neatly arranged brick road, marble-framed ponds were placed at regular intervals on both sides. Continuing straight along that path, the mansion came into view.
Beneath the deep violet roof that symbolized House Callaway stood an enormous mansion with pure white outer walls: the Callaway ducal residence.
One of the three central noble families in the Tehira Empire. Among those three families, the Callaway estate was said to have the largest and most beautiful mansion, but Chester’s eyes showed no particular emotion as he looked at it.
Chester got out of the carriage once it had fully stopped and entered the mansion. The moment the door opened, respectful greetings poured out from the servants. Chester looked once at the tops of the servants’ heads turned toward him, then followed the head butler up to his room.
Inside, all kinds of clothing had already been prepared.
“We will help you get ready first.”
Looking at the extravagant clothes prepared for today’s luncheon, Chester merely clicked his tongue.
The servants moved busily. Chester looked down at himself dressed not in his Witmore uniform, but in charcoal-colored attire. The silver brooch attached near his neck was extremely irritating. In contrast, the servants were busy glancing at Chester’s even more perfect appearance with proud faces.
“Is there any need to dress me up this much?”
“As you know, young master, today’s luncheon with House Everhart is scheduled. Your political marriage partner……”
Before the head butler could finish explaining, Chester turned sharply and walked out. As if he had expected it, the head butler followed him without another word.
“You should greet the Duke first. I will escort you to his office.”
For a moment, Chester felt stifled, as though his throat had been tightly constricted. Since he had come to the estate, seeing his father was a natural procedure, but his steps toward the office were as heavy as though he were sinking into a swamp.
“Your Grace, the second young master has arrived.”
A faint voice from inside told them to enter. The head butler opened the door and respectfully stepped aside for Chester.
“I hope you have been well, Father.”
When Chester bowed his head, the eyes that had been scanning documents at the table lifted upward.
Benzer Callaway. The man with eyes like sharp blades gave off a distinctive, imposing gravitas. His face carried the weight of years, a heavy seasonedness, and even a pressure that made him difficult to address carelessly.
“Sit.”
His voice was as heavy as his face. Benzer set the glasses he had been wearing onto the table with a tap and pointed to the reception table.
“How has academy life been?”
“Nothing special.”
The father and son sat facing each other across the reception table in the office. But an atmosphere so cold it was difficult to call them family surrounded the two of them.
“You are aware that your grades dropped significantly in second year.”
“……”
“If you continue like that, you won’t graduate at the top. Someone who fails to graduate at the top has no use to our house.”
If it was not first place, then second or third meant nothing to Benzer.
“I know.”
The place where Benzer’s gaze touched stung uncomfortably, as if thorns were piercing into him.
“House Everhart will be visiting today, so conduct yourself properly.”
“……Father, do you truly intend to proceed with that marriage between me and House Everhart?”
Chester opened his mouth with his fists clenched tightly.
“As I have told you repeatedly, I have no desire for a marriage forced on me by the family.”
“You still speak of things you said as a child. Chester, every time you say something so pathetic, what have I told you?”
Chester looked at Benzer with strength in his eyes. This was the only resistance he could offer his father right now.
“I told you that your wishes are of no importance whatsoever in this marriage.”
The face of his father, who saw his child as nothing more than a tool for the house, disgusted him no matter how many times he saw it.
“It does not matter whether you want it or not. You need only follow my will.”
As Benzer said that, he waved his hand dismissively. Having ordered him out, he walked back to the table and resumed his work. The time he had allotted to the son he had not seen in so long amounted to barely five minutes.
Chester slowly stood. Not even his footsteps could be heard over the high-quality carpet covering the office floor.
“Ah, by the way. I hear Ruite Everhart cannot come.”
Before Chester grabbed the doorknob, Benzer’s casual voice pierced his ears.
“He can’t come?”
“Yes. Apparently he is so ill he has a burning fever…… Well, it does not matter. The existence of children like you in this marriage is not particularly important.”
Chester bit his lip hard and left the office.
I said I got it, didn’t I? I clearly said I wouldn’t go too.
Just as he had wanted, just as Ruite had said, it seemed Ruite really did not plan to attend this luncheon. That fact should have eased at least a little of the unpleasantness born from facing his father, yet strangely, his mood remained unchanged.
After that, the Count and Countess Everhart arrived, and the luncheon began without issue. Just as Benzer had said, Ruite truly did not come. The count and countess repeatedly apologized to Chester, but there was no particular reason for him to receive such apologies. He was the one who had told Ruite not to come.
He was already stressed enough having to keep facing Ruite at the academy because their seats had ended up next to each other. He did not want to see Ruite at a place like this too.
But strangely, his sunken mood did not improve even by the time the luncheon ended safely.