Not long after, the Callaway family sent a formal marriage proposal to the Everhart family.
With the Count’s acceptance, the official wedding preparations for the two houses began. It was only a matter of time before the news of their union spread throughout social circles.
However, there were things to be done before then.
Milblue Street, located within Teira Plaza, was a place where blacksmiths and workshops specializing in magic tools and weapons gathered.
Ruite stepped onto this street for the first time in a while.
“Hey! Ruite!”
After walking a few steps, Ruite turned his head at the sound of his name.
A smile touched his lips as he saw the person waving at him.
“Dylan!”
Dylan, who had arrived first, greeted Ruite warmly.
This meeting had been arranged after Ruite sent a letter to Dylan.
The two had remained close after graduation until Ruite joined the Knights.
However, Dylan had been busy preparing to become a knight himself, and Ruite’s life had been consumed by meeting Chester and entering the Knights.
Since then, they had only exchanged occasional letters and hadn’t been able to meet in person.
“I’m glad our vacations lined up.”
“How have you been? I still can’t believe someone who can’t live without their bed made it into the Ferwin Knights.”
The two naturally began to walk side-by-side through the plaza.
“I’ve been great. How’s the Imperial Knights? Is it manageable?”
Dylan was currently serving as a knight in the Imperial Knights.
As the name suggested, they were an exclusive order dedicated to guarding the Imperial Palace and the Royal Family.
It was a place rumored to be just as difficult to enter as the Ferwin Knights; Dylan had only passed after failing the entrance exam three times.
“The work is fine, but… the atmosphere is hard to get used to. The palace is always so solemn.”
“Well, that makes sense.”
Since the palace was the home of the Emperor and his family, the atmosphere couldn’t exactly be relaxed.
With a heavy emphasis on etiquette and tight security, the environment was strictly regulated.
“But training with strong people is fun. There are plenty of sword-enthusiasts like me there.”
“Is that why you chose to meet me here today?”
Ruite looked up at the Velour Smithy they had reached.
He narrowed his eyes at Dylan playfully.
“What’s wrong with it? Doesn’t it remind you of our Academy days?”
Dylan chuckled shamelessly and pushed Ruite toward the entrance, urging him to go inside.
Inside, the rhythmic ringing of hammers against steel echoed through the air.
Ruite looked around the interior, feeling a sense of nostalgia.
Memories of coming here with Dylan during their third year at the Academy surfaced naturally.
“Old man!”
“Oh, Dylan! You’re on vacation today?”
“Yes. And this is my friend.”
Dylan pointed to Ruite standing beside him as he looked at Velour.
“Hello, I’m…”
“The student from the Magic Department, right?”
Ruite nodded, slightly surprised.
He had assumed he’d been forgotten and was about to reintroduce himself, but Velour remembered the Ruite who had visited with Dylan back then.
“Mister, he’s a member of the Ferwin Knights now.”
“Really? The Ferwin Knights?”
“Yes. Impressive, right?”
Ruite chuckled at his friend, who was bragging as if it were his own achievement, despite having made it into the prestigious Imperial Knights himself.
Velour smiled warmly at the two of them.
“It feels like you were students just yesterday, but you’ve both grown into dependable men.”
Once inside the smithy, Dylan became preoccupied with inspecting the newly forged swords.
Ruite stood by his side, forced to endure his friend’s tedious commentary on blade quality and craftsmanship.
After an hour-long “sword tour,” Ruite was finally liberated from the forge.
“Do you really like swords that much?”
“Ruite, do you really like food that much?”
“…Point taken.”
Dylan burst into a small laugh when Ruite conceded so easily without a rebuttal.
“Oh, by the way, I have a girlfriend.”
“For real? Not in a dream?”
“What do you take me for? I’m serious.”
With that, Dylan began to spill his rosy love story.
Ruite had secretly worried his friend—who was always desperate for romance—might be imagining things or misinterpreting a situation, but it seemed to be the real deal.
“But Ruite, what about you? Aren’t you dating anyone?”
“Well, about that…”
“I haven’t understood it since the Academy. Honestly, you don’t lack anything. It’s frustrating to admit, but you’re quite handsome.”
Ruite tried to speak, but Dylan cut him off again.
“Someone like you should be getting courted left and right.”
“Yeah, so… I’m getting married soon.”
“Right, a marriage would be appropriate—wait, what?”
Dylan’s pace slowed until he came to a dead stop.
He stood frozen, blinking slowly as if his brain couldn’t process the statement.
“You’re… you’re doing what?”
“Marriage.”
Ruite emphasized each syllable.
Dylan muttered to himself, “Marriage… what is marriage?” before letting out a loud gasp and covering his mouth.
“W-with who? You weren’t even seeing anyone! How can you be m-marrried?”
He was so flustered he began to stutter.
“It’s not that I wasn’t seeing anyone… it’s just a bit complicated to explain.”
“So who is it?!”
“Chester.”
“Chester? Chester… hmm…”
Dylan crossed his arms and scratched his head.
His brow furrowed as if he were deep in thought. After a few seconds, he clapped his hands.
“Now that you mention ‘Chester,’ I remember the second son of the Callaway family who went to the Academy with us…”
“That’s right. That Chester. That’s who I’m marrying.”
“…”
Dylan’s jaw dropped. Hit with one shocking revelation after another, his legs seemed to give out, and he stumbled into a seated position.
Since he couldn’t leave his “soul-shattered” friend in the middle of the street, Ruite dragged Dylan toward a nearby bench.
“I always thought you were an eccentric, unpredictable guy… but marrying Chester. Today is the most shocking day of my life.”
“I asked to meet today because I wanted to tell you first. I figured the news would spread through high society soon anyway.”
Once the rumors started in social circles, the news would reach the common citizens in no time.
Dylan was a precious friend, and Ruite wanted him to hear it from his own mouth rather than through gossip.
“I didn’t expect you to be this shocked, though.”
“Of course I’m shocked! But… well, now that I remember you’re the son of that Count, I guess it makes sense in its own way. Is it an arranged marriage between families?”
“Yes, but it’s not just that.”
At the questioning look in Dylan’s eyes, Ruite scratched his head.
Under the sunlight, Ruite’s ears were tinged with a slight flush.
“It’s… we both want it, too.”
“Ugh, why are you blushing? That’s gross.”
“I-I am not!”
Dylan made a face at Ruite’s shy expression.
Feeling embarrassed, Ruite raised his voice defensively.
“Well, I get it for now. You and that Chester…”
Dylan recalled Chester from their Academy days.
He was a guy who radiated a cold aura, never allowing anyone to get close.
His personality was, to put it nicely, sensitive and prickly; to put it bluntly, he was a jerk.
And yet, his friend was marrying that Chester.
Wait—as he thought about it, a scene surfaced in his mind.
Back in the dormitory cafeteria, Chester would suddenly sit next to Ruite, share his bread, wipe things off Ruite’s face, and listen quietly to whatever he had to say.
“Haa, I really can’t figure this world out… So, Ruite.”
“Yeah?”
“He treats you well, right? Chester’s personality is… well, it’s a bit much. You said you wanted this, but the relationship between your families seems significant. Are you really okay?”
Dylan was genuinely worried.
Chester’s attitude at the Academy hadn’t been great. He feared his friend, who lived like a drifting cloud, might be getting swept up in something without making a proper judgment.
“I’m fine. There’s absolutely nothing for you to worry about.”
Ruite didn’t offer a long explanation.
He simply looked at Dylan with a clear gaze and a smile. Seeing that expression, Dylan nodded.
Even if he didn’t know the details, it seemed his meddling was unnecessary.
“Well, that’s a relief then. Sigh, I really didn’t think you’d be the first to get married. You traitor.”
Dylan grumbled and leaned toward Ruite, playfully putting an arm around his shoulder.
But as soon as Dylan touched him, someone appeared from behind the bench and grabbed his arm firmly.
“Huh?”
Startled, Dylan turned his head. Ruite did the same.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t touch him so carelessly.”
The sudden arrival was Chester.
Both Ruite and Dylan looked up at him with surprised faces, caught off guard.
“Why are you here? What about work?”
Chester glanced at Ruite before turning his gaze back to Dylan.
Under that piercing stare, Dylan flinched and swallowed his nervousness.
“Don’t do things like this anymore.”
“Ah… uh, right. Got it.”
Chester was showing blatant wariness, and Dylan could read that look perfectly: ‘Don’t touch Ruite, and don’t get too close.’
“Hey, why are you being like that to Dylan? He was my precious lunch buddy once.”
Dylan shook his head vigorously at Ruite.
His eyes screamed that Ruite’s words were absolutely not helping the situation.
Sure enough, the moment the word “precious” left Ruite’s mouth, Chester’s gaze toward Dylan became even more predatory.
“I-I should probably head out now. Ruite, write to me! Let’s meet up when you have time.”
“Eh? Dylan…”
Dylan scrambled off the bench and beat a hasty retreat.
Only after he was a good distance away did he feel safe enough to look back.
“You came here to spy on me, didn’t you?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
Ruite reached up and tousled the hair of Chester, who was leaning against the back of the bench.
Chester’s sharp gaze immediately softened, and a smile appeared on his face as he looked at Ruite.
His ears were now just as red as Ruite’s had been.
Dylan stood for a moment, watching the scene from afar.
“Wow, I really was worried for nothing.”
Dylan chuckled and turned away, leaving the plaza.
