Chapter 54
After packing all his belongings and changing into pajamas, Blair lay down on the bed first, and Kyle sluggishly climbed onto the bed as well.
“Sleep well, Your Majesty.”
“Yeah, you too, Blair.”
Kyle lightly took hold of Blair’s pinky finger. Blair didn’t bother pulling his hand away from Kyle.
“Yes. Good night.”
Kyle, still holding Blair’s pinky, gazed over Blair’s face with sparkling eyes. Blair had his eyes closed. With the lights out, he couldn’t see Blair’s face in detail, but he could make out the neat forehead, straight nose bridge, and well-shaped lips. Kyle’s gaze, which had been slowly scanning Blair’s face, stopped at one particular spot—those plump lips with their vivid color.
Blair’s tightly closed lips parted ever so slightly. Suddenly, Kyle felt the urge to press his own lips against them. Startled by his own thoughts, Kyle hurriedly let go of Blair’s hand and squeezed his eyes shut. Kyle’s face grew hot.
Unaware of Kyle’s inner turmoil, Blair’s face remained perfectly peaceful. The last night at the Monetery mansion was drawing to a close. Though they were dreaming different dreams, it was still a reasonably peaceful night.
* * *
Autumn had arrived at the Academy by the time they returned. The leaves had begun to turn beautiful colors, and windows needed to be secured in the mornings and evenings. The students’ thin uniforms gradually changed to thicker ones. Each student added an extra layer—a cape, robe, or coat.
Blair preferred coats over capes. They added a neat touch to his tall, slender figure. The Academy’s outer garments were black, which complemented Blair’s dark hair perfectly. The black hair that once brushed against his nape had grown to reach his shoulders. After tying his awkwardly long hair with a string and wrapping himself in a coat, Blair possessed a certain charm that only a boy his age could have. He exuded an atmosphere that only someone on the boundary between boyhood and young adulthood could possess.
The round cheeks once covered with soft, downy hair had lost some weight. Perhaps the baby fat was gradually disappearing. His jawline seemed a bit stronger too. Blair was slowly developing an adult face. These days, Blair would look in the mirror each morning and run his hand over his face. Of course, to someone actually in his thirties like himself, he still appeared quite childish, but he felt much more mature than when he first opened his eyes in the past. Even though less than a year had passed since he returned to the past, this life now felt more familiar.
Whenever Blair walked by, female students would whisper among themselves with sparkling eyes. The third son of House Monetery—handsome, tall, and intelligent. How could he not be desirable? Blair himself paid little attention to the subtle interest directed at him. He had too much experience to respond to every minor approach, like someone deliberately bumping into him or spilling water. As a result, his reputation for being gentlemanly and dignified only increased his popularity further.
Blair was born in autumn. Perhaps that was why he was particularly fond of the season. The Crassia Empire’s winters were harsh, which meant its spring and autumn were distinctly defined. The empire was so vast that there were exceptionally mild regions and places frozen year-round, but the central region where the Academy was located suffered severe winters.
Blair returned to his room after classes ended. With all of today’s lessons finished, he had some free time and planned to take a nap. When he arrived at his door, he hesitated before opening it.
There was an enormous bouquet of flowers and a box wrapped in silk. He couldn’t tell how long they had been there, but they were impossible to miss. Blair hurriedly picked up the bouquet and the package. A card inserted in the flowers fell out.
After quickly opening the door and entering his room, Blair unfolded the card.
[Happy birthday to our youngest!
You’re already seventeen.
Have the happiest day of all.
-Clara]
Blair smiled slightly and slowly unwrapped the silk-covered box. He actually had a suspicion about it. Seeing the mountain of flowers brought back clear memories. It was the same gift he had received in the past. He was just surprised because he had forgotten it was his birthday until discovering the present. Blair gazed at the long exposed blade in the box with a gentle smile.
It was the sword that Blair had always carried with him like his life in the past. Supposedly an heirloom from an extremely prestigious knight family, he still couldn’t figure out how Clara had obtained it. Even when he casually asked her from time to time, she would only wink at him. It was an excellent sword, certainly worthy of being considered legendary.
Holding the sword lifted his spirits. Though this was technically his first encounter with it in this timeline, the familiarity of a friend who had accompanied him for decades flowed through his hand. Blair swung the sword lightly. The grip fit perfectly in his palm. It was worlds apart from the cheap training swords used in swordsmanship class.
After setting down the sword with satisfaction, Blair picked up the card again. Clara enjoyed playing tricks. Sure enough, when he peeled off the high-quality inner paper of the card, there was something written in small letters on the back. The writing wasn’t visible when the thick inner paper was viewed from the front.
[Tonight at 8. I’ll send someone to the Academy.]
After confirming the message, Blair put the card away. The card didn’t contain critical information, so there was no need to dispose of it. While Blair was organizing the card, an exuberant knock sounded from outside. Of course, anyone could visit Blair’s room, but only one person knocked in such a cheerful and rhythmic manner.
‘It’s almost like a fingerprint.’
Having guessed the visitor’s identity, Blair slowly opened the door. As expected, the person he had been anticipating stood at the door.
“Ta-da, Blair! I came to play!”
It was Aaron. Behind him, Kyle, whose build was impossible to hide, peeked his head out. Aaron brazenly entered without waiting for permission, acting as if it were his own room. Having heard that Kyle had extensively imposed on Blair during the vacation, Aaron had been tremendously disappointed. Afterward, he seemed to think Kyle and Blair had become exceptionally close, as he constantly visited Blair with Kyle in tow.
Upon entering the room and discovering the enormous bouquet on the bed, Aaron made a fuss.
“My goodness, Blair. What’s this? Did you receive a marriage proposal?”
At the mention of a proposal, Kyle flinched slightly, but Aaron paid no attention and picked up the flowers. The mass of flowers rustled.
“Wow, this is incredible. What is it, really?”
Only then did Aaron notice the sword placed next to it, and his expression turned comically distorted. Though he couldn’t remember the exact date, he knew Blair’s birthday was around this time.
“Huh, was today your birthday, Blair?”
Aaron made a comically deflating sound. Blair nodded and slowly organized his gifts. After putting away the sword and filling a rarely-used cup with water to place the bouquet in, the room looked much brighter.
“Yeah, I’d forgotten too, but my sister remembered.”
“Ha ha, I see~ Oh my. How could this happen? I completely forgot!”
Aaron let out a hearty laugh before putting on a deliberately serious expression.
“It’s fine. I wasn’t remembering it either. What’s a birthday anyway? I don’t particularly need anything.”
Blair waved his hand dismissively.
“Alright, then let me at least treat you to a meal. Let’s all go out for dinner tonight. I heard a new restaurant opened near the Academy recently, how about that?”
Aaron put his arm around Blair’s shoulders, which were considerably higher than his own. Barely matching Blair’s height even on tiptoes, Aaron patted his shoulder.
“Hmm, what to do. I really can’t today.”
“What? Why?”
Aaron asked with round eyes.
“I have a prior engagement. Let’s make time on the weekend. We’ll go then.”
“Aww. Tell me who you have plans with right now!”
“It’s a secret?”
Blair grinned at Aaron’s protest. Of course, since he was meeting his sister, there was nothing he couldn’t tell them. However, with matters like these, the fewer people who knew, the better. It was wise to be cautious.
“Fine, I understand. Then let’s go out on the weekend and eat until we’re stuffed.”
Blair nodded. At that moment, another voice joined their conversation.
“Blair, happy birthday.”
Kyle congratulated him, unable to hide his awkwardness. He seemed embarrassed to have learned about the birthday in front of someone who had already received plenty of gifts. In truth, Kyle was in a state of shock. To think he didn’t even know Blair’s birthday!
Perhaps because his emotions had merged with those of his dream self, Kyle felt as if Blair were someone he had known for a very long time, someone incredibly close and familiar. Blair was the person for whom his dream self harbored the greatest affection above all others.
His real self seemed to know everything about Blair, but that was an illusion. The more he dreamed, the more he felt a sense of defeat. He bit his lip at the slight jealousy he felt toward his dream self, who shared a deep bond with Blair and received affection from him.
The affection and loyalty that dream-Blair showed was too vivid. It was a clear emotion that even he could feel through the borrowed body of his dream self.
But in reality, he and Blair were merely simple friends. The word “friends” made his heart ache again for no reason. Kyle blinked his large blue eyes. Moisture briefly welled up in those blue eyes before disappearing.
“Yes, thank you.”
Blair comfortably accepted Kyle’s congratulations as if it were nothing. It truly was a birthday that even he had forgotten. Once you become an adult, birthdays lose their significance. It was just one ordinary day among many.
He didn’t need anything in particular, so there was no reason to feel disappointed. But the two who had just barely reached adulthood seemed to think differently, appearing sorry for not having realized it was Blair’s birthday.
[To be continued in the next installment…]
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
