Chapter 7
Hearing the greeting, Lily rounded her eyes and smiled gently.
“Why are you acting like this is a permanent farewell? By the way, Blair, do you remember this? I thought of it after a long time and wore it today, and was so surprised when you two visited. It makes me happy.”
Lily smiled and pointed to the small earring on her ear. Inside the yellow gemstone, a pink flower was preserved.
“Oh? Could that be from back then?”
Blair stared at the earring, searching through hazy memories, and then laughed out loud. Lily also broke into a wide smile, as if surprised that Blair remembered. It was a smile like a flower bud blooming.
“Wow, you remember?”
“What? You’ve kept that flower for over ten years?”
Blair smiled warmly, his eyes crinkling.
“I was younger then too. There’s definitely comfort in receiving the first flower for the first business I started with money I earned myself. Thanks to that, I had it made into an earring, and many people tell me it’s pretty when I wear it.”
Lily grinned and lightly touched the jewel on her ear. Inside the amber-colored stone that swayed left and right was the flower Blair had gifted her in the past. The earring matched well with her black, silky hair.
“That’s because you’re pretty.”
“You flatter me.”
When Blair, Aaron, and Kyle were all young students at the academy, they had rushed to a newly opened pub. It was a time when both the owner Lily and the three of them were all young. While they were having a drink or two at the pub that had just opened, Blair had briefly excused himself and bought flowers from a nearby flower shop. He had selected only the prettiest ones, tied them into a lush bouquet, and presented them to Lily. He had naturally assumed she would throw them away after they wilted. He had no idea she would preserve them in gemstone form. The revival of the old memory lifted Blair’s spirits.
“Anyway, make sure to visit once more before you leave. I’ll do my absolute best to serve you then. I’ll cook for you myself.”
“Of course. Take care until then.”
Blair lightly kissed Lily’s cheek as she expressed her sadness, then adjusted his cape and boarded the carriage. Instead of the imperial brooch he had been wearing earlier, he fastened his cape with a button engraved with his family crest. The night breeze touched his cheeks coldly. The carriage clattered down the quiet streets of the city, where night had already fallen.
* * *
After finishing his paperwork, Blair entered the central palace. As much as he wanted to send his assistant to retrieve the documents, with all the organizational restructuring and other matters to worry about, it felt better to handle it personally. He had been so busy lately that it had been a long time since he had set foot in the central palace. He needed to show his face at least once.
It was when Blair was moving toward the Emperor’s office. Aaron, who was walking in the distance, sensed his presence and turned around. Blair, who was about to call out to Aaron, awkwardly lowered his hand.
“How on earth do you know when I arrive? There was quite a distance between us.”
Blair was truly amazed. Aaron hadn’t received professional training like a soldier, so it shouldn’t have been easy for him to detect ordinary people’s movements. And Blair was a warrior who moved very quietly. Yet Aaron incredibly detected his presence immediately.
“The power of love.”
Aaron joked, shrugging his shoulders. Blair approached Aaron with a slight smile.
“What brings you to the central palace, anyway?”
“To see His Majesty. Where are you heading?”
“I’m also going to see His Majesty. By the way, did you tell him about your retirement?”
“No, not yet.”
Blair closed his eyes slightly and shook his head.
“Really? You’ve been thinking about it for quite some time. When are you planning to tell him?”
“Well. After the overall restructuring of the Military Affairs Department, and after the Imperial Guard reorganization is complete, I should mention it.”
No matter how firmly he had resolved, it wasn’t easy to actually speak about it. It was better to bring it up after all preparations were complete.
“Don’t you need to explain your reasons when seeking approval for the reorganization plan in the first place?”
“Hmm… that’s true. Then I’ll have to mention it when I submit the documents.”
Blair shrugged. Aaron nodded along beside him. Aaron quickly changed the subject.
“By the way, shall I start looking for a suitable noble lady for you? What type of person do you prefer?”
“Well. I don’t really have a specific preference.”
“Come on, tell me. How can you not have a preference? Is it a blonde beauty with blue eyes? Or blonde with green eyes?”
At Aaron’s words, Blair fell into deep thought.
“Hmm. If possible, I’d prefer someone with red eyes or purple eyes.”
“Red or purple eyes? Unexpected preference. That’s similar to your eye color. I thought you liked completely different colors, like blue-green shades.”
“Not particularly. It’s nice if they’re similar to me, that’s all.”
Blair answered with a grin.
“I see. I’ll keep that in mind. Come to think of it, the second daughter of House Violet is still unmarried. She’s twenty-seven, I believe.”
“Is that so?”
“She’s slightly past the usual marriage age, but I hear she’s an extraordinary beauty like her mother. As you know, that family has passed down purple eyes for generations. This seems like your type, doesn’t it? And the age difference isn’t too great either.”
Aaron discreetly observed Blair’s expression. He thought Blair would look bitter, but Blair’s expression was much more peaceful than expected.
“What’s the point of just matching my preferences? She needs to like me too.”
“What woman would refuse the opportunity to become a Duchess of the Crassia Empire?”
Blair grinned.
“Violet, huh? Every time I hear it, it seems like an overly intuitive family name. Why name a family Violet just because they have purple eyes?”
Blair chuckled softly.
“I don’t think you, coming from House Monetery, are in a position to talk.”
“Is that so?”
“As much as you love money, with all the good names out there, what’s with ‘Monetery’? Your ancestors’ taste is truly questionable. Come to think of it, Gladius is the same. No matter how much you earned your Duke title through military achievements, Gladius is just a sword, isn’t it? I really don’t understand the taste of people in this empire. Bad taste, I tell you.”
“It’s my name, why are you complaining?”
“Because I have tremendous interest in you. Truly, truly profound interest.”
“As I always say, I must decline love confessions from married men. Save that talk for Sophia.”
The two bickered as they moved toward the Emperor’s office.
“Anyway, don’t tell His Majesty about your retirement plans too late. It’s better to face the rod sooner. Don’t hide it for too long; it’s better to tell him quickly—”
Thud—
It was then. Behind the two men, there was the sound of a heavy object falling onto the plush carpet. Aaron and Blair simultaneously, without precedence, whipped their heads around. It wasn’t anything secret, but it also wasn’t a conversation meant for others to hear.
“Haha.”
The person standing behind them was Kyle. The Emperor of the Crassia Empire and lord of all beings. Golden hair like spun honey and eyes bluer and more noble than any sapphire. A handsome man with a face like carved ivory. Kyle, making eye contact with the two, picked up the book he had dropped with an awkward smile.
“I greet Your Imperial Majesty.”
Blair bowed deeply at the waist upon facing Kyle. While Blair gave the formal greeting, Aaron merely nodded his head impertinently, but no one reprimanded him.
“Ah, um. Yes. Were you on your way to see me?”
Kyle asked, clearly flustered.
“Yes, that’s right. What my friend is holding are submissions from the Military Affairs Department, and what I’m holding are from the Finance Department. By the way, why aren’t you in your office at this hour? Where have you been?”
Aaron showed the documents in his hand with an indifferent expression.
“I had some business to attend to.”
Kyle strode past the two men and opened the door to his office. Aaron and Blair, following behind Kyle, placed the documents on his desk. After moving aside the Finance Department documents that were already on top, Kyle read the title of the Military Affairs Department submission.
<Proposal for Reorganization of the Imperial Guard Structure>
It was written in a clear and powerful hand. Kyle, who had been pretending to read the documents Blair handed over, discovered the title and raised his head with a start.
“Um, did I not mishear earlier…?”
Kyle asked with an awkward smile.
Aaron and Blair simultaneously wore expressions of dismay. Being exposed like this was not in the plan. Kyle wasn’t usually someone who wandered around here and there. Yet, coincidentally, today of all days, he had come outside and overheard the two men’s conversation.
“So, um, Blair, you’re planning to retire?”
At this point, there was no meaning in hiding it. It was better to face the rod sooner. It was something he had to talk about eventually anyway. Rather than vaguely passing it by, it was better to address it clearly. Blair nodded and opened his mouth willingly.
“Yes, that’s correct. I am thinking about stepping down from the position of General.”
“Why? For what reason?”
“There are several reasons, but mainly because I’ve determined that it’s no longer beneficial for me to remain in the imperial capital.”
“Blair!”
Kyle slammed his desk. Although Kyle had a very robust physique, such actions were not at all intimidating to Blair. Blair, who had grown up on battlefields and was regarded as having the empire’s finest swordsmanship, was more dauntless than anyone.
“Why? We’ve been getting along well, haven’t we? What am I supposed to do without you?”
“That’s the problem, Your Majesty.”
[To be continued…]
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
