Chapter 052. Heavenly Sword Ceremony (1)

The lively atmosphere throughout the academy was certainly not just due to the hot summer sun.

Merchants wore gloomy expressions, while students and staff were filled with laughter. The reason for this strange phenomenon was simple.

Summer vacation.

Students were granted about two months of free time. Thus, Veris prepared to return to his hometown after a long time.

"It seems like the preparations are almost done."

"I've packed all my things too. Now we just need to load them onto the carriage. I received support for the carriage and the coachman from the church."

"...."

Veris was left speechless at the confident way Cecilia spoke, puffing out her chest.

So why are you? … This question arose in his mind. Of course, he knew that if he said that, Cecilia would sulk immediately, so he refrained from voicing it.

"There's really no reason for Cecilia to go to the Count Vitelbach territory."

However, it seemed that Arwen's perspective was different from Veris's.

She muttered reproachfully at Cecilia, who appeared inexplicably excited.

"Why not? Isn't it only natural that I follow wherever you go, Veris?" "...Where do you see that as a valid answer?"

"Ugh, it's already been decided. I've already told them I'll be staying somewhere else during the vacation."

Arwen let out a faint sigh at the shameless confession of the saintess.

She never imagined that Cecilia would consider going to Count Vitelbach's territory with Veris and Arwen.

And the problem didn't end there.

Creak.

"Oh! What a relief. It's not too late yet!"

The fact that the number of people was increasing more than expected was making Arwen anxious.

The distance from the academy, known as the academy city, to Count Vitelbach's territory was quite far.

Thus, during the entrance ceremony, only Veris and Arwen had come together in a cozy atmosphere...

"Don't worry about the luggage. I've prepared my own carriage."

With Maria's entrance, who said something quite similar to Cecilia, Arwen couldn't help but frown.

'This is unsettling.'

These two girls were hiding something dark inside. Arwen, who knew them well, could somewhat guess the reason why they were trying to secure a carriage to go to Count Vitelbach's territory.

* * *

"Hmm…?"

Johnson, the captain of the gate guard at the Count's territory, frowned at the sight through his telescope.

In his line of sight, several carriages were approaching in a line. Moreover, the problem was… the flags attached to those carriages.

"What, what on earth is that?"

The flag on the leading carriage of the unusually long procession was a shape he recognized well.

It had a white background. Black stripes ran along the top and bottom of the flag, and in the center, a black eagle spread its wings, holding a scepter in one foot and a crown in the other.

What that signified was that the direct family of the supreme lord was currently riding in that carriage.

"Why is the young master… what on earth is going on?"

The problem was the other carriages that fell into Johnson's line of sight.

Following closely behind the Vitelbach family's carriage was, surprisingly, a luxurious four-horse carriage adorned with a large golden lion flag.

What more could be said? It meant that a member of the ruling family of this empire, the Vinsburg family… in other words, royalty was riding in that carriage.

Was that all?

Behind that carriage followed a white carriage decorated with the holy kingdom's pure white flag.

As if it were the carriage of a cardinal from the holy kingdom who had visited the territory long ago.

"This is an emergency! This is very important, so everyone gather quickly!" Johnson shouted at the sudden grand procession.

It wasn't just the three carriages that were a problem. Seeing the knights mounted on horses escorting the carriages made him feel that things were about to get complicated.

"All gate guards have gathered!"

Thanks to Johnson's command, the soldiers moved faster than expected. The soldiers, equipped with quite neat armor, stood in a formation that was surprisingly sharp for the Vitelbach territory, which had enjoyed peace for a long time.

And shortly after.

As the carriages slowly approached the gate, Johnson swallowed hard.

He already knew that Count Vitelbach's heir, Veris, was returning home for the academy's vacation.

But the problem was the others accompanying him. Even for Johnson, who had been a gate guard for over a decade, this was the first time he had seen such a magnificent procession.

Clunk.

Soon, the door of the leading carriage opened, and a familiar figure popped out.

Who wouldn't know? The residents of the Count's territory knew that warmhearted man better than anyone.

"Young master… you've finally returned!"

The soldiers' eyes sparkled with emotion as they looked at Veris.

It seemed that some of them were seeing Veris for the first time, as there were a few who gasped in astonishment.

"Yeah. It's been a while, Johnson."

"How could you remember the name of such a commoner…!"

Johnson looked as if he could burst into tears from joy at any moment.

…In truth, he wasn't remembering names; he was just reading from the status window and saying the name.

"Did you gather all the soldiers at the gate? I'm sorry."

"No! How could we remain idle when you return after several months!" At Johnson's exclamation, Veris nodded in satisfaction.

Veris had been adored by the residents since he was very young. It seemed that fact hadn't changed just because he had been away from the territory for a few months.

"We have important guests with us. I hope you can inform my father."

Johnson jumped up at Veris's voice, which mentioned something he had forgotten.

"Understood. By the way… how should I report their identities?"

Johnson was cautious. In response to his subtle tone, Veris answered without a moment's hesitation.

"Saintess Cecilia, Princess Maria Theresa. That should be enough."

"...What?"

Johnson doubted his ears for a moment.

He took in Veris with his eyes. The sight of him, who had dedicated himself to the residents since he learned to walk, was now dazzling to behold.

However… he didn't think that Veris would suddenly joke with him.

"Gasp!"

Johnson recalled the fact that he had seen carriages adorned with royal and holy kingdom flags when he looked at the procession a moment ago.

"C-could it be…?"

Johnson's head turned as if it were a poorly oiled machine.

Eventually, his gaze fell upon two carriages dripping with luxury. "Surprising. So, will you be performing the role of the gate guard?"

At Veris's joke, Johnson wore a gloomy expression.

These were guests far beyond common sense!

* * *

"...What?"

Count Verden also doubted his ears at the report from his subordinate who had rushed in.

He knew that Veris was returning. The problem was the identities of those accompanying him.

First, there was Arwen from the mansion, then Saintess Cecilia, and Princess Maria Theresa.

The Count had ears to hear, and he knew that they were all first-year students currently enrolled at the academy. However… what could it mean that they followed Veris during the vacation?

"After arriving in the city, they will get off the carriage and walk directly to the mansion."

"Ha!"

Count Verden couldn't help but exclaim.

He didn't know whose idea it was, but it was undoubtedly a proposal from someone with considerable political insight.

The Vitelbach territory was rural. Even if it was far from the center, there was no reason to reveal the identities of such noble guests in the middle of that territory.

'Could it be?'

A thought suddenly struck the Count's mind.

What if the purpose was to… spread rumors?

If the Saintess or the princess were trying to create a fact with Veris, who they were infatuated with, that would explain it.

"That can't be."

Knowing that it was a rather amusing thought, Count Verden let out a hollow laugh.

That couldn't be true. No matter how he thought about it, it seemed like an excessive sense of self… no, an overabundance of self-awareness. "I can't just sit still."

Count Verden ultimately rose from his chair.

The Saintess and the princess had appeared in the territory with Veris. For whatever reason, it was not something the Count could just sit back and wait for in the mansion.

* * *

"Veris! Our baby!"

Upon hearing the news of her son's return, the Countess rushed to Veris with tears in her eyes.

The Count, Countess, and everyone in the mansion had already come out to wait for them. In the midst of that, Veris couldn't help but look awkward.

"How could you not reply to my letters like that?"

"...I was busy. I'm sorry."

The Countess knew well that it wasn't a heartfelt apology. But she didn't scold Veris any further. It was understandable… after all, weren't there remarkable people waiting behind Veris?

"The atmosphere has calmed down a lot. You've really become someone who can look down on a father like me."

"You flatter me, Father."

At the Count's admiration, Veris bowed his head in greeting. It had been months since he last saw his family. It would be a lie to say he didn't feel good.

"And… you have some amazing guests with you."

After exchanging simple greetings with Veris, Count Verden turned his serious face to look behind him.

There stood three girls, inexplicably gazing at the Count with nervous eyes.

First of all, the elf Arwen was a girl the Count knew well. She was an elf raised in the mansion and now a sword genius known as the elf swordswoman at the academy.

Then there was Saintess Cecilia, a girl the Count had never seen before, but whose reputation he had heard countless times. The Saintess of benevolence, the pride of the holy kingdom. Such rumors, indeed.

Finally, Princess Maria… was the girl who presented the Count with the greatest awkwardness. Even for the lord of Vitelbach, who was not particularly influenced by the center, facing the jewel of the empire, Princess Maria Theresa, was bound to be uncomfortable.

All of them were women of high renown. It made him curious about what his son had been up to at the academy.

"Nice to meet you, 'Father.' I am, embarrassingly, Cecilia de Frey, known as the Saintess."

The first to take action was Cecilia.

It seemed that not only Count Verden was surprised by her sudden approach; Arwen and Maria were also staring blankly.

"Uh, uh-huh. 'Father'…?"

Thanks to his experience rolling around on the battlefield, the Count was perceptive. He was not so dull as to not understand the meaning behind what this girl was saying.

Count Verden turned his eyes to look at his proud eldest son.

Seeing his son's beaming smile made his head ache involuntarily.