Chapter 100

“Time flows like a river, and people change over that endless stream of time.”

Some humans change for the better, while others head down a dark path. But in the end, what remains unchanged is, well… their love? That might be a bit tricky from my perspective.

Honestly, I thought at least one of the trio would have their heart change before graduation. It’s not like we’re dealing with guys here; these are girls! Plus, with all that distance in between, it’s only natural someone might develop feelings elsewhere. That’s probably why I intentionally added the “after graduation” stipulation.

It’s not for nothing that there’s a saying about wearing your shoes backward in Korea. After all, there are plenty of people who can’t even wait for a year and a half of military service, let alone three years for graduation, yet the feelings of all three have remained unchanged.

That just made things awkward. Each of the three held an equal place in my heart. How was I supposed to choose one? I was leaning toward none and all at the same time. If I’m honest, that kind of makes me feel like trash. But what can I do? I just don’t want to pick one!

At least it’s good that our Empire allows polygamy. If it didn’t, things would be even messier.

“Your Excellency. Here are the documents you need to handle today.”

“Ugh.”

“Your Excellency?”

“Where’s Leah?”

“Lady Leah has gone out for a bit. I was hoping you could handle the pile of documents in the meantime.”

“Got it.”

Three years ago, I was completely clueless about administration, but under Leah’s tutelage, I quickly grew into a capable administrator. After that, Leah would often leave document work to me while she checked up on the territory, which is probably what she’s doing today.

I did wonder if it should be the other way around—her doing the paper stuff and me taking care of the inspections. But to be honest, it felt much easier to chomp away at documents in the castle rather than go out, so I just accepted her decision. It’s not like Leah slacks off, either.

Truthfully, keeping Leah, who willingly chose to be a slave just to explore this era, locked up in the castle felt wrong. She wasn’t indulging in bloodsucking like typical vampires, so I didn’t feel the need to keep her tied down.

“With her lineage, she could live without sucking blood. If it’s dire, just let your Master give a little taste.”

“You mean I wouldn’t become a vampire or something?”

“No way! You don’t become a vampire just by sucking blood; you have to accept my genes.”

I jokingly tapped Leah’s forehead, and sometimes I offered her a bit of blood as a “special treat.” Each time, she would smile contentedly, saying it was delightful to get a whiff of the sweet virgin scent.

“That’s kinda creepy.”

“Creepy?! Isn’t it a bit strange to call someone creepy just for eating?”

Leah seemed genuinely wronged, but it was only natural for me, being right in front of her, to feel that way seeing her drink blood.

“…But it really is kinda creepy.”

Watching Leah’s expressions when she fed was enough to make me want to bring a mirror for her. The way her eyes rolled back, and her breath turned labored reminded me of some entranced woman in an adult film. To be honest, Leah, who’s already incredibly beautiful, shouldn’t be seen like that in public. Still, I found myself giving her blood sometimes.

“By the way, Your Excellency. You got a letter.”

“From Apatem Academy?”

“Yes.”

Oh right, graduation season was creeping up on us. Suddenly reminded, I pushed aside the completed documents and began reading the letter. It was full of common themes about the graduation ceremony from all three ladies. Ugh, this is a bit scary. Each letter brimmed with the undying sentiment of wanting to see me post-graduation, and that compelled me to quietly stand up.

“Your Excellency?”

“I need to go to Apatem Academy.”

“Are you planning to attend the graduation ceremony?”

“Hmm.”

“I’ll have them prepare right away. I’ll also let Lady Leah know.”

“Sure, go ahead.”

As a Count, a high-ranking noble, I figured I should have some servants, but being a newly minted noble meant I had none. So Leah was the only one able to manage things in my absence. That meant I generally avoided leaving the territory, but I figured attending the graduation was important enough.

It wasn’t easy shaking off the thought of leaving the territory after three years as a lord, but I quietly departed. I could almost hear Leah’s scream echoing behind me.

“Catherine, will she come?”

“No way. You’ve realized how stubborn that blockhead is over the past three years, right?”

“That’s also what makes her appealing.”

There was a strange gathering at Apatem Academy. It consisted of Lilian Beon Portus, the cherished child of Marquis of Portus and the Empire’s chief minister as well as the Emperor’s right-hand lady; Yulia, the Saint of the goddess cult spread throughout the continent; and lastly, Chloe Selvius, who was once assessed to be the closest royal to the throne. These seemingly unrelated three had begun holding tea time ever since the academy briefly closed due to a demon invasion three years ago.

Since they were essentially the pillars of power, many noblewomen wished to join in their tea sessions, yet none had ever stepped through that door. That’s why the students at Apatem Academy had always wondered what those three discussed that excluded everyone else.

Most students fantasized they were discussing the Empire’s future, but the reality was that their conversation revolved entirely around a single woman.

“Catherine… I heard she won’t show up for the festival either.”

“Come to think of it, it’s been a whole year since I last saw Catherine.”

“That’s true.”

In the first year, they’d all only gathered when they received letters from each other, curious about what had arrived. Naturally, every letter was different for each of them; they would have been disappointed if they had all received the same. It was because it was that diligent Catherine that won their hearts in the first place.

“Catherine… I heard she still won’t show up.”

“It’s already been two years.”

“Should we storm over there someday?”

By the time two years had passed, all three were pretending to be indifferent while secretly feeling anxious. Well, one was very apparent in showing her anxiety. Regardless, the letters kept coming diligently, which is why they never really acted on their worries. If the letters had stopped, they might have really banded together to raid Vexter Territory.

“I guess she’ll show up at the graduation ceremony.”

“Hmm, probably?”

*Sip*

Now here we are, three years down the line. The three of them were finally reaching a state of liberation. In reality, they all understood why Catherine couldn’t make it. There was no servant at the territory, and with only Leah and themselves capable of handling significant matters, it was valid to be unable to leave. But rational thinking and emotional perspectives are two different issues. Honestly, if you haven’t seen someone you love in three years, a whirlwind of emotions is bound to arise.

Even military service grants you leaves, and a devoted father can at least video call the family. Yet the three of them had only been receiving letters. Sure, they could sense Catherine’s essence from them, but that simply wasn’t enough.

Luckily, there were two others in the same position. Without that, it might have driven them crazy. That’s why all three vowed to cherish Catherine brutally as soon as they graduated. Even the sweet and gentle Yulia was secretly a bit frustrated, so the other two were even more so.

“The graduation ceremony is next week.”

“Yeah, it is.”

“Of course, I’m the first in line for marriage.”

“…Isn’t that rather unfair? Using your status to push us down?”

“If you have a problem with it, go become a royal!”

“You meanie.”

“…You two, stop fighting.”

Yulia intervened with a gentle smile, even though the two were hissing like cats at each other. They always argued, yet they got along pretty well, to be honest. It was just a fleeting moment, and neither of them were the type to keep grudges, so it was all in good spirit. Plus, it was kind of cute that they stopped when she asked.

“Yulia, don’t you think so?”

“It’s just a matter of timing; each of us can embrace Catherine in our own time.”

“…If you put it that way, I’ll seem unreasonable.”

“Well, you ARE a little unreasonable.”

“What do you mean?!”

“You act like a thug who knows nothing about manners, then try to maintain appearances only at important moments. There are so many points I could list.”

With Lily’s incredulous defense and Chloe’s point-by-point rebuttal, Yulia quietly smiled while watching them. It was the same smile, but unlike before, it carried a hint of fatigue.