YMPDKMA Chapter 24

I answered while sweeping my chestnut-brown hair with my hand as if showing it off. Bellua's brown was a rare dark brown close to black, but unless you were from Bellua, you wouldn't make such detailed distinctions.

"I see. I'll park the carriage for you."

I took the hand offered by the man, who'd withdrawn his suspicion, and climbed down from the carriage. Then I confirmed the crowd filling the vast lawn and felt slightly overwhelmed. Entering the military academy was such a remarkable thing that it seemed every single family member of every cadet had swarmed here. How was I supposed to find Rehan in this chaos? I worried a bit as I entered the level designated for cadets' families, guided by the man.

I'd been here a few times with Rehan, so the academy itself wasn't too unfamiliar. Thanks to the imperial family's attention, the school's buildings were as luxurious as the palace. The blue eagle decorating the antique ivory walls caught my eye. An eagle was also engraved on the platform where the dean or representative cadet would give speeches.

The blue eagle was the representative animal of the Kingdom of Wilethan, which had essentially been absorbed by the empire. Though not the kingdom's official symbol, the free predator had been worshipped as their guardian deity.

Belnerny's invasion had caught the bird spreading its powerful wings and flying through the sky and slammed it into the ground. As if to flaunt this, the emperor had made the blue eagle the military academy's symbol. Meaning the predator the empire had devoured was now a pet to guard Belnerny.

They'd suppressed it cruelly enough to call it slaughter, but the current situation still couldn't take Wilethan's resistance lightly—yet the present emperor was incredibly arrogant. Thinking of Rupert or Arnulf, it seemed the entire species of imperial family was arrogant. I bowed my head slightly as if expressing regret toward the eagle bound in invisible chains.

I opened my parasol to avoid the blazing sun when suddenly the massive sound of a conch shell echoed out.

"Thank you, distinguished guests, for attending the entrance ceremony of Belnerny's Imperial Military Academy! Today is a day of pride for all of us. New cadets who have endured long, grueling training and proudly become students of the military academy—congratulations from the bottom of my heart. You are now proud students of the military academy and, furthermore, talented individuals who will become the officers leading this Belnerny. All personnel! Enter!"

A man with a massive scar on his face droned on. I had not a fingernail's worth of interest in his speech, so I barely suppressed a yawn while scanning the cadets taking their positions before the platform one by one.

They formed a military formation without a single disruption. There was no age limit for admission, so their heights varied, but their faces, rigid with tension, all looked similar. I looked around trying to find Rehan, but my brother's face didn't catch my eye. Could he have not come to the entrance ceremony? Thinking his whole family wouldn't attend?

He might be hurt that neither Father nor Mother came on a day that deserved celebration. But Rehan wasn't an irresponsible child who'd skip the entrance ceremony out of disappointment. I frowned, worrying something might have happened to him. I was considering standing up when the man who'd given the speech earlier climbed back onto the platform and raised his voice.

"There will be a speech from the new cadet representative, Cadet Rehan Dietrich de Bellua!"

Whether he was using an artifact with amplification magic, the man's voice boomed out in all directions. I jolted in surprise and stared at the platform. Rehan, dressed in his uniform, was climbing the stairs with a calm face. Like the other cadets, he was expressionless, but showed no signs of nervousness. Remembering that my brother was always composed in any situation, I smiled faintly.

"I am Rehan Dietrich de Bellua. Fellow cadets, we have all gathered here through different lives. However, we shoulder the heavy yet proud name of military academy cadets, and..."

Rehan was the new cadet representative—I'd never dreamed of it. Why had he hidden such a proud fact? No, maybe I'd been too indifferent to notice. I moved my body to hear his speech from somewhere even a little closer.

Pushing through the sea of people, I reached the railing on the level closest to the platform. It was frustrating that I couldn't go further because of the partition reaching my waist, but from here I could see Rehan's face well. I waved the bouquet and potted plant I'd brought, smiling broadly.

"My brother's the best!"

With as many people as there were, the murmuring was loud—my voice wouldn't reach him. Still, unable to hide my pride, I shouted toward Rehan as he recited his speech clearly and calmly. But at that moment, Rehan stopped speaking. His head moved quickly as if searching for something. Could he be looking for me?

It was hard to believe, but Rehan miraculously spotted me among all these people. His eyes widened.

"...shoulder and must proceed. I wish you all well in your cadet life. That is all."

People frowned, finding it strange that the new cadet representative's speech was so short. Even I, who knew little about the military academy, thought it oddly brief. With an awkward ending that suggested more should follow, the man who'd called Rehan's name climbed onto the platform with a flustered face and approached Rehan.

But Rehan didn't care and quickly brushed past the man, descending from the platform. Soon he walked toward me without hesitation. He stared at my face without even blinking, so I couldn't doubt he'd found me.

Rehan had grown taller during our time apart. He was two years younger than Rupert but seemed even taller than him. I felt an inexplicable bitterness watching Rehan approach me with terrifying speed—this Rehan who'd grow even taller and become cold toward me.

The man on the platform, who'd been watching Rehan briefly, hurried to cover for him. Bewildered applause poured out. But Rehan seemed not to hear it.

He stretched out his hand as if to climb to the level where I stood without even using the stairs. As if this high level were just a wall, Rehan took a running start, kicking off the wall twice, then perched on the partition my hands were resting on. I was appalled at the incredibly dangerous action. How badly would he be hurt if he fell?

"Rehan! Are you a monkey? What are you doing, acting so dangerous!"

Rehan stared at me with dazed eyes, as if he couldn't believe I was scolding him. Soon his focus sharpened. He frowned as if confirming whether I was really his sister. I met Rehan's deep dark brown eyes and spread my arms.

"It's been a while, Rehan."

I approached Rehan with my arms spread, though he'd frozen in place with no thought of moving. His head was cut short as chestnuts like military academy cadets typically wore—it was adorable. His skin had tanned from training under the blazing sun, giving him quite a boyish look. I smiled broadly and hugged Rehan. He'd seemed taller from a distance, but the Rehan before my eyes had truly grown taller than me.

"Congratulations on your admission."

"...Is that you, Sister?"

Rehan, who'd been frozen like a corpse, finally opened his mouth slowly. His voice had dropped somewhat.

"Surprised?"

"Is it really you, Sister?"

"Well, I'm your sister, not your brother, aren't I?"

I smiled slightly at Rehan's repeated question.

"Can you smile right now?"

At Rehan's intense voice, my eyes widened. He was a good child who'd never been rude to me even while going through turbulent adolescence.

"Are you angry?"

"I, no, Mother..."

Rehan stammered uncharacteristically. I patted his back to calm him. Then Rehan bowed his head deeply and buried his face in my shoulder.

"Do you know how worried we've been?"

"Didn't you get my letter?"

"What does that damn letter matter...!"

Rehan seemed to choke up a bit and pushed me away, lifting his face. His face, usually calm, was twisted—I hesitated, finding it strange.

"You leave home and think writing one measly letter is enough? Do you have no awareness of how dangerous the capital is?"

"You're angry."

"How sinister the palace is, yet you're fearless!"

"R-Rehan."

"What dissatisfaction do you have with Bellua that you'd run away like that? Why didn't you contact us? Father and Mother might be frightening, I understand that, but to me!"

Rehan poured it all out without breathing. This was the first time he'd raised his voice at me. When I gaped with a bewildered face, he bit his lip as if trying hard to calm his excitement.

"...You should have told me."