Chapter 260: Academy’s Rising Stars [5]

Elise Margaux de Beaumont had changed her outfit three times before leaving her residence.

The first dress was too formal. The second was something she might wear to an ordinary afternoon lecture, which rather defeated the purpose of going out. The third was a pale blue dress with a fitted waist and modest lace decorations around the sleeves.

She eventually settled on that one.

Then she spent another fifteen minutes deciding what to do with her hair.

It was ridiculous.

She had attended Imperial banquets, formal gatherings, and dinners with some of the most influential families in the Empire without becoming this indecisive. Yet the prospect of spending an afternoon alone with Ilya Belozersky had somehow turned getting dressed into an elaborate undertaking.

Elise knew why.

She simply preferred not to think about it.

Their friendship had improved considerably since his transfer to the Magic Department. They attended lectures together, discussed their training, and had even begun spending time with one another outside their ordinary academic obligations.

However, she was painfully aware that their relationship remained different from what it had been during childhood.

Back then, she could approach Ilya whenever she wanted, complain about his training schedule, or drag him somewhere without worrying about what anyone thought.

Then everything had changed.

And much of that distance had been her own doing.

Elise examined herself in the mirror one final time before leaving.

She intended to enjoy today.

There was no reason to make things more complicated than necessary.

The restaurant she had chosen occupied the upper floor of a small establishment near the capital’s central shopping district. It had become popular among younger nobles for its excellent food and relatively relaxed atmosphere, although reservations were still necessary during weekends.

Ilya arrived shortly before their agreed time.

He wore an ordinary dark coat over a neatly pressed shirt, looking considerably more presentable than he usually did after spending an afternoon training.

Elise found herself smiling.

"You dressed properly."

"Was I supposed to arrive in my training clothes?"

"With you, I can never be certain."

He laughed.

They entered the restaurant together.

Their table overlooked the busy avenue below, where carriages and pedestrians moved between shops displaying the latest fashions and luxury goods.

For a while, they discussed ordinary matters while waiting for their food.

Elise mentioned that the Magic Department had confirmed several additional activities for the upcoming demonstrations. Ilya had already received his registration approval, although the instructors had yet to announce his assigned group.

The arrangements interested him, particularly because the exercises would involve both knights and wizards.

Elise listened as he explained several possible approaches to coordinating the two disciplines.

He spoke with an enthusiasm she remembered from their childhood.

Back then, he had been obsessed with swordsmanship, frequently discussing techniques he’d learned or battles he wanted to study. She had often pretended to find those conversations tedious, although she secretly enjoyed listening to him.

Now, the subject had changed to magic.

The enthusiasm remained.

Elise found that comforting.

Despite everything that had happened, there were parts of Ilya that hadn’t changed at all.

When their food arrived, the conversation gradually moved toward memories from their younger years.

Elise recalled an incident involving one of their childhood tutors, who had attempted to teach Ilya proper etiquette during a particularly exhausting week of swordsmanship practice.

Ilya had fallen asleep halfway through the lesson.

The tutor had been furious.

Worse, Elise had been the one forced to wake him.

"I remember that," Ilya said. "You hit me with a book."

"You wouldn’t wake up."

"You could’ve shaken my shoulder."

"I tried!"

He laughed.

Elise remembered being genuinely angry with him at the time. Their tutor had threatened to report the incident to their families, and she had spent the remainder of the afternoon attempting to convince him that Ilya was simply exhausted from training.

In the end, they had both been reprimanded.

Thinking about it now, the entire affair seemed rather silly.

Yet those were the memories she treasured most.

They had grown up together, sharing lessons, celebrations, arguments, and countless ordinary afternoons that she had once taken for granted.

Elise hadn’t realized how important those moments were until they became difficult to recover.

Their meal continued pleasantly.

Ilya seemed relaxed, and she found herself becoming more comfortable as the afternoon progressed.

There was no need to impress him with elaborate conversation or carefully considered remarks.

He had known her for years.

And despite their earlier difficulties, he had never treated her as someone he needed to entertain.

After lunch, Elise suggested visiting a nearby shopping street.

Several stores had recently opened, and she wanted to examine a few things before returning to the academy.

Ilya agreed without complaint.

They spent the next hour wandering through the district, occasionally stopping whenever Elise found something interesting.

At one boutique, she examined a collection of winter accessories imported from the northern provinces.

The craftsmanship was excellent, although the prices were rather unreasonable.

Ilya recognized the maker’s emblem immediately.

"Those are from the North."

"I noticed."

"That particular workshop supplies some of the noble houses around our territory."

Elise examined a pale scarf decorated with delicate embroidery.

"Did you ever buy anything from them?"

"Not personally. Anastasiya used to have several things made there."

That surprised her.

She remembered Anastasiya as an intimidating older girl who rarely showed much interest in anything beyond swordsmanship and her responsibilities as the future Grand Duchess.

Imagining her selecting fashionable accessories was strangely difficult.

Ilya seemed to understand her expression.

"She’s still a person, you know."

"I didn’t say anything."

"You were thinking it."

Elise laughed.

She eventually purchased the scarf, although she refused to explain why she had chosen that particular one.

Ilya didn’t ask.

They continued walking until they reached a quieter section of the district, where a small public garden provided a welcome escape from the crowded streets.

Elise suggested resting for a while.

They found an empty bench beneath a flowering tree.

For several minutes, neither felt the need to speak.

The afternoon was pleasant, with a light breeze carrying the distant sounds of the commercial district.

Elise found herself thinking about how different things had become.

A year earlier, she would never have imagined sitting beside Ilya like this again.

His difficulties in the Knight Department had placed an uncomfortable distance between them, and she had allowed her concern for appearances to interfere with a friendship that had once meant everything to her.

She had regretted it for a long time.

Even after their reconciliation, there were moments when the memories returned.

"Ilya."

"Hm?"

"Are you happy?"

He turned toward her.

"With what?"

"With how things have turned out. The Magic Department, your friends... everything."

Ilya considered the question.

Then he nodded.

"Yeah. I think I am."

Elise felt something loosen in her chest.

He continued, explaining that his circumstances were far from perfect. He still had plenty of things to improve, and his family situation remained complicated.

However, he enjoyed studying magic.

He had found friends who accepted him, instructors who understood his abilities, and opportunities he would never have encountered if he had remained in the Knight Department.

For the first time in years, he could imagine a future that didn’t revolve around disappointing his family.

Elise listened quietly.

She was happy for him.

Truly.

Yet there was also a lingering sadness in realizing how much of his improvement had occurred after he stopped depending on the people who had known him longest.

Including her.

"I’m glad," she said.

Ilya smiled.

"You helped, you know."

Elise looked toward him.

"What?"

"Back when I first transferred. You were one of the few people I already knew."

He spoke casually, as though it were something obvious.

Elise remembered those early days differently.

Their relationship had still been awkward, and she had struggled to approach him without thinking about everything that happened before.

She hadn’t imagined that her presence meant much to him.

"Really?"

"Of course."

That simple answer affected her more than she expected.

For a while, she didn’t know what to say.

Eventually, she smiled.

"Then I’m glad I could help."

They remained in the garden a little longer before preparing to leave.

As they returned toward the commercial district, Elise noticed that the streets had become increasingly crowded.

Ilya offered his hand while they crossed a particularly busy intersection.

She accepted.

It was a perfectly ordinary gesture.

He had probably done it without thinking.

Elise knew that.

Nevertheless, she found herself reluctant to let go even after they reached the opposite side.

Fortunately, Ilya didn’t seem bothered.

They continued walking together, their hands remaining joined for several more steps before Elise eventually released his.

She could feel her cheeks growing warm.

How embarrassing.

She was a ducal noblewoman, an accomplished wizard, and someone who had stood against dangerous magical creatures without losing her composure.

Apparently, holding her childhood friend’s hand was an entirely different challenge.

By the time they reached the avenue where their carriages waited, the afternoon was drawing toward evening.

Elise thanked him for accompanying her.

Ilya assured her that he had enjoyed himself.

They discussed the possibility of meeting again sometime, perhaps after the interdepartmental demonstrations.

Elise agreed immediately.

As she entered her carriage, she glanced back toward him.

He was already preparing to leave, apparently unaware of how much the afternoon had meant to her.

Elise smiled to herself.

There was still a long way to go.

Their relationship had recovered much of its old familiarity, but she wanted more than simply returning to the days when they had been children.

For now, however, she was content with the progress they had made.

And next time, perhaps she wouldn’t need to spend half the morning deciding what to wear.