“An ordinary morning…!”

Exhaling deeply, I got up and stretched lazily, enjoying a day off after a long time, loosening my body that had stiffened overnight.

The cracking sound of my bones made me frown as if it was telling me how long I had been away from training.

No time to rest, I have to train today too!!

With that thought, I got up from the bed that embraced me comfortably, finished preparing roughly, and left the room.

Then, realizing someone was waiting for me, I tilted my head.

“…Cain?”

It was Cain.

***

“…Do you train like this every day?”

“Huh? Well, since I entered the academy, yeah?”

“At this rate, I might lose to you.”

“You’re ridiculously strong, though.”

In reality, no matter how much effort I put in, surpassing Cain was a distant goal.

But realizing he wasn’t just saying that as an empty compliment, I laughed lightly and spoke. Cain also responded to my words with a faint smile and continued jogging.

Because I started morning training so early, there was usually no one to train with, so it felt awkward to think about running with someone else.

Especially with Cain, whom I wasn’t particularly close with.

“Still, these days, I’ve been neglecting training due to family matters.”

“Even so, I don’t think I can win against you.”

Cain’s talent was insurmountable, and he was also an incredibly hard worker, so I didn’t think I could win.

“It’s annoying to think we still have two hours left.”

“…Sorry.”

I chuckled and responded to Cain’s words, and he shook his head and pointed to a bench visible a little ahead.

“Let’s rest a bit.”

“Okay.”

Although neither Cain nor I were struggling, realizing that the reason Cain had sought me out early in the morning was to talk, I agreed with his words and slowly reduced my speed.

Having skipped morning training for several days, the fresh, early morning air I felt after a long time refreshed me.

I took a drink from my water bottle and glanced at Cain. I thought my stamina had improved greatly, but he didn’t seem slightly out of breath.

He was absentmindedly staring into space while drinking water from his own bottle.

“…What are you so curious about?”

It wasn’t sarcasm but a genuine question.

Cain’s body flinched slightly at my question, and he blinked while exhaling deeply.

“You’re quick to notice.”

“…Anyone would think that if you’re acting like that.”

It was absurd for him to say such things while his face was written with ‘I want to ask something.’

At my words, Cain burst into laughter and nodded. Then, he cautiously brought up the subject.

“What do you think about Sylvia?”

“…Sylvia?”

In fact, from the moment Cain came to find me, I was curious. I wondered what he was so curious about that he came to see me.

But when he brought up Sylvia, I couldn’t help but feel a bit dumbfounded.

You two were just together at the banquet hall the other day. Why are you asking this? Do you think I still have feelings for Sylvia and are trying to check?

…But am I even a threat worth checking?

Blinking slowly to assess the situation at Cain’s question, I shrugged and answered honestly.

“Just a good friend?”

“Is that all?”

“…What else should there be?”

I understand why Cain is anxious. Sylvia is beautiful, and many men are attracted to her.

Amid that, only he and I have opened our hearts to her, so he seems to think that if I have feelings for Sylvia, he might lose her.

But from my perspective, I don’t like her enough to attempt NTR by interfering in a relationship that’s already going well.

If asked whether I like her or not, I’d say I do, but that’s as a friend, not a romantic interest.

“I’m just asking out of curiosity.”

Perhaps embarrassed by my incredulous question, Cain scratched his sideburns with his finger and said so.

“I went to the Crown Princess’s investiture ceremony banquet with Sylvia as partners yesterday.”

“Yeah, I saw.”

I answered nonchalantly while drinking water, and I felt Cain’s gaze turn towards me.

“There’s no way you couldn’t have seen, right? You were quite high up there.”

“…I suppose you’re right.”

Sylvia’s appearance stands out.

Cain’s appearance is also quite noticeable, so it would be strange not to recognize them even among many people.

“When you saw that, didn’t you feel anything?”

“Huh…?”

It would be a lie to say I didn’t feel anything when asked.

I was curious about when they had become so close.

That was all. But officially, I didn’t know about Cain and Sylvia’s relationship, so I couldn’t bring that up.

“Not really?”

Cain stared at me as I answered simply, then let out a faint laugh and exhaled deeply.

“I see.”

Why is he acting like this today?

Usually, Cain was a person who rarely showed his emotions on his face, even when angry.

But today, he’s easily showing relief and smiling. Seeing such changes in him, I made a confused expression, and he shrugged and stood up.

“That’s enough.”

“…Did you join just to ask that?”

“It might not be a big deal to you, but it was to me.”

Cain answered while slowly stretching his body, his expression somewhat refreshed. I frowned at his behavior for a moment, then stood up, following him.

“Are we going to run more?”

“…We still have quite a bit left.”

We still need to run for about two more hours.

Cain let out a dry laugh at my words as if finding them absurd, then nodded and slowly started walking.

It seemed he was going to run with me.

***

Cain recalled what he saw.

Just the other day, the look on Sylvia’s face as she watched Felix and Crown Princess Ashillya dancing.

Although she tried to appear calm, Sylvia’s crumpled expression was not simply the look of watching a friend.

Even Cain, who wasn’t good at understanding people’s emotions, could easily notice what kind of expression that was.

‘Not yet…’

It’s okay.

Thinking this, Cain looked at Felix running beside him.

Sylvia’s feelings for Felix were not love—at least, not yet. It was clear that she didn’t even understand her own feelings well and was confused.

The emotions Sylvia held could clearly progress towards either love or friendship.

The first thing Cain did after noticing this fact was to sound out Felix’s intentions.

As they had talked about just a month ago, had he completely given up his feelings for Sylvia… or was he waiting for an opportunity by Sylvia’s side?

And so, Felix’s feelings that Cain grasped were surprisingly clean.

As if he had never liked Sylvia from the beginning. He unknowingly felt relieved at the person who didn’t have even a speck of lingering attachment to Sylvia.

“…Father.”

“Huh?”

In fact, this wasn’t the only reason Cain had come to find Felix.

It was because of a letter that had arrived for him last night. It was a letter sent to Cain from the Geyrus family.

A letter asking him to pass on a message to Felix.

“He asked me to pass on a message to you.”

“…Duke Geyrus?”

Felix asked with a slightly pale face.

Seeing this, Cain pondered what business the Geyrus family had with him…

Felix was simply shuddering at the thought that not only the Emperor but now even the Geyrus Duke’s family was keeping an eye on him.

“That’s right.”

“…What did he say?”

“He said if you ever need father’s help, feel free to come anytime.”

“…Me?”

Felix thought for a moment.

Had there ever been a situation where he needed to reach out to the Geyrus Duke’s family?

There was.

When he had a private audience with His Majesty the Emperor. But that was something even the Geyrus family couldn’t prevent, so excluding that, there were no other instances.

In the first place, he didn’t understand why the Geyrus family would want to help him.

“Yes, Father said such a day would come soon.”

“…Really?”

Either way, it was a pure gesture of goodwill, so Felix could only nod.

They say there’s no such thing as pure goodwill in this world, but anyway.

Since it was coming from Duke Geyrus, known to be second to none in competence, Felix could only think that it might happen someday.

Cain swallowed a dry laugh at his nonchalant nod and ran alongside him.

Even though he had escorted the Crown Princess, Felix’s reaction was too calm when Duke Geyrus said he would help if needed.

‘…Well, I don’t really understand Father’s thoughts either.’

He just accepted it as it was.

And so, the two boys ran continuously until the sun had fully risen.