"I'm fucked."
Arthur cursed aloud to himself.
His teeth wasn't the problem, in fact it was looking as white as possible.
It was his breath.
'Do they have anything I can use?'
He wondered, his eyes darted around the room.
Yet, his search proved fruitless.
'Must I go out like this?'
He had a thought, he thought it would be best if he just stayed in the bathroom until the event was over.
'I can't.'
Arthur let out a dejected sigh, his hand running through his hair as his gaze returned to the mirror.
'If someone came and saw me like this they would think I'm doing something else.'
'It could ruin my image as a professor.'
Slowly the young man brought the napkin over his mouth and left the washroom.
There were several people present, each one of them dressed formerly for the occasion. Even though he was out for three years he could recognize some people.
Nobles.
Barons.
Viscounts.
He recognized some of them.
Arthur momentarily forgot about his predicament even though the napkin was still over his mouth, he bumped into someone.
"Ah, sorry."
He apologized quickly as he extended his hand.
Arthur was sturdy, as someone who had participated in a great war he was levels above normal civilians, the person he had bumped into had fallen down.
The young man he had bumped into stared at him for a moment.
"Is there a problem?"
He asked.
"No."
The young man was shaken by his words and quickly took a hold of his hand.
"Nothing at all, professor."
He hurriedly went off, bumping into many people as he did so.
'Was he scared of me or something?'
Arthur wondered.
'He seemed frightened.'
He shrugged to himself before continuing on his way.
"Damien?"
Arthur murmured a little loudly.
He recognized one of the people here, he was not just a noble. Damien was in fact a participant in the war.
The man turned to him.
"Professor Arthur."
The man was surprised to see him, almost as if he didn't account for his attendance.
"Professor, it's been quite a while we last spoke."
He was excited to meet him, completely disregarding the person he was speaking to a few moments ago.
"How long? I seem to have forgotten."
"About 4 years to be exact, that was when you saved my life. But I also saw you a year ago during the celebration after we won the war."
Damien was elated to see him.
'He might work.'
"How's it been for you?"
Arthur asked, even as he spoke he made sure that the handkerchief still covered his mouth.
"It's been alright, after the war I was rewarded with the position as a noble though it was the lowest class."
Damien had an interesting story.
A commoner who had been recruited to fight in the war on the frontlines but unlike his comrades who gave up on life, he held on to a foolish ideal that if he made it out of this alive he would be rewarded.
That alone wasn't foolish, however he was the one that led the charge.
He was supposed to die.
But he was saved, luckily.
And now three years later he had been granted the position as noble and enough land to solidify that title.
For Damien it wasn't a bad investment at all.
Not only had he survived but he was also granted the position of a noble, though at the lowest level but it was still leagues above the average commoner.
"Professor, this might be off-topic but... Are the rumors really true?"
"What rumors?"
Arthur had suspected this. He felt that after the spirit had used his body for smoking it would only be a while before he heard of all the atrocities.
Plus, he had seen many transactions to numerous dealers, all of which weren't things he wouldn't do normally.
"I- I don't know."
Damien's expression faltered.
"What rumors?"
Arthur asked again.
"Nothing, professor."
"Wait, what rumors are you talking about?"
He asked.
He was asking sincerely yet Damien was acting like he was threatening him.
"Professor."
The man who had been talking so casually to him was now shaking.
"There are no rumors circulating around about you, it was about another person."
"I'll be seeing you later. Professor."
Then, the man left, ignoring Arthur's calls. He blended into the crowd and was soon out of sight.
Arthur removed the napkin from his mouth and let out a sigh.
'Everything feels so different, I don't how to feel about that.'
He covered his mouth with the napkin and walked into the crowd of people.
'So many familiar faces, yet so many unfamiliar ones.'
There were only so many people he knew, there were many faces he didn't even know of.
Arthur slowly took a seat as he rubbed his temples, contemplating.
"Do you need a drink, sir?"
He took a cup and the man poured some wine into his cup.
Arthur removed the napkin and took a sip of the colorless liquid, the cool liquid going down throat.
"Ahh."
He let out another sigh.
"This is good."
Even though it was newly produced there was no doubt that it was quite good.
"Excuse me."
He called for the man behind the counter.
"Yes, sir?"
"What's the name of the wine?"
He questioned.
"The wine?"
The man repeated, earning a quick, small nod from Arthur.
"Four Brothers wine sir, that's the brand name."
He had never heard of it before, but he noted it down. He would buy it once he returned. It soothed him, especially in this time.
"I see."
He quickly finished the wine and refilled his cup, his eyes watching the proceedings.
As he drank his gaze rested on a particular girl.
"Isn't she?"
She looked about 18 years old, but he could tell that she was a little younger than that.
Her long purple hair cascaded down her shoulder and her purple eyes seemed to pierce through the air itself.
"Isn't that the princess?"
His eyes narrowed as a wave of familiarity washed over him.
He did in fact know that this was the princess, he had interacted with her several times and both of them had developed something that could be called a brother-sister relationship.
She was even his sister's best friend.
He would know.
'She's older.'
He noted.
A wry smile formed on his lips as he massaged his head.
'17 now.'
His smile got larger, but it lacked joy.
He was disheartened by the realization.
'Does that mean she's older as well?'
Three years of his life had slipped away before he even realized it, now he was stuck with situations he didn't know about.
People he knew had gotten older, they had changed.
And their perception of him had changed.
It was frustrating to say the least, things had changed, people had changed, only he stayed the same.
And he didn't even know what had happened.
His eyes grew wet, a single tear slid down his face.
Arthur noticed this and wiped the tear with the napkin.
He turned away, facing the man at the counter as he refilled his glass.
"Sir."
Arthur laid his head on the table, the napkin that he used to cover his mouth was next to him, however he wasn't using it.
Slowly, he raised his head.
"Roselyn..."
He said softly.
"Take a seat."
The girl settled into the seat beside him, her eyes intently watching him.
"Mr. Arthur."
"Hmm."
He hummed in response as he dropped the cup.
A little more and he would get drunk.
"You seem lost."
She said.
He chuckled.
'She noticed, or am I very obvious?'
He wondered as he looked at her.
"A little bit, yes, but mostly because I have a lot on my mind."
He let out another sigh as he pushed the cup a little farther away, the man at the counter quickly took it, filled it with some drinks and hurriedly left.
"It's been a while since she left."
Roselyn reminisced about the past.
Arthur didn't respond.
"Yeah, I guess she is."
He was responsible for her death, and his actions would haunt him forever.
But, to be honest, it wasn't really as hurtful as it was supposed to be.