By Zephyria 
“Your Highness!”
Claude Vandell burst into the Crown Prince’s palace just as the midday sun lazily drenched the top of his head.
Despite the attendants’ attempts to dissuade him, Claude flung the door open and was infuriated to see Alexis lounging by the window, basking in the sunlight.
He stomped over, his footsteps heavy. Alexis, with his arms crossed, was still sprawled on the sofa, his long legs crossed casually.
The platinum hair that had flopped back over the rigid wooden armrest sparkled dazzlingly in the sunlight. No matter how much he acted like a vagabond, his innate nobility never faded.
“Isn’t this too much? Do you really think the banquet is still ongoing? How can you be so carefree like this?”
“To say I’m carefree is quite presumptuous, Sir Vandell.”
Alexis pointed out in a mock-serious tone. However, a smile spread across his face as he looked at his long-time friend, and his relaxed posture on the long velvet sofa remained unchanged.
“The knights’ discipline is crumbling because you’re not showing your face. I’m worried, so I’m bringing this up.”
“I believe the commander of the knights is you, not me. Did His Majesty not appoint you personally? Have you forgotten already?”
“Are you really saying you won’t come to the training grounds? Until when?”
“You’re being quite pushy. I told you I need some time to sort out my thoughts.”
“You have quite the nerve. Meanwhile, the Empress must be busy plotting for your position.”
Despite the rude tone, Alexis chuckled and brushed it off. When it was just the two of them, they never cared about formalities. Sometimes they even spoke informally, dropping titles altogether. When Claude called him by his name, it meant he was genuinely upset.
Claude Vandell was the only person Alexis could confide in. A brother in arms, a long-time friend, and a comrade who had shared both joys and sorrows of life and death.
“Indeed. How greedy you are. I heard you’re already teaching your son about the principles of rulership.”
“Wow, you’re really determined.”
Claude accepted it as if it were his own affair, his breath hitching. The Empress Elizabeth, who was eyeing the position of heir, was a significant adversary for Claude.
“Does he really understand something so difficult?”
“Well, I’ve heard he struggles to keep up with the basic lessons, but I’ll have to observe a bit longer to see if the rumors are true. I think the kid is quite smart.”
Alexis stroked his sharp chin. For a moment, his eyes narrowed as he recalled Cecile’s figure.
He was smart and quick-witted, yet he acted foolishly in front of others. It was clear he had a capricious personality, but he strangely adopted a submissive demeanor in front of Alexis.
If he had been influenced by the Empress, he wouldn’t be able to act that way. To figure out what he was really up to, the only option was to watch carefully.
“By the way, how is Yuria doing?”
“Yeah, well. She’s spending time with her mother and doing well. My mother wants to make her some friends of a similar age, but I heard the atmosphere isn’t good since rumors have already spread in society. I told her not to force it.”
“No need to push it.”
Yuria was currently being referred to as the “lewd saint” in the capital.
Having spent five years in the knightly order, which was filled with men, it was easy to understand what people thought. Moreover, the rumors that Crown Prince Alexis and Commander Claude Vandell were particularly fond of her had reached a boiling point of jealousy directed at Yuria.
“There will be a debutante ball soon, so we should take this opportunity to restore her honor.”
The debutante ball was one of the important social events where children from noble families were introduced to society upon reaching adulthood. Many looked forward to this day as it was an opportunity to showcase their wealth and charm, meticulously preparing from head to toe.
“This year, Cecile Adrian will also participate, so it will be even more grand.”
“Is that kid already an adult?”
“Didn’t you know? Aren’t you a bit too uninterested?”
“Why should I need to know about his age?”
“I see you’ve forgotten that he saved your mother’s life. Have you expressed your gratitude?”
Mentioning the series of events made Claude’s lips press tightly together. The stubborn expression typical of the Vandell family, which diminished their charm, came to mind.
“…Well, I’ll do it when I meet him later. You know how busy I am. I’m sweating it out all day at the training grounds, taking on your share too.”
“What a pitiful excuse.”
Alexis scoffed. He couldn’t possibly believe that. Knowing full well that Claude was avoiding bowing to the Empress’s bloodline, he refrained from scolding him further.
“Handle that matter as you see fit, and pay special attention to Yuria’s preparations for the debutante ball. Make sure her dress and jewelry are of the highest quality.”
“I will do as you command.”
Anyone who saw Yuria properly dressed up would not dare to treat her carelessly. Alexis resolved to show what true affection meant, especially since rumors had already spread about his favoritism.
* * *
The next morning, the grand hall was filled with elder nobles, including the imperial family. They gathered to enjoy refreshments and casually discuss the state of the empire.
Crown Prince Alexis and Cecile were also present. Unlike the nobles seated around the semicircular table, they sat on a raised platform.
The fact that Alexis and Cecile were sitting side by side was largely due to the Empress’s wishes. She wanted to ensure that Cecile was seen as equal to the Crown Prince.
However, Cecile sat there with a disinterested expression. His attention was solely focused on the desserts.
He pressed down on raspberry fruits with a tiny fork, squeezing out their juice, and when he played around, a sharp gaze scratched at his cheek. Ignoring the Empress’s glare, Cecile took a bite of the pie, which was stained a deep red.
A sweet aroma wafted through the grand hall. Thanks to that, the atmosphere softened, and light jokes and discussions about the royal family’s recent happenings flowed.
“Your Majesty, isn’t it about time for Crown Prince Alexis to choose a partner?”
“It’s time for marriage. This will surely cause quite a stir in the empire. I wonder who will become the Crown Princess.”
“I’ve heard that the Duke Havel’s daughter is exceptionally beautiful. She just came of age.”
Someone brought up the absent Duke Havel’s daughter. The Emperor seemed quite intrigued by this mention.
“I’ve also heard that the girl is beautiful, but will she be attending the debutante ball?”
“Most likely, yes.”
“If Crown Prince Alexis were to partner with her, it would be a perfect match.”
The Emperor and the nobles had reached a consensus among themselves with the subject right in front of them. Cecile lost his appetite and set down his fork. A glance sideways revealed Alexis’s profile, who was managing his expression skillfully.
His lips curved slightly, but Cecile recognized it. He was very displeased at the moment.
The Empress’s expression, visible over Cecile’s shoulder, was equally intense. He could clearly see her biting the inside of her lip in frustration. As expected, she was fuming.
The Duke Havel’s daughter had long been the Empress’s predicted match for Cecile. The thought of losing her to Alexis made her blood boil.
“Unfortunately, that seems unlikely. The Duchess Havel has already sent me a heartfelt request. She wishes for Cecile to partner with her daughter at the debutante ball.”
She even resorted to a blatant lie that would soon be exposed. Cecile sighed inwardly.
Well, in the end, he did end up partnering with Cornelia, but all he could remember about the debutante ball was how terrible it was.
This time, he had no intention of letting things go as they wished. It was a precious moment that would only happen once in a lifetime; he couldn’t ruin Cornelia’s debutante ball.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll have to decline. I won’t be partnering with anyone at the debutante ball.”
Cecile stated firmly, then added a shocking remark.
“I like men.”
A moment of silence fell over the grand hall. It was so quiet that the sound of an ink pen rolling off the table could be heard distinctly.
“Cecile! Where did you get such a joke from?”
The Empress stood up abruptly, shouting, but Cecile looked ahead with a calm expression, as if he had expected this.
“It’s not a joke. I regret having to reveal my secret in such a setting.”
Yes, it was better to be straightforward. That way, he wouldn’t have to deal with the misunderstanding that he liked Yuria. That misunderstanding had been quite bothersome.
“Since it has come to this, it’s better for everyone to know. I won’t be getting married, nor will I be having children. After all, the heir to the empire is Crown Prince Alexis, so it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”
The elder nobles began to murmur. While homosexuality wasn’t a sin, it wasn’t something to flaunt either. It was the first time a member of the royal family had openly revealed their sexual orientation, leaving everyone unsure of how to react.
Among them, the Minister of Finance, unable to hold back, stood up. He slammed his hand on the table, causing the dishes to rattle.
“This is unacceptable! How can someone who should be a role model for the citizens of the empire be a homosexual?”
Some conservative elder nobles agreed with his statement. In an instant, Cecile’s previously indifferent expression turned cold. He shed his childish demeanor, revealing the true Cecile Adrian.
“I didn’t expect the Marquis to oppose me. I’m quite disappointed. Aren’t you of the same preference as I am?”
“W-What do you mean we have the same preference? That’s a baseless accusation!”
“I’ve heard you have quite a few young boys in your household? Slim and pretty, like fairies. I suppose the one you cherish the most is the red-haired boy.”
Cecile silently swallowed the slight pain that began to spread. He could endure this much easily.
The scandal involving the Marquis Valery would break out a year from now. It was an incident that would cause quite a stir in the empire, and Cecile remembered the details vividly.
As he pinpointed the characteristics of the young boys, the Marquis’s face turned pale, as if he were about to die. He forgot to make excuses and could only let out a wheezing sound like a pig.
“Is it true, Marquis?”
“No, Your Majesty! That’s not true! Nonsense! I am innocent!”
“Are you saying Cecile is lying? If so, I can send people to search the Marquis’s mansion right now. It won’t take long to determine who is telling the truth.”
The Marquis’s lips sealed shut. Just this morning, he had rolled around for a couple of hours with the red-haired boy.
If they searched the mansion, his secrets would be exposed. The trembling that started from his clenched fists spread throughout his plump body.
The silence was akin to an admission of guilt. The once relaxed atmosphere of the grand hall was instantly shattered. Everyone began to whisper, making it difficult to continue the tea party.
Meanwhile, Cecile remained calm after throwing out his shocking statement. He picked up a teacup still warm and took a sip of black tea. When he turned his head, feeling a tickle on his right cheek, he locked eyes with Alexis, who was sitting right next to him.
“……”
The Crown Prince’s lips were stretched into a long line. Unlike before, his blue eyes sparkled as if he genuinely found this amusing.