By Zephyria 
“…Isn’t that good enough?”
At the voice that interjected, Cecile turned his head sharply. The trainee knight, who had been resting under the shade of a tree, scratched his head awkwardly.
Was his name Roco? He was smaller in stature compared to other knights and had trained alongside Cecile. Of course, Roco’s skills were far superior.
Roco smiled, his cheeks reddening in embarrassment. He leaned in close to Cecile’s ear, disregarding the boundaries of propriety.
“It’s a secret, but I actually like men just like you, Cecile. Maybe that’s why, honestly, my eyes are delighted at this time.”
“So, is that why you joined the knight order?”
“No! That has nothing to do with it! It’s been my dream to join the knight order from the start!”
Roco spoke passionately. The young man, who admired the knight order, shouted with his pebble-like black eyes sparkling.
“I will definitely become a magnificent knight like the commander!”
Cecile noticed the feelings reflected in those eyes. Such affectionate eyes were often seen in those who had fallen in love.
“You like Claude, don’t you?”
“…Yes. He’s so handsome.”
“That guy?”
Cecile leaned back and briefly gazed at Claude, who was talking to someone. A soft chuckle escaped him.
“Your taste is terrible.”
“Excuse me? Vandel Knight Commander is considered the best match in the Empire… Just how high are your standards?”
Cecile smiled faintly instead of answering.
Many people misunderstand one thing: Cecile doesn’t feel sexual attraction to men; it’s just that the person he likes happens to be a man.
The only person he had given his heart to was so noble and beautiful that he couldn’t compare to anyone else in the world. There was a reason why Cecile’s standards had risen.
“You’d be surprised if you knew.”
A refreshing breeze blew in from somewhere, wrapping around Cecile’s entire body. As the heat dissipated, he looked more comfortably at the distant Saint Palace.
Even though he had been given another chance at life, he still couldn’t forget Alexis and was repeating a life full of regrets.
It was a heart he couldn’t even convey; was this really the right path? Even if he asked himself, the answer was already set. He was destined to love Alexis until death.
* * *
The afternoon sunlight streaming through the window warmed the top of Cecile’s head and his left cheek.
It was so warm that Cecile dozed off like a sick chicken throughout the class.
Even when Viscount Gerald banged on the desk, it was of no use. His slightly heavy eyelids kept drooping, and his head bobbed up and down in rhythm.
He wasn’t pretending to be tired to avoid studying; he was genuinely exhausted and had fallen asleep.
“If you really want to sleep, solve all these problems and then go to bed!”
As he handed over the problem set, Cecile glanced up with half-closed eyes. He propped his chin on his hand and, without hesitation, quickly solved the problems before tossing the pen aside. While he dozed off, Viscount Gerald began grading.
“Huh?”
It was undoubtedly a perfect score. How could this be possible when he had only half-listened to the class?
Viscount Gerald stared blankly at the sleeping Cecile, feeling both amazed and suspicious. The man, who was utterly unpredictable, had finally fallen into a deep sleep.
After a brief nap to recover his energy, Cecile would wake up alert again. He then headed straight to Alexis’s office.
Although his afternoon schedule was tight, and he could only stay in the office for an hour or two, it was an important time that he couldn’t afford to miss in his daily routine.
After the debutante event, he had become surprisingly free. Cecile would sit idly at the desk, and whenever he made eye contact with Alexis, he would smile brightly. Of course, the response was not very good.
Recently, Alexis seemed extremely busy.
He had to manage the knight order, establish a new guard post in the Black Forest, and was always meeting with nobles to build connections.
The administrative tasks assigned by the Emperor were always piled up next to his desk like a mountain. If he didn’t finish today, even more would accumulate tomorrow, which was the main reason he stayed late in the office.
Due to his gaunt appearance, his well-defined nose and jawline looked even sharper, and whenever he looked at documents, a vertical line would form between his brows. The habit of pressing his temples seemed to have become ingrained.
Cecile wondered if Alexis was getting enough sleep. He looked more sensitive than usual, as if fatigue had reached its limit.
Unable to hold back, Cecile spoke up.
“Your Highness, please give me something to do.”
“……”
“I’m free. Feel free to use me. You’ve seen that I work quite well.”
As expected, a sharp gaze shot his way.
Whenever Cecile said such things, Alexis would dismiss them as nonsense and not respond, but today, for some reason, he handed over a few documents.
Of course, they were menial tasks that a servant could handle.
Cecile knew that Alexis wouldn’t assign him any important work, so he gladly accepted even that. If he could help, what did pride matter?
While Cecile diligently handled the tasks assigned to him, Alexis had to step out for a scheduled meeting.
Whenever he left, the servants who usually stood guard at the desk would also disappear. They had gone out to tidy up after a brief commotion outside.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was around, Cecile peeked at Alexis’s desk.
On the cluttered desk, he spotted a familiar scrawl of notes. Cecile quickly leaned against the corner of the desk and took in the contents.
Just then, the door opened, and he heard footsteps. Cecile quickly straightened his posture. The servants cast suspicious glances at him as they saw him standing next to the desk.
“Should I leave the documents here?”
In such moments, he had to act brazenly.
Cecile casually tossed the bundle of parchment he had brought onto Alexis’s desk. Then he dusted off his hands and stretched.
“I’m tired. I’ve finished all my work, so I’ll be heading back now.”
“Cecile, I’ll escort you to the palace.”
“No need. You all just keep an eye on the office. Where have you been wandering off to when the prince isn’t even here?”
He deliberately threw out a retort and walked out with his hands behind his back. His leisurely gait exuded a sense of ease.
As soon as Cecile entered Peridot Palace, he quickened his pace. He headed straight to the study to retrieve the prophecy book he had hidden away.
As he flipped through the pages, he found a meticulously recorded list of nobles. According to the notes he had glanced at earlier, Alexis was currently looking for a chief aide.
“No way, your chief aide will end up backstabbing you later. Do you want me to see that again?”
Cecile quickly scanned the list. He felt a sense of urgency to pick the right person.
As he chewed on his lips and rolled his eyes, he finally found a familiar name.
“Ah, here it is.”
Cecile’s lips curled into a smile. Without a doubt, there couldn’t be a more suitable candidate. Tristan Dyke. Second son of Count Dyke.
Due to being the second son, he wouldn’t inherit a title, but his abilities were exceptional. He would later enter the palace and serve as the Emperor’s administrative secretary. Cecile remembered vividly the countless disagreements he had with Tristan during his time as a strategist.
He was intelligent and, above all, had high self-esteem, which made him independent and not aligned with any faction. While he was not easy to handle, once he pledged loyalty, he would follow that person until death, which was also remarkable.
If he could make him a close aide to the Crown Prince, it would surely be a great help for Alexis to expand his influence within the palace in the future.
“The problem is that I have a rocky relationship with him…”
Cecile drummed his fingers on the desk, deep in thought. The mere thought of facing that stubborn Tristan made him sigh.
The only fortunate thing was that, at this point, Tristan and Cecile had no prior connections.
…Should I try to charm him? The sudden thought made Cecile press the inside of his cheek with his tongue.
It seemed like there was a good chance. He was already well-versed in Tristan’s personality and way of speaking. If he knew the other person well, winning their favor wouldn’t be difficult.
His plan began to take shape. The thought that he could help Alexis made his heart race.
What was there to delay? He had to act immediately. Cecile took a deep breath and shouted toward the outside.
“Leo! Bring me some stationery!”
* * *
Late in the evening, Cecile, who visited the Count’s residence, confidently presented his invitation to Count Alfonso, who had come out to greet him.
Count Alfonso was a well-known figure in high society. He had a vast network and loved people, often keeping his mansion open for gatherings. His residence was akin to a gateway to the social scene.
Count Alfonso was slightly taken aback by Cecile’s sudden visit. He welcomed him warmly, but there was an air of awkwardness.
He had received a letter last night expressing a desire to join the gathering and had sent an invitation, but he never expected Cecile to actually show up.
“Thank you for accommodating me, even though it must have been a bother.”
“A bother? It’s an honor to host you.”
Though he looked as if he couldn’t believe Cecile had really come, Count Alfonso skillfully led him inside. Being of royal blood, he had no choice but to treat him with utmost respect.
While salons were usually held during the day, clubs always began in the evening after sunset.
The unique aspect of clubs was that they were social gatherings for male nobles. Most enjoyed drinks and pleasures, unwinding from the day’s fatigue. The conversations among the gentlemen were not much different from those in salons, primarily revolving around gossip related to society and politics.
As soon as Cecile entered, the room fell silent, and the gazes of the guests turned toward him. Half of the reactions were surprise, while the other half were disapproving.
Cecile merely waved his hand through the hazy cigarette smoke that filled the air, showing no signs of tension. Instead, he smiled at the gentlemen.
Though he hadn’t used it in a while, Cecile had a natural talent for captivating people.