By Zephyria 
From the very first day that Yuria Beatrice set foot in the imperial palace, she had to endure a storm of attention.
Every morning, the Emperor summoned her to receive his prayers, and thereafter, high-ranking nobles flocked to her like moths to a flame.
Most of them had witnessed Yuria’s abilities during the knightly investiture ceremony. Under normal circumstances, they would have dismissed it as mere fanciful rumors, but having seen it with their own eyes, everyone was eager to experience the grace of the saint.
Yuria’s surroundings were bustling with people wanting to receive her prayers. Of course, the Emperor had instructed her not to waste her divine power recklessly without his permission, so she had to refuse all the requests that came her way.
With great interest came great consequences for her refusals. Occasionally, she was hurt by the harsh words of some nobles, but Yuria believed that living in the imperial palace meant she had to endure such hardships.
This chaotic life continued for about a week. During this time, Cecile came to visit Yuria, waiting for the right moment.
Knock, knock. As she lightly tapped on the already open door, Yuria noticeably flinched and turned around. Her eyes widened in surprise, and upon seeing Cecile suddenly appear, she beamed with joy.
“Cecile!”
“Yuria, are you busy?”
“Not at all, please come in!”
Yuria flustered, unsure of how to welcome such a precious guest. It wasn’t their first meeting, yet she felt this way every time.
With permission granted, Cecile entered with a light smile. After quickly scanning the small, cozy space, he gestured to the attendants who had followed him.
“I thought it might be snack time, so I brought some treats without asking.”
“Oh my, you do this every time! I’m so touched!”
Yuria was moved as she looked at the beautiful desserts that Cecile, or more precisely, his attendants, had brought in their arms.
Around the time the midday sun began to wane, Cecile Adrian would invariably come to visit Yuria with desserts and black tea.
On a table covered with a bright yellow tablecloth, luxurious plates and silver cutlery were set, along with a whole cake that made her mouth water and lovely teacups.
The host merely watched, as everything was being set up by Cecile’s attendants.
“How was your day? Did you suffer a lot again?”
Cecile personally poured black tea for Yuria from the teapot he held. The aroma was so rich that it filled the air.
Meanwhile, the head attendant carefully cut a large piece of chocolate cake topped with candied cherries and dried figs, placing it on a plate before Yuria and Cecile.
Yuria swallowed unconsciously. Once the saliva in her mouth disappeared, she could finally move her tongue.
“Yes, it’s been a bit… but it’s much better than at first. The number of people coming to see me has decreased. I’m still not used to meeting His Majesty the Emperor, but I’m trying to adapt.”
“That’s a relief. Oh, don’t hesitate, just eat.”
Cecile chuckled lightly, gesturing with his chin. He had noticed that Yuria’s gaze was fixed on the cake, not knowing when it would fall.
Once given permission, Yuria carefully picked up her fork. Her heart raced at the thought of tasting the cake. The excitement was clearly reflected on her face.
Even when she stayed at the Duke of Vandell’s residence, the meals were splendid, but due to the Duchess’s emphasis on health, such delicious desserts were rarely seen.
Perhaps that’s why she had come to look forward to Cecile’s visits, which always brought beautiful and sweet treats.
“The cake looks really delicious.”
“Eat a lot; if it’s too sweet, the black tea will balance it out. They go well together.”
Cecile lifted the teacup in front of him to his lips as he encouraged her.
Taking a bite of the cake, Yuria slowly sipped the cooled black tea, savoring the sweet and slightly bitter taste left in her mouth before cautiously speaking.
“Um… but Cecile, you can speak comfortably with me.”
“Well, for now, this feels more comfortable.”
The reply was sharp. Yuria found herself at a loss for words. Instead, she focused intently on devouring the cake with her fork.
In the midst of the silence, she occasionally glanced up to observe Cecile. The nobleman sitting across from her was still sipping his tea, passing the time.
He was truly a beautiful person.
From the moment she first saw him, she found it fascinating how a person could shine so brightly.
His small face, with its doll-like features, and his clean, flawless, ruby-colored skin were both lovely. The way he relaxed and leaned back exuded grace and poise. At a glance, he seemed to possess a superiority that surpassed even that of the nobility.
Yuria momentarily forgot about the cake, lost in thought.
Having spent considerable time with Crown Prince Alexis and recently meeting the Emperor, she thought she had developed some resistance to the presence of royalty, but looking at Cecile, she found herself utterly captivated.
Suddenly, their eyes met. His warm green eyes curved gently, and Yuria couldn’t hide her embarrassment, her cheeks flushing red. She put the fork, smeared with chocolate cream, into her mouth and sucked on it.
“To be honest, I’m glad you come to visit often, Cecile. The palace is still difficult and unfamiliar for me… The knights are very considerate, but they’re not exactly someone I can have a casual conversation with.”
“It seems you’re starting to think of me as someone you can be comfortable with.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean it in a bad way! I just meant that you feel like a friend… Ah, that might sound rude too.”
“What does it matter? Friends are good. Think of me comfortably. I want that too.”
Cecile smiled brightly. Regardless of his true feelings, he appeared to genuinely care for Yuria.
He was currently fulfilling Alexis’s request. Cecile had the task of looking after Yuria, caring for her, and helping her adapt to the harsh life in the palace.
“Yuria, remember my words well. You must not trust anyone in the palace, except for His Highness Alexis. Nobles, of course, and the attendants and servants are the same.”
“I’ve heard to be especially cautious of the Queen’s people.”
Yuria hesitated as she spoke.
Cecile knew she was on the side of the Crown Prince, but being of the Queen’s bloodline made it uncomfortable to speak ill of her in front of him.
However, Cecile showed no signs of discomfort. Instead, he adjusted his posture to sit more comfortably and rested his chin on his hand. He gazed intently at Yuria before asking a question.
“Can you distinguish the Queen’s people?”
“His Highness has informed me to some extent…”
“Those who pose a threat to me can appear from anywhere. Just because they are part of the Queen’s faction? No. There are those who do bad things for money, and there are those who are forced to commit wrongdoings due to threats.”
“……”
“Even those who smile and offer help to me can suddenly stab me in the back. I’m sorry if this sounds frightening… but this is reality, so please keep it in mind.”
Yuria nodded, accepting Cecile’s advice. However, her expression gradually hardened. She was reminded that the place she was in was as dangerous as a dark forest.
“Does that mean… I shouldn’t trust you either, Cecile?”
“Well… it’s probably better that way. Yuria, you tend to wear your emotions on your sleeve and are inexperienced in dealing with people of high status, so it would be wise to practice through me. Pretend to trust me, pretend to rely on me, while keeping your guard up inside.”
“But I want to be close enough to share my true feelings with you, Cecile.”
“……”
“The palace is so lonely and desolate.”
Yuria’s large eyes gazed intently at Cecile’s face. When their eyes met, Cecile smiled and brought the teacup back to his lips.
“That’s why I come to visit often. Today, I’ll stay a little longer.”
Not only did he serve as a conversational partner, but Cecile also brought his attendants to help take care of Yuria’s quarters.
Since she hadn’t been assigned a separate servant, her living space was always slightly disheveled. The attendants, thinking it inappropriate for a saint to live in such a manner, tidied up her quarters while also checking if there was anything she lacked.
As tea time continued, the attendants moved swiftly. After watching their busy movements for a moment, Yuria opened her mouth, saying, “Um… Cecile, if it’s alright, may I invite you to dinner?”
“Dinner?”
“His Highness Alexis asked me to have dinner together tonight. I would love for you to join us.”
Cecile looked at her with a perfectly innocent expression. There was no malice in his gaze, only pure goodwill. It wasn’t that Alexis was showing off how much he cherished her; he genuinely wanted to enjoy dinner together.
The thought made her heart ache, simply because her feelings of lingering attachment and jealousy still clung to her. Cecile forced a smile, which was undeniably beautiful.
“It would be an honor for me.”
If she couldn’t shake off her feelings, she would have to hide them until the day she died.