By Zephyria 
Cecile arrived at Saint Palace right on time. Guided by the attendants, he headed to the dining hall located at the top of the castle.
With all the windows and curtains drawn open, the view outside was quite spectacular.
Wasn’t this one of the places famous for its beautiful scenery in the royal palace? The pitch-black night sky and the endlessly sprawling view of the royal city were like a grand masterpiece.
When a cool breeze blew in, it carried the refreshing scent of Sequoia trees into the hall. Truly, it was worthy of being called the pride of Saint Palace.
“Welcome.”
Claude, who had arrived earlier, stood up and bowed politely upon seeing Cecile. Cecile lightly nodded his chin in acknowledgment and exchanged glances with Yuria.
“Is the Crown Prince not here yet?”
“They say he is still occupied with state affairs. He instructed that we should start the dinner once you arrive, Cecile.”
As if to prove those words, as soon as Cecile sat down, the appetizer and drinks were placed at each person’s seat.
As expected of a dinner banquet hosted by the Crown Prince, the dishes were meticulously prepared. Although the host had not yet made an appearance, the guests enjoyed their meal on their own.
“Yuria, did you forget again? How many times have I told you? The fork closest to your plate is the dinner fork, and the one next to it is the salad fork. And what you are holding right now is a butter knife, not for cutting cooked scallops.”
“Ugh, Claude. Can’t we just eat comfortably today? What does it matter if the fork is small or big? As long as I can scoop up the food, that’s all that matters.”
“Do you think I’m nitpicking for no reason? Table manners are basic etiquette! The people you will be dining with in the future will all be of high status, and if you don’t get into the habit now, how ridiculous will that be?”
“…That’s really too much.”
As Claude continued his lecture, Yuria rolled her eyes, her lips pouting. The wandering gazes turned towards Cecile, who was silently sipping his drink.
“Does my table manners bother you too, Cecile?”
“Lord Van Del is being too harsh. As Yuria said, this seems like a relaxed occasion. There are no elders here to scold us, right?”
See? With Cecile backing her up, Yuria glared triumphantly at Claude sitting next to her.
But Claude, undeterred, snatched Yuria’s fork and knife away and replaced them with the appropriate cutlery. He spoke with a rather stern expression.
“Not a chance.”
“But Cecile said it was fine!”
“Has he forgotten that he is of royal blood? At this rate, he might as well eat with his bare hands. Should I show you how he behaved while living in the Black Forest?”
“You’re really mean!”
Claude and Yuria continued to bicker. Of course, it wasn’t a serious fight born out of real anger. It was more like playful teasing between siblings or lovers.
Cecile quietly observed their interaction. He had long since set down his fork and knife, sipping sweet sherry as he fell into thought.
Yuria was much more lively and charming than he remembered. The Yuria Beatrice he recalled was originally quieter, darker, and very conscious of others’ opinions.
But now, how should he put it? She seemed just like a young lady of her age. Cecile guessed that this was Yuria’s true personality.
In her previous life, she must have been surrounded by tormentors every day, which would explain her demeanor. Living in the palace must have been so torturous that even a normal person could fall into depression.
Cecile felt a twinge of guilt for having contributed to that behavior, but he was relieved to see her bright side.
“Yuria, eat a lot. You don’t have to worry about manners. It’s just us here, so what does it matter?”
He deliberately took care of her, smiling warmly. As the beautiful woman in front of him smiled sweetly, Yuria returned a bright smile as if she had never been upset. Claude could only sigh at the absurdity of the situation.
The pleasant dinner continued. Exquisite dishes flowed continuously, and the crystal glasses were filled with wine and water in succession. Contrary to expectations of awkwardness, laughter and conversation filled the dining hall.
It was around the time the main course was about half-finished when the double doors swung open, and a tall man walked directly toward the table.
“I thought it would be awkward without me, but I could hear laughter all the way outside.”
“Your Highness!”
Yuria was the first to react to Alexis. She twisted her shoulders to welcome the Crown Prince’s arrival.
His large, smooth hand reached out to gently pat Yuria’s head. Having taken his seat at the head of the table, Alexis made eye contact with Cecile, who was seated, and Claude, who was awkwardly rising.
“Is the food to your liking? The chef has been talking my ear off since yesterday about the precious ingredients he brought to treat our guests.”
“It’s excellent. By the way, have you finished your work?”
“Just barely. I almost became the person who invited guests but couldn’t show my face.”
Alexis, too tired to think about eating, declined the attendants’ service. Instead, he reached for a glass of wine. A drink enjoyed after a long day was sweeter than anything else and slid smoothly over his tongue.
As he savored the drink, he leaned back slightly and said, “This combination isn’t bad at all. It pairs better than I expected.”
Though the subject was omitted, it was clear where his blue eyes were directed. Alexis had been curious about Cecile, who had attended the dinner banquet. So, he had done his best to finish his work and come.
Would they be like oil and water, or would he be acting with the arrogance of royalty?
When he entered the dining hall, the first thing that caught his eye was Cecile’s face, enjoying his meal leisurely with a smile. Contrary to his expectations, he was smoothly blending in with his companions.
This brought him considerable satisfaction. Alexis was quite surprised but didn’t show it, finishing his wine instead. His gaze remained fixed on one person.
Cecile, unable to meet that clear gaze, let out a small sigh. At this rate, no matter how delicious the food was, it would be hard to continue eating. He silently set down the cutlery he held in both hands onto the plate and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“Wouldn’t it be better to have some food with your drink?”
“Is there a reason I must eat?”
“This dish is something you would surely enjoy. You like truffles, don’t you?”
Cecile’s knowledge of his food preferences surprised Alexis, causing his eyebrows to raise noticeably. Then, the corners of his mouth curved into an elegant smile.
“Attendant, just bring the main dish. I’ll only taste it.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Before long, a well-cooked piece of lamb and roasted truffles were served on a plate with a golden rim. The chef’s claim that it was a rare ingredient was no exaggeration, as the golden-brown mushrooms emitted a fragrant aroma.
Alexis cut into it carelessly, his actions deviating from proper etiquette, but Claude kept his mouth shut and pretended not to notice, while Yuria stifled a laugh at Claude’s behavior.
“I heard you visited Yuria today?”
“Cecile brought the most delicious cake and black tea!”
“That must have been nice.”
Alexis’s gaze shifted to Yuria. His usually cold eyes softened when directed at her.
Yuria eagerly began to recount her experience from earlier. It seemed quite impressive, as her tone rose when she described the taste of the cake.
“Yes, there’s a skilled pastry chef at Peridot Palace. The owner is always indulging in sweet treats, so it seems no one in the palace can match the pastry chef’s skills.”
“Yet, it seems Cecile doesn’t gain weight at all. I feel like I’ve gained a little around my waist.”
“You can gain weight. Just remember that it might lead to cavities.”
Alexis’s expression and voice were sweet as honey. It was hard to believe that this was the Crown Prince of the empire, known for his coldness. Of course, his kindness was a privilege only Yuria Beatrice could enjoy.
Though he arrived late, the Crown Prince became the center of attention as soon as he entered the banquet.
Throughout the meal, he engaged in conversation with Yuria, and before long, Claude was quietly listening to their exchange while merely sipping his wine.
‘What a poor man. Can’t he at least hide his expression?’
Since Claude was sitting directly across from him, Cecile could only click his tongue in secret. His expression was so deep in thought that even a stranger could guess his melancholy.
As the meal began to wind down, the attendants hurriedly cleared the table. They removed the empty plates and tidied up the disheveled space. It was almost time for dessert.
At that moment, Alexis had stepped away briefly to converse with his chief aide who had come to find him. Yuria also disappeared, saying she was going to the restroom. Cecile scanned the empty chairs and then kicked Claude’s leg lightly.
“What’s the matter?”
Claude’s stoic face immediately frowned. Cecile, with a nonchalant expression, gestured toward the outside.
“Get up.”
“Excuse me?”
“Let’s have a drink together. Are you just going to sit here and dawdle?”
It was a suggestion to give way for his lover. Claude stared at Cecile with a displeased expression for a while before letting out a sigh.
“Very well. I was just in the mood for a drink.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Though neither was particularly fond of the other as drinking companions, they found common ground after a long time. Cecile and Claude exited the dining hall with serious expressions.