By Zephyria 
Alexis lowered his gaze and thought calmly. A heavy silence lingered, and after a while, he spoke in a low voice.
“I will take it under consideration. You may leave now.”
“Is that… it? What will happen to me then?”
“I will not question your crimes under the authority of the Crown Prince. You should consider yourself fortunate that you confessed honestly, albeit late.”
Only then did Johannes feel a sense of relief. He was glad he had mustered the courage. It felt as if he had escaped from the burden of guilt, and a bright light spread across his tense face.
“Thank you. May God’s blessing be with you.”
As he left with a bow, the office fell silent, with only Alexis’s breathing echoing in the stillness. Unlike Johannes, who left with a relieved expression, the Crown Prince’s face was filled with worry.
Alexis leaned back, needing some time to sort through the chaotic thoughts in his mind.
He swept his bangs aside. His hair, woven like golden threads, tangled between his long fingers, revealing a smooth forehead. His thick eyebrows were furrowed, reflecting his current mood.
“Ha, it’s absurd enough to make me laugh.”
Alexis clenched and unclenched his fists to calm his excitement. This was a first for him. It seemed his emotions changed with every breath.
He felt relieved that Cecile had not betrayed him, but on the other hand, he was annoyed that he had sacrificed himself just to protect a friend.
He did not believe that Johannes’s earlier confession was a lie. The confession made by the Prince of Temion was credible, and there was no reason to bring up an incident that had already been resolved.
This incident had begun with Cecile’s false oracle. The fact that Cecile had mentioned Yuria’s name to inform the Prince of Temion about the future was something that did not make sense logically.
“I felt the energy of the Gaia Goddess.”
“Could it be that Cecile also has the same ability as I do?”
Suddenly, Yuria’s words came to mind. Could it be that Cecile truly had the ability to predict the future?
“No, that doesn’t make sense.”
Alexis strongly denied it.
He had interacted with Cecile several times, but he had never felt any sacred aura. If there had been even a hint of such energy, he would have noticed.
However, there were several troubling aspects.
Pretending to be a prophet to Johannes Albrecht IV, informing him of future events, and predicting the Duchess Van Dell’s carriage accident. He had even provided information that could yield financial benefits to some nobles.
If Cecile had the ability of foresight, it would explain a lot.
Alexis pressed his forehead in distress over the unsolvable conundrum. He knew that no matter how much he pressed Cecile, given his personality, he would surely deny it, and he was also aware of how absurd this assumption was.
He did not like vague speculations. He would wait for solid evidence to emerge. After all, Cecile would be around for the rest of his life.
“Did he say he would die on October 16th?”
Alexis closed his eyes, deeply engraving the day the Prince of Temion would die into his mind.
There was no need to rush. He should not jump to conclusions. If the prophecy were true, it would soon be revealed.
* * *
Two days later, Cecile prepared to enter the palace. He rode out with Knight Commander Claude. They deliberately chose the early dawn when everyone was asleep, and thanks to their diligent movements, they arrived before the sun rose.
As the towering castle walls drew closer, Cecile’s expression darkened. The sound of the horse’s hooves was weak and slow.
Thanks to prior arrangements, the guards at the castle gate had all been replaced by the Imperial Knight Order.
The knights exchanged glances with Claude and discreetly opened the castle gate. Having secretly run away, Cecile Adrian was now able to return safely.
To his surprise, Alexis was waiting for him just beyond the gate.
Seeing the Crown Prince standing alone under the dark sky with the morning star still shining, Cecile was taken aback and halted his horse. Without a moment to think, he hurriedly dismounted.
As Cecile tried to hand his horse over to Claude, Alexis could not wait and walked over.
He abruptly grabbed Cecile’s wrist and pulled him closer.
“Your Highness!”
“…You.”
Alexis could hardly contain his excitement and almost raised his voice but managed to swallow his words.
In the quiet dawn, the palace was filled only with the sound of chirping insects. Even if he was anxious, he had to hold back from making noise in such a place.
“Your Highness, what is the matter?”
“Shut up and follow me.”
Without further ado, he started walking. Cecile, with his wrist held tightly, was dragged along by Alexis. Fear gripped him, and his already pale face turned even whiter.
They arrived at Alexis’s chamber. After sending away all the attendants and securely locking the windows, Alexis finally seemed to relax, leaning against the wall and letting out a long sigh.
Cecile, who had no way of knowing the reason, quietly looked down at his wrist.
Alexis was still gripping it tightly. His fingers were so tense that the knuckles turned white.
“…It hurts.”
“……”
“Please let go.”
Cecile spoke with difficulty. But instead of releasing his grip, Alexis tightened his hold on Cecile’s wrist. The throbbing pain made Cecile involuntarily furrow his brow. When he lifted his head, he met Alexis’s face, which was equally pained.
“Why are you angry?”
“Do I seem angry to you?”
“Did you bring me here to scold me?”
Cecile replied as if he had anticipated it. But despite his calm voice, a tremor was evident in his wrist. He was trying hard to act fine, but facing an angry Alexis was still frightening and difficult.
Alexis quietly looked down at Cecile and briefly curled his lips. Now, Cecile’s expression was fully visible. It was useless to hide it in front of him.
Instead of releasing his wrist, Alexis turned his body and pressed Cecile against the wall. As his arms quickly formed a barrier, Cecile, trapped within, instinctively tensed and stepped back. But there was no escape, as he was blocked by the wall.
Alexis tilted his head and asked.
“How long do you plan to keep lying?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You didn’t attack Yuria; it wasn’t you.”
Cecile was taken aback by the sudden accusation. He was so surprised that he didn’t even realize how close Alexis’s face was, blinking in shock.
His practiced expression management crumbled, and the raw, flustered side of Cecile Adrian emerged, prompting Alexis to press him further.
“The Prince of Temion confessed everything before leaving the Empire. He said you took the blame for him.”
“……”
“It’s a tearful friendship. One takes on the role of the villain for a friend, while the other confesses late to clear the name. Only those caught up in your friendship game, including me, look foolish.”
Upon hearing those words, Cecile squeezed his eyes shut. He was trembling all over, to the point that it wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed at any moment.
“Did Johannes… really say everything?”
“Yes.”
“Did he not mention anything else?”
“Anything else, like what?”
“Like… why he hurt Yuria… for instance.”
Finally managing to spit out the question, Alexis wiped the smirk off his face and quietly looked down at Cecile. Every word Cecile spoke, every tense breath, revealed his worries.
“It was because of the superstition of the Themion Kingdom. They believed that holy blood could grant eternal life; it was a ridiculous reason.”
Alexis spoke indirectly.
It was clear why Cecile was so frightened, but it was still too early to press him. He kept his suspicions tightly hidden, fearing that Cecile might run away again.
“So, Cecile Adrian, what do you plan to do from now on?”
“……”
“Will you continue to live in opposition to me?”
Only then did Cecile slowly lift his head.
Seeing his sharp face reflected in the empty pupils, Alexis felt a surge of impatience. He stroked Cecile’s cheek and demanded an answer again.
“Stop holding back and tell the truth.”
“You already know everything, don’t you?”
“I’m telling you to confess with your own mouth. Think carefully. This is the last chance I’m giving you.”
Cecile clenched his trembling hand into a fist.
Could there be such a sweet temptation? Honestly, he didn’t want to miss this opportunity. If he turned away now, Alexis would never extend his hand to him again. He wanted to hold on, cling to him, and embrace him.
“I… didn’t do it.”
Finally, his stubborn lips parted. Cecile lowered his flushed face and exhaled heavily.
“I lied to you, Your Highness. I’m sorry.”
“Good, you spoke well.”
As soon as Alexis responded, he wrapped his arms around Cecile’s waist. He too seemed to have gone through a tough time, letting out a long sigh with a weary expression.
“Don’t do it again. This is the last time I’ll forgive you.”
Cecile, nestled in Alexis’s embrace, nodded. His chest and shoulders heaved, indicating something was off. Alexis pretended not to notice and gently stroked the back of Cecile’s head. The left side of his shirt became damp with Cecile’s tears.
“You foolish boy. What’s so important about that friend that you would sacrifice yourself? You were cunningly selfish, yet you did something so unnecessarily kind.”
“……”
“Remember this. From now on, the only people you should prioritize are you and me.”
“…Yes.”
“And if you ever run away without my permission again, I will definitely find you and give you a good scolding.”
Cecile could no longer hold back and cried out loud. The feelings of injustice and sorrow that he had been suppressing burst forth. Now, even if he tried to gather himself, it was impossible.
Alexis tilted his head, gripping his own clothing, and looked down at the sobbing Cecile.
Expressing his emotions so honestly made his crying look incredibly beautiful. Unconsciously, a smile formed on his lips.
“Well, it seems I can’t even scold you for crying.”
A large hand gently patted Cecile’s back. The comfort continued for a long while.
* * *
The spacious conference hall was filled with elders. They had gathered for the monthly tea party hosted by the royal family.
Emperor Arnold, seated at the head table, scanned the faces of the gathered nobles.
The familiar faces of the nobles had become somewhat mundane over time. The Emperor, already bored, twisted his waist slightly and suddenly realized that someone he often saw was missing.
Curiosity piqued, the Emperor asked.
“So, what has happened to Marquis Valerie? Is there still no news? It has already been a week since he disappeared, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. His ex-wife, whom he divorced, has long lost contact with him, and even the servants who worked at the Marquis’s estate do not know his whereabouts… It’s quite a troubling matter.”
The news of Marquis Valerie’s disappearance had been a hot topic. With a person suddenly vanishing like smoke, it was only natural for everyone to have questions.
Some claimed he must have gone on a trip, while others speculated that he might have had an accident.
What was certain was that no one had seen Marquis Valerie.
Alexis listened intently to the conversations around him. Most of the speculations were absurd, but he paid close attention to not miss even the smallest detail.
Originally, a tea party was a place to casually discuss current affairs, but in reality, it often turned into gossip about the nobles’ private lives. Above all, the Emperor particularly enjoyed such rumors. It was only expected that discussions about Marquis Valerie would arise.
Taking a sip of fragrant tea, he casually glanced over, and Cecile’s pale face caught his eye. Having completed his period of self-reflection as of yesterday, he was now occupying a respectable position.
Even amidst the ongoing discussions about Marquis Valerie, Cecile maintained a calm demeanor.”Indeed, managing one’s expression is truly remarkable,” Alexis smiled at him, his curved lips hidden behind the teacup.
“Everyone knows that the Marquis has some rather unsavory hobbies, right?”
“Of course. Isn’t that why he got divorced?”
“Perhaps he’s holed up in a brothel. I hear he particularly likes pretty young men!”
Before long, the topic of the discussion had shifted to the Marquis’s sexual preferences. Amidst the raucous laughter, Cecile secretly bit the inside of her lip.
She was trying hard to maintain her composure, but her hands trembled uncontrollably. Cecile discreetly lowered her hands beneath the table. She was fervently wishing for this moment to end quickly.
“…!”
The warmth of another’s touch reached her limp right hand. Alexis had firmly grasped her wrist. He spoke in a calm voice while looking at the nobles.
“It is truly unfortunate that Marquis Valery has gone missing. More than anything, I am worried about the position of the Minister of Finance being left vacant for so long. We cannot leave it unattended, so wouldn’t it be wise to elect someone to temporarily fill the role?”
“The Crown Prince makes a valid point. We cannot leave that position unfilled.”
As the Emperor agreed with him, the excited nobles rushed forward, eager not to miss the opportunity. Before long, the name of Marquis Valery had faded away, and everyone was busy looking out for their own interests.
“Oh my, I didn’t expect there to be so many applicants. Alexis, I think I need your opinion. Who would be suitable to take the place of the Minister of Finance?”
“In my opinion…”
While Alexis contributed his thoughts in his characteristic low and clear voice, Cecile quietly lowered her gaze.
Beneath the table, she could still see Alexis’s hand holding her wrist. His long, neat fingers were gently tapping on her wrist bone.
It’s okay, don’t worry. I will take care of everything.
Though he didn’t say it aloud, his feelings seemed to be conveyed, and a faint smile spread across Cecile’s lips.
She straightened her back a little more and looked ahead confidently. After all, wasn’t there a reliable presence beside her? There was absolutely no need to be afraid.