By Zephyria 
Cecile was taken aback by the shower of kisses that fell upon him like a gentle rain. But after a moment of surprise, he smiled brightly and patted Alexis on the shoulder.
It was only natural that he felt a sense of fulfillment seeing Alexis so happy. A smile formed on his lips without him realizing it.
“I’m glad you returned healthy and uninjured.”
“I heard you were sick. I was told you suffered greatly while I was away.”
“…Ah.”
As he turned his head slightly, Leo and Ethan, who were standing in the corner, exchanged knowing glances with him.
It felt like a silent threat urging him to confess his secrets to the Crown Prince as well.
Cecile pretended not to notice their earnest demands and smiled widely again.
“Yes, the cold was so severe that I thought I might die.”
“You’ve lost a lot of weight. Shouldn’t you rest more?”
“I’m fine now. I was just getting better anyway. Right, Court Physician?”
“……Yes.”
Ethan replied reluctantly. Leo couldn’t hide his disappointed expression at all.
Cecile quickly grabbed Alexis’s arm, sensing that he had noticed the strange atmosphere.
“I didn’t have the time to prepare a banquet to celebrate your victory. Instead, let’s have a meal together. I’ll treat you to dinner.”
“Sure, let’s do that.”
Alexis smiled and caressed Cecile’s cheek. He definitely looked thinner than before. The blue eyes looking at Cecile were glistening with warmth.
“I’ll just change my clothes and come back. I have so much to talk to you about.”
“I can spare as much time as you need.”
“I’ll see you in a bit.”
After promising, Alexis turned to leave first. As Cecile saw him off until he disappeared outside, he staggered as soon as the tall figure was out of sight.
“Cecile!”
Ethan and Leo rushed to support him. Cecile waved his hand slowly, insisting he was fine.
“You’re overdoing it. You need to rest more.”
Cecile was aware that he was still not in perfect condition. At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to spend much time with Alexis. With a pale face that looked like he might collapse at any moment, he tightly grasped Ethan’s arm.
“Just… let me eat dinner properly.”
After a brief refresh, Alexis returned to Peridot Palace. Ironically, he appeared before the sun had even set, despite saying he would treat Cecile to dinner.
Alexis had a lot to say.
Although he had gained the upper hand, the war had only just begun, and Kazazhan was by no means an easy opponent. Even while everyone was intoxicated with the joy of victory, he was filled with unspoken worries as the commander of the imperial army.
The only one he could confide in was Cecile. The clever boy had provided answers to Alexis’s dilemmas like a wise sage.
This was something even Claude, his younger brother and his closest aide for twenty years, could not do.
Cecile, as a fellow royal, understood Alexis’s torment. His advice was clear yet strict, and he spoke words that no one else would dare to say to the Crown Prince.
“So, I don’t need to feel guilty?”
Alexis asked, half-reclining on the wide sofa that was almost like a bed.
“To be honest, there’s no hope for His Majesty the Emperor. You should prepare yourself mentally.”
“You’re too honest.”
“I’m saying this because it’s just the two of us. I wouldn’t talk about this anywhere else.”
Cecile replied nonchalantly.
It was indeed disrespectful to speak carelessly about the Emperor’s death. However, for Cecile, it was a predetermined future rather than a mere speculation, so he could only remain calm.
As Alexis pondered Cecile’s words, he brought the wine glass he was holding to his lips. After downing the remaining wine, he spoke.
“Most of the factions following the Empress have now been eliminated. But I don’t think the Empress will just sit back and watch. She must be aware that her time is running out.”
“The more cornered a person is, the more vicious they become. Even a rat will bite a cat.”
“So that’s why you told me not to go on any more expeditions.”
Cecile nodded in response.
He too took a sip of the hot herbal tea placed before him. It tasted terrible. This was because the Court Physician had mixed medicine into the tea.
He had to drink this to calm his stomach, even if just for a moment, and to maintain a semblance of normalcy in front of Alexis. But the bitter taste was unavoidable, and Cecile found himself unconsciously frowning.
“The timing isn’t good. If you go to the battlefield yourself, the morale of the imperial army will surely rise. But it would be better to guard the Imperial Palace for at least a couple of months and remain vigilant.”
“A couple of months won’t end the war.”
“Yes, it will take a long time. But since we started with a great victory, Kazazhan won’t easily attack us.”
Cecile emptied his teacup and let out a long sigh.
“The Imperial Palace has as many enemies as the battlefield. If anything unfortunate were to happen to you, it would be more difficult than losing the war.”
At those words, Alexis tilted his head. His body, buried in the sofa, slightly shifted direction.
“It sounds like you’re really worried about me.”
Cecile let out a light snort.
“Isn’t it natural?”
“Even if I become the Emperor, will you still worry about me?”
It was a question that felt somewhat affectionate. Cecile pondered how to respond.
The answer was, of course, predetermined. He was just cautious that his expression might carry personal feelings.
In the meantime, Alexis propped his head on his hand and gazed quietly at Cecile. As he slowly raised his upper body, the distance between them closed even further.
He reached out and gently held Cecile’s rigid jaw. Pulling his face closer, Cecile’s emerald eyes followed suit.
Alexis rubbed Cecile’s jawline with his thumb. His gaze was intense and warm as he examined every part of Cecile—his hair, skin, eyes, nose, and mouth.
“Why have you become so thin?”
“…I told you I was sick.”
“Now, you’re okay?”
As Alexis’s gaze roamed over his face, Cecile found it increasingly difficult to maintain his composure. Before his face could turn completely red, he abruptly stood up.
“L-Let’s go have dinner. It should be ready by now.”
“What’s the rush?”
Alexis grabbed Cecile’s wrist as if snatching food.
The sudden pull caused Cecile, who had just stood up, to awkwardly sit back down.
Not only was the distance between them even closer than before, but as he sank into Alexis’s embrace, Cecile relaxed his body, feeling like he had given up.
He didn’t have the strength to resist. He just hoped that he wouldn’t show too much excitement on his face.
Seeing Cecile calm down seemed to please Alexis, as the corners of his mouth curved into a smile.
As if playing with a doll, Alexis twirled Cecile’s soft brown hair around his fingers and suddenly murmured.
“I will become a strong Emperor, as I promised you. But you must stay by my side for a lifetime.”
“…….”
“Cecile, I think it will be hard to govern the empire without you now.”
His calm voice sounded almost like a confession. Of course, the meaning was different, but it resonated with Cecile in a similar way.
Cecile closed his eyes and quietly suppressed the turmoil rising within him. He was inherently a greedy person, and if he didn’t restrain himself, he would endlessly desire more.
He then lifted his eyelids. Cecile took hold of Alexis’s hand that was wrapped around his head and slowly pulled it down.
“You will do well, Your Highness. There are already excellent talents beside you besides me, aren’t there?”
“Are you trying to slip away now?”
“Not at all.”
Cecile let out a weak smile. He firmly locked away his burning feelings and responded flexibly.
“You should get married too.”
“…Marriage?”
“How long do you plan to stay single? Once you ascend to the throne, I’ll make sure to prepare for your wedding right away. The war will continue anyway, so at least for a little while…”
Cecile paused for a moment. Alexis’s face in front of him looked somewhat dazed.
It was as if he had just realized something he had forgotten. The grip on their intertwined hands tightened.
Alexis bit his lower lip and said.
“Yeah, I guess I should… get married.”
“Do you not want to leave it to me?”
“Of course not.”
Alexis straightened his posture and buried his head into the soft backrest. Now that he thought about it, Cecile didn’t know that his relationship with Yuria had been resolved.
He had intended to tell him someday, but when Cecile suggested marriage, an unexpected sense of disappointment washed over him. It felt like a feeling only he experienced, and he looked up at the ceiling with a wry smile.