By Zephyria 
The treasurer left behind a notification with his handwritten signature.
Cecile handed it over to Leo, instructing him to obtain the budget, and soon after, courtiers began to line up in the reception room.
The chief court musician, the liquor steward managing the wine within the palace, the pastry chef, the first-class gardener, the sculptor, and the interior designer skilled in color combinations and decorations were all summoned. They gathered all the experts needed to hold the ball.
The long reception finally concluded with a meeting with the administrative officer overseeing the palace attendants. They all received significant tasks from Cecile. It was needless to say that their faces turned dark under the demanding instructions.
Having finished all urgent matters, one would think he could finally relax, but Cecile immediately stood up and headed to his office. His only solace was there. Even when resting, it was better to do so while looking at Alexis.
When Alexis returned to the office after completing his scheduled tasks, the first thing he saw was Cecile, who had fallen asleep with both feet resting on the desk.
Alexis asked the attendant who was helping him remove his waistcoat.
“How long has he been like this?”
“He has been asleep for about two hours.”
The attendant whispered softly into the Crown Prince’s ear.
“He met with people regarding the banquet this morning, and now he’s sleeping like this. I heard he stayed in the office until dawn yesterday.”
“……”
Alexis’s gaze returned to Cecile.
His skin had become rough and his hair was a mess, a result of the previous night’s hard work.
He was sleeping so soundly in a position that made it uncomfortable for anyone watching that it seemed like he wouldn’t wake even if the ceiling fell down.
“…Your Highness, should we wake him?”
“It’s fine. Just put up a partition in front. It wouldn’t do any good for him to be seen by others.”
Alexis casually tossed out the words and returned to his place. He too had a mountain of tasks to handle. It was more beneficial to direct his attention elsewhere than towards Cecile.
* * *
The Debutante was now just a week away. The capital was buzzing with invitations from the royal family. The social season had officially begun.
Salons and dress shops were already bustling with activity. Jewelers were coming and going to noble mansions until their thresholds wore down. No one was absent from the eagerly awaited event. Instead, there were many trying to find connections to accompany the families that received invitations.
Especially in places where ladies gathered, the topic of the Debutante inevitably came up. Moreover, there was someone who appeared in their conversations without fail.
“I heard the Crown Prince is in charge of this ball? Then he will surely make an appearance at the banquet, right?”
“I’m worried about the Empress’s health. My goodness, how hard must it have been for her…”
“She could very well be bedridden. I too have been losing sleep worrying about the Empress lately. It’s not something to be taken lightly. How scandalous to be in a same-sex relationship.”
Every time they waved their fans that covered their mouths, the lush feathers fluttered gracefully. Despite their sorrowful expressions, the voices of the ladies overflowed with interest and laughter.
Cecile’s unique disposition had become the hottest gossip in the capital lately. Just a while ago, they were whispering about the ‘lewd saint,’ but now the subject had shifted.
“The Emperor’s favor is quite remarkable. He still sits him on his lap!”
“Oh my, that’s not even a concubine!”
“Could it be that he intends to live his whole life in the royal family without marrying?”
“That’s a valid point. If he marries, he would have to leave the palace. My great-uncle, Count Milo, was also quite surprised when he tried to present his youngest daughter as a match for Cecile.”
“At this rate, shouldn’t they be pushing for a noblewoman instead of a young lady?”
“That would be more certain.”
Laughter erupted. The fan that covered half their faces was merely a tool to hide their smirking lips. Their voices were so loud that the gossip spread throughout the corners of the shop.
“What on earth are you doing!”
The velvet curtains were suddenly pulled aside, and an angry voice echoed. The woman with black hair streaked with gray was glaring with her characteristic red eyes.
“What kind of baseless speculation and slander is this in a public place? And to insult a member of the royal family!”
The ladies jumped up in shock at Duchess Van Dell’s furious voice. In their startled state, some got their dress hems tangled and dropped their fans.
“Gasp! Duchess, we didn’t mean it that way…”
“I don’t want to hear it! How can ladies who should be role models for others engage in gossip fit for commoners? I am very disappointed in you all!”
The faces of the ladies turned pale as if they were about to suffocate. It was only natural that they felt a chill run down their spines after being firmly scolded by the head of the renowned Van Dell family.
“I-I’m sorry, Duchess Van Dell. I didn’t mean to… please forgive me.”
“You should be asking for forgiveness from Cecile.”
“……”
“I’ve memorized all your faces. You will all show up at the banquet, right? I will be watching closely to see how you behave.”
A cold wind blew from Duchess Van Dell. Even in the indoor space, the ladies felt a chill run through them, forcing them to clutch their lace shawls tightly around their shoulders.
The men of the Van Dell family were known for their fierce temperaments. Although he had stepped back from the front lines, the Duke of Van Dell had made a name for himself as the Chief Justice, and his eldest son, Claude Van Dell, was a knight commander at the age of 23. He was a brilliant talent who would lead the empire as the Crown Prince’s closest aide.
And Duchess Ollie Van Dell was the only person who could reign over these two men. Even though the empire was steeped in male supremacy, in the Van Dell family, the words of the Duchess held absolute power. It was due to their family tradition of honoring women.
Moreover, she was the one who fed, clothed, and raised the Crown Prince. She held a position as significant as any nobleman, and no one dared to offend the Duchess.
Now, the ladies began to tremble, not just shedding tears but shaking uncontrollably. Their neatly styled hair was coming undone as they bowed their waists repeatedly. What good was pride? They could only repeat that they were wrong.
“Apologies are unnecessary! Anyone would think I’m the one harassing you.”
Duchess Van Dell cast a disdainful glance and turned away. The stern woman finally relaxed her fierce expression when she spotted Yuria hiding behind the curtains.
“Yuria. Let’s go. It seems we won’t be able to choose a dress any longer today.”
“…Yes, Duchess.”
“Madam. I know you must be busy, but I would like you to come to the mansion by tomorrow. I don’t want to experience such unpleasantness again, so I need you to put in some effort.”
“Of course. I will bring the fabric tomorrow. I will ensure that the dresses for you and Beatrice are made without any issues.”
Madam Rose, the owner of the dress shop ‘étoileétoile,’ which combined ancient tradition with the latest trends and was the most popular in the empire, felt relieved that she wouldn’t lose the Duchess over an unfortunate incident.
Had it not been for the ladies’ loose tongues, she might have suffered a loss herself. To appease the Duchess, she resolved to produce the dresses to the utmost satisfaction.
The Duchess and Yuria got into the carriage waiting outside after leaving étoile. The expression on Ollie’s face was still tense as she looked out the window, while Yuria fidgeted with her innocent nails, gauging the atmosphere.
“It’s truly absurd how they can make such outrageous remarks without knowing anything.”
“Please don’t be too angry, Duchess. They must have realized something today. They seemed genuinely remorseful.”
Yuria spoke softly beside her. The gentle voice, like a baby bird chirping, eased the Duchess’s anger.
“Right. I think I got too worked up. I’m sorry you were startled as well.”
“I’m fine. I’m just worried about Cecile being talked about by others.”
“Indeed. He must be facing difficulties within the palace as well…”
A hot sigh escaped the Duchess, and white steam rose on the carriage glass.
Next week, she would be able to meet Cecile, and she thought she must express her late gratitude then, momentarily setting aside her overwhelming worries.
* * *
As the Duchess had anticipated, Cecile was indeed facing serious difficulties.
Instead of the rampant rumors and mockery, letters were flooding in for Cecile. All of them were partnership requests sent by noblemen of marriageable age.
The first letter came from one of the young nobles, Baron Patrick. At thirty-two years old, he held the title of a confirmed bachelor, but he was well-versed in modern trends and was rumored to be quite a handsome man in the empire.
As soon as Cecile read the letter, he tore it to shreds.