By Zephyria 
Contrary to expectations, Empress Elizabeth showed a displeased expression at the lavish banquet, but when the Emperor praised her greatly, her complaints faded away.
The tea party held separately at Peridot Palace was also quite splendid. Although they had only invited the commoners, the nobles were unaware of this fact.
Everyone was busy puffing up their chests, thinking they were being treated specially. Not only that, they were disparaging the Crown Prince in his absence. Listening to them made Cecile’s blood boil, but he maintained an indifferent expression as if he didn’t care.
“This cake is delicious.”
He took a bite of the creamy cake. The soft and sweet custard mixed with the tangy apricot jam filled his mouth, easing his worries. A sense of satisfaction naturally curved Cecile’s lips.
After finishing a piece, Leo, who was standing by, poured warm black tea into his half-empty cup. Although he was young, he was quite perceptive and clever. Above all, he followed Cecile with pure devotion. Such uncalculated kindness was a rare occurrence, and Cecile found himself liking Leo very much.
“Thank you, Leo. Why don’t you go and eat too? There’s plenty, so you don’t have to worry.”
“I’ll do that later. I need to attend to you, Cecile.”
Perhaps because he bore the heavy responsibility of being a page at such a young age, Leo acted as if the sky would fall if he left Cecile’s side. Instead of saying thank you, Cecile exchanged a glance of appreciation.
“Did you all hear the news? They say the reason the Crown Prince survived in the Black Forest is that he received a kiss from the saint!”
A loud voice came from a table a little distance away. A nobleman was passionately ranting, veins bulging in his neck.
“Is that true? Does the saint really exist?”
“I heard that woman was part of the return procession. They say she’s not even a great beauty, just an unremarkable country bumpkin.”
“Anyway, it seems her power is indeed tremendous. To think one kiss could earn divine favor… If they were to share a bed, it would be chaos.”
“Could it be that woman is going to become the Crown Princess?”
“Surely not! How could someone of such lowly origin dare covet a noble position!”
Laughter erupted as if on cue. The vulgar conversation of the nobles following the Empress had not changed one bit from the past. Cecile thought he would feel indifferent since he had heard it all before, but his mood sank uncontrollably.
Eventually, he stood up with his teacup in hand. It seemed he needed to step in and deliver a sharp warning to feel better. He didn’t care if the nobles were gossiping about him. He was already known for not caring about others’ opinions.
“Are you trying to say that being of lowly origin is our Empire’s tradition?”
But before he could say more, a low and clear voice interrupted the conversation. Cecile’s steps were halted as everyone turned their heads in unison.
A man clad in conquest stood with his arms loosely crossed. His platinum hair sparkled as if it had melted sunlight.
The moment they spotted the Crown Prince, the nobles lowered their bodies as if they had committed a grave sin.
“Your Highness! What brings you here?”
“Is there anywhere in the palace I cannot go?”
His tone was exceedingly bored.
The nobles hurriedly glanced around. Meanwhile, Alexis took another step into the garden. The noble knight’s uniform was adorned with a blazer that only the Crown Prince could wear, radiating a unique blue hue. A long sword bearing the Empire’s emblem clinked at his waist.
“I was wondering where all the familiar faces were in the banquet hall, and it turns out you were all gathered here.”
Alexis scanned the faces of the proud nobles. The smile on his lips turned even colder.
“It’s quite disappointing to think that, in a gathering meant to welcome the Crown Prince’s return, you were enjoying a separate lavish party.”
“That can’t be true; we were celebrating with joy, of course.”
“Congratulations on your return, Your Highness!”
The flustered greetings continued. The nobles were so flustered they couldn’t straighten their backs. Sweat began to trickle down their oily faces.
“So, I’d like to hear the rest of the conversation we were having earlier.”
Despite his relaxed voice, the sound of a sword being drawn sent chills down their spines. Alexis pointed the blade precisely at one person—the Count of Kilt, who had first spoken ill of Yuria.
“Count, did you just insult His Majesty the Emperor?”
“W-What? No! How could I dare!”
The Count of Kilt waved his hands in panic. But Alexis instead tapped the Count’s chin with the back of his sword.
“I clearly heard you say that someone of lowly origin dares to covet a noble position. That means you are insulting both His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress.”
The Count gasped, letting out a strange sound of surprise. Those eavesdropping also held their breath.
Alexis looked down at them as if they were pathetic.
“Everyone knows that the Empress is not of noble birth. I believe you also agreed with His Majesty the Emperor’s will to elevate her to the position of Empress.”
The Count’s face turned pale. The words he had spoken were being interpreted in a way he never intended.
According to Alexis, he had become someone who insulted the royal family. That was something that could warrant immediate execution.
“I didn’t mean it that way! Ugh, that’s not what I meant!”
The Count gestured to the surrounding nobles for help, but no one dared to meet his gaze.
“Your tongue is too loose.”
“Your Highness, please give me a chance to explain…!”
“It’s better to cut off what’s useless.”
Alexis effortlessly swung his heavy sword. He was a man who had spent five years slaying monsters. No one in the Empire could match his swordsmanship.
The blade sliced through the air with a whoosh.
Slash—
Crimson blood splattered in a long line across the white tablecloth, the cake, and the colorful pastries.
The Count of Kilt, who had been trembling under Alexis’s pressure, now realized what had just happened to him. Moments later, his shoulder was drenched, and as the hot pain spread, he finally noticed that his left ear was gone.
“Gaaah!!”
A scream filled with agony echoed throughout the garden. The surrounding nobles collapsed to their knees in a pitiful manner.
In the midst of it all, they scrambled to save themselves. The joyful moment from earlier was nowhere to be found, replaced by a scene reminiscent of a bloody battlefield filled with screams and wails.
“…”
Cecile silently lowered his gaze. He could see the tea in his cup swirling as if it were sinking.
This scene felt familiar. How could he forget? The situation repeating itself just like in his previous life only brought a bewildered smile to his face.
He had wanted to create a banquet this time that wouldn’t harm anyone, but it seemed changing the future was not as easy as he thought. In the end, it had turned into chaos once again.
Cecile let out a small sigh and handed the teacup to Leo.
“Return this to Count Kilt.”
He wasn’t sure if it would be possible, but he added a comment. Leo, who was in shock, instinctively reached out, only to see the gruesome contents inside and dropped the teacup. It seemed it would be even harder to return it now.
Amidst the screams, Alexis calmly shook the blood off his sword. After sheathing the blade back at his waist, he turned around. His expression, now devoid of emotion, naturally sought out the owner of the castle.
“It’s been a while, Cecile.”
Cecile respectfully bowed his head toward him.
“It’s been a while, Your Highness. I hope you have been well.”
“You’ve grown… quite a bit. I hardly recognize you.”
It had been five years since Alexis last saw him. The last image of Cecile in his memory was that of a fifteen-year-old boy.
A small child whose head barely reached his chest. A young boy who could never meet his gaze properly, always looking around nervously.
But now, Cecile had grown over two hand spans taller and bore the appearance of a proper adult.
Cecile slowly raised his gaze to meet Alexis’s. For someone who had just witnessed a brutal punishment, he appeared remarkably calm.
“You look the same as ever.”
Cecile’s emerald eyes were filled with the face he had longed to see.
The platinum hair that only those of royal blood could possess, the cold gaze that suited him well as he looked down on others, and the distinct lips that had never smiled at him.
The twenty-two-year-old Crown Prince certainly had a slightly youthful appearance. Yet, the unique oppressive aura he carried remained unchanged over the years.
Perhaps the hardships of the past five years had sharpened his character even more.
But Cecile knew. The Crown Prince was, in fact, someone who felt loneliness more than anyone else, and he devoted himself to those he cherished and the woman he loved.
If only he had shared a little of that affection with him, he wouldn’t have committed the same cruel acts as in his previous life. He would have gladly stood by his side.
What good would it do to regret the past?
For a moment, he unconsciously furrowed his brow. Not knowing what Alexis was thinking upon seeing that, Cecile was only blaming himself for his past mistakes.