By Zephyria 
“Did you prepare today’s banquet?”
“Yes?”
“It was quite impressive. The decorations were top-notch, and the food and drinks were all traditional. I suppose you considered the knights who have been away from the Empire for a long time.”
Cecile’s eyes widened. As he said, a considerable amount of effort had gone into this banquet, albeit subtly.
Cecile focused on authenticity rather than extravagance, meticulously preparing everything from the order of events to the musical pieces, the objects adorning the banquet, and even a single flower, all in strict accordance with royal protocol.
This banquet was not merely a celebration; it signified the return of the Crown Prince, and he hoped everyone would reflect on its true meaning.
Moreover, he instructed that the banquet food be prepared according to traditional recipes, such as stew and braised beef.
While it might appear ordinary on the surface, all the ingredients used were of the finest quality. The royal chef had asked for confirmation several times, worried that it might not be impressive enough, but Cecile insisted on following through with his vision.
At the main palace banquet, one might expect home-style dishes, but the sight of lavish refreshments at Peridot Palace could potentially lead to misunderstandings.
However, the perceptive Alexis pointed out the aspects Cecile had been attentive to. He was so grateful that he almost felt tears welling up.
“I’m glad you liked it.”
Cecile couldn’t hide his joy and broke into a broad smile. But that happiness didn’t last long. Without warning, Alexis bowed his head and pressed his lips to Cecile’s ear.
In that moment, Cecile froze as he whispered softly.
“The one who liked it was His Majesty. He praised you so much that even those present began to commend you in His Majesty’s stead. Did you know the protagonist who should be receiving congratulations has changed?”
“……”
“Cecile. Just how well have you been educated while I was away? Honestly, I was quite surprised. At this rate, I might soon be worried about losing my position as Crown Prince.”
Cecile couldn’t even manage a smile. He had made an unexpected mistake.
He absolutely should not have stood out, but in his eagerness, he had inadvertently revealed the knowledge he possessed.
“No, Alexis, I mean Your Highness. That’s not it.”
His late excuse was no different from that of Count Kilt. Alexis firmly grasped Cecile’s shoulder and said,
“I’ll be expecting more from you in the future. I’m sorry for ruining the tea party. Enjoy the rest.”
With that, he turned away without giving Cecile another glance. A small group of knights followed after the retreating Alexis, their glances as fierce as his.
“Sigh.”
Once he disappeared into the garden, Cecile sank down onto the grass. His legs trembled uncontrollably.
Leo and the attendants rushed over, flustered, to tend to Cecile. The Peridot Palace, which had been prepared with great effort for the banquet, was left in ruins after the Crown Prince swept through.
That evening, Cecile sat in the bathtub, lost in thought for hours.
What had I missed? What should I do moving forward?
One thing was certain: Alexis was not particularly fond of him. Perhaps today’s incident had only heightened his wariness.
“I was hoping to do well this time… but it’s a complete mess.”
Water droplets dripped from his loosely tied hair. Leaning his arms on the hard edge of the bathtub, Cecile let out a weary smile.
“He’s still as cold as ever. It feels like it was worse back then.”
He had always been a cold person, but the Alexis Cecile knew was someone who prioritized reason over emotion. He never acted recklessly and always considered the outcomes of his actions.
“Have I romanticized my memories because I liked him too much?”
Cecile muttered to himself. Just then, a soft knock sounded on the wooden partition.
“Come in.”
As Cecile replied in a languid voice, Leo, the head attendant, cautiously peeked in, holding silver trays in both hands.
“Lady Cecile, may I wash your hair?”
“Yes, please.”
Honestly, he was so exhausted that he could hardly lift a finger. Cecile readily agreed.
Leo placed a warm milk tea within easy reach and knelt on the floor. He didn’t care that his pants were getting wet.
Leo took a generous amount of liquid soap infused with flower petals and evenly applied it to Cecile’s dark brown hair. Then, he spread his ten fingers wide and rubbed the hair and soap together.
With each friction, bubbles filled with floral fragrance formed. The fingertips, applying just the right amount of pressure, scratched Cecile’s scalp. The sensation of someone touching his hair felt so good that Cecile instinctively closed his eyes.
“Leo, you can go rest early. I almost fainted when I saw your ear get cut off.”
“I’m fine. But Lady Cecile, you must have been quite startled, right? No matter how I think about it, the Crown Prince was too much today.”
“You just spoke impertinently. What if someone hears you?”
“Yikes! No, I didn’t mean to be disrespectful!”
Perhaps recalling earlier events, Leo covered his mouth with his soapy hand. He was incredibly timid.
Cecile, with his head tilted back, let out a soft, deflated laugh.
“He’s not usually that violent.”
“Could it be because he just finished a campaign?”
“…That might be it.”
Or perhaps it was because of my mistake.
The laughter turned into a sigh. Cecile pressed down on his furrowed bangs with his fingertips.
From now on, I will never act smart again.
The suspicion that I was coveting the position of Crown Prince was no longer welcome. With insufficient time to align myself with Alexis, I could not afford to become estranged from him again.
Leo, carefully gauging his master’s mood, gently poured clean water over Cecile’s head. The splashing sound was soothing, enough to comfort Cecile’s weary mind and body.
* * *
Alexis knelt on one knee before the Emperor. His right arm crossed over his chest, resting with poise on his left shoulder.
The formal audience had already concluded yesterday. The reason he was presenting himself again was that the person accompanying him was meeting the Emperor for the first time.
“Alexis Winter Graham. I greet the Sun of the Empire.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Yuria, standing beside him, grasped the hem of her dress and knelt just like Alexis. Unlike her unadorned attire, her hair shone white as if woven with silver threads.
“Yuria Beatrice, I greet the Sun of the Empire.”
She was so nervous that her voice trembled. Alexis glanced at Yuria’s side profile, smiling. She had performed well during their practice, but now she seemed frozen in front of the Emperor.
“Hmm, so you are the saint I have only heard rumors about.”
The Emperor smiled with interest. The Berka Empire had long served the goddess Gaia. The authority of the royal family was believed to be granted by the divine, so the sudden appearance of a saint was enough to pique the Emperor’s curiosity.
“Is it true that you can bestow divine favor through prayer? How can one believe that?”
Alexis answered the Emperor’s question on her behalf.
“There is a mark engraved on Lady Beatrice’s scapula. It shines with light every time she prays, and this has been confirmed directly at the shrine.”
“Are you saying you lived outside the capital without knowing you possessed such power?”
The outskirts of the capital were primarily inhabited by the lowly and the poor. They often risked their lives to venture into the dark forest in search of food.
Yuria had also been scavenging for food in the monster-infested woods. It was there that she encountered the Imperial Knights, and her latent abilities manifested.
“I swear, thanks to Lady Beatrice’s sacred power, I was able to survive miraculously. Of course, the concept of divine grace is somewhat nebulous. But did we not return without a single casualty? I am living proof, along with the hundred Imperial Knights who witnessed it.”
There was not a hint of hesitation in Alexis’s resolute voice.
“I believe Lady Beatrice, who greatly contributed to this victory, deserves a reward.”
“I think so too. Do you have a wish? Speak it.”
Yuria could not raise her head in the face of such honor. Bowing her head even lower, she said,
“How could I dare to make a request of Your Majesty?”
“Then is it acceptable for the Crown Prince and me to decide on your behalf?”
“I will follow your will.”
The Emperor’s smile deepened. He seemed quite pleased with Yuria’s obedient demeanor.
“Very well, I will discuss it with the Crown Prince. You may take your leave now. Ah, from now on, you are also permitted to enter the palace freely.”
Yuria barely mustered the strength in her trembling knees. After bowing to the Emperor once more, she carefully exited the audience chamber without making a sound.
At the suggestion of the attendant to escort her to the gate, Yuria nodded and let out a trembling sigh. Her stomach still churned. Was it because she was too nervous? Suddenly, she felt the urge to relieve herself.
Yuria’s round eyes darted around anxiously.
“Um, excuse me, may I use the restroom?”
“The… restroom?”
Yuria’s face flushed red, fearing she had made some mistake. Her knees instinctively buckled. It was embarrassing, but once she became aware of it, she could no longer hold it in.
The attendant found Yuria’s behavior somewhat pitiful.
Goodness! Look at her lowly speech! To openly seek out a restroom like this!
Having always served highborn and dignified individuals, the attendant found the girl to be rather unsophisticated.
The attendant deliberately pointed her to a location that was a bit far away, and quickly.
“If you walk straight down the right corridor, you will find a statue. At the fork in front of it, take the west corridor, and the third room you encounter will be the restroom.”
“Ah… okay.”
Yuria stared blankly at the right corridor visible before her. Even after hearing it, she couldn’t memorize it.
Asking for someone to guide her felt like it would be rude. Yuria hesitated, then grasped the hem of her dress and hurriedly walked away.
Before long, she regretted it. She should have just asked for directions.
She had underestimated the size of the palace. Having never been in such a large castle in her life, Yuria quickly lost her way.
She was sure she had entered the fork next to the statue, but instead of seeing any rooms, endless corridors stretched on.
“Is something wrong?”
At that moment, an unfamiliar voice called out from somewhere. Yuria turned her head sharply. Relief washed over her as she realized she had finally found someone to ask for help.
Cecile approached her, clutching a book in his arms.