By Zephyria 
The sun of the empire, Emperor Arnold’s birthday was approaching.
The Emperor’s Birthday Celebration Ceremony was a grand event that took months to prepare. As she had done every year, this time Empress Elizabeth took charge of organizing the Birthday Celebration Ceremony.
Perhaps due to the recent series of unfortunate events, which had put the Emperor in a rather foul mood, she declared that this year would feature the largest and most extravagant banquet in history.
From a week before the Birthday Celebration Ceremony, the doors of the Imperial Court Physician, Seongmun, were wide open, and guests began to arrive in droves. Most of them were nobles and bourgeois.
A large number of visitors indicated the empire’s significant influence. Everyone was willing to spend time and money to make an impression on the Emperor.
The gifts they brought filled an entire castle, underscoring the empire’s might.
As the entire palace buzzed with preparations for the Birthday Celebration Ceremony, Alexis and Cecile were equally busy.
According to royal etiquette, foreign guests had to be personally attended to by the royal family, so the two had to put aside their work to welcome the guests.
“Cecile, should I prepare something to drink?”
“No. I just… want to walk alone for a bit. Everyone, please step back.”
Cecile dismissed all the attendants and stepped into the greenhouse. These days, the palace was crowded everywhere, and he needed a momentary escape.
Upon entering the greenhouse, filled with all kinds of beautiful natural elements, his overwhelmed mind finally found some respite.
As he inhaled the refreshing air emitted by the trees and slowly moved his feet, he soon spotted a familiar figure.
Cecile halted in his tracks.
The man sitting on the bench had his long legs loosely crossed, arms folded, and his head tilted back. His tousled platinum hair sparkled beautifully in the sunlight streaming from the glass ceiling.
Sensing a presence, Alexis looked up, spotted Cecile, and grinned. He wiggled his fingers, beckoning Cecile to come closer, and Cecile slowly walked toward him, feeling both happy and surprised to see him, his emotions a bit muddled.
“What brings you here?”
“Perhaps for a similar reason as you?”
He too had sought refuge in the greenhouse. Cecile couldn’t help but chuckle softly. He sighed and plopped down next to Alexis.
“I’m so bored. I’ve been working on something that should take just a day for weeks now.”
“If I become Emperor later, I will definitely shorten the Birthday Celebration Ceremony to just one day.”
“Please do.”
Could sharing their grievances somehow alleviate their burdens? Even though they were just venting about trivial difficulties, it felt refreshing.
Cecile leaned back, letting his limbs go limp. It had been so long since he relaxed that he found himself comfortable even with Alexis sitting next to him.
Fortunately, Alexis didn’t point it out. Instead, he too enjoyed the moment in a relaxed posture.
“Your face looks quite worn.”
“I’ve been tormented by the Princess from Santia.”
“Oh, that five-year-old. She seems quite sharp.”
“Still, she’s a child. She sat me down and played with dolls. Once she starts, it takes at least two or three hours to finish.”
He added that he had escaped from the princess this morning.
Alexis tilted his upper body slightly, listening to Cecile’s lament. As he rested his head on his hand, he gazed at Cecile’s face and let out a faint chuckle.
“Is that why your lips are so red?”
Cecile was startled and rubbed his lips. He thought he had cleaned them well, but there was still a bright red stain on the back of his hand.
“…Damn it.”
“It seems the child used you as a doll.”
Alexis reached out and wiped away the traces smeared on Cecile’s mouth. As his thumb brushed against Cecile’s lips and the surrounding skin, Cecile stiffened.
“Children usually like pretty things.”
“I can’t believe my attendants saw me like this and said nothing.”
“They might have just let it be.”
There was a hint of laughter in Alexis’s retort. When Cecile turned his head sharply, he saw Alexis’s face still wearing a smile.
“Are you teasing me right now?”
“It’s half and half. That little one chose a color that suits you well.”
“Wow… what….”
Cecile was at a loss for words, and Alexis laughed out loud. He genuinely enjoyed this moment of respite.
Cecile, on the other hand, felt his face burning. He didn’t understand why it was so hot. He was fanning himself to cool down when—
“Cecile? Are you here?”
A young, delicate voice came from the entrance of the greenhouse. It was the Princess from Santia looking for Cecile.
“Princess, you shouldn’t come in here. Cecile isn’t here.”
“But Leo is here, and Leo is Cecile’s attendant, right?”
“That’s true, but… he’s not here.”
“Don’t lie! Are you looking down on me because I’m a child? Do you know who my father is?”
The princess was scolding the attendant quite fiercely. Hearing this, Cecile shuddered in horror.
“Damn it! How long has it been since we parted, and she’s looking for me again!”
The whispering shout reached Alexis’s ears. He glanced down at Cecile, who was hiding behind him like a shield.
“Who is the princess’s father?”
“The Duke Merhen of Santia.”
“Oh, the one who will become the next king.”
Indeed, the child had a reason to be proud. Alexis snickered and uncrossed his legs.
As the princess finally entered the greenhouse, Cecile felt utterly dismayed. The small figure was peeking around, closing the distance.
“It seems I can’t rest anymore… I’ll take my leave.”
Just as he was about to get up in resignation, Alexis grabbed his wrist.
“If I help you, what will you do for me?”
“…Will Your Highness play with me instead?”
“Not a chance. I also dislike babysitting.”
Not understanding what he was getting at, Cecile stared blankly at Alexis’s face.
Then Alexis pulled on the wrist he was holding. In a sudden motion, Cecile found himself sitting on Alexis’s thigh, and Alexis’s arm wrapped around his slender waist like a shackle.
“You need to cling tightly. I can see your face now.”
“There’s no way I can hide like this…!”
In the meantime, the princess had come closer, and the sound of her stepping on the grass was distinctly audible.
“Cecile?!” The child’s thin voice called out, and Cecile hurriedly hugged Alexis’s shoulder and buried his face in it.
Just in time, the princess appeared. Peeking out from behind a large monstera leaf, she spotted the Crown Prince sitting on the bench and exclaimed, “Oh! How cute!”
“Who allowed you to enter the Imperial Court Physician’s greenhouse without permission?”
Alexis asked while still holding Cecile. His tone and fierce gaze were merciless for a greeting to a child.
“Princess, you should greet him.”
The attendant Leo quickly nudged the princess’s shoulder. Although he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, now was not the time to question it.
Fortunately, it seemed the princess had learned her etiquette well, as she grasped the hem of her dress and bowed politely.
“I, Odette Merhen, the Princess of Santia, greet the great star of the empire.”
The sight of the child moving her small limbs to bow was quite adorable, causing a smile to spread across Alexis’s face. It was only natural since he hadn’t been genuinely angry in the first place.
He spoke in a much softer voice.
“Princess Merhen. It seems you came to see the greenhouse, but as you can see, I’m using it right now, so I would appreciate it if you could step aside.”
“The greenhouse is very beautiful, Your Highness. …But I didn’t come to see the greenhouse; I was looking for Cecile.”
“Cecile? Well, I haven’t seen him. As you can see, I’m enjoying a pleasant time with my lover.”
Alexis tightened his grip around Cecile’s waist. It was enough to make his slender waist feel snugly trapped.
At this, the Princess of Santia tilted her head in confusion.
“Isn’t the person sitting on your lap Cecile?”
“Impossible. The only person who can sit on my lap is the one I love.”
“But he’s not wearing a dress.”
“Instead, he’s wearing expensive clothes.”
“And his hair is short.”
“…You’re quite curious, Princess.”
Even though he deliberately lowered his voice, it didn’t intimidate the child. The Princess of Santia was simply fascinated to see the Crown Prince and his lover.
“Princess, my lover is quite shy and is having a hard time. Would you mind stepping aside so we won’t be disturbed?”
Alexis smiled and kissed the nape of Cecile’s neck. Until now, Cecile had been silent, holding his breath like a mouse, but he trembled as if he had been shocked. The vibrations were transmitted without filter, deepening the Crown Prince’s laughter.
To the child, it was an undeniably romantic scene. The princess nodded in understanding and bent her knees again.
“I apologize. I will take my leave.”
As her tiny steps walked away, Cecile and Alexis remained in each other’s embrace for a while longer. When the surrounding attendants cleared their throats, Cecile finally exhaled the breath he had been holding and lifted his head.
“I’m being deceived. Truly, children are children.”
“…….”
“I feel like I’m going to bleed from my face, Cecile Adrian.”
Cecile let out a puff of air. He could tell his face was burning without even looking. His heart felt like it was about to burst, and he wondered if he could calm down.
After finally catching his breath, Cecile asked,
“It seems you find it amusing when I’m surprised.”
“I had a rare moment of fun. We need more entertainment like this.”
“…So what should I do for you?”
At those words, a graceful smile curved Alexis’s lips.