By Zephyria 
Claude froze from the moment he stood before the virgin road. He was so tense that even the onlookers felt their lips drying out.
His entrance was even more spectacular. His gait, as if clad in rusty tin armor, with his limbs creaking, hardly seemed befitting the leader of the Imperial Knight Order.
When the bride’s entrance, which could be called the climax of the wedding, followed, Claude finally burst into tears. The groom, sobbing with emotion, was met with laughter and applause from the crowd.
Above all, the biggest spectacle of the day was the dance shared by the bride and groom after the ceremony.
Claude and Yuria already occupied the center of the hall, surrounded by people joining them in the dance.
Watching them, Alexis suddenly tilted his head and asked,
“Shall we have a dance?”
“Are you drunk?”
Cecile scoffed softly and took a swig of wine, assuming Alexis’s suggestion was a joke.
But the unwavering gaze showed no sign of retreat. Alexis finally pushed his chair back and stood, extending a hand to Cecile.
Cecile was dumbfounded, his lips barely moving. He alternately glanced at the politely extended hand and Alexis’s smiling face, finally furrowing his brow slightly.
“Are you serious?”
“I told you. I’m always serious.”
“I can’t. No, I can’t do it here.”
With so many eyes on them, how could he possibly dance with Alexis? They would surely look at them strangely. Cecile resolutely shook his head.
Then Alexis narrowed his eyes and glared at Cecile.
“You never readily grant anything. They say that’s what they call ‘being worth your face.’”
“Scoff all you want. I still can’t.”
“What if it were somewhere without people?”
The renewed offer was too tempting to refuse. Seeing Cecile hesitate, Alexis seized the opportunity and extended his hand again.
“Come on. You should take my hand before it gets embarrassed.”
Cecile looked at the long, smooth hand. How could he refuse such a gift-like opportunity? He finally took Alexis’s hand. The grip that clasped his palm tightly made his heart pound.
The place Alexis led him to was a large terrace built on the upper floor of the banquet hall.
Like other terraces, sofas were arranged along the walls for comfortable relaxation, but the unique feature of this place was its dome-shaped ceiling and the three glass walls. The secretly enclosed terrace almost looked like a miniature greenhouse.
“How… did you know about this place?”
“How many times do you think I’ve been to this house?”
Alexis, who had frequented the Duke’s mansion like his own home since childhood, moved smoothly. He thoroughly secured the door so that no one could enter.
As he approached the window and pulled the handle, the huge glass window folded like a fan, revealing a wide-open view. Cecile, fascinated by the transformable terrace, leaned on the railing and looked out.
“It’s amazing. I can hear the music all the way from here.”
“Perfect for dancing.”
Alexis gently pulled Cecile’s waist and guided him. The two of them, now in the center, stood facing each other.
Once he got into position to dance, Cecile’s worries mounted.
“…I don’t know how to do the woman’s part.”
“Who said you had to?”
Alexis put Cecile’s arm around his waist, raising his clasped hand to shoulder height, and placed his other hand on Cecile’s shoulder.
Alexis readily taking on the female role was simply absurd and funny. While Cecile burst into laughter, Alexis read the rhythm and slowly glided his feet.
A flowing dance ensued. The smooth marble floor was perfect for stepping and turning, and elegant string music drifted from beyond the half-open terrace door.
Their steps, moving to the melody, fell perfectly in sync. Alexis danced the woman’s part remarkably well. Instead of being comical, it was overflowing with elegance.
“You’re very good.”
“You’re pretty good too.”
They exchanged compliments and spun around. Their movements gradually slowed, and they stopped facing each other to finish.
Cecile, in a gentlemanly manner, bowed his head and lightly kissed Alexis’s hand. He was sincerely grateful for his thoughtful consideration.
“I told you I had a few things I wanted to do before I die, didn’t I?”
“You did.”
“Dancing with Your Highness was one of them.”
At the Debutante ball, he had envied Yuria dancing with Alexis. He had given up on it as an impossible dream, but then this unbelievable thing happened.
The corners of Cecile’s lips curved upward.
“I just fulfilled it.”
Alexis was silent for a moment. His eyes stared intently at Cecile’s face. He didn’t understand why he looked sad despite having such a happy expression.
Alexis traced Cecile’s neat eyebrows with his fingertips. His hand had somehow enveloped the small face completely.
“We can dance anytime from now on.”
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
He wanted to give him anything he desired. Whatever it was. Even if he asked for the entire empire, Alexis would gladly comply if Cecile wanted it.
His throat tightened with undeniable first love. Alexis wanted to pour out his affection blindly and pulled Cecile’s cheek closer.
As their lips met, their breaths mingled, carrying the scent of wine. Without any sign of surprise, Cecile embraced Alexis’s waist, opening his mouth wide to receive the onslaught of flesh.
The instantly ignited kiss produced a wet sound. As if quenching their thirst, they incessantly sucked on each other’s lips and intertwined their tongues.
Even that wasn’t enough. He sucked in the sweet saliva, rubbing his wet mucous membrane, neat teeth, and palate thoroughly. But instead of being quenched, his mouth only grew drier.
“Mm, uh.”
Cecile stumbled backward, entangled with Alexis. The hem of Alexis’s clothes that he was desperately clinging to was already badly wrinkled.
After backing up a couple of steps, he found himself on the soft sofa. Unintentionally, he ended up lying down on it.
Alexis, who hadn’t parted his lips until then, found an opening and overlapped his body with Cecile, who was lying down.
Cecile responded by grabbing the back of Alexis’s head and pulling him into his arms. His fingers, digging into the soft golden hair, were bent from suppressing his yearning heart, his fingertips and knuckles turning white.
They continued their intense kiss, lying intertwined on the sofa. Like people competing to take each other’s breath away, they mixed their tongues and sucked fiercely. With their cheeks and lips flushed red, Alexis’s right hand suddenly slipped inside Cecile’s shirt.
“…Your Highness!”
When the cold fingers reached his navel, Cecile suddenly came to his senses and cried out.
Alexis sensed the startled reaction and slowly lowered his hand. He had almost undressed Cecile in his excitement.
He had avoided a mistake, but he couldn’t help feeling regret. He tilted his head and pressed his lips to Cecile’s warm ear.
“…Not yet?”
“Do… you want to?”
As if that was even a question. Alexis let out a breathy chuckle.
Blood rushed to his lower abdomen, to the point where his pants felt like they would burst. He wanted to possess Cecile right then and there. What did the location matter? He was the Crown Prince of the Berka Empire, capable of taking whatever he desired.
But the moment he saw Cecile’s startled expression, he had to rein in his instincts with reason. A subtle tremor was transmitted through their touching bodies. Cecile was naturally frightened, having almost been violated several times.
He took a deep breath, careful not to let Cecile notice his state.
“I don’t intend to force you.”
“…….”
“I got a little excited.”
Cecile slowly sat up straight.
He stared intently at Alexis, who was silently suppressing his excitement with his eyes tightly closed, then lowered his gaze to his lower body.
The bulge in his pants was clear. It was proof that Alexis truly lusted after him.
Cecile moved. When Alexis opened his eyes, sensing the rustling sound, Cecile was already on the floor, nestled between his legs.
His eyes widened instantly.
“What are you doing?”
“…Could you please bear with this for today?”
“Cecile!”
“It’s not coercion. I want to do this.”
Cecile let out a long breath. He wasn’t sure if he could do it well since it had been a while. Judging from the visible thickness, Alexis’s was undoubtedly quite large.