SLDS 24

The Empress shouted furiously.

“Alexis!”

“Do you wish to get another earful from His Majesty the Emperor?”

The Empress’s lips clamped shut. After she had struck Cecil last time, the Emperor had told her to refrain from corporal punishment.

“Know your limits. No matter how much you lock the doors, Your Majesty the Empress’s voice echoes throughout the palace grounds. Do you think I would have come here for no reason?”

“Since when did you start concerning yourself with Cecil’s affairs!”

“I intend to start concerning myself now.”

Alexis straightened his upper body from where he had been leaning at an angle. He gestured with his chin toward Cecil, who was still in a daze.

“You, follow me.”

At his command, the hands holding Cecil fell away. Cecil moved in a bewildered state. He did his best to ignore the Empress, who was trembling, unable to endure the insult, and for the time being, left the chapel.

The greenhouse, which always maintained a warm temperature, had a high, transparent ceiling, allowing the bright sunlight from outside to pour in just as it was.

A place where huge foliage plants created cool shade and rare flowers emitted a fragrant scent. A place that, at first glance, looked like a giant jewelry box. This was the glass greenhouse that the imperial palace prided itself on.

Listening to the cool sound of water created by a small waterfall, a pond, and a fountain adorned with an elaborate sculpture, a sense of peace would naturally settle in.

However, for Cecil, tranquility was someone else’s story. Sitting down for a private meeting with Alexis at a tea table in a space deep inside the greenhouse, he felt like he was dying.

Only quiet silence flowed through the peaceful greenhouse. After a long time spent in silence, Alexis was the first to speak.

“You look better than I expected.”

It was a nonchalant tone, but to Cecil, it felt like a lightning bolt had struck. He cautiously raised his eyes to sneak a look at Alexis’s face. He seems… very pissed off.

“Did I… by any chance, make some sort of mistake toward you yesterday, Your Highness?”

“It seems you don’t remember?”

“……”

His heart dropped when he saw the crookedly raised corner of his mouth. Cecil wrinkled his nose and tried to squeeze out his memories of last night. If only something would come to mind.

In the end, he had no choice but to rub his face roughly and let out a sigh.

“Whatever it was, I apologize. And thank you for bringing me back yesterday. You didn’t have to go to such trouble.”

“I can’t tell if that’s a thank you or sarcasm.”

“…Thank you.”

Cecil obediently bowed his head. Only then did Alexis let go of his cold smile and comfortably cross his legs.

“Drink that. Just looking at your face, you look like you’re about to collapse.”

“…What is this?”

He had been eyeing the teacup placed in front of him for a while now. The thick, green contents looked like water scooped up from a swamp just by its appearance.

“It’s a hangover remedy.”

“…Is it safe to drink?”

“I learned various folk remedies when I was in the Black Forest. As it happens, there were some useful herbs in the greenhouse. It will be much more effective than the remedies prepared by the royal physician, so give it a try.”

Cecil picked up the teacup with a look of clear reluctance. Just from smelling the aroma that wafted into his nose, he felt a wave of nausea.

He clenched his jaw and glanced around cautiously. The watchful gaze directed at him was so distinct that it seemed like he would keep staring like that until he had emptied the entire cup.

In the end, as if he couldn’t refuse, he put the cup to his lips. The liquid that sloshed into his mouth tasted as bizarre as it looked.

As Cecil grimaced and forced himself to hold the tea in his mouth, Alexis snorted as if in disbelief.

“You told me not to just gulp down whatever others give me, yet you’re drinking it without any fear.”

Pfft!!

Cecil sprayed out the hangover remedy he had been swallowing. The green liquid erupted like a fountain, soaking the white tablecloth and even dirtying Alexis’s clothes.

Tsk. Alexis, who clicked his tongue lightly, flicked off the tea that had splattered onto the back of his arm.

“One thing after another.”

“S-sorry, cough. No, it’s just.”

Cecil finally calmed his breathing after a slight cough. His horrified eyes stared at Alexis.

“Did I say such a thing to you, Your Highness?”

“It’s fine if you don’t remember.”

“What other nonsense did I say?”

“Try to remember it yourself.”

If that were possible, I would have done it already. Cecil sighed and wiped his wet mouth. He didn’t know what it was, but it seemed his last night’s self had not been in his right mind.

“Why did you go to the social club?”

“……”

The interrogation had begun. Cecil was certain that Alexis had seen him inside Count Alfonso’s mansion. In a situation where he couldn’t even remember, he chose to answer honestly rather than try to foolishly deceive him.

“I went to meet good people.”

“……”

“If I’m cooped up in the imperial palace, I rarely get a chance to meet people. I needed someone to talk to comfortably, and also to make friends my own age.”

“And did you meet anyone?”

The tone was light, but looking at his glinting blue eyes, it seemed as if he could see through everything. Cecil swallowed the bitter taste remaining in his mouth and answered calmly.

“I know that you are looking for a chief aide, Your Highness. I would like for you to meet Tristan Dyke. He is an upright and intelligent man. He will surely be of great help to you.”

“I was planning on it anyway.”

“Then that’s a relief… pardon?”

He let out another dumbfounded sound. Unlike the flustered Cecil, Alexis gestured with the same graceful posture as usual. The attendants on standby in the distance understood his meaning and approached to replace the soiled teacup.

“I have told him to come to the imperial palace soon. I plan to meet him in person and decide. I’ve become quite curious as to what kind of person he is that you would even offer him precious liquor.”

“Please see him without any prejudice. You will like him as well, Your Highness.”

Alexis smiled and took a sip of the newly served tea.

“He’d better not have the makings of a traitor, though. Right?”

He met the meaningful gaze that appeared over the teacup. As he thought, Alexis was not an easy opponent. Cecil felt an unknowing pressure on his throat and couldn’t help but pat his chest.

Fortunately, peace followed after that. Empress Elizabeth no longer sought Cecil out, and Alexis pretended not to know about the disgraceful behavior at the social club. Cecil, too, shook off his hangover and was regaining his condition.

He also participated in swordsmanship training for the first time in a while. Having missed just a few days, his weak body cried out in pain without fail. Forcing his stiff body to work so hard, Cecil quickly became exhausted and collapsed. Knight Commander Claude’s sharp glare followed him like a tail.

“If you’re going to do it like this, I strongly recommend you quit. If you only show up when you feel like it, do you think your swordsmanship will improve?”

“Aren’t you tired of that nagging?”

Cecil clutched his aching ribs and finally caught his breath. His whole body was drenched in sweat under the hot noon sun.

“I’ll be here every day from now on, so don’t worry. You just focus on teaching me well so you can quickly send me to His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Claude gave a reluctant greeting. He turned his back and walked away, as if he didn’t want to exchange any more words.

Cecil snorted and turned his head as well. Rocco, who had been helping with the training beside him, was looking at Claude’s retreating back with a wistful expression. His youthful face looked particularly gloomy today.

“Good work.”

“Ah, you worked hard too.”

As he got up, brushing himself off, Rocco followed suit and stood up. The young man lightly scratched the back of his sweaty neck and spoke with difficulty.

“Um… Mr. Cecil.”

“What is it?”

“Would you perhaps like to wash up together in the locker room before you go?”

At the sudden request, Cecil stared blankly at Rocco for a moment before turning his head away. Behind the training grounds, there were quarters for the trainee knights. There, they washed, ate, and slept, rubbing shoulders with each other.

Since it was one of the imperial palace’s facilities, it wouldn’t be in bad condition, but recommending it to Cecil was absurd.

After all, a short walk away was the magnificent Peridot Palace, with plenty of people to attend to him. Above all, royals did not carelessly undress in front of others.

“Are you serious?”

“…No. It’s just, because it’s hot. I thought you might want to wash up quickly.”

“That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard today. The training must be hard on you too, huh?”

“……”

“Hurry up and go wash up and clear your head. See you tomorrow.”

Saying he must not be in his right mind because of the heat, Cecil simply laughed it off. He lightly ruffled Rocco’s more-somber-than-usual hair and left.

He was on his way out of the training grounds, shaking his shirt that was sticking clammily to his skin. He spotted a familiar face walking toward him from nearby. The other person also recognized Cecil and quickened his pace.

Tristan, who had soon reached his feet, bowed politely.

“Tristan Dyke greets the small star of the Empire.”

“It’s been a while, Tristan. In unofficial settings, you can just greet me normally.”

Cecil waved his hand as if annoyed. Because his body was weary, even his voice trailed off languidly.

Tristan straightened his back properly and faced Cecil. Since this was their first meeting since the social club, Tristan’s lips were full of a pleased smile.

“It is even better to see you in the imperial palace.”

“I heard you start work today. Congratulations.”

“Thank you. As this is an opportunity I have managed to get, I will work hard.”

After a deep conversation with Tristan, Alexis had appointed him as his chief aide. Just as he’d thought, Cecil’s prediction that Tristan Dyke was a talent Alexis would covet was correct.

Tristan’s determination was evident in his neat attire. It seemed he was dressed formally, as it was likely his first day as chief aide.

He had entered the imperial palace before the eldest son of the Dyke family, so he had reason to be excited, but true to his calm personality, he did not show it off or reveal his excitement. This was just like the straitlaced Tristan that Cecil knew.

“But why are you dressed like that, Mr. Cecil…?”

“Ah, I’ve been learning swordsmanship lately. I was just on my way out after finishing.”

“……”

“…Where exactly are you looking? Is there something wrong with my clothes?”

Tristan’s gaze was fixed at an ambiguous spot below Cecil’s face.

Below his glistening, sweaty neck—to be precise, on his chest, covered by the white cloth.

The silk shirt was soaked with sweat, turning it semi-transparent. Because it was plastered to his skin, his nipples also showed their outlines perfectly.

“Uh, your… your clothes… it would be good if you checked them.”

Tristan was quite flustered and mumbled his words. Ahem. He coughed dryly and lowered his head, but his darned gaze, regardless of its owner’s will, kept turning toward Cecil’s chest.

Why is a man’s chest so red?