SLDS 42

Cecil was taking a walk in the garden within the Peridot Palace.

He was passing the time idly after finishing his afternoon lessons. When a cool breeze blew under the moderately warm sunlight, the petals filling the garden swayed, wafting a fragrant scent.

Cecil was quite fond of the flowers that bloomed in the garden. The red camellia was also the symbol of the Peridot Palace.

These days, Cecil was deliberately spending his time in leisure. Ever since recovering from the fever—no, to be precise, ever since receiving the treasured sword from Alexis—he had lost the will to do anything. It seemed the emotional wound had been deeper than he realized.

However, Cecil was trying his best to recover. He completely ignored the nobles who sent countless messages seeking to meet him, and he also temporarily set aside his interest in Alexis.

Two weeks had already passed like this. The wounds on his body had all healed, but his heart was still troubled. He still needed more time alone.

“Mr. Cecil, someone has come from the empress’s palace. Her Majesty the Empress is looking for you… what should I do?”

“Make up a suitable excuse and send them away. Say that I’m still not well, so it is difficult for me to visit.”

Cecil refused flatly. The empress had also been seeking him out almost daily, but he stubbornly avoided meeting her. It was obvious that if they met, he would only get an earful anyway.

There was no better excuse to use than being sick. After all, Cecil had lost so much weight in a few weeks that he looked clearly unwell to anyone who saw him.

Afterward, he continued to stroll idly through the garden. Because he had made sure no one else came near, the only presence in the spacious garden was the sound of Cecil treading on the grass.

After walking like that for a while, he really started to feel dizzy. Cecil approached a tea table set up under the shade of a tree and plopped down onto a garden chair. He was covering his eyes with the back of his arm, his head tilted back listlessly.

“Mr. Cecil, a visitor has arrived…”

“Haa, I told you I’m not seeing anyone.”

Cecil said in an irritated tone. His temper had grown considerably short because of the nobles who came to visit at all hours. He thought this time would undoubtedly be someone similar.

“It seems I’ve chosen a bad time.”

At the voice that so clearly reached his ears, Cecil was startled and lowered his arm. A tall, handsome man was standing next to the cowering attendant.

Before he knew it, Alexis had approached to stand right before Cecil’s feet. A dark shadow fell over Cecil’s dazed face.

Cecil’s eyes, which held the color of green foliage, blinked. It was because he could not believe what he was seeing, meeting Alexis in his own garden.

Suddenly, a large hand covered Cecil’s forehead. After checking his temperature, Alexis tilted his head and spoke.

“You don’t have a fever. Are you staging a protest?”

“Why is Your Highness here…”

“Because someone has been cooped up in the palace and refuses to come out.”

Alexis lowered his gaze and stared intently at Cecil’s face.

“Are you truly not well?”

“…That’s not it.”

“Then why are you like this? How long do you intend to stay away from the office?”

Cecil frowned at the absurd words.

“Didn’t you dislike me hanging around you?”

“I believe I told you. I have decided to trust you now.”

“……”

“So, you are well?”

Cecil gave a small nod. It was a pretense anyway, and the quick-witted Alexis seemed to have already figured out his condition.

At that, Alexis abruptly reached out and grabbed Cecil’s wrist. In an instant, his body, which had been sitting in the chair, was forcibly pulled up. Alexis immediately led Cecil out of the garden.

Cecil, confused, grabbed his arm. After barely managing to stop him, he asked.

“Why are you doing this? Where are you taking me?”

“Don’t talk back and just follow me. The situation is so busy right now that we need all the help we can get.”

Alexis started walking again. The hand gripping his thin wrist felt like a shackle. It was so firm that Cecil did not dare to shake it off.

The place he was dragged to was, as expected, Alexis’s office.

Even though it had been a long time since his last visit, the unchanged scenery welcomed Cecil. The desk that had been left neglected in a corner was also still there.

Only after entering the office did Alexis let go of Cecil’s arm. He walked around to his own seat and began to sort through the heaps of documents and parchment bundles piled on his desk one by one.

“Take these. For now, do what you can, and if you get stuck on anything, ask either me or Adjutant Dyke.”

Then, he passed all the carefully selected work over to Cecil. Cecil, who had accepted the documents in a daze, could only frown, not understanding the situation.

“You’re going to… give me work?”

“Yes.”

“Are you serious?”

“Why do you think I brought you here?”

Even after hearing the confirmation, Cecil stood there as if he couldn’t believe it. Alexis, who had passed the work to him, had his usual indifferent face. As if to prove he was truly busy, he sat down in his chair and immediately started on his own tasks.

“……”

After watching Alexis for a moment, he returned to his own seat for the time being.

Cecil stared blankly at the documents he had placed on his desk. Even at a glance, it was clear this was not the miscellaneous work he had done before. Important tasks that Alexis had handled directly had been assigned to him.

After a long staring contest with the documents, Cecil finally sat up straight and reached out his arm. First, let’s erase all useless thoughts. With that resolve, he picked up the document on the very top and began to read its contents.

While Cecil was silently engrossed, the office bustled as usual. As everyone was busy with their roles, Alexis flicked his gaze up.

Seeing the space that had been empty for so long finally filled by its owner, the corners of his mouth turned up without him realizing it. He covered the faint smile that had spread across his face with his palm, then he too immersed himself in his work.

About two hours later, Cecil had already finished half of the work. His eyes, lost in concentration, shone more clearly than ever, and his brilliant mind was running at full steam for the first time in a while. Rather than paying attention to Alexis, he focused all his energy solely on the documents in his hands.

“Deliver this.”

He called over an attendant standing nearby and handed him the stack of documents he had just finished. The attendant knelt to receive the documents on a silver tray, and in the meantime, another attendant replaced the inkwell, which was nearly empty.

He leaned back in his chair to catch his breath for a moment. His body was a little tired from concentrating for the first time in a long time, but Cecil’s expression was more vibrant than before. As he was stretching his arms wide and loosening his stiff body, an attendant quietly approached and spoke to Cecil.

“Mr. Cecil, I have prepared some cold lemon tea. Would you like some?”

“…Yes, shall I?”

He was thirsty just then. As he readily agreed, tempted by the offer, the quick-handed attendants cleared the cluttered desk for him and set up a refreshment table in an instant.

Along with the lemon tea that looked cool just by looking at it, cookies were served as well. They were so charming and pretty in shape that it was impossible not to look at them.

He hadn’t intended to eat dessert…

But his hand reached for a cookie of its own accord. Once he was conscious of it, it was hard to ignore. Besides, he was a bit hungry, perhaps from using his head.

Cecil glanced around cautiously, then broke a cookie into small pieces and popped it into his mouth.

“…Wow, what is this.”

He had thought it would be an ordinary cookie, but it was so unexpectedly delicious that his eyes widened in surprise.

While he chewed and swallowed the small piece, his fingers reached for another cookie. At some point, he became so engrossed in eating that he stopped being self-conscious, and this time, he put a large cookie in his mouth in one bite.

Alexis, who had been reading a report with a serious expression, suddenly looked up. He too could see Cecil thoroughly enjoying the refreshments.

His formerly expressionless, sulky face was now soaked in happiness, as if it had never been that way. His smooth cheeks were noticeably puffed out, and they twitched constantly. Even though he ate with his mouth firmly closed, a munching sound, like a squirrel cracking nuts, could be heard.

Alexis even shifted his posture to watch Cecil.

It seemed this was the right answer after all. Keeping him by his side and feeding him delicious things brought out a vitality that hadn’t been there before. When he received a much clearer reaction than when he had gifted the precious sword, he finally felt a sense of satisfaction.

Then, their eyes suddenly met. Cecil hastily stopped chewing and feigned innocence as if he hadn’t been eating. But what good did that do, when his already bulging cheek pouches were full of cookies.

Alexis couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing. He had been in a foul mood because the attempted assassination case was not going well, but seeing this unexpected sight, his irritation was absurdly dispelled.

“You really do have a sweet tooth.”

“……”

“Eat without worrying about your dignity. It’s not like anyone will say anything.”

Cecil chewed firmly with his molars. Even if he wanted to retort, his mouth was so full that he couldn’t even make a sound. He tried his best to act nonchalant. Of course, he couldn’t hide his face, which had turned bright red.

Alexis also straightened his posture. He temporarily set aside the investigation report that offered no answers no matter how many times he looked at it, and instead pulled over the documents that Cecil had processed.

The crisp paper was filled with neatly organized content in a clear, precise handwriting. Not only was it easy to read, but the content was also perfect.

“……”

Alexis couldn’t take his eyes off the documents. He had given Cecil a difficult task as a test, but Cecil had produced results that were even more excellent than he had expected.

It was beyond surprising; it was dumbfounding.

Just what is that boy? Where does this absurd level of ability come from? He couldn’t tell if it was innate or a result of a good education.

His young age was not a problem. The fact that he was of the empress’s bloodline also no longer mattered. Alexis wanted capable people, and the more he observed Cecil, the more he fit the image of the talent he desired.

Alexis rubbed his lips, lost in thought. Was it because his heart had become much more generous? Whenever he thought of Cecil, his lips kept trying to break into a smile.