SLDS 48

Cecil arrived at Saint Palace at the appointed time. Guided by the servants, he was led to a dining hall located at the top of the castle.

With all the glass windows and curtains open, the view of the outside was quite a magnificent sight.

He had heard it was one of the most famously scenic places in the imperial palace. The pitch-black night sky and the endlessly sprawling night view of the imperial palace were no different from a grand masterpiece painting.

Added to this was the refreshing scent of the sequoia trees that drifted into the hall when a cool breeze blew. It was indeed worthy of being called the pride of Saint Palace.

“You’ve arrived?”

Claude, who was already there, saw Cecil and stood up, bowing respectfully. Cecil acknowledged the greeting with a light nod of his chin and exchanged a glance with Yuria.

“Where is His Highness? Is he not here yet?”

“He said he still has official duties to attend to. He instructed us to begin the dinner first when you arrived, Mr. Cecil.”

As if to prove those words, as soon as Cecil sat in his chair, an aperitif and an entrée were placed at each person’s seat.

As befitting a dinner hosted by the crown prince, the meal showed signs of having been prepared with great care. Although the host had not shown himself, the guests enjoyed the meal on their own.

“Yuria, did you forget again? I’ve taught you so many times. The one closest to the plate is the dinner fork, and the one next to it is the salad fork. And what you’re holding now is a butter knife. It’s not for cutting up cooked scallops.”

“Haah, Claude. For today, can’t we just eat comfortably? What does it matter if the fork is small or large? As long as I can pick up the food, that’s all that matters.”

“Do you think I’m pointing this out for no reason? Table manners are the most basic of basics! The people you’ll be dining with from now on will all be of high status, so how ridiculous will they think you are if you don’t develop the habit beforehand!”

“…You’re so mean.”

After being showered with a lecture, Yuria’s lips pouted as she rolled her eyes. Her wandering gaze went to Cecil, who was silently sipping his aperitif in front of her.

“Mr. Cecil, do my table manners bother you too?”

“Sir Vandel is being too harsh. Just as Yuria said, today seems like a time to enjoy ourselves comfortably. There are no elders here to scold us, are there?”

See? As Cecil took her side, Yuria became triumphant and glared at Claude, who was sitting next to her.

However, Claude, not to be outdone, took Yuria’s fork and knife and replaced them with the proper cutlery for their purpose. He spoke with an equally sullen face.

“Not a chance.”

“Mr. Cecil said it was fine!”

“Have you forgotten that he is also royalty? At this rate, you’ll be eating with your bare hands. Why don’t you just show him how you used to live in the Black Forest?”

“You’re really nasty!”

Claude and Yuria bickered without rest. Of course, it wasn’t a fight stemming from genuinely hurt feelings. Rather, it was closer to the squabbling of siblings or lovers.

Cecil quietly watched them. He had long since put down his fork and knife. He sipped the sweet sherry, lost in thought.

Yuria was much more cheerful and lovely than he had known. The Yuria Beatrice that Cecil remembered was originally a bit quieter and darker, a woman who was very conscious of how others saw her.

But now, what should he say, she was just like a young lady of her age, wasn’t she? Cecil guessed that this must be Yuria’s true personality.

In her previous life, she was surrounded only by people who tormented her day in and day out, so it was understandable. Life in the imperial palace must have been miserable enough to make even a normal person fall into depression.

Since Cecil had also participated in that behavior, he felt somewhat sorry, and at the same time, he thought it was a relief that she was showing her bright side.

“Yuria, eat a lot. You don’t have to worry about things like etiquette. It’s just us here, so what does it matter?”

He deliberately took extra care of her and smiled warmly. When the beauty before her wore a lovely smile, Yuria, as if she had never been pouting, smiled brightly back, following Cecil’s lead. Claude could only let out a heavy sigh, finding the situation absurd.

A harmonious dinner continued after that. Excellent dishes flowed out without pause, and the crystal glasses were repeatedly filled with wine and water. Contrary to the expectation that it would be awkward, laughter and conversation never ceased in the dining hall.

It was around the time the main course was about half-finished. The double doors swung wide open, and a tall, handsome man walked straight toward the table.

“I thought it would be awkward without me, but I could hear laughter all the way from outside.”

“Your Highness!”

The first to react to Alexis was Yuria. She twisted her shoulders, welcoming the crown prince’s arrival.

A large, smooth hand patted Yuria’s head as if in response. Alexis, who had by now taken the seat of honor, made eye contact with Cecil, who was seated, and with Claude, who had half-risen from his chair.

“Is the meal to your liking? The chef was talking my ear off since yesterday, saying he had acquired some rare ingredients that would be more than suitable for treating our guests.”

“It’s excellent. By the way… is your work finished now?”

“Barely. I was on the verge of being the host who invites someone and doesn’t even show his face.”

Alexis said he was too tired and had no intention of eating, refusing to be served. Instead, he reached for a wine glass. A glass of wine enjoyed after a long, hard day was incomparably sweet and clung pleasantly to his tongue.

Savoring the leisure of a glass of wine, he spoke while leaning his body at an angle.

“This combination isn’t half bad. You all get along better than I thought.”

The subject was omitted, but it was clear where his blue eyes were directed. Alexis had secretly been curious about how Cecil, who had attended the dinner, would be. That’s why he had finished his work with all his might and come.

Would he be like oil and water, unable to mix? Or would he be putting on airs as royalty?

When he actually entered the dining hall, the first thing that caught his eye was Cecil’s face, smiling as he leisurely enjoyed his meal. Shattering his expectations, he had blended in smoothly with his people.

That brought him a great deal of satisfaction. Alexis was quite surprised, but he didn’t show it and drank the rest of his wine. His gaze, however, remained fixed on one person.

Cecil, unable to meet the direct gaze, let out a small sigh. At this rate, it would be difficult to eat anymore, no matter how delicious the food was. He silently placed the cutlery in his hands down on the plate and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

“Wouldn’t it be better if you had a meal with us?”

“Is there a reason I must eat?”

“It’s a dish that Your Highness would quite like. You like truffles, don’t you?”

Alexis’s eyebrows shot up noticeably, as if it were unexpected that Cecil knew his food preferences. Then, a graceful curve formed on his lips.

“Head servant, bring only the main course. I’ll just have a taste.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Before long, a piece of well-grilled lamb and roasted truffles were served on a gold-rimmed plate. The chef’s boast about the rare ingredients was not an empty bluff, as a fragrant aroma wafted from the golden-brown mushrooms.

Alexis cut into it carelessly, as if it were a bother. It was an act that went against etiquette, but Claude kept his mouth firmly shut and pretended not to notice, while Yuria, seeing Claude, stifled a giggle.

“I heard you went to see Yuria again today?”

“Mr. Cecil brought some really delicious cake and black tea!”

“That must have been nice.”

Alexis’s gaze shifted to Yuria. His eyes, which never lost their coolness, would soften whenever they were directed at Yuria.

Yuria also began to enthusiastically recount her experience from earlier. It must have been quite impressive, as her voice tone rose a notch when she described the taste of the cake.

“Yes, Peridot Palace has a very skilled pastry chef. Since the master of the house lives with sweet things on his lips, it seems the pastry chef’s skills are unrivaled in the imperial palace.”

“For that to be true, you don’t seem to gain any weight at all, Mr. Cecil. I think I’ve gained a little fat on my sides already.”

“It’s okay to gain a lot. Just keep in mind that your teeth might rot.”

Alexis’s expression and voice were as sweet as if they had been dipped in honey. It made one wonder if this person was truly the crown prince of the empire, famous for his ruthlessness. Of course, his gentleness was a privilege that only Yuria Beatrice could enjoy.

Although he had arrived later than the others, the crown prince instantly became the main character from the moment he appeared at the dinner.

Throughout the meal, he talked with Yuria about things they hadn’t finished discussing, and at some point, Claude was listening intently to their conversation, silently downing glass after glass of wine.

‘That pitiful man. He could at least try to hide his expression.’

Since Claude happened to be sitting right in front of him, Cecil couldn’t help but click his tongue secretly. He looked so deeply troubled that even a stranger could guess his melancholy.

As the meal was wrapping up, the servants busily cleared the table. They removed the empty plates and tidied up the messy places. It was about time for dessert to be served.

Just then, Alexis had briefly left his seat to talk with his chief aide who had come to see him. Yuria had also disappeared, saying she was going to the restroom. Cecil glanced over the empty chairs and then kicked Claude’s leg with his foot.

“What is it?”

The blunt face immediately scrunched into a frown. Cecil, with an equally indifferent face, gestured toward the outside with his chin.

“Get up.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s go have a drink, just you and me. Are you going to keep dawdling here without any sense?”

He was telling him to make way for the lovers. Claude stared at Cecil for a long time with a displeased face before letting out a sigh.

“Very well. I was just craving a drink myself.”

“Perfect.”

Neither was a particularly desirable drinking companion for the other, but for the first time in a while, their opinions matched. Cecil and Claude left the dining hall with grim faces.