SLDS 70

“First, I’d appreciate it if you would get off my lap.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re heavy.”

At the curtly added words, Cecil, who had been dazed for a moment, snapped to his senses. No matter how out of it he was, what was he thinking, sitting on Alexis’s lap all this time!

As Cecil hurriedly tried to get up, he lost his balance and staggered. Alexis reached out and grabbed Cecil’s elbow. A full smile was still on his face. Cecil belatedly realized that this was an extension of the prank.

“It would be best if you… stopped the jokes here.”

“Oh my, that glare is unusually scary.”

As he said that while smiling so wide his eyes crinkled, not a single speck of sincerity could be felt. When Cecil frowned, Alexis stopped joking and finally rose from his seat.

“Are you busy?”

“…I am busy, of course. Is it not the same for Your Highness?”

“Since I’ve come all this way, spare me just ten more minutes. Let’s go for a light stroll before you leave. Don’t you think both you and I need a moment to catch our breath?”

Alexis began walking, leading Cecil along without giving him a choice. As if he couldn’t win, Cecil followed, and behind him, the attendants trailed at a distance.

The two men conversed as they walked through the greenhouse. Most of it was trivial chatter.

The hardships of entertaining guests, the meal they had for breakfast that morning, the names and meanings of rare flowers that occasionally caught their eye.

But Cecil was happier than he could say. This moment, walking side by side with Alexis, was so peaceful it was almost unbelievable.

The voice tinged with laughter, the casual everyday words spoken indifferently, the footsteps that matched his own pace—it all felt so unreal. That alone made Cecil feel as if he had been fully compensated.

Some time passed. It felt like well over ten minutes had gone by, but their steps were slow, and they hadn’t even made it halfway around the greenhouse.

Just when he was thinking he wouldn’t mind being trapped in the greenhouse like this forever, an attendant could be seen in the distance, running breathlessly toward the crown prince.

The attendant, having barely managed to slow down, spoke while panting for breath.

“Your Highness, guests from the Kingdom of Kazardjan are on their way! You must prepare soon, Your Highness.”

“They don’t give me a moment’s rest.”

It seemed Alexis was already aware of the guest’s visit, as he showed no sign of surprise at the attendant’s report. He simply pushed back his bangs, showing only a hint of annoyance.

“They’re a difficult guest, so I must go and greet them myself. It would be best for us to part ways here.”

“Your Highness, may I go with you?”

“Why would you? I know you have many things to do as well. And you’re not particularly close with Kazardjan, are you?”

“It is because I wish to be with Your Highness a little longer.”

At the unexpected proposal, Alexis gazed down at Cecil’s face.

It was obviously a lie, yet Cecil’s eyes were asserting his sincerity.

He figured Cecil must really want to avoid his duties. Besides, the excuse he gave was quite pleasant to hear.

Alexis’s lips formed an elegant curve.

“Alright, I’ll fall for it this one time. Let’s go together.”

✽ ✽ ✽

A carriage brandishing precious jewels passed through the castle gates. The mounted soldiers escorting either side of the lead carriage each held up the royal flag of Kazardjan, showing off their gallant figures.

The Kingdom of Kazardjan was a country as rich and deeply rooted in history as the Verca Empire. Befitting a nation that loved to adorn itself, even a single flag was extravagant. Splendor was synonymous with Kazardjan.

When the carriage came to a halt, Alexis willingly approached. Soon after, the door opened and the princess of Kazardjan, Larissa, revealed herself.

Her slightly tan skin and the form-fitting dress were incredibly exotic.

“Larissa Ortega. Welcome to the Empire.”

Alexis greeted her reverently. Placing his clenched left fist behind his back, he gave a brief bow and kissed the back of her hand. Princess Larissa puffed up her cheeks and smiled with delight.

“It was such a long journey. But it was worth the trouble to come.”

The princess swept back her wavy hair and looked around.

The clear sky, the fresh air devoid of any heat or humidity, and the beautiful scenery of the Imperial Palace. She was very pleased with the Verca Empire, which she was visiting for the first time.

Above all, the Empire’s crown prince, who was personally escorting her, was more charming than she had expected.

She had fallen for him at first sight when she saw his portrait, but Alexis Winter Graham in person was a dazzlingly handsome man.

The princess did not hide the smile that bloomed on its own, openly showing her satisfaction.

Having now disembarked from the carriage, the princess approached Alexis and promptly linked her arm with his. The attendants were aghast at her forward behavior, but they lowered their gazes, feigning ignorance. Indeed, the Princess of Kazardjan was as forward as the rumors said.

She pressed her cheek tightly against Alexis’s firm arm and spoke.

“I’d like you to call me Larissa, casually. May I also call you Alexis?”

“As the princess wishes. I hope you will be comfortable during your stay in the Empire.”

Alexis treated her without a hint of agitation. He was allowing the princess to do as she pleased, but he himself was thoroughly maintaining his boundaries.

His demeanor was so elegant that the princess, already in the highest of spirits, found it difficult to notice the line drawn between herself and Alexis.

“Of course. This is a trip I was very much looking forward to, so I came fully prepared, you see?”

The number of attendants the princess brought with her alone numbered over thirty, and the procession of luggage carriages following behind seemed endless.

Alexis watched the royal guards meticulously searching the luggage carriages from Kazardjan and asked calmly.

“We have also prepared so that there will be no shortcomings in hosting our guest in the Empire. Could it be that you had some concerns?”

“Not at all. These are mostly for my own adornment. The dresses and jewels alone required five carriages.”

“In that case, it cannot be helped.”

“I’ll tell you in advance, I came all this way to capture your heart. I will show you many beautiful sides of myself, so you can look forward to it.”

Everyone was surprised by the princess’s unconventional declaration. Even Alexis let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.

“…”

The only person maintaining his composure was Cecil. He already knew that Princess Larissa was head over heels for Alexis, so it wasn’t even worth being surprised about.

Just then, one more carriage stopped. From inside the four-wheeled carriage, which was just as ornate as the one the princess had ridden in but for a different color, a long leg stretched out.

“Lara, haven’t I told you countless times? A woman who clings is not attractive.”

There were few people who could call the princess by a nickname. Everyone turned their gaze in the direction of the voice. As expected, the man with tan skin and reddish-brown hair was the heir of Kazardjan, Killian.

Killian, who had approached in no time, skipped the tedious pleasantries and instead flicked the princess’s forehead, separating her from Alexis’s side.

“I apologize on behalf of my sister’s childishness. Still, her heart is sincere, so I hope you will look upon her kindly.”

“It’s been a while. I didn’t expect Prince Killian to come in person. I don’t believe there was any mention of it in the invitation response.”

“Yes, I didn’t quite trust sending Larissa alone. I’m here to supervise.”

Killian shrugged. The air of leisure that enveloped him was one of his weapons. Though he was smaller in stature than Alexis, his presence didn’t lose out in the slightest.

He gestured with his chin toward the long line of luggage carriages and spoke.

“Of course, most of it is Larissa’s luxuries, but there are also many gifts from Kazardjan. We couldn’t very well treat His Majesty the Emperor’s birthday lightly, could we?”

“Gifts from Kazardjan, you say. His Majesty will be very pleased.”

“I guarantee they will undoubtedly be to his liking.”

Then, Killian clasped his hands behind his back and turned his gaze.

“By the way, this place is still the same as ever. It’s almost surprising that nothing has changed even after ten years.”

As Killian’s eyes scanned the surroundings, a person suddenly came into his view.

While everyone else was showing him respect with a slight bow of their heads, one person alone was holding his head up stiffly.

He had a pretty face, one that would naturally draw the eye, but this person was glaring fiercely at Killian with emerald eyes like jewels. What was contained within them was, to anyone’s eye, a profound sense of disgust.

‘Why is Killian here? Originally, only Princess Larissa was supposed to come. I’m not ready to face that bastard yet.’

With the situation unfolding differently than expected, Cecil was experiencing great turmoil. He tried to endure it by clenching his fists, but he couldn’t stop his teeth from grinding or the force from entering his eyes.

In that time, Killian was tilting his head, studying Cecil’s face. He smiled faintly, as if he had recognized him.

“Don’t tell me, are you Cecil Adrian?”

Cecil had no choice but to take a step forward. He stood side-by-side with Alexis to greet the Prince of Kazardjan.

“It has been a long time, Your Highness Killian.”

“I wouldn’t have recognized you. When did you get so big?”

“That is how much time has passed.”

Cecil answered curtly. He maintained etiquette but kept his words as brief as possible to avoid unnecessary conversation.

In the past, he had flirted and tried his best to get into Killian’s good graces in order to exploit his position and abilities. But now, there was no reason to do so. On the contrary, for his own mental health, it was best not to get involved.

Contrary to Cecil’s wishes, Killian seemed to have taken quite a liking to him.

The child he had seen in passing ten years ago had become quite a beauty. He liked the looks, but those fiercely raised eyes in particular sparked a strange interest in him. As their intense staring contest continued, Killian’s smile deepened.

“I’ve heard that children grow up in an instant, but I didn’t know he would turn out this well. It’s a pleasure. Shall we shake hands?”

Cecil looked down at the hand extended toward him before reluctantly taking it. A tremor he couldn’t hide must have been transmitted, because Killian squeezed his hand tightly and smiled.

“I’d like you to give me a tour of the palace. Would that be possible?”

“…”

Cecil couldn’t open his mouth. His mind kept ordering him to answer, but his body wouldn’t obey. It felt as if a hideous lump was lodged in his throat.

As the silence dragged on, the atmosphere grew chilly. Alexis, noticing Cecil’s discomfort, answered for him.

“Cecil… is busy, so it will be difficult for him to find the time. First, I will guide you to your quarters. You must be tired from the long journey, so wouldn’t it be best to rest comfortably?”

Alexis said, his gaze lowered. His tone and demeanor were full of courtesy, but for some reason, the eyes looking at their clasped hands were as cold as ice.

“Yes, that’s right. I am very tired. I was just longing for a warm bath and a massage, so this works out well.”

Killian promptly withdrew his hand and ran it through his hair. At the same time, a light scoff escaped him. The quick-witted Killian had already noticed Alexis’s guardedness.

“I’ll see you again soon.”

At last, the Kazardjani siblings took their leave. The group attending to them followed in a long line.

Cecil watched their retreating backs, then, unable to bear it any longer, turned around.

He ran to where the trees were planted, bent over, and—retch—threw up.