* * *
Saying he looked forward to the party, Sylvian wrapped his arms around Zeroth.
Though their thoughts diverged, they let themselves sink into the shared warmth for a long, long time.
“Hoo.”
“I’ll be with you the whole time today, so there’s no need to worry.”
Inside the carriage bound for the Imperial Capital, Sylvian tightly held Zeroth’s hand and took a deep breath.
Even when he attended his first party, and even now, he didn’t feel the slightest bit nervous.
Yet for some reason, he bit his lip and fiddled with Zeroth’s hand.
“B-but what if I mess up again—?”
“Then you’ll just be retrained so you don’t make the same mistake.”
Zeroth smiled gently, and Sylvian’s eyes wavered at the sight.
He couldn’t go through that again.
Not that he planned to stir up any trouble today anyway.
Whatever it was, he’d been told that causing trouble in January was a bad idea.
Those targeting him wouldn’t be able to act recklessly, either.
“Today, I’ll be fine since Zeroth will be with me.”
As if affirming his own resolve, Sylvian spoke with determination, and Zeroth softly stroked the back of his hand, saying that everything would be alright with him by his side.
“Please show your invitation.”
Upon arrival at the party venue, a servant greeted them with a deep bow and extended a hand toward Zeroth.
After confirming the names printed on the expensive paper, the servant loudly announced the entrance of the Duke and Duchess of Graham.
His voice was so powerful, it echoed through the hall even without the use of a voice amplification artifact.
As they entered with Zeroth escorting him, all eyes turned to them.
Familiar faces from afar approached with warm gazes.
“Sylvian, you look absolutely stunning again today!”
The first to greet them was Elizabeth, the Crown Prince’s fiancée.
After offering a respectful greeting to the Duke, she immediately grasped Sylvian’s hand.
It was a simple gesture of affection, but Zeroth raised one brow slightly as he watched.
Even the Crown Prince Aihin greeted them warmly, but wisely kept silent while observing the conversation between his fiancée and the Duchess.
“The flowers you sent last time were so beautiful that I magically preserved them.”
“And the wine Eliza gave me was delicious.”
The two chatted idly about recent happenings, and nobles waiting from a distance began to cautiously approach and greet Zeroth, picking up on the cues.
“You look dashing as always. I’ve heard the knights’ training has been intense lately—will there be any public demonstrations?”
“No plans for that at the moment.”
Zeroth brushed off the tedious conversations.
If it weren’t for Sylvian, he wouldn’t have said a word and just paid his respects to the Emperor before leaving.
“Lord Sylvian. Have you been well?”
Noticing the crowd forming around Duke Graham, Karl also approached with a relaxed pace.
“Karl!”
Sylvian, who had been chatting with Elizabeth, extended a hand in greeting.
He’d heard that offering your hand at such gatherings signified a more personal relationship.
At his first party, Sylvian had deliberately offered his hand to just about anyone.
But today, with Zeroth by his side, no one would dare try anything foolish.
“His Majesty the Emperor and Her Majesty the Empress are entering! Everyone, pay your respects!”
The banquet hall, which had become noisy with the Duke and Duchess’s entrance, instantly fell silent.
Sylvian bowed his head just as he’d been taught.
‘Where are my parents?’
He subtly glanced around while keeping his posture low.
Only those of similar rank or power could initiate conversation with Duke Graham.
The Crown Prince, Marquises, nobles from old noble lineages, rising new powers, or those who had amassed tremendous wealth—those were the ones who flocked to him.
Even Karl began to receive greetings from the nobility, and the room naturally broke into smaller groups.
Zeroth stood at the pinnacle of all of them.
After the Emperor’s formal speech, Sylvian spotted the Viscount Jertian couple staring at him with intense eyes.
When his gaze met his mother’s, a smile tugged at Sylvian’s lips.
If Zeroth planned to take his time, then he wanted to move things along sooner.
He couldn’t stand watching them live lavishly while flaunting the Graham name.
Silently, he mouthed, “Mother.”
Seeing her son’s lips shape that word, the Viscountess’s eyes lit up with joy.
“Your Majesties.”
By then, the Duke and Duchess had approached the Emperor and Empress.
“The Duchess looks more radiant with each passing day.”
The Emperor looked over Sylvian, who had come to pay his respects with Zeroth.
At first, he’d been furious that Zeroth had rejected the Omega he had chosen and selected someone else.
But with all the rumors swirling around the capital and Zeroth’s subsequent actions, he had no choice but to acknowledge it.
It was clear the Duke had fallen in love.
And the Duchess would surely become his one and only weakness.
Building a rapport with the Duchess and seizing that weakness would be critical.
“Thank you.”
Sylvian clung closely to Zeroth, carefully gauging the atmosphere.
It was the first time seeing the Emperor again since greeting him at the previous party.
Since he was the one who had taken Zeroth away back then, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t happen again.
“Your Majesty, the Empress’s shawl is absolutely stunning.”
Instead, Sylvian redirected his attention to the Empress with a compliment.
Her dress was beautiful, but the shawl she wore stood out especially.
“You have the eyes of a jeweler—keen enough to recognize fine things.”
“It shines even more because it’s worn by someone so beautiful.”
Smooth compliments slipped easily from Sylvian’s lips, and the Empress nodded as if pleased.
“You speak with such sincerity. It doesn’t sound like flattery or deceit. That’s a fine trait to have.”
“T-that wasn’t my intention… I just truly thought it was beautiful—”
“And that’s why your sincerity reaches the other person all the more.”
The Empress praised Duke Graham for having found himself such a good wife.
At the last party, she hadn’t thought Sylvian even worth acknowledging, but now he carried himself quite decently.
His walk, his demeanor, and even the look in his eyes—he had become presentable.
‘The Duke must be putting in effort. If he’s this capable, perhaps it’s time for an invitation.’
Many noblewomen had tried to win the Duchess’s favor with invitations, but the Empress had never once sent Sylvian a letter or invitation.
She had even ignored the Duchess’s disgrace at the last party.
“Thank you for thinking well of me.”
“Enjoy the New Year’s party. And I’ll send you a separate invitation—we should have tea sometime.”
With a small wink, she turned to receive greetings from others with the Emperor.
“The Empress said she’s going to invite me.”
“Not just anyone gets invited to the Imperial Palace. It seems you’ve caught her eye.”
So… she thinks I’ve become at least tolerable now, right?
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Sylvian clutched Zeroth’s arm tightly and watched the Empress walk away.
Targeting the noblewomen close to the Empress had paid off.
It had been worth shamelessly attending gatherings with Elizabeth and those older ladies.
“I’ll make sure to do well there, too.”
“Sylvian excels at everything. Just don’t overdo it—”
“Duchess!”
Zeroth’s words were cut off by a loud voice.
* * *
