* * *
“I don’t know who made these, but their skill is amazing.”
“That’s good to hear. I was worried you might not like them.”
As he kept eating, the Crown Prince’s gaze became easier to bear.
The sweet, fragrant cake was actually to his liking.
Anakin had always liked sweets.
“I heard you haven’t been spending time with Leo lately. Did you two fight?”
Anakin nearly spat out what he was eating.
What the—how did rumors spread this fast?
Or… had he actually put someone to watch him and Leo?
After that incident with Leo, Anakin simply hadn’t been seeing him.
In the original story, he only met Leo after manifesting as an omega anyway, so this was actually more normal.
“No… nothing like that.”
“Leo can be a bit rough around the edges, but he’s still my beloved younger brother.”
You don’t look like you find him beloved at all.
His lips were smiling, but his eyes were not—making the expression feel vaguely unsettling.
“I know. Leo is my closest friend.”
“Friend…?”
The Crown Prince blinked, as if he’d just heard something absurd, then couldn’t stop himself from laughing.
“Pfft!”
“W-Why are you laughing?”
“Ah… my apologies. I just can’t imagine Leo ever saying something like that.”
“…I’d like to walk around the lake again.”
Finding the conversation too awkward, Anakin suggested they return to the lakeside.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince readily agreed and escorted him there.
“How have you been feeling lately?”
“Not bad. Ever since you nursed me the other day, I’ve been feeling light on my feet.”
“I didn’t really do anything.”
“Still, thank you. I’d been a little worn out at the time.”
Anakin picked up a fallen, deep pink flower from the grass, brought it close to his face, closed his eyes, and inhaled its fragrance softly.
“I’m glad… that I could help you.”
The Crown Prince’s gaze lingered on Anakin’s neatly lowered lashes.
“It’s all thanks to you, Anakin.”
Since the attendants had been dismissed, the two of them were alone by the lakeside—though, of course, attendants were secretly on standby in case anything happened.
The Crown Prince gently tilted Anakin’s chin upward.
A subtle, heavy tension filled the air.
Anakin instinctively tried to step back, but the Crown Prince’s arm wrapped firmly around his waist, making retreat impossible.
“Uh…”
“May I… hold you, just once?”
He wasn’t asking for permission.
From the moment he spoke, I was already in his arms.
We were pressed so close there was no space between us, and the points where our bodies touched began to grow hotter.
Why is this happening all of a sudden…?
My head felt light, my thoughts scattered, when he brushed against my ear and whispered softly.
“You smell good.”
For some reason, all the strength left my body and I couldn’t resist.
Was it because he was a dominant alpha, and his traits were somehow affecting me, who hadn’t even manifested yet?
My head kept spinning, my throat went dry, and—worst of all—I caught myself wanting to just surrender to him.
With the last scrap of willpower I had, I managed to push him away.
“Stop…”
The warmth and softness of being held in his arms burned so vividly in my memory that I couldn’t forget it.
“You seem tired. Shall we head back?”
Kamil watched Anakin’s quickened breathing for a moment, then smiled and extended a hand.
Anakin, unable to endure any longer, took it and reluctantly nodded.
“Yes…”
Without a moment to think about anything else, I headed toward the guest annex.
When even the attendants had left, only the cold, silent lakeside remained, quietly shining in the fading light.
On the surface, Anakin had been invited to the palace as a peer companion for the Crown Prince, so staying in the guest annex of the Crown Prince’s residence was proper.
Sometimes he would stay over in Leo’s palace after playing together, but he still preferred this room—at least here he knew someone.
“You’re beautiful again today.”
That was Chel, the attendant, speaking while lowering his eyes and brushing Anakin’s glossy hair in front of the mirror.
“Chel. I told you not to say things like that.”
“If I don’t say it for even a single day, my tongue feels like it’ll sprout thorns.”
Chel was exactly as in the original story—a character who praised Anakin’s beauty without restraint.
Judging by how deftly he served, he was a professional butler.
In the original work, he had been described as someone who cherished and loved Anakin dearly.
Since the lakeside outing with the Crown Prince, I’d been feeling a bit chilled.
Chel noticed and asked with concern.
“Are you alright? If you’re not feeling well, should I call the physician…?”
“No. It’s not that bad. I’ll be fine in a bit.”
It felt like just a minor cold—though sometimes it would pass quickly enough that I wondered if it was all in my head.
Knock, knock.
Someone rapped on the door.
“Come in.”
I thought it would be another attendant helping me dress, but instead a cold-faced maid I had never seen before stepped inside.
“I apologize for coming unannounced, but Her Highness Empress Seina requests your presence.”
Empress Seina.
At the sound of her name, Anakin stiffened in surprise, but quickly answered in a calm tone.
“I understand. Where should I go?”
“Please follow me.”
The maid bowed and led the way to where the Empress was waiting.
Honestly, I had no idea why she would summon me.
Was it about Leo?
Or had she found out about my early-morning visits to see Harca?
Or… maybe she was simply curious about me.
Had the Empress wanted to see the subject of all the latest palace rumors for herself?
Somehow, I doubted the reason was that simple.
She was a clever and cunning woman.
Anakin followed the maid through the lavish decorations of the Empress’s palace.
As expected, the place she brought him to was the Empress’s own office.
Stepping into her private domain made it feel more real—that I was truly being granted an audience.
“Welcome, Young Lord Descartes. My, you really are just like a doll, as the rumors say.”
I had expected the atmosphere to be cold and formal, but Empress Seina greeted me with unexpected warmth.
“I’ve prepared tea and dessert.”
The Empress exuded elegance and old-world grace.
Her youthful appearance made it hard to believe her age, and she was strikingly beautiful.
When she smiled, she seemed gentle; when she didn’t, she looked cold.
In her, I caught fleeting glimpses of Leo.
“Hm. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to call for you. Ever since you arrived, His Highness has been much more well-behaved. I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to thank you.”
“Your Highness the Empress.”
She sipped her tea gracefully, accepting my bow with a smile in her eyes.
Looking at her like this, it was hard to imagine she was the same person who had tormented and scorned Harca.
But knowing that cruelty hid behind this mask sent a shiver down my spine.
“I heard what happened at the theater. That must have been terrifying. You must still be feeling the aftereffects…”
“I’m fine now. Thank you for your concern.”
“I see. That’s a relief. Then—have you grown accustomed to life in the palace? If anything troubles you, tell me.”
“There’s nothing troubling me. Everyone’s been very kind.”
“That’s good to hear. I was worried there might be some inconvenience.”
Judging by her demeanor, it seemed she hadn’t found out about Harca.
Relieved that she hadn’t caught on, I exhaled quietly.
“But lately… I hear you haven’t been meeting with the Third Prince. The attendants tell me you’ve instead been enjoying walks by the lake with the Crown Prince.”
At the mention of the Crown Prince, her eyes changed.
So, we were finally getting to the point.
I felt a bead of cold sweat.
Anakin kept his voice polite.
“I haven’t quarreled with the Third Prince. I’ve just been tired lately, so I haven’t been able to see him, which I regret. As for the Crown Prince, we only walked together because of our lessons.”
“I see. Well, it’s fine to earn both of their favor, but you should be careful—jealousy can be dangerous.”
“…Yes. I’ll be careful.”
I smiled back without flinching, and she, too, smiled with narrowed eyes.
After that, she didn’t take her gaze off me, sipping her tea again before speaking in a sweet voice.
“I’m glad you and Prince Leo are close. I used to worry his temper might cause trouble someday. But he’s much calmer since meeting you.”
“…”
“But… I’m a little concerned. It seems to me Prince Leo is unusually fond of you—so much so that he hides it even from me. As his mother, I can’t help but feel a little hurt.”
So, in short: be close to her son, but don’t cross the line.
Was that a warning, or advice?
“I’ve taken up enough of your time. You may go now. I trust someone like you will know how to conduct himself wisely.”
I couldn’t tell what judgment she had made about me in that short conversation, but there was a subtle change in her eyes as she looked at me.
Even as I stepped out of her office, I kept my guard up.
Her garden was as beautiful and bright as she was—meticulously maintained, much like the façade she presented to the world.
Anakin lingered for a moment among the flowers before finally moving on.
* * *
