It had been quite a while since he attended a private banquet.

‘I avoided them because I hate seeing this.’

Castor responded with smiles to those clinging to him while thinking how terribly annoying it was. They were all boring people. There was nothing interesting about any of them. It felt like watching children play at the poorhouse would be more entertaining.

‘Sometimes we have to attend events like this, it can’t be helped.’

He had regularly visited poorhouses to show compassion for the pitiful citizens, focused on administration that helped those below rather than those above, and constantly paid attention to his position within the empire.

But in the end, politics is done with those above. Therefore, they too need to be managed periodically.

That’s why he attended Rashid Penvernon’s birthday banquet, though he could see him plenty at political meetings.

At least an invitation from someone of Duke Penvernon’s status was less bothersome. It was better to let people know that this was the minimum level required for the Crown Prince to attend. Otherwise, he would receive endless invitations from all sorts of riffraff.

Though there was the condition of having to participate in ridiculous activities, it seemed fine since Jeanne appeared to be enjoying herself. Though they argued about everything, Jeanne was still his precious younger sister.

“Your Highness, this is my daughter.”

“Glory to the rose. Eliza Lavigne greets His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Ah, yes. Pleased to meet you.”

How many was this now? The rush toward an unmarried man of power was endless. Though he prided himself on his memory, suddenly meeting too many people made all their impressions blur together. Castor grew increasingly tired.

‘I can’t take any more of this.’

There was only one way to overcome this crisis: spending time with the Duke and Duchess of Penvernon. When conversing with the hosts of the banquet, other guests couldn’t easily interrupt. That was banquet etiquette.

Castor quickly scanned the hall.

Rashid Penvernon was always conspicuous no matter where he was, so his location was immediately apparent.

‘There he is.’

Strangely, the same was true for Alisa Penvernon. Unlike her husband, she wasn’t particularly beautiful, and being small and delicate, she should have been easily obscured by others.

She was standing at one side of the ballroom where dancing continued, responding to approaching guests.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

“Your Highness!”

“I’d like to discuss the Duke and Duchess’s gift, so I ask for your understanding.”

When he mentioned the host’s name, the other party had no way to object.

Castor strode purposefully toward Alisa. A wave of gazes rippled in the direction of his movement.

“Duchess Penvernon.”

Alisa turned toward Castor’s call.

“Ah, Your Highness. Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Thanks to you.”

Castor gestured to the woman opposite Alisa. The middle-aged lady, seasoned in social circles, quickly vacated her spot.

“Now it’s finally bearable.”

“Everyone seems to be in good spirits at the chance to see Your Highness.”

“I think they’ve had enough good spirits by now, I wish they’d save the rest for next time.”

“Perhaps because it’s hard to promise when the next time will be?”

Alisa said with a smile. It was quite a bold and honest statement.

“Come to think of it, I haven’t offered a toast yet.”

“Didn’t we do that earlier when opening the ceremony?”

“That was with everyone.”

When most guests had arrived, the Penvernon couple had given a brief opening speech and expressed their thanks. The toast Alisa mentioned was the one everyone had raised then.

Castor asked a passing server to pour two glasses of wine.

“Vermouth would be better, something easy for the Duchess to drink.”

The server brought drinks according to his order. Castor had Alisa raise her glass, then extended his own toward her.

“Here, Duchess.”

Alisa had no choice but to clink glasses with him and take a sip of the wine. Though she only took a very small sip, she immediately felt a hot sensation, suggesting it was quite strong.

“You drink well.”

“Not too much more. My throat already feels hot.”

Alisa pressed her hand against her throat.

Castor’s gaze fell on the Celestial Necklace around her neck. The jewel containing the deep blue night and brilliant starry sky looked dazzling.

“Beautiful.”

“Ah. Yes? It seems too fancy for me.”

“No, I meant you, Duchess. The jewel barely catches my eye in comparison.”

“What?”

Alisa made a dumbfounded face. It was amusing how she couldn’t hide a single expression. That was equivalent to showing all her cards, which was a very bad habit for a woman living in social circles.

“Hahaha, thank you. It must be thanks to the maids working hard on my makeup! By the way, has the demonic beast problem been resolved?”

Alisa hastily changed the subject. It was admirable how she earnestly brought up a topic that might interest him. That alone made him want to play along.

“We’re testing what you suggested then.”

“Ah, you mean researching the demonic beasts’ ecosystem?”

“Yes. Since there’s a limit to just killing them, it’s worth trying. The Prime Minister agreed too. We’ve even invited scholars from the university.”

“I’m glad if it was somehow helpful.”

“You look quite pleased.”

“Hmph!”

She smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

‘How cute.’

Right after thinking that, Castor couldn’t stop the self-mockery that emerged, making his lips curl. Thinking he was laughing at her, Alisa watched him nervously while rolling her eyes. Just as he was about to say that wasn’t it, Rashid appeared from behind.

He quickly took Alisa away, saying he had urgent matters to discuss with his wife.

Left behind, Castor found some amusement in wondering whether that man, who had been so solitary and cold, realized why he was acting so innocently now.

For a man with no weaknesses to develop one—that was a good thing for him.

* * *

And so everyone’s night flowed on.

It was a night both short and long.

Rashid’s birthday banquet only ended when dawn was breaking.

People who had spent all night drinking and enjoying themselves merrily asked to be invited again next time.

I gave out return gifts while seeing off the last remaining guests. Though not as much as the gifts they had brought, they were items chosen with proper courtesy.

“How delightful. It’s Your Grace’s birthday but I’m the one receiving gifts!”

Strangely, the guests were as delighted as children receiving unexpected presents. These were people who had plenty of better things at home.

It seems to be because the concept of return gifts doesn’t exist in social circles…. I had only prepared them to give the impression of hosting a luxurious banquet, so their happy faces somehow made me feel guilty.

Finally, the last guest departed.

‘Ah, it’s finally over!’

At last, I could let this banquet go from my embrace. Perhaps because I had been focused solely on this for days and days, I felt both relieved and somewhat sad.

The cleanup was the servants’ job. I only had to handle the final accounting. I’d do that after getting some rest. I was too tired now.

“You worked hard.”

“Not at all.”

Rashid lightly patted my back to encourage me. The warmth of his hand somehow felt ticklish, so I straightened my back a bit more.

“I need to rest. I feel like it’ll still be midnight when I wake up.”

“That’s fine.”

Yes, I had been anxious about preparing this for several days. I learned a lot thanks to it. Though it won’t be very useful since I’ll be living a leisurely life in a small town after the divorce.

I sent Rashid up to the bedroom first. Then I hurriedly pressed Macy.

“Is it ready?”

“Here, my lady.”

She brought out a cream cake on a tray. It was a strawberry cake I had made myself. The cake, decorated prettily with pink cream and topped with white cream, looked quite decent.

When I said I would make the cake myself, the mansion’s staff, including Mrs. Ronan and Macy, looked completely bewildered.

I didn’t quite understand my decision either. But I just wanted to do it… Somehow it felt like I should. Because that’s what celebrating a birthday is about. At least for this moment, I wanted him to be happy.

“I’ll take it myself.”

“What? But……”

“It’s fine.”

When I winked, Macy withdrew.

I carried the cake up to the bedroom. Having no hand to knock with, I kicked the door lightly with my toe, and Rashid opened it.

“……What is this?”

He looked at me through the door gap, then at the cake below, and asked.

“I brought a present.”

“What?”

“A birthday cake.”

“……”

“Are you going to keep me standing here?”

Then Rashid let me in.

I quickly entered the bedroom and placed the cake on the table.

This room and such a cute cake really don’t match at all.

Thinking this, I lit the candles one by one.

“What are you doing?”

“This is essential for birthdays. You have to blow out the candles and make a wish.”

Finding it absurd, Rashid gave a slight snort. Ignoring my sincerity… he really is a bad person.

“Here.”

I pointed to the chair opposite the table. It meant for him to sit down.

Rashid reluctantly sat down and looked at the candles burning in the middle of the dim room. The flames burned brightly at the tips of the thin candles.

“Today is the day to celebrate your birth, so I’ll sing for you.”

“What?”

“After the song ends and I clap, you blow out the candles while making a wish. Got it?”

Without waiting for an answer, I started singing in a small voice.

“Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you……”

I mumbled through the ‘dear’ part and finished the song, then gave a light clap. Then I looked at him expectantly.

Rashid, seemingly displeased about going along with this rhythm, glared at me with an expressionless face, but when I alternately looked between him and the candles, he blew them out as if fed up. I clapped once more.

“Happy birthday, Rashid.”

Then a faint smile slowly rose on his expressionless face. Like a flower slowly blooming, like water flowing quietly. Though so faint it would be unnoticeable without focusing, it was a definite change.

Rashid answered.

“Yes, Alisa.”

He stood up and came toward me. Then he lightly kissed my forehead.

“I’m happy.”

He truly seemed so.