Kali winked at Rosana. Following Kali’s gaze, she saw Jade glaring at Rosana with an extremely serious face. To be precise, his glare was directed at the numerous nobles near Rosana.

Rosana let out a clear laugh. Whether her threat to not see him for a while if he broke his promise had worked well, Jade couldn’t approach and just pouted with a dissatisfied face. 

He stared toward Rosana with an incredibly serious expression, ignoring the words of other nobles chattering beside him. He was scanning the surroundings thoroughly with sharp eyes, wary of something.

“Really. This is troublesome.”

The words slipped out of her mouth. Then she cheerfully extended her hand.

“Come here.”

The nobles who had been chattering away all tilted their heads in puzzlement at Rosana’s suddenly cryptic words. However, someone reacted immediately to those words.

“My lady? Is something the matter…?”

“Haven’t I left you alone too long?”

Jade, who had been far away in the seat of honor, had somehow approached right behind Rosana. He waved his hands around, shooing away the nobles approaching like swatting flies.

“Won’t you back off?”

“Pardon?”

“Can’t you maintain proper distance? You lot?”

“Now, now. His Majesty says to go far away.”

Kali also waved her hands. The male noble who had been praising Rosana moments ago was apparently classified as a dangerous person, as the Imperial Knights waiting nearby approached and pulled him away by the arm.

“Jade, we’re just talking.”

“…His gaze is insolent.”

She laughed at him turning his head away sulking like a child. At that reaction, the nobles flinched and stepped back in alarm.

“Who was it that left me alone, and now you’re jealous?”

Kali, having found an amusing target to tease, spoke with pursed lips. At her mocking tone, Jade’s brow furrowed.

“Who left you alone? I didn’t want to leave you alone. This is a ball for you and me. Do you think I wanted to watch other bastards swarming around you?”

“Jade, your words are too harsh.”

“…”

“For His Majesty to obediently listen. You’ve become a gentle lamb.”

“His Majesty does tend to be like that in front of Lady Rosana.”

Kali let out an exclamation. Lily chuckled. While Jade lowered his tail before Rosana, he raised his voice at Kali and Lily who followed.

“Got a problem?”

“Jade.”

“…I gave you enough time alone. Now stay by my side. Don’t even look at other bastards.”

He spoke in a voice full of jealousy. Lamenting the time they’d been apart, he stuck right to Rosana’s side and whined. He naturally pulled her waist close with one hand. Rosana gently smoothed his hair to soothe his dissatisfied expression.

“I couldn’t see anyone else to begin with. And who am I looking at? There’s only one place I’m going back to.”

Rosana wrapped her arms around the neck of the bowing Jade and lightly left a peck on his cheek. Jade immediately drew in a deep breath and his chest swelled roughly.

When she heard lovers whispering sweet words around her, she used to get goosebumps, but the words coming from Rosana’s mouth were sweet. Enough to make him want to fall into a deep sleep. His sharply honed eyes melted away. Jade rubbed his face against Rosana’s neck.

“Since meeting you, I can’t control my emotions going up and down. And I’m not even a child.”

Meanwhile, the nobles standing far away couldn’t tell if the wine was going into their mouths or their noses. Their eyes bulged out wide in bewilderment.

Honey dripped from Jade’s eyes, seemingly wanting to announce to the world that he loved Rosana. He was rubbing against Rosana’s body like watching a companion dog acting cute. 

They laughed in disbelief at him lowering his tail when he could subdue Rosana in one move.

“Come to think of it, the lady said to come here earlier…”

To be precise, it was “come here.” Imagining Jade jumping up without dignity and rushing to her side like lightning, they shuddered.

“The end times.”

People nodded in agreement at the words that came out like a sigh from someone’s mouth.

“Now that I think about it, it’s unfair.”

“Pardon?”

“Who would say anything about me keeping you by my side? I wanted you to enjoy the party, not make you read people’s faces and struggle to be recognized like this.”

Rosana stared up at him blankly. Jade had wanted to give her an enjoyable ball as a gift. 

Though the nobles’ gazes were concerning, he was by her side, and he was confident that if they talked with her even a little, the misunderstanding would be resolved.

There was absolutely no need to worry and fret to gain the nobles’ recognition, or to be careful about words, actions, and attitudes to look good. He had simply wanted her to act as she was.

“How could I not be happy? It’s a banquet you prepared for me, and you stepped forward for me directly. Thank you so much.”

“…If you say you’re happy, then it doesn’t matter.”

She could talk with new people like this, and there were people beside her she could call friends. And the person she loved was reliably protecting her from beside her.

Rosana smiled brightly.

“In that sense… Let’s enjoy it together. I won’t leave you alone. I want Jade to be happy too. Don’t you dance here? In Astrot, people who love each other dance together.”

“No, I don’t dance…”

Rosana tilted her head. It was the first time Jade had backed away flustered. From doing something with Rosana.

“It’s okay. I’ll lead you well.”

She brushed it off casually, thinking he must be clumsy at dancing. But that wasn’t it.

“…I’ve never danced. I don’t even enjoy dancing to begin with.”

“What?”

Lily explained to Rosana.

“Um… We do dance, but usually we have a more important event. Perhaps His Majesty prepared that for Lady Rosana?”

Lily gave Jade a hint, saying it was an opportunity. Then Jade cleared his throat and called Malek.

“Then, we’ll decorate the end of the banquet.”

“The end?”

“I can finally loosen up now?”

Kali stretched boldly. Other nobles were the same. They were anticipating what the prize would be this time.

“Isn’t it unusual? The fact that they’re wearing swords. It’s different from the Astrot Empire.”

“Certainly…”

Rosana looked at the sword at Kali’s side. Even for knights, the custom was to leave their swords and not bring them into the hall during banquets. Because there was no way to know who they might kill with those swords.

“We decorate with an ending that suits us perfectly.”

“The flower of the ball isn’t dancing but competition.”

The surroundings buzzed. Everyone looked excited about the spectacle and competition happening after a long time.

“I’m looking forward to what treasure will appear.”

“It must be a valuable treasure. Aren’t there heirlooms from various kingdoms in the treasure vault?”

“And it’s Lady Rosana’s debut banquet, so they must have paid attention to the prize.”

The atmosphere was very different from the banquets she had experienced. A bustling market-like atmosphere instantly filled the banquet hall. 

The banquet hall became noisy, as though they’d never suspected and measured each other. It was a hot atmosphere like being in a colosseum.

“We always determine a winner. And the winner dedicates the item to their favorite lady. Of course, the reverse is possible too. And it’s no exaggeration to say the final prize determines the quality of the banquet.”

Lily’s eyes sparkled, seemingly very excited.

“Sometimes people participate themselves, but for those who haven’t trained in martial arts, their fiancés or escort knights often participate instead and bring them victory.”

“You mean they dedicate the glory of victory to the lady?”

“Something like that.”

Rosana clasped her hands together and became happy, seemingly influenced by Lily’s anticipation. Whatever decorated the end, it was enough if it was enjoyable.

“Rosana.”

“Yes?”

Jade subtly approached Rosana and quietly put his lips to her ear to ask.

“Do you want it? For you, I’d throw this body of mine.”

Rosana looked at the people who were determined to win this time and claim the prize. She could see Lily going to Baron’s side, pulling at his collar while acting cute, asking him to participate and saying she wanted the prize.

“Um… No. Let’s yield to someone else.”

Everyone was engaged in a war of nerves to get the prize. Surely if she said she wanted it, Jade would step forward, and the prize would undoubtedly end up in his hands.

But he raised his eyebrow at an angle, seemingly displeased with Rosana’s answer.

“That’s unfortunate. You said to accept it as fate, didn’t you? Everything I give you.”

“What?”

Rosana looked up at Jade urgently. He grinned at Rosana. Then he confidently walked to the center.

The Imperial Knights shook their heads. There was a reason Baron had refused Lily’s request. The banquet hall became noisy at the news of Jade’s participation.

“Y-Your Majesty is participating too?”

“Why? Is there a law saying I can’t participate?”

“No… It’s not that, but…”

Those who had boldly stepped forward were lowering their tails and hesitantly backing away. Kali beside him grumbled.

“If my lord steps forward, it’s obvious who the winner will be without even watching.”

“If you don’t like it, then beat me. Don’t worry—I’m not a heartless master who won’t give you a chance. I’ll even give you a handicap.”

At Jade’s confident words, people could be seen trembling, unable to refute. Jade said it was a banquet he prepared for me. I was the protagonist.

‘Then, shall I be a little greedy…’

“May I look forward to it?”

“…Of course.”

At the words of encouragement, a strange light flashed in Jade’s eyes. Several nobles appeared requesting duels playfully, and Jade faced them regardless. The sound of clashing swords heated up the banquet hall.

“I’m worried he might get hurt.”

“You needn’t worry. They mustn’t threaten lives. And my lord will control it well.”

“Will Sir Kendra participate too?”

“There aren’t many opportunities to cross swords with my lord.”

The result was Jade’s obvious victory. However, seeing people laughing saying they enjoyed it even though they didn’t get the prize, Rosana felt pleased too.

“Then, we’ll give the prize to the victor.”

Malek quietly approached Jade and lifted the cloth. There was a necklace boasting a beautiful blue light.

“Isn’t that Mermaid Tears?”

“It’s truly beautiful.”

Some who were seeing it for the first time sparkled their eyes. Jade snatched the necklace and walked calmly to Rosana. Then he undid the necklace’s clasp and personally put it around Rosana’s neck.

“I heard you said something had to be at least this much to catch your eye. Obviously you’d refuse if I said I was giving it to you.”

Jade raised his hand to cup Rosana’s cheek, then looked into her eyes and said:

“As expected, it’s beautiful when you wear it.”

Rosana found Jade’s efforts cute, using all sorts of methods to ultimately get the necklace into his possession.

“Thank you.”

Jade nodded, satisfied with that sight. The Imperial Knights also made a fuss, saying they were glad to see Rosana happy and asking if she’d made many friends.

“Are you Rosana’s guardians? Get lost.”

They finally calmed down after receiving Jade’s kicks. Everyone became a sea of laughter at the scene that was no different from a pleasant comedy. The throne’s seat on the platform wasn’t needed.