Chapter 27

With the wedding about two weeks away, Ruby Palace was in chaos. Three dresses had to be prepared, including one for the reception, and a special negligee for the wedding night. Shoes, accessories, tiara, and even the decorations for the wedding hall had to be arranged by Ruby Palace in the absence of the royal elders, keeping Eileen and her maids busy every day.

Then one morning, while Eileen was having breakfast, she received an invitation to the Prince’s tea time.

“Tea time?”

“Yes. There was a message asking if you would join him today, Princess.”

The other maids were busy working, so the steward from Sapphire Palace, where Kallian was staying, delivered the invitation. What did she have to do today? As Eileen pondered, the steward waited for her answer, neck stiffly raised, and Eileen, unable to finish her meal, told him she would go.

“Tell him I’ll go. But I’d prefer lunch together rather than tea time.”

“I’ll relay your message, Princess.”

Tea time with ladies usually lasted three hours or more, but Eileen didn’t think Kallian would keep his busy bride-to-be for long. Besides, she needed to discuss flowers and boutonnieres for the wedding hall with him.

After hearing Eileen’s answer, the steward bowed formally and left the dining room. Watching him go, Eileen finished her smoked duck and headed alone to where the maids were preparing lunch.

Thus, dressed in a new gown, Eileen entered the Sapphire Palace dining room just after noon. The weather was getting hotter, so she wore a dress with bare arms and pink embroidery over white cloth. As she arrived, the closed dining room door was opened by a steward.

“The Princess is here to dine.”

“Welcome, Eileen.”

But as soon as she entered, Eileen stopped in her tracks. Kallian rose to escort her, greeting her warmly, but another man also stood and bowed—a problem, because of his identity.

“…Why is Duke Leios here?”

“I invited him. I thought he’d be good company for lunch.”

Kallian flashed his signature bright smile and offered his arm. Eileen, flustered but graceful, placed her hand on his arm. Kallian led her to the head table. Traditionally, when a couple dines together, they sit at the head table facing each other…

“Now, why is everyone sitting like this?”

Eileen’s eyes widened in surprise as she saw the two men sitting on either side of her at the head table. Purely startled, she asked, and Kallian laughed at her reaction, signaling to Leios.

“Well, because we’re the men closest to you. It’s more convenient to sit like this and talk over a meal.”

“Is it uncomfortable, Princess?”

“T-that’s…!”

Of course, it was uncomfortable. She had never imagined such a combination, and the fact that Leios sat calmly across from Kallian, and Kallian just as calmly across from Leios, was shocking and unconventional.

Eileen couldn’t even smile, her lips twitching with nerves, but the two men didn’t care. Soon, the servants laid out food for the three and left, as if they’d been ordered not to let anyone else in.

“Let’s eat. I specially asked the chef I brought from Hyksar to prepare today’s meal since you were coming. He’s quite skilled.”

“I see. I thought the recipes were different from Staerfix’s.”

“The Duke might want to move to Hyksar after tasting this.”

‘Why are they chatting so amiably without me?’

Eileen sat stiffly, feeling like an outsider at their table. She didn’t even pick up her utensils, just glanced nervously between them. This time, Leios spoke up.

“His Highness has graciously agreed to acknowledge your relationship with me, Princess. Today’s meeting is proof of that.”

“Hm, well, we’ll be a family soon enough. It’s good to get familiar.”

There was a brief, sharp exchange of glances between the two men, but Eileen didn’t notice. Anyway, the food was served, and since she’d been busy all morning to attend this lunch, she decided to overcome the awkwardness and picked up her utensils. After all, the food was innocent.

Eileen finally reached for the first appetizer, grabbing a handful of salad with unusual greens. Instantly, Leios grabbed her left wrist.

“You mustn’t eat that.”

The moment Leios touched her, Kallian’s gaze turned cold. But Leios stared straight at Kallian, gripping Eileen’s wrist even tighter. Eileen looked at Leios in confusion, and he spoke, still looking at Kallian.

“There are peaches in it. You have a peach allergy, don’t you?”

“…Ah! Thank you, Leios.”

Realizing why he stopped her, Eileen smiled brightly and thanked him. But somehow, Leios’s expression seemed colder than usual.

“I had no idea you had an allergy. That could’ve been dangerous.”

“If you’re preparing a meal, it’s normal to know your guests’ dietary preferences, isn’t it?”

“I almost hurt my precious bride. Are you all right, Eileen?”

“I-I’m fine, I didn’t eat any.”

Leios’s tone was a bit sharp, but Kallian’s reply was smooth, so it didn’t seem like they were upset. Still, Eileen’s discomfort made her shift in her seat.

“Then let’s remove all dishes with peaches. Any other allergies?”

“None besides peaches.”

“That’s a relief. No one got hurt, and I learned something new about you, so I feel closer. All thanks to the Duke.”

“Ha.”

With elegance, Kallian placed a brief kiss on the back of Eileen’s right hand after she set down her salad fork. The sudden gesture made Eileen blink in surprise, but Kallian just smiled softly at her and rang the bell on the table three times.

Ding, ding, ding. At the sound, the servants entered and, following Kallian’s orders, removed all dishes containing peaches. Leios muttered something under his breath at Kallian’s display, but Eileen didn’t notice due to the bustle.

The meal resumed. Eileen ate heartily, choosing what she liked, and Kallian commented how pleased he was that she enjoyed Hyksar cuisine.

“So, have you chosen all your dresses?”

“They’re all chosen, and Madame Katarina is working hard to make them. She’s probably the busiest right now.”

“I can’t wait to see which dress you’ll wear.”

Receiving Kallian’s affectionate gaze, Eileen turned toward him and answered cheerfully. Her lips were still lovely, and she was so slender that she didn’t need to diet for her dress. Even the way she chewed made her cheeks puff adorably.

“Ah, the dress…”

Eileen was about to continue talking about her dress.

“A lace dress embroidered with peonies.”

Suddenly, Leios’s voice cut in, and both Eileen and Kallian turned to him.

“How did you know?”

Eileen asked in an excited, higher-pitched voice, and Leios smiled kindly. When she was surprised or amazed, her voice chirped like a bird, just as it had in childhood.

“Since you were very young, Queen Edna always said she’d put you in such a dress.”

“R-right. You remembered.”

“We heard that story many times together. She said she’d embroider peonies like those blooming every spring in front of Ruby Palace, and put pearls on it.”

“…Exactly. Yes, I’m making the dress Mother described.”

In the past, Queen Edna always told Eileen she’d have her wear a dress embroidered with her favorite peonies, and that she’d watch her walk the wedding road when the spring breeze began and the peonies bloomed. Thinking of her mother’s smile, Eileen grew sentimental. Though the wedding was rushed and the peonies had faded, she wanted to wear the dress just as the Queen had described.

“We heard that story together.”

Thinking back, the late Duchess and Leios were always there when that story was told. Perhaps the two mothers, who wanted to bring Eileen and Leios together, told it on purpose.

“My mother always said I’d welcome a bride as beautiful as you.”

“The Duchess…”

While the two shared their nostalgic memories, Kallian, who found their private talk annoying, smirked and cut in coldly.

“What a pity. You’ll be standing next to me in that dress.”

“…That’s…”

“Even if you have a second wedding, you can’t wear the same dress twice. Right, Duke?”

Ah, this was openly mocking. Eileen clammed up at the sudden shift in tone, but Leios didn’t. He calmly met Kallian’s gaze. He knew Kallian was deliberately provoking him, but there was no reason to fall for childish taunts. Kallian had already promised that Eileen would one day become his wife.

“Indeed. You’ll be wearing a beautiful dress at our wedding, too.”

“I wonder when that day will come.”

Though they weren’t wielding swords, a fierce battle of wills continued. Memories of Lake Criang, their first dance at the reception, and the bouquet Leios recommended—all their opinions clashed over Eileen, leaving her exhausted.

“…If you’ve finished eating, I think I’ll excuse myself.”

“Eileen.”

“Princess.”

The two men finally snapped out of it and called her at the same time, but Eileen truly didn’t want to stay any longer.

“As you know, I’m very busy right now. I’m sorry, but I must return to Ruby Palace. Please enjoy the rest of your time.”

Eileen gracefully excused herself and left the dining room. She vowed never to join the two men together again. But she had no idea that there would be many more occasions like this, nor what would happen or how she would change.