As evening fell, people began gathering one by one at the banquet hall.
Though it was a small-scale dinner, the atmosphere was as splendid as a grand banquet.
"Did your guest not come with you?"
When everyone had taken their seats, Emperor Perseus asked Romeo.
Romeo calmly put on a regretful expression.
"She said she wasn't feeling well suddenly, perhaps from exhaustion from the journey. I came after confirming she had fallen asleep."
"I'll send a physician after the dinner ends."
"That won't be necessary. She should be fine after a good rest, so please don't worry. If she's still unwell by tomorrow morning, I'll let you know through an attendant. I thank you for Your Majesty's consideration."
At Romeo's perfect etiquette, people glanced at him.
Along with the musicians' music, attendants began bringing out the food.
Emperor Perseus would occasionally gaze blankly into space during the meal.
His inability to focus was due to what happened last night.
Yesterday, the last day of the banquet, was the wedding anniversary of Emperor Perseus and Elizabeth.
Though over twenty years had passed, he still missed his wife.
Unable to contain his longing, he had gone there. But in what seemed like a dream, his deceased wife appeared before his eyes.
'I must have seen wrong...'
When he came to his senses, he had already been moved to his quarters by the knights.
But there was something strange.
One of the knights who had come to retrieve him had been found fainted in front of the cottage door.
Also, around the same time, a small commotion had occurred at the northeastern castle gate.
Since someone might have intruded into the imperial castle, a search was conducted throughout the dawn.
But despite searching thoroughly, there were no traces of an intruder or missing items anywhere.
'Something is definitely strange.'
The figure he saw last night was too vivid to be called a dream.
That was why he had ordered soldiers to search for any woman with green eyes who had entered or exited the imperial castle.
Fortunately nothing had happened, but security for those entering and leaving the imperial castle was strengthened several times over. They investigated inside the castle but found no suspicious individuals. The culprit had already escaped the castle. So they thoroughly monitored only the entrances and exits. He also ordered a mage to investigate the cause of the knight's sudden fainting.
Perseus surveyed those attending the banquet.
This gathering today was arranged to find a young man suitable to be Uriana's fiancé.
Cedric and Damian, though not yet married, already had fiancées.
Now it was Uriana's turn.
Honestly, Perseus absolutely did not want to marry off Uriana, but the Empress was extremely adamant.
Empress Marianne, seated beside him, examined the young men one by one with a benevolent gaze.
Especially toward Prince Romeo, her eyes were thick with regret.
This was because when she had asked Prince Romeo earlier, he answered that he already had a fiancée.
Compared to Cedric and Damian who still seemed like children, he definitely appeared more mature.
On the other hand, Uriana was openly looking at Calix, who sat beside Prince Romeo.
Calix himself was eating without a care in the world, but Uriana was trying hard to catch his interest.
'He won't even look at me once.'
Uriana clicked her tongue inwardly.
She had tried to show her most elegant and dignified self to him, but he blatantly ignored her gaze.
'Is he doing that on purpose? Should I switch to someone named Romeo?'
But she heard that this Romeo person already had a fiancée.
Uriana felt irrationally annoyed and glanced around.
Just then, her eyes met with Lute who was looking this way.
Uriana turned her head to the other side with a haughty air. Seeing Lute's flustered expression just before she turned her head gave her a satisfying feeling.
She found it annoying and frustrating that Lute wouldn't properly approach her and only hesitated.
So she had spent all day looking at this person named Calix to make him anxious....
'Cedric and Damian oppa teased me for nothing. That person doesn't like me.'
She became petulant for no reason and glared at her brothers sitting across from her.
The two were glaring at Calix but shrugged their shoulders when they felt Uriana's gaze.
'Uriana...'
Meanwhile, Lute glanced at her profile with an anxious heart. His gaze turned toward Calix again, filled with resentment.
"......"
Calix, receiving glares from various people, couldn't take it anymore and quietly put down his utensils.
Romeo, seated beside him, covered his mouth with one hand and asked quietly.
"What's wrong?"
"They're all staring at me. Are they picking a fight right now?"
"...Bear with it."
Calix became annoyed for no reason and swept his fierce gaze around. A few who were intimidated by that look turned their heads away.
On the other hand, Cedric and Damian still glared at him as if he were their enemy.
'Damn it.'
Calix wanted to leave this place immediately.
It felt like everyone was staring at his eyes that had turned a strange color, making him uncomfortable and ashamed.
He deliberately turned his thoughts to something else.
'Is she doing well?'
The image of her that had reminded him of Leo earlier came to mind.
Feeling thirsty for no reason, Calix gulped down his champagne.