Chapter 63
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Even though it was his own birthday banquet, Calix couldn’t feel much excitement. Unlike before, the nobles were desperately trying to get on his good side, but he felt nothing in particular.
He couldn’t quite remember when it started, but it was probably when the nobles who used to cling to Bianca started to slyly attach themselves to him.
Factions exist everywhere, but anyone would feel the same seeing nobles who had once ignored his very existence suddenly scrambling to win his favor as if he were the Imperial Crown Prince.
“But isn’t it strange that neither the Empress nor Lady Haisley are here?”
While quietly drinking wine, Calix glanced darkly at Ilion’s words beside him. The two women who never missed a single banquet were both absent from his birthday banquet, claiming to be ill.
Even the Emperor, with the Empress absent, had only made a token appearance before leaving quickly.
No matter what, the way these two always found a way to blindside him if he let his guard down—even this was the same for both mother and daughter.
“How would I know?”
Calix answered Ilion’s oblivious question indifferently. But in truth, he was a little curious why they hadn’t come.
Countless noble ladies surrounded Calix, who was now becoming the center of power. To them, he was the perfect groom.
Now that he was an adult, Calix stood out anywhere with his height well over 190 centimeters and broad shoulders.
Thanks to his muscular and triangular figure, slim waist, and long limbs, even his clothes looked exceptional on him. Not just the unmarried noble ladies, but all the women at the banquet were sneaking glances, unable to take their eyes off him.
His natural good looks hadn’t changed since boyhood, but his more masculine jawline and neck only made him more captivating.
“Your Highness the Imperial Crown Prince, it’s an honor to meet you. I am…”
At that moment, one of the young ladies hesitated, then shyly stepped forward to greet him. Then, all the others came over to greet him as well.
Even the young masters nearby joined in, using the chance to flatter him along with the ladies.
“Your Highness, your radiance is so dazzling I can hardly keep my eyes open. I can’t tell if you are the sun, or the sun is you.”
“Haha, you’re quite the jokester, Young Lord.”
Ilion gave a hearty laugh towards the jesting tone of the count’s son, but Calix’s expression didn’t change.
With his cold, indifferent look, the young nobleman who’d made the joke and Ilion both fell silent.
“It’s my first time drinking wine as an adult, so I’d like to enjoy it quietly.”
His low, mellow voice made the ladies’ cheeks flush red.
But at Calix’s words, the crowd of young men and women reluctantly withdrew. He scanned the room, mentally noting who was absent from the banquet.
“Ilion.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Your older brother is missing as well.”
“…Oh? Maybe he’s with Her Majesty the Empress?”
Ilion hadn’t realized Zion was missing either and belatedly added his own thought, but Calix could no longer ignore the strange feeling he’d had all evening.
Until now, Lea had always found some way to cause trouble at banquets, but had never done any real harm. And she had never missed a banquet he attended.
As for the Empress, she was petty, so it was possible she’d skip on purpose, but would Lea really skip it deliberately as well?
That was the uneasy feeling he’d had all along.
Lea’s absence. It was deeply unsettling.
She always showed her irritating face, and yet now, of all times, she was absent from the most important banquet.
Annoyed, he could only continue drinking his wine.
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