DZN Ch 15

✨⋆⁺₊✧

“It’s nothing new, but Your Highness’s surroundings are still a flower garden,” Moritz remarked during tea time after the meal, causing a strange silence to fall.

Upon seeing the returned Michael and Daniel, he had boldly voiced what everyone wanted to say but couldn’t bring themselves to. Calix responded leisurely to his courage,

“It makes me feel good to have beautiful things around me.”

“That’s true. I certainly understand why Esche Castle is called a flower garden. I heard all the beauties in the country gather at Esche Castle, and it seems to be true.”

The previous knights and attendants were impressive, but this year was particularly exceptional, Moritz commented as he slowly scanned Michael and Daniel.

It was remarkable in itself that two individuals, renowned for their beauty even within social circles, were both in the same knight order. Not only them, but Alfred, standing next to them, was also a beautiful young man recently buzzing with rumors.

Although he was incredibly clueless and occasionally frustrating, his appearance alone made him stand out wherever he went.

“With so many beautiful people around you, it seems Your Highness has no thoughts of marriage.”

“Perhaps?”

Calix laughed, admitting it wasn’t wrong. Moritz leaned forward slightly and looked at Calix. Then he spoke seriously,

“I understand that being surrounded by such exceptional beauties has raised your standards excessively, but it’s time to stop playing around and get married.”

Seeing Moritz speak in a roundabout way, Ruan finally realized the purpose of this luncheon.

No wonder they insisted on Calix attending no matter what. The real purpose seemed to be Calix’s marriage.

The Empress had planned this, and Moritz was today’s leader.

It was so obvious.

Because just three years ago, he had done exactly what Moritz was doing now.

Come to think of it, that was also right before Foundation Day.

It was right after Calix had come of age, so the Empress had ordered him to cooperate in getting Calix married, and he had actively taken on the task. The result was not good.

It was obvious he was too clumsy.

Just like Moritz now.

Following the Empress’s orders, he had stationed noble ladies wherever Calix went, inducing coincidental and natural encounters, and shoving Calix into all sorts of gatherings, which had backfired.

Since he hadn’t done such things before, it was too obvious, and thanks to that, everything was discovered in exactly three days.

And Calix, noticing this, had joyfully declared that he would never marry and stopped setting foot in places where noble ladies attended.

To make matters worse, as a side effect, he suddenly started showing interest in knights and attendants one day.

Yes, that’s how it was. That was the beginning.

Calix, who had detested homosexuality due to the Emperor’s influence, suddenly changed.

Following that incident, the Empress, realizing that clumsy interference would only provoke Calix further, put the marriage operation on hold… but it seemed she was about to restart it.

So, this time, she seemed to have handed the reins to Moritz instead of him, but he wasn’t sure if it would go well.

From observing Calix for about five years, Ruan knew Moritz wasn’t particularly perceptive either. And his way of thinking was simple.

In other words, he was someone with the same thought process as Ruan three years ago.

Throwing anything and everything out there, hoping something would stick.

And Ruan could guarantee that would absolutely backfire.

“I was wondering why you suddenly asked me to attend the luncheon… It seems that was the purpose.”

Ruan was startled by the gaze suddenly directed at him as he put down his teacup, and he asked back with his eyes,

‘Why are you looking at me all of a sudden?’

Calix immediately asked with a tilt of his chin,

‘Are you an accomplice?’

Falsely accused countless times today alone, Ruan desperately denied it with his eyes.

‘I know nothing about this.’

Of course, this was something he was capable of, but it truly wasn’t him.

He was indeed enjoying the unfolding events with amusement, but he hadn’t deliberately caused any of them.

“This matter has nothing to do with Captain Campbell. I also wasn’t informed of Captain Campbell’s return.”

‘See, I’m innocent,’ Ruan nodded slightly, and Calix finally looked away, seemingly convinced.

“Mother has gotten old. To worry about such useless things.”

“You’ve aged as much as I have.”

It was unprecedented for the Crown Prince to be over twenty without even a fiancée, as it was common for children of noble families to marry around their coming-of-age ceremony.

In fact, at Calix’s age, he should have been married with two or three children.

Even looking at Ruan’s peers, only a few weren’t married. Even that was due to the unique nature of being a knight, which often delayed marriage.

So it was no wonder the Empress was pushing for him to get married quickly. And Ruan also hoped Calix would get married soon if possible.

That way, his workload would decrease.

“I understand your concerns, but I haven’t thought about marriage yet.”

“I know your wicked temper, so I let you do as you pleased, but I can’t delay this any longer. I plan to find your marriage partner during this Foundation Day, so quietly comply.”

“You can look all you want, but I can’t guarantee I’ll get married.”

‘Marry yourself if you want,’ Calix said brazenly, and Leonie gave him a stern look.

“Calix.”

Following her reproachful call of his name, Moritz, who had been cautiously observing the situation, quickly intervened and began mediating between the two.

“Your Majesty, I think a natural encounter would suit His Highness the Crown Prince better than a political marriage. His Highness has very clear preferences and is a strong-willed individual.”

Moritz, desperately trying to put a positive spin on Calix’s difficult personality, looked at Ruan as if asking for help. Ruan looked away, pretending not to notice.

He shouldn’t get involved in this conversation.

More than anything, if he intervened, Calix would only resist more.

As he avoided eye contact, as if asking to be left out, Moritz finally gave up and continued,

“If a prearranged meeting makes you uncomfortable, attending parties or gatherings naturally would also be good.”

Ruan watched with amusement as Moritz suggested the same method he had already tried and failed miserably.

It didn’t matter who won this; it had nothing to do with him.

He just had to enjoy himself.

Enjoy Calix being tormented by the marriage issue.

“I was wondering why you suddenly asked me to the lunch…seems like that was the purpose.”
Moritz said, looking at Ruan.

Ruan flinched as the arrow suddenly flew towards him while he was keeping his mouth shut. He had been holding his breath due to his guilty conscience, and he resentfully glared at the back of Calix’s head, wondering why he was being dragged into this, but Calix didn’t even glance his way.

Instead, the gazes of everyone at the table were directed towards him all at once.

Ruan opened his mouth under the powerful gaze of the imperial relatives, and this time, Calix’s gaze also landed on him.

“What do you think? Doesn’t this story sound familiar?”

It wasn’t just familiar; he had done it himself, so it was very familiar.

He roughly understood why Calix was asking this, but he couldn’t avoid it, so he answered truthfully,

“….Yes.”

“When?”

“….Three years ago.”

“Who?”

“….Me.”

“What was the result?”

“Your Highness became a homosexual.”

At Ruan’s short and impactful answer, Calix shrugged as if asking if there was anything else to say. Moritz and everyone else started glaring at Ruan.

Under their accusatory gazes, which seemed to say, ‘Are you trying to get out of this alone?’, Ruan turned his head and looked at the distant sky, pretending not to know.

There were snares you couldn’t help but step into, even though you knew they were traps. And Calix was a hunter who was very good at setting such snares.

Moritz, who had lost a great advantage with the betrayal of Ruan, his trusted ally, managed a smile and looked at Calix again.

“That’s already in the past. This time will be different from three years ago. There will be no pressure, and you can avoid any uncomfortable situations. Just relax and find someone you connect with.”

With that, Moritz glanced at Calix’s knights and cautiously addressed Calix.

“Even if you get married, you can still enjoy yourself as much as you want. Everyone has a lover or two on the side anyway.”

“Like Father and Mother?”

A silence fell as Calix, with a smile on his face, slowly looked at Leonie and Max standing behind her.

Calix had touched a taboo. A taboo that everyone knew, but pretended not to know, pretended not to see even if they saw.