“I must bestow a great reward upon my Anais.”

“Why reward something like this?”

The Empress interjected, her lips pursed.

Decorating a banquet with common flowers that everyone knows could lead to criticism.

Even in decorations, one must boast of wealth and knowledge.

The banquets prepared by the late Empress were still praised for their unique and splendid flowers.

On the other hand, the current Empress’s banquets emphasized only wealth.

Because of that, there were occasional remarks among the nobles that the royal family was indulging in too much luxury.

“No, no. She helped create such a pleasant banquet, so I must give her a reward.”

“I’m sure Princess Anais will be pleased, Your Majesty.”

“Ha ha ha. Yes, yes.”

Up close, the Emperor seemed a capable ruler but not a good parent.

He seemed to care for his family, but he would often back out or pressure them at critical moments.

Even the talk of a reward was likely a gesture to stop criticizing the Empress.

‘But this is probably the best.’

The Emperor glanced at the Empress’s mood and showed us a friendly face.

“So, Nathaniel, you were ill but have gotten much better?”

“Yes. It was nothing.”

Still answering in a monosyllabic way, the Empress opened her mouth as if coaxing him.

“Be careful, Crown Prince. There’s a history of incurable diseases in the family, you never know.”

“Empress!”

“I’m just worried because a person who never gets sick is sick.”

I unknowingly gripped Nathaniel’s hand tightly at the Empress’s nagging, fearing he might impulsively use magic.

Nathaniel glanced at my hand and opened his mouth quietly.

“Thank you for your concern, Empress.”

An emotionless voice.

I let out a sigh of relief.

The tense Emperor also awkwardly ended the conversation with a laugh.

“Alright. Let’s talk in detail tomorrow.”

We greeted them and stepped down from the platform.

As we moved away from the platform, I held Nathaniel’s hand and whispered in his ear, bending down.

“You endured well.”

“It’s not wrong.”

But he looked sullen, as if his feelings were hurt.

I felt sorry for no reason.

“Nathaniel, would you like something to drink?”

He nodded at my question.

I got champagne from a passing servant and handed it to Nathaniel.

He looked at the glass and took a sip.

“It’s sweet.”

“First time trying it?”

He nodded to my question.

And he must have liked it, for he gulped it down and quickly emptied a glass.

I picked up a small cheesecake topped with a cherry with a fork and put it in his mouth.

He looked cute, munching and chewing.

“Huh?”

Come to think of it, now he doesn’t doubt what I give him.

Originally, Nathaniel never ate food that someone hadn’t inspected.

Does it mean he trusts me? Or has his guard slipped a bit?

Either way, it was a good thing.

Nathaniel, as far as I’ve observed, didn’t much like eating.

He ate his meals as if to get them over with, never really savoring the taste.

“So, do you like sweets?”

I was proud to see Nathaniel drinking a sweet dessert wine without a word.

Then I quickly remembered Nathaniel’s mother, Empress Lenisha, who had died.

I didn’t know anything about it since it’s barely mentioned in the original work.

But an incurable disease?

Could it have been the same as Teresa’s?

While I was pondering, Nathaniel suddenly spoke up.

“Is there something you want to say?”

“Huh?”

“You look like you want to say something…”

“No, I wasn’t thinking anything.”

I couldn’t ask Nathaniel about his mother’s incurable disease.

His mother’s death must have hurt young Nathaniel deeply.

I clamped my mouth shut and shook my head.

“It’s nothing…”

“Did you want to ask about my mother?”

My heart thumped at his blunt question.

Did he know some sort of divination?

Feeling guilty, I was at a loss for words.

“I’m, I’m sorry. It wasn’t out of curiosity or anything…”

“It’s fine. Many people talked about how suddenly my healthy mother passed away.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. There were even rumors of poisoning.”

I almost dropped my glass in surprise at the word ‘poisoning.’

Nathaniel glanced at me and quietly added,

“Of course, I don’t think so.”

“Th, that’s good.”

The atmosphere grew heavy.

I reached out and patted Nathaniel’s shoulder.

“She must have worried about you a lot before she passed away.”

“Maybe.”

He faintly smiled and poured the remaining wine.

Putting down the glass, he reached out and said,

“Shall we go show off our affection, as you wished?”

“I, when did I?”

“Otherwise, why would we need to dress the same?”

“Th, that’s…”

At his unexpected blow, I clamped my mouth shut, and Nathaniel chuckled and pulled my hand.

I was led to the floor by his hand.

His hand naturally came to my waist.

He started to turn, stepping slowly with the soft and powerful introduction of the brass instruments.

As we crossed the floor in rhythm, his hair slightly fluttered.

Under the chandelier, only music and Nathaniel filled my senses.

I stared blankly at him, moving my legs.

“Don’t get distracted.”

“Ugh. I wasn’t thinking anything else.”

“You know you messed up the step, right?”

At Nathaniel’s words, I clamped my mouth shut.

It was indeed the Nathaniel I knew.

After the dance, we withdrew to the wall.

People’s eyes were fixed on Nathaniel, whom they had never seen being so affectionate before.

Nathaniel bent down and whispered to me,

“Let’s pretend to be closer.”

It didn’t seem necessary to pretend to be this close.

I held my breath, getting too close.

“Why, why are you doing this?”

Nathaniel silently pointed to someone with his chin.

Turning my head, I saw Empress Lenisha watching us with a strange look.

“She looks angry just by looking at her. Let’s scratch her a little more.”

I couldn’t understand what Empress Lenisha was thinking at all.

Was there any reason why it would be bad for Nathaniel and me to get along?

I decided to follow Nathaniel’s advice, though half in doubt.

I had a servant bring a small baked snack that Nathaniel would like.

“Try this, too.”

“What’s this?”

“It’s a pithivier with chocolate cream inside.”

I had ordered some desserts I had eaten in my previous life for this banquet.

I had prepared them especially for Nathaniel, who liked sweets.

Nathaniel’s suspicious eyes were caught on the unfamiliar shape of the snack.

“It’s delicious.”

Certainly! Below is the translation of the given passage, considering the character names and genders:

Nathaniel opened his mouth, unable to resist my sincerity.

I swiftly stuffed a financier into his mouth.

Nathaniel, who was slowly eating with furrowed brows, opened his eyes wide.

“Is it tasty?”

“Yes.”

I also fed him other desserts.

He was accepting the food I gave him like a puppy.

“This one feels a bit tangy.”

“There’s fruit compote inside.”

He looked so cute eating anything with an expressionless face……. Wait.

‘Cute?’

What am I thinking right now?