The music changed with the gesture of the orchestra conductor. People stopped their conversations, captivated by the music from the first measure.

“Her Majesty Helena Strain enters!”

As the courtier loudly announced, people in the banquet hall all put down their champagne glasses. Then everyone bowed.

The only ones standing tall were Helena and the small Joseph, whose hand she was holding.

Helena, handing her fur shawl to an attendant, walked through the cleared path and sat on the chair on the platform.

The music that had been building up ended with her seating.

“Everyone rise.”

For a while, the noise of people checking their attire continued in the banquet hall.

Helena smiled as she received a champagne glass offered by a courtier.

“Is there anything suitable for young Hastings?”

“There’s lemonade and orange juice.”

Helena cast a glance at Joseph as if telling him to choose. Joseph’s shoulders jerked, his smile so wide it made his cheeks twitch.

It was an act that would have earned him a severe scolding from a strict etiquette teacher. Joseph’s face not only stiffened but also turned pale.

“Young Lord Hastings, which drink would you like us to bring?”

“O-o-o… orange juice.”

Joseph barely managed to answer. After the servant left, Helena stared at Joseph and raised one corner of her mouth, smirking.

As if saying he was a disgrace to the Hastings.

Tears welled up in Joseph’s eyes. The child clenched his fists and glared at the ceiling to keep from crying.

Because father would be watching.

Because he wanted to become a splendid person like his father.

The past few days spent in the imperial palace were sheer terror for Joseph.

Though lacking nothing in terms of house size, food, or clothes, Joseph felt trapped in a single room like when he lived alone with his mother as a child.

The mother of the kingdom didn’t hit or kick Joseph like his mother did. Instead, she struck him with her gaze.

When facing that gaze, as if looking at an insect, Joseph felt like he would shrink away to nothing.

If it weren’t for Leti in this situation, Joseph wouldn’t have been able to endure.

And mother.

Joseph slightly lowered his head and fidgeted with his hands. There was a trace of Jane inside his sleeve.

In the past, Jane had given Joseph a handkerchief embroidered with his name.

Leti had cut out the embroidered part of that handkerchief and sewed it inside his sleeve.

She said this way, he’d be with Jane throughout the banquet. Telling him to go and be brave.

Leti was very sorry she couldn’t be by Joseph’s side today.

Joseph’s small hand tightly gripped his wrist. As the embroidered part touched his tender skin, his heart, which had been churning with tension, began to settle little by little.

Only then could Joseph raise his head and survey the banquet hall.

Because father would be there.

While Helena was giving a speech celebrating her own birthday, the child’s eyes busily rolled about.

And he found Cain without difficulty. The clear gaze that gave confidence was watching Joseph, as if it had been there all along.

Joseph’s fear began to fade little by little.

Father is watching.

A faint smile appeared on Joseph’s lips. It was the first smile he’d worn today.

Not only Cain but also Jane saw that smile. Though far apart, the two were looking at the same place.

“I heard Hastings Duke wouldn’t escort, but in the end, it’s still Hastings.”

“Was all that talk about bad blood between Her Majesty and Duke Hastings just rumors?”

“We’ll have to wait and see. By the way, is this the first time the young lord has shown his face in public? He looks a bit different from when Duke Hastings was young?”

Though Joseph was a high noble, he was still a child who hadn’t even come of age. The fact that this child escorted the queen aroused discontent among many nobles.

“By the way, the son and husband are here, but where’s the duchess?”

“Haven’t you heard the rumors? They say the duchess was driven out of the Hastings house.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The previous Duke Hastings died because of that Whitney family… Love is blind, but only for so long. How could the duke’s heart bear seeing the daughter of his enemy?”

“Was she really driven out? Tsk, only that child is pitiable now.”

“What’s there to pity? She’s not even his real mother anyway. The duke will surely find him a prettier mother. Look at the duke’s face, hm? There’ll be no shortage of women lining up to be his second wife.”

Cain’s insides churned.

Joseph and Jane were being verbally butchered by the base adults’ jealousy and greed.

He needed to get Jane and Joseph out of here quickly.

Cain grabbed a passing waiter.

He was a disguised knight deployed for this operation.

“Change of plans. I’ll harvest the peach myself.”

“It’s dangerous.”

Cain said as he pulled down a champagne flute from the tray.

“While I check on the peach’s condition, begin the internal suppression.”

As if to say he wouldn’t speak further, Cain joined the long line stretched out in front of Helena.

The long line was a procession of those wanting to present gifts to Helena. Cain sneered at the sight of those who had dressed up like peacocks trying to catch her eye.

“Duke Hastings, please come to the front.”

People made way as if it were natural. Normally he would have declined, but wanting to finish the job as quickly as possible, Cain strode forward along the straight path that opened before him.

Helena was at the end of that path.

The two did not take their eyes off each other as the distance between them closed.

Helena clicked her tongue as she watched the majestic Cain approach.

As expected, he was too valuable to simply discard.

If he would just bow his head and enter once, she could overlook it.

Just as she was feeling generous, Cain moved to take Helena’s hand.

At that moment, the queen’s knights standing nearby intercepted Cain.

“My lord, we’ll need to search you briefly.”

Cain’s eyebrows shot up. The surroundings became noisy.

The knights’ attitude was far from how one would treat the queen’s closest confidant.

Their rough hands continued as if searching a criminal.

Cain chuckled but did not stop the knights.

“The rumors… seem to be true.”

“There are more rumors about Hastings?”

“The one about him falling out with Her Majesty.”

“Come on, surely not…”

“Otherwise, would Her Majesty trample on Duke Hastings’ pride like this in front of others? Hastings’ prestige is Her Majesty’s power, after all.”

It made sense when you thought about it. The noble who had been questioning closed his mouth and looked at Duke Hastings.

Only then did the unseen become visible. A strange tension swirled around Duke Hastings and Helena.

“There’s nothing, Your Majesty.”

The knight who had removed his hands from Cain’s body said.

“It seems you were hoping something would turn up, Your Majesty.”

Cain brushed himself off as if smoothing out wrinkles in his clothes, looking at Helena who was frowning with displeasure.

“How could that be. I apologize if you were offended. This is an important occasion for security, isn’t it? My aide’s nerves are on edge, so please be generous and let it pass.”

“What if I don’t let it pass? It seems you have an aide with extraordinary loyalty. You’d do well to keep him by your side for a long time.”

“That’s exactly what I intend to do. You know, once I give my heart, I’m not one to easily take it back.”

Helena spoke as if trying to placate Cain. Cain only smiled with the corners of his mouth.

“Happy birthday, Your Majesty.”

“Thank you. I hope to receive your greetings next year as well. Ah, next year, be sure to come holding young Hastings’ hand. If possible, that is.”

He had been wondering when she would mention Joseph, and it was now.

Cain ran his tongue along the inside of his cheek and looked at Joseph.

“Joseph, have you been well?”

Helena didn’t stop the father and son from greeting each other.

“F-Father…”

Joseph was doing his best to hold back tears. Cain could see it clearly. He tapped the boy’s forehead lightly with his large hand.

Then he knelt on one knee and brought his lips close to Joseph’s ear.

“Ravens like shiny things. They never give up on a jewel once they’ve seen it. You know? You are the jewel of Hastings. Look for the raven.”

Cain gave Joseph a riddle. So the child could breathe a little in this suffocating banquet.

Joseph’s eyes widened, but instead of asking back, he rolled his eyes.

He was a smart child, just as Jane had said.

Cain gripped the child’s shoulder then let go before standing up.

The line of people waiting to greet Helena stretched long. It was fortunate for Cain, and unfortunate for Helena.

While she was busy receiving gifts and rejoicing, the queen’s personal guards inside the banquet hall were being taken care of one by one.

As Cain descended from the platform, he searched for a woman like a raven.

When he spotted Jane hiding behind a pillar, stealing glances at Joseph, Cain’s heart clenched tightly.

The woman suited to light had black hair and wore black clothes, hiding her body in the shadows.

He had made her that way.

So it should be him who brings her out into the light.

Cain tore his gaze away from Jane with difficulty.

He moved between tables, giving gentle eye-smiles to women who spoke to him.

Then he approached a woman in a purple dress and greeted her kindly.

“Have you been well, Lady Eucalisto?”

“My, if it isn’t the duke? To think you’d speak to me, the sun must be rising in the west tomorrow.”

Cain kissed her hand while quickly feeling under the table with his empty hand.

A cold metallic object caught on Cain’s fingertips.

Cain’s lips, which had touched the noblewoman’s hand, curved into a smile.

The search that the queen’s aide had thought was their trump card had become useless.