Callian spoke to Resban with a stern expression.

“If I had known His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was coming, I would have prepared more thoroughly.”

“The food and drinks already seem to be of the highest quality, so that’s just empty talk.”

Resban twisted the corner of his mouth as he held a wine glass.

His golden eyes were cold as he looked at Callian with his arm around Esika.

“Did you choose this wine? The aftertaste is sweet and light.”

There was no way Callian would have paid attention to such trivial details.

As he was about to call a servant, Esika shook off Callian’s hand and spoke.

“It’s a 24-year-old wine from Mount Charem. The grapes were grown in the sea breeze of the Frihatz region.”

Callian looked startled at Esika, who had pushed away his hand.

“It’s not as famous as its high price might suggest, so I was worried if it would suit the guests’ tastes. I’m glad His Highness the Crown Prince likes it.”

Though her tone was businesslike, it seemed more sincere than her recent attitude towards him.

Seeing this, a fiery emotion boiled in Callian’s chest.

He resented her for not easily giving him even a smile, while kindly answering Resban.

And he instinctively felt as a man.

The fact that the Crown Prince before him found his wife Esika attractive.

Any man would inevitably be drawn to such a beautiful Esika.

“Esika.”

Callian called Esika’s name, unable to hide his jealousy.

And he said to Esika, who had turned her gaze to him.

“At parties attended by royalty, it’s customary to prepare wines with the Palession label certified by the imperial family, rather than unknown wines.”

There are five vineyards in the empire certified by the imperial family.

Named after Emperor Palession who loved wine, wines produced from certified vineyards bear the Palession label.

So Callian’s words were not incorrect.

He wanted to point this out to embarrass Esika, who had been having an intimate conversation and even sharing laughter with another man.

He wanted to display his dignity as a knowledgeable man to her.

And he also wanted to make Resban a little uncomfortable.

“I apologize. My wife is not familiar with etiquette…”

“I thought only old men with dim eyes who nag liked to talk about customs, but you’re unexpectedly old-fashioned.”

However, Resban spoke in a calm tone.

Resban’s gaze was relaxed, as if a strong person joking with a weak one, rather making Callian flustered.

“Your Highness.”

“If we’re to discuss customs, let me teach you one.”

Resban’s cold golden eyes looked down at Callian’s hand, which was now at a loss for where to go.

“It is inappropriate to mention customs in a private setting with royalty, and…”

“…”

“Touching your wife’s body when dealing with royalty is a breach of etiquette. My lord.”

At Resban’s words, Callian’s hand flinched.

Soon, he looked at Resban with his eyebrows set.

Resban had finished his piece and was calmly drinking his wine.

The wine went down smoothly along his Adam’s apple.

In Callian’s dark pupils, a cry was ringing out.

He wanted to shout at Resban. That Esika was his woman.

Don’t look at her, don’t talk to her, don’t take her smiles.

Callian’s tightly clenched fist trembled slightly.

“…”

Esika stood watching with pleasure as Resban silenced Callian with just a few words.

From Esika’s perspective, Resban was certainly not a talkative man.

A taciturn man who speaks only when necessary.

But the words he utters create large ripples around him, like throwing a fist-sized stone into a small puddle.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Callian’s response was heard.

“You’re quite boring.”

Resban downed the remaining wine in one gulp.

His protruding Adam’s apple could be seen undulating violently.

When Resban held out the empty glass, a servant hurriedly bowed and retrieved it.

“…”

The corner of Resban’s mouth rose coldly and slightly.

In some ways, he was terribly intimidating and regally princely, while in others, he was raw and wild.

Today’s Resban had both aspects.

After watching him for a moment, Esika lowered her gaze.

**

The lavish party at the duke’s mansion was in full swing.

Riona was holding a glass and conversing with her friends Bolan and Marshal.

“Last time, for that reason, Lady Alhemitz turned the academy upside down.”

“That person dared to scold our Jed. Just for playing some pranks among classmates…”

“Hoho. Children grow up bullying each other… It’s thoughtless to upset Lady Alhemitz, the Countess, just for bullying the son of a mere viscount.”

Riona, listening to their words, spoke as if lost in memories.

“Raising children is truly difficult. Our Callian had a few such incidents too. These days, teachers… they lack basic qualities.”

Noble children studied at the academy from age thirteen until they became adults at eighteen.

Callian had done so as well.

During Callian’s academy days, three teachers were cut off due to Riona’s tyranny.

The reasons for those teachers being cut off varied.

The teacher who pointed out that Callian repeatedly didn’t do his homework when he was thirteen.

The teacher who neglected Callian when he was fifteen and didn’t eat lunch, complaining about the side dishes because he had no appetite.

The teacher who didn’t report the reason why Callian’s button was missing when he came home at seventeen.

“What can you expect from teachers who are just low-ranking nobles? But it must have been worth the effort since the young duke has grown up so well.”

At Bolan’s words, Riona looked at Callian with proud eyes.

Callian was her entire life.

And then people’s voices were heard.

“Oh my, goodness.”

“Look at that.”

Maids and servants were carrying an enormously large plate.

The dome-shaped metal lid covering it was big enough to fit five cakes.

The maids and servants carefully placed it on the table set up in the center of the party hall.

And then they opened the dome-shaped lid covering it.

Everyone’s attention was focused there.

“…What’s this?”

The spiral-shaped bread stacked in various directions looked like a beehive.

Strawberries and custard cream were well layered, and the cheese had a somewhat unique shape.

And on top, gold powder was sprinkled as if sprinkling snow.

What was certain was that this was a cake-type dessert, but it was very large and unfamiliar in shape.

“Oh my, what an interesting-looking cake?”

“I know. It looks delicious, but… how are we supposed to eat this?”

Bolan and Marshal looked at it, licking their lips.

And then Esika stepped forward.

“I prepared the traditional cake of the Smichen royal family for Mother today.”

At those words, everyone’s eyes widened.

Riona’s hand twitched.

Smichen was a fallen kingdom, and Riona Klaus was known to be of royal descent from there.

There was no problem with eating the food or following the dress of a fallen country.

For the prosperity of the nation, Turecian was absorbing even extinct cultures if they were good, and food was no exception.

The most popular foods in Turecian were mostly those that came from foreign countries.

“My goodness, the Duchess Klaus is so filial.”

One of the guests said, clapping their hands.

Esika smiled brightly and looked at Riona.

As if asking how she liked the gift she had prepared.

Riona’s eyebrows twitched as she looked at Esika.

“I had a hard time finding the recipe and asked the chef. I heard that this Gamashu, the traditional cake of the Smichen Kingdom, was only made and eaten on special days like the birthdays of royalty. Mother must have eaten it often too?”

“…”

“Since it’s Mother’s birthday today, I hope you enjoy it while reminiscing about your glorious childhood.”

The layered cake looked like a work of art.

People’s gazes turned to Riona.

“Was Madam Klaus of royal descent from Smichen? I didn’t know that.”

“No wonder she’s so refined, being from the royal family of the country of art and learning.”

The conversation of young ladies who didn’t know about Riona’s background was heard.

An ill-fated princess… Today, their admiration for Riona would deepen.

Callian still had a dark expression, but he seemed to show positive interest in the fact that Esika had prepared such a cake for Riona.

Riona fixed her trembling eyes and answered in a reluctant voice.

“…That’s right. I ate it… often.”

Riona’s voice was heard.

Since the food they had tasted at the party so far was so excellent, people were looking forward to the taste of the cake.

Even Bolan could be heard swallowing audibly.

“Then serve it to the guests.”

“Oh my, Mother.”

But Esika shook her head as if to say, what are you talking about?

And she looked at Riona as if asking if she had forgotten something.

If she really was a princess from Smichen, there was something she had to do.