Count Almir said with a troubled look.

The Duke Fernan family, the emperor’s maternal relatives, had been manipulating the young emperor and shaking the empire to suit their own tastes. Still, after the emperor became completely enamored with Count Almir, they had cleverly kept the Fernan family in check by using pillow talk, but if Count Almir were cast aside, they would no longer be able to do even that.

“Even if tastes change, there will be someone who catches your eye. It’s enough to present a variety of people and push them into the bedroom.”

Duke Valdeck said as if he had long since prepared everything.

“The problem is that Duke Fernan is probably thinking the same thing. In the end, it comes down to which person backed by which side catches your majesty’s eye.”

At Count Almir’s words, Duke Valdeck fell into deep thought and began tapping the armrest of his chair with his fingers.

***

After taking a nap, it was soon time to get ready for the evening banquet.

Andrea received the now-familiar service, put on new clothes, and was dressed up. Gorgeous clothes and accessories wrapped his body without a gap. Standing still while being attended to, he felt as if he had become a doll.

“Is there anything I need to know separately?”

Even during the simple mealtimes at the monastery, there were rules of their own. If this was an evening banquet held in the imperial palace, there would surely be far more complicated etiquette than that. Andrea prepared himself to be drilled on the rules he would have to follow at the banquet. But the chief attendant shook his head.

“Everything exists solely for your majesty. It is simply the law of etiquette for your majesty to do as you please. However, if you are worried, it would be enough to designate someone who catches your eye and grant them the honor of tasting the first wine.”

“How do I do that? How do I choose a person?”

“In front of your majesty, the height or lowliness of a noble title means nothing. In any case, they are equal in that they are all retainers serving your majesty. Just look them over once, and point to the one who catches your eye. The rest will all be handled by the attendants.”

The chief attendant explained in his own way, but to Andrea it was still only confusing. However, the chief attendant had always been flawless in his service, so for now Andrea decided to leave everything to him.

The outfit for the evening banquet was beautifully embroidered in gold thread on purple fabric. Soft socks that felt almost like he wasn’t wearing anything wrapped his feet, and the supple leather shoes were light and comfortable.

Once the preparations were finished, the chief attendant held out his arm to Andrea. Andrea placed his hand on the attendant’s arm and walked as he was led.

When the door opened, the knights standing guard outside came into view. Andrea suppressed his somewhat trembling heart and withdrew the hand resting on the chief attendant’s arm. Noticing what he meant, the chief attendant took the lead and began walking. Andrea followed behind him, ignoring those who stood pressed against the wall and bowed in greeting, keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead.

After turning through the corridors several times, they arrived before a wooden door carved with antique reliefs. The knights opened the door wide to both sides. The chief attendant stepped inside and shouted in a loud voice.

“His Majesty the Emperor is here!”

The huge dining hall, which could only be described as vast, was split down the center by an extremely long table so long that its end could not be seen. The nobles seated densely in the many chairs rose and paid their respects.

The people in the dining hall were not only them. Not only those who had taken their places, but also those who had not been assigned seats were packed tightly against the walls. Judging by their clothing, it seemed to be a mix of attendants who would serve the meal and nobles who had not been given seats.

The chief attendant pulled out the chair placed at the center. Andrea swallowed a sigh under the pressure and sat down in the chair.

“Everyone, sit.”

Andrea said in a low voice toward those who stood blankly staring at him all at once. Only then did the nobles take their seats again.

A long dining table, so long that the features of the person at the far end could not be seen clearly, and Andrea seated at the head of the table among them was already overwhelmed by the beautiful candlesticks and flowers decorating the table, as well as all manner of dazzling dishes he had never seen before.

When he turned his gaze to the side, he saw Duke Fernan seated immediately to his right. He was the one who had openly said he would use Andrea for the sake of the family. Yet at this moment, the mere fact that there was a familiar face was enough to make him feel relieved.

“Your majesty. To whom shall you entrust the wine tasting?”

The chief attendant asked in a low voice.

At the chief attendant’s words, Andrea slowly looked over the faces of those seated where his gaze could reach. Perhaps because of their extravagant attire, it was hard to make out people’s faces.

What was certain was that every time Andrea’s gaze landed on them, they all looked back with expectant eyes. Even though it was only a simple task of tasting wine, he could tell that it was a fairly honorable duty.

The first honor should go to Duke Fernan, after all.

He was thinking that inwardly while scanning the people when Andrea’s eyes fixed on a man with black hair caught at the edge of his vision.

Jet-black hair, rare to see, and golden eyes reflecting the candlelight with an enigmatic sheen.

Andrea flinched reflexively, then shook his head inwardly. There was no way such a dreamlike thing as reuniting with Kiel right after coming out into the outside world would happen. Probably.

But Andrea’s gaze would not move and remained fixed on the man before him. At that moment, their eyes met. The man with the handsome black hair smiled faintly as if greeting him.

After meeting his gaze head-on for several seconds, Andrea finally realized that the color of his eyes was not gold, but a strange brown that only looked similar.

‘...It’s not... Kiel.’

Even though he had expected it, Andrea could not hide his disappointment. But... after being separated from Kiel without even properly greeting him, this was the first time he had seen someone so similar to him.

Maybe he was related to Kiel by blood. Otherwise, how could he look so alike?

Andrea turned his mind over in confusion and pointed his finger precisely at the black-haired man.

The man rose from his seat with a confident smile, as if he had expected this. The people filling the dining hall whispered frantically with the people beside them. But Andrea could not take his eyes off the man walking toward him.

“Count Almir, your majesty.”

The man who approached Andrea revealed his identity and gave a light bow.

“...Count Almir?”

Andrea muttered almost like a groan.

Good heavens. Count Almir. Wasn’t he the man who was Michael’s lover?

Andrea frowned before he knew it. Whether he had not seen it, or was pretending not to see it, Count Almir swallowed a sip of the wine he had been handed and soon nodded as if pleased.

“It is excellent wine, your majesty.”

The black-haired man, Count Almir, bent his upper body and whispered into Andrea’s ear. Andrea clenched the hand hidden under the table tightly at the breath brushing his earlobe.

Soon after, the meal began.

Even in the midst of his confusion, Andrea mechanically chewed and swallowed the food the attendant served him. Even so, his gaze kept flicking to Count Almir against his will.

Count Almir was said to be the second son of a viscount family. Then what was the name of the family he originally belonged to? Since he was the second son, that meant he at least had an older brother. If they resembled each other that much, maybe his older brother was Kiel.

Count Almir looked to be in his early to mid-twenties, so if Kiel was his older brother, the ages would roughly fit too.

Andrea did not even know what he was eating, and he wondered how he could naturally ask Count Almir about his siblings. Asking in such a public place would be strange, so first he needed to create a chance to speak with him alone.

It would not be good if Duke Fernan found out that Andrea was digging into people from the past. So he absolutely had to ask without Fernan knowing.

If Duke Fernan were to notice someone from the past who knew the identity of “Andrea,” there was a very high chance he would kill Kiel to bury the fact, just as he had killed all the wet nurses and servants who had cared for Andrea in the mansion where he had lived as a child to silence them.

Fortunately, it would be easy to make an excuse to meet Count Almir alone. Even though he had lost his memory now, Count Almir had been Michael’s lover, the one he had favored until just before the accident. There would be nothing strange about drawing close to him again.

Of course, secretly calling him to the bedroom was not an option. He had no intention at all of becoming “that” kind of relationship with Count Almir again.