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*Creak.* The old door opened with a timid sound.
Her father, stepping out irresolutely, looked up at Diego, who was about the same height as the door itself.
Diego smirked, and her father immediately lowered his eyes to the floor.
Rotan, watching this scene with a stone face, only nodded, pointing to a seat.
"Sit here."
The seat happened to be between Rotan and Diego.
To free it, Rotan moved one seat to the side.
Of course, this was not a show of politeness.
Opposite, Michele, propping her chin on her hand, watched with a contemptuous smirk.
Senon, sitting next to her, was silent, but did not hide the cold disdain and irritation on his face.
*‘But before, it wasn't this bad.’*
The knights had long disliked her father.
They hadn't liked Eileen's mother either, but since she was the Prince's wet nurse, they had always observed formalities.
However, after her mother's death, their dislike for her father began to gradually show, and after returning to the capital, it reached its peak.
Being people whom Cesare manipulated as he pleased, they knew all his actions perfectly.
That Eileen had almost been sold abroad...
The more she thought about it, the more foolish she felt for worrying about her father's dinner.
Though no one said it aloud, surely everyone thought her a complete fool.
*‘But still, he is my father.’*
No matter how much she hated him, he was still her father.
Eileen rotated a fork in her fingers without enthusiasm.
Noticing that Senon was watching her, she immediately put on a smile.
One couldn't create a gloomy atmosphere after inviting guests herself.
"Everyone must be hungry?
Let's start dinner."
"Thank you for the meal."
After the thanks, the real dinner began.
Chicken in wine sauce, venison with an abundance of spices, quail stuffed with rice, herring and trout dishes, thick seafood soup...
If it were a dinner party in an aristocratic house, one would have to observe complex etiquette, but among close people, everyone ate freely.
Although everyone dined casually, Senon still observed manners.
Despite long military service, in essence he remained an aristocrat.
At the table groaning with dishes, everyone laughed and chatted as they continued dinner.
Except for one person.
Her father, with a gloomy look, clinked his cutlery.
When his elbows accidentally brushed the mighty men on his sides, he immediately began to apologize abjectly.
"P-p-p-pardon me."
"Eat calmly.
To work, one needs to eat well."
It was unclear if Diego was encouraging or being sarcastic.
But, meeting Eileen's gaze, he seemed to catch himself and corrected: "Eat for health, Baron."
Her father turned pale and began to chew very slowly.
However, as the knights no longer pressed him, he gradually relaxed and began to eat more freely.
Apparently, satiety relieved tension.
Perhaps the intoxication also had an effect.
Having long hungered, her father hungrily fell upon the food and wine, but after a bite of arancini with tomato sauce, he suddenly asked:
"Did you make this?"
Receiving an affirmative answer, her father clicked his tongue.
"That explains why the taste is such, mm..."
Before he could finish the phrase, an ear-splitting thud rang out, like a clap of thunder.
Michele had struck the table with all her might with her fork-clutching fist.
Her father gasped and dropped his utensil.
"It seemed to me the taste was divine.
Maybe you should go to heaven to realize it?
Shall I help?"
"Michele," Rotan said strictly at once.
Senon also firmly grabbed her hand that was on the table.
"Ah, yes.
My apologies." Michele apologized carelessly, pouting her lips.
Not a drop of remorse was in her behavior, but Rotan did not continue.
However, meeting Eileen's gaze, the previously confident Michele suddenly murmured: "Well, everyone has their own tastes...
I liked it."
It became clear that it was better to escort her father out as quickly as possible so that everyone would be more comfortable.
Eileen threw him a lifebuoy: "By the way, didn't you say you had an appointment tonight?"
"Ah, yes, exactly, there was an arrangement." Her father jumped from his chair so abruptly that it almost toppled backward.
Rotan and Diego from two sides managed to catch the falling chair.
"Thank you.
Bon appétit.
I have a meeting with a friend, so I..."
Hurrying his farewells, her father hastily retreated.
After he fled, as if he’d escaped from prison, the atmosphere became even warmer.
Having finished dinner, everyone drank and continued the conversation.
The talk was light, about everyday trifles rather than military events.
Just when Diego told them he had decided to take in a cat he’d met on the street, Rotan suddenly said seriously:
"Lady Eileen."
The others immediately fell silent, sensing something wrong.
"His Imperial Majesty wishes to meet with you."
Eileen froze, and only after a moment squeezed out: "W-with...
His Majesty?!"
"Yes.
He wishes to see you in private, without His Highness's knowledge."
Rotan calmly explained that the Emperor had secretly entrusted him with this.
Michele, who had been silent until then, suddenly raised a hand sharply: "Wait a minute.
If it was a secret assignment, why are you talking about it now?"
Rotan replied imperturbably: "It's not right that I be the only one punished."
The other three gasped, caught in his trap.
Michele poked a finger at him, shouting: "T-t-t-this trickster!"
Not daring to swear before Eileen, she expressed her indignation with a look.
Diego and Senon were also in a rage.
Diego clenched his fists in the air instead of grabbing Rotan by the collar, and Senon covered his face with his hand and sighed deeply.
While the knights expressed despair in their own ways, Eileen tried to comprehend what she had just heard.
*‘It's finally happened...’*
She was shocked, but at the same time realized—this was to be expected.
She had met Leone, Cesare's older brother, before.
Frequently visiting the Prince's palace, she had involuntarily interacted with him as well.
Although Cesare and Leone were twins, they were very different.
Unlike Cesare with his sharp features, Leone looked softer.
His eyes were slightly downturned, and his build was more fragile.
Unlike the cold and rational Cesare, he was emotional and sensitive.
Sometimes, meeting Eileen at the palace, Leone would give her sweets and play with her.
But after the death of the former Emperor and the start of the struggle for the throne, they had stopped seeing each other.
If their meeting took place now, it would be the first in a long time.
The reason why he wanted to meet in private was probably...
*‘Because of the marriage to His Highness.’*
Eileen swallowed.
From agitation, her heart was already pounding wildly.
As a child, Leone had pampered her, but only because she was the "child" whom his younger brother loved.
Whether he would be as well-disposed toward her now that she was to become his "sister-in-law" was a big question.
However, it was impossible to refuse the Emperor's invitation.
With difficulty holding back tears, Eileen replied:
"I will appear at the palace, Sir Rotan."
***
When she arrived at the Imperial Palace for the celebratory banquet on the occasion of the victory, it was already dark.
Then she had been so agitated that she hadn't even looked around.
Of course, it wasn't much different now.
Eileen shuffled after Rotan like a wooden doll.
He led her through corridors accessible only to the imperial family and the chosen.
Thanks to this, she didn't meet a single aristocrat.
After a long walk, they finally reached the reception room.
*‘We’ve already arrived...’*
How she wished this corridor would stretch forever!
But alas, it turned out to be too short.
When the door opened, in the rays of light from a large window, Eileen saw a man.
He was pacing nervously, but, noticing her, he smiled warmly.
"Lady Elrod."
The door closed behind her.
Left alone with the Emperor, Eileen reproduced the palace etiquette from memory and made a curtsy.
"I present myself before Your Imperial Majesty."
From agitation, her voice trembled, but there were no mistakes.
Leone laughed, hearing her shaking.
"No need to be so frightened.
Sit down."
But no sooner had Eileen sat down than Leone began to say things that were definitely worth fearing: "Do you not harbor animosity toward the Traon Empire?"
Without giving her a chance to answer, he continued: "And did you not ask Cesare to kill half the population?"
"What?!"