TOPWL 39

“Why? You could just do something else. Do you have to become emperor?”

“Even if they don’t become emperor, they still have a claim to the throne. You never know when a rebellion might break out, so they cut off the threat in advance.”

“Will Your Highness become emperor?” Wadiram asked in a worried voice.

“Hmm… I want to.”

But the chances were slim. If he didn’t place in the top two of this competition, he would lose his head. As Wadiram stared intently at Yudit, he suddenly spoke.

“If, by chance, Your Highness doesn’t become emperor, come to Herut. The desert is vast. Hiding one person is easy. People are scarce in the desert—we can’t survive without each other’s help, so you will be welcome.”

Yudit was slightly taken aback by the unexpected offer. He hadn’t thought that Wadiram, whom he hadn’t known for long, would say something like that. Seeing Yudit’s expression, Wadiram grinned.

“We’re friends, after all.”

Whether he was serious or joking, Yudit was grateful that Wadiram had said that. Smiling brightly, Yudit replied,

“Thank you. Truly.”

Perhaps the gratitude was too much—Wadiram stared at Yudit for a moment before looking away. Wondering why, Yudit turned to the side and found Huyan staring at him intently.

“Why… are you looking at me like that?”

“It’s nothing.”

“It’s nothing.”

The two answered in unison as if they had planned it. The three of them silently ate their yogurt for a while. The yogurt they ate by the river was a little tart, with a faint taste of the water in the air.

***

Yudit managed to stop Wadiram from dragging him along to Azil’s banquet in his current attire and returned home. The banquet hall was close—so close that he could faintly hear the music from his bedroom. He could probably sneak in like he had the past few nights, but today, he didn’t intend to. His own banquet was tomorrow, after all. Seeing it tonight wouldn’t change anything—it would only unsettle him.

Yudit checked the guest list for tomorrow. The envoys, the imperial family, Khalid, as well as Sonia and Yasin. He had also asked Selena and Lyett, but they had refused, perhaps thinking it wasn’t their place. Yudit thought so too, but for that very reason, he had wanted them to come. This banquet was something he had poured everything into—his first and possibly last. At the very least, he wanted to share a meal with the people he cared about.

He read and reread his notebook, which he had gone over so many times that he had nearly memorized it, steadying his anxious heart.

***

“Welcome.”

The first guest to arrive was Yasin. The fact that the timid Yasin had come this far was already something to be grateful for, but he had even brought a small bouquet with him.

“The flowers are beautiful. Thank you.”

“They’re rudbeckias. Their meaning is… happiness.”

Yasin said shyly.

“Thanks to you, I am happy.”

At Yudit’s words, Yasin’s face flushed.

“T-this is really amazing. You didn’t look this cool when we were in the warehouse…”

Yasin murmured as he looked around the banquet hall. The walls were covered in his tapestries. He looked deeply moved.

“Thank you for granting my request. I’ll display them with care and return them to you.”

“J-just take your time. They were just gathering dust in the warehouse anyway…”

As they conversed, more guests began arriving. Since the event required judging, officials from the imperial court also trickled in, though most of them were unfamiliar faces. Yudit had wanted to invite Bashur as well, but since taking Yudit as his disciple had already drawn enough scrutiny, he had deliberately left him out.

Among the unfamiliar faces, Yudit realized that he was becoming more and more nervous. It was a relief that Yasin was there.

“Welcome…”

Yudit raised his head to greet the new arrivals but momentarily stopped speaking. The envoys were entering. They, too, seemed so stunned by the sight before them that they forgot to exchange greetings and simply stared.

“Welcome, envoys of Herut. I am Yudit Friedrich Adanauer, the host of this banquet. It is an honor to meet you.”

“…Thank you, Prince Yudit. I am Dahab, the head of the envoy. This banquet hall… it is like a dream.”

The oldest-looking among them was the first to regain his composure and speak. The reason they had been so stunned was simple—this banquet hall was unlike any other.

Instead of tables and chairs, Yudit had laid down thick carpets to keep the cold from seeping through the floor. He had placed low, floor tables, surrounding them with cushions and seat pillows for support. The walls were decorated with tapestries symbolizing the desert, creating the illusion that they were holding a banquet in the heart of the nighttime desert.

“Please, have a seat here.”

Yudit guided the envoys to their seats.

“We won’t all be sitting at the same table?”

“That’s correct.”

Yudit nodded. Each table had space for about eight people, so it was possible for them to sit together, Yudit had deliberately arranged it. He had seated one or two of them per table and even separated the two leaders. Though puzzled, they followed his instructions quietly.

“Your Highness is remarkably fluent in the language of Herut.”

“I studied hard for this banquet, but I still have much to learn.”

“You don’t seem to lack anything at all.”

Wadiram smoothly inserted himself into the conversation. Since the three of them were supposed to be meeting for the first time in an official setting, they had agreed to pretend not to know each other in the banquet hall. Wadiram extended his hand.

“I am Wadiram.”

“A pleasure to meet you, Wadiram.”

Yudit grasped Wadiram’s hand and shook it. Once the envoys had taken their seats, the attendants placed a drink before each of them. As they sipped, their expressions noticeably softened.

“This drink is truly delicious. It’s not just sweet—it has a delicate balance of tartness and slight bitterness. If even the drinks are this good, I can’t wait to see how the food will be.”

One of the envoys commented. The drink he praised was made from one of Selena’s secret recipes. It seemed it wasn’t just suited to Adanauer palates.

“I will do my best to meet your expectations. Is there anyone among you who cannot or does not eat certain foods?”

At Yudit’s question, one of the envoys raised a hand.

“My companion and I do not eat meat for religious reasons.”

“I will inform the kitchen.”

Yudit had already been told there would be two vegetarians, so he handled the situation without hesitation.

As the banquet hour approached, more guests arrived in large numbers. Yudit excused himself from the envoys and headed to the entrance to greet them.

“This is…”

The new guests were left speechless as well. The first thing that caught their eyes upon entering was a tapestry that covered an entire wall, depicting the desert night as if it had been transported directly into the hall. Even Yudit, who had seen it many times, occasionally found it breathtaking—it was only natural that the others would feel the same.

As he guided the guests, Yudit realized he could finally breathe comfortably. It was partly thanks to Yasin, but also because Wadiram and Huyan were there. It was strange—he felt more at ease with them than with the people he had lived among in the imperial palace his entire life. The hardships of his past seemed all the more evident.

The banquet was about to begin. Most of the expected guests had already arrived. Now, only the emperor and Khalid remained. Yudit had sent Khalid an invitation, but he hadn’t held much hope.

Just then, the emperor entered the banquet hall, accompanied by his guards. Aisa and Azil were with him. These days, the emperor spent most of his time with Aisa—it seemed Azil had come along because of that.

Upon seeing the hall’s décor, the emperor’s brow twitched slightly.

Yudit pretended not to notice and bowed his head.

“I greet the sun of the empire.”

“…Mm.”

The emperor gave a brief response and proceeded toward the empty seat of honor. As Aisa led Azil to follow him, Azil suddenly turned to Yudit.

“Hello, brother. The banquet hall looks wonderful.”

He spoke politely. His words carried neither falsehood nor flattery. It was the first real conversation Yudit had ever had with him. A few years ago, he had been nothing more than a helpless infant, yet now, he was someone Yudit could exchange words with. It was strangely fascinating.

“Thank you. Enjoy yourself.”

“Yes.”

After answering, Azil trotted over to Aisa, who immediately pulled him into a tight embrace and stroked his hair. Watching them made Yudit feel inexplicably nauseous.

“A guest has arrived—are you going to keep standing there with your back turned?”

A playful voice called out from behind him. Yudit turned to see Khalid looking at him with a relaxed smile.

Seeing him, Yudit was reminded that this place was his battlefield.