SFBLFD - Chapter 76

For a moment, Allan's hand stopped in mid-air.

The nobles sitting in the banquet hall held their breath and exchanged wary glances. Bewilderment instantly seeped into Allan's face, while a subtle tension rose on Odelia's.

Short but deep silence.

'No, how did they know Odelia Talamand had a peanut allergy?"' Everyone looked back and forth between Calix and Odelia with wide eyes.

"You know what happened on the front lines before. Didn't she almost die after eating soup with peanuts in it?"

"...Yes. That is correct, Your Majesty."

"How could I have forgotten that you, who survived enemy arrows, almost died from a peanut?"

Allan hurriedly withdrew his fork and quickly placed the fried shrimp on her plate. Then, leaning close toward Odelia, he whispered softly.

"Madam! You should have told me that in advance...!"

The genuine surprise was clearly evident in his voice. Odelia smiled awkwardly and hurriedly waved her hands.

"I forgot..."

"In this world, who would forget about food that would kill them? Nah, that turned out to be a half-baked plan..."

When he expressed his disappointment, Allan soon smiled innocently.

"I intended to show off our affection as a couple, but I was ignorant. It’s a shame because we don’t serve any dishes that use peanuts at home. Since she is someone who doesn’t show her weakness, I should have taken better care of her."

It was a strangely annoying accent. Calix's lips curled up slightly.

"Is there any need to boast? True trust is something we know without having to show it."

He glanced sideways toward Odelia. Caught between the two, Odelia stiffened subtly.

The war of nerves between the two men had already begun. Calix leaned his upper body a little further and snatched a leg from the plate on which the servant had placed the hat.

"Odelia, have this."

It was a voice brimming with confidence. However, Allan immediately struck as if he had been waiting for this moment.

"Odelia likes the lean meat."

He spoke with a sullen expression, then his fork picked up the chicken breast precisely. And, as if declaring victory, he gently placed it on Odelia's plate.

“Like this.”

Allan looked at Odelia with a sweet smile. Calix's eyebrows furrowed.

Invisible sparks flew between the two men, and the air on the table grew strangely hot.

The surrounding nobles stared at the scene awkwardly. 'So His Majesty has this side to her. To think he stepped forward as a sponsor for a debutante ball, he must have really cherished her on the battlefield.'

"Odelia always ate the legs first when she was with me."

"That must only be when she's with Your Majesty. It is difficult to comfortably reveal her eating habits in an awkward setting."

Odelia's fingertips trembled. 'Please, please stop! What on earth is wrong?'

However, the two men's utterly childish battle of wills was just beginning.

Calix and Allan's utensils headed toward Odelia's plate at the same time.

"Odelia, then have this."

As Calix spoke calmly and piled a plate full of meat.

"Wait a moment, Your Majesty."

Allan swung her fork quickly over it with a gentle smile.

"My wife doesn't handle greasy food well. We need to serve it with vegetables as well."

As soon as he finished speaking, he piled a mountain of vegetables onto the plate. Calix's eyebrows twitched.

"To think she can't eat greasy food... the Odelia I know wasn't like that."

"As I mentioned earlier, that was probably only when she was with Your Majesty."

Allann laughed back nonchalantly. And this time, he thrust a fork directly at Odelia.

"Here. Say, Ah~."

"Um. Look, do you really have to go this far?"

“Ah~”

As Allan repeated it, the surrounding nobles giggled. Whispers filled the banquet hall.

The moment Odelia reluctantly opened her mouth for the sake of face, Calix's hand shot out like lightning. Instead of vegetables, he slyly slipped a piece of meat into her mouth.

"Since we're at it, this is tastier."

When Calix spoke nonchalantly, Odelia was so surprised she almost choked.

“Umm, umm!”

"Ma'am!"

Allan frantically wiped the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, making a fuss. The corners of Calix's eyes crinkled coldly.

"Stop making a fuss. You're not a nanny. Odelia is a strong person by nature."

"What kind of nonsense is this about being strong or whatever between a married couple? I'm taking care of her because I want to."

Allan replied with a sulky face and, this time, picked up a large silver cup.

"Now, madam, you should quench your thirst."

Calix snatched the glass and glanced inside.

"Wine? Odelia doesn't really like wine; she likes cognac."

And then, he just drank it all up. Allann's jaw dropped.

"Why are you drinking that! I was just trying to take care of my wife!"

"Just because you take care of it doesn't mean everything is good."

“No, then..."

“Both of you. Please..."

Odelia stepped between the two with a tearful expression. However, Calix and Allan glared at each other and simultaneously poured out their words.

"I know Odelia better than anyone. She is my subordinate, having roamed the front lines with me for a long time."

"No. I know better! After all, she is my wife, who has been right by my side, sharing joys and sorrows with me for a year."

Unless one is insane, it is unimaginable for the Emperor to say such things in front of everyone, or for anyone to say such things to the Emperor.

As if she didn't want to get involved, Odelia quietly cut the meat herself and put it in her mouth, avoiding everyone's gaze between the two men.

She wants to run away.

Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, the Grand Duchess shook her head and intervened. She clapped her hands with a 'clap-clap' sound and drew the attention of the people with a smiling voice.

"Now, now that you’ve fully enjoyed the meal, I think I’d like to change the atmosphere a bit."

Her gaze lingered over Calix and Allan. As she sent a silent warning to stop, Calix and Allan fell silent at the same time.

The eyes of the two men, who had been exchanging sparks just moments ago, froze for a moment before glancing at each other. The Grand Duchess continued speaking cheerfully.

"To celebrate the first banquet of the slanderous affair, how about we play a traditional game enjoyed by the aristocracy of old? It is tag."

The Grand Duchess added with a gentle smile.

"This will be a good opportunity to test your trust and teamwork. Especially since married couples must be paired up today, you absolutely cannot win if your chemistry isn't right."

The lights in the banquet hall became much dimmer.

As the brilliantly shining chandelier slowly dimmed, the nobles instinctively held their breath. It was like the silence just before the curtain rises on a play.

As the Grand Duchess rose from the chair, all eyes instantly turned to her.

"You must find your true match among those wearing masks, and at the same time, protect their ribbons."

The servants came out carrying large baskets and handed a mask to each couple.

The masks were all distributed randomly, and no one knew which mask their wife or husband would wear.

"This mask will erase your identity, allowing you to locate your opponent solely through your senses. For two hours, your identities will be completely concealed. Anyone who removes their mask or cloak will be considered to have forfeited, and anyone who reveals their identity will be immediately disqualified. The couple who collects the most ribbons by the end will be selected as the Best Couple of the Year."

In Odelia's hand was a white mask with long ears. A clear silver rabbit shape.

The masks were shaped like the faces of rabbits and wolves, and it appeared that all the men received wolf masks and all the women received rabbit masks.

The faces of the nobles would soon be covered by masks, and their true intentions would also be hidden in the darkness.

The masked figure of Calix flashed by in the distance. The Emperor's presence was not obscured, but no one knew what kind of face he wore anymore.

"Alright. Let's start the game!"

Breaths mingled in unison from behind the masks of the nobles. The feast of ribbons began.

As black cloaks fluttered in unison, the nobles began to eye the ribbons hanging from each other's waists with stealthy movements.

The women wearing rabbit masks generally approached each other with elegant movements, while those wearing wolf masks moved actively as if to show off their physical abilities.

However, a rabbit mask instantly drew everyone's attention. The movements of that rabbit mask were surprisingly agile.

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