Elizabeth watched Philip silently.
Within her eyes, a fleeting hint of displeasure and guardedness was barely discernible. Had Annan not been closely watching her expression, he would have certainly missed it.
Then, Elizabeth quickly displayed a gentle smile very similar to the one before, and quietly said, "I can handle it, Philip. You take care of Prince Annan."
Philip revealed a smile that bore an unclear meaning, making a drawn-out sound.
He was chewing a melting caramel so vigorously that one could hear the smacking sounds. The creamy fragrance filled his mouth, and one could even see splatters hitting Elizabeth’s clothes as he chewed.
Grinning, Philip took out a few pieces of candy from his pocket and offered them to Elizabeth: "So—dear sister, want some candy?"
"This is a serious matter, Philip."
Elizabeth had already calmed down, maintaining a gentle and generous smile, completely ignoring Philip’s rather rude behavior, and said leisurely, "It’s not something you can get involved in."
Philip nodded in apparent agreement, spreading his grin, "That’s true.
"After all, I am just an idler."
He didn’t show any sign of displeasure on his face, just kept up his cheerful smile, turned around, and sat down next to Annan.
He carefully picked off the candy coatings with his fingers, patiently placing each piece into his mouth. Elizabeth didn’t offer any explanation to Philip and simply turned around and left with the guards.
Annan sat quietly to the side, observing the two engaging in what seemed like a passive-aggressive and somewhat eerie struggle. Instead of feeling any tension or unease, he was intrigued... and even a bit disappointed when it was over.
That’s the flavor! This flavor is just right!
Seeing his own siblings get along so well, Annan had thought that all royal families in the world shared this kind of style. Now, looking at the Noah royal family... Annan, who enjoyed watching lively scenes, instantly perked up.
This is the flavor of royal siblings engaged in intrigue!
However, both of their levels in making snide remarks weren’t quite there.
They were aiming for a certain sarcastic wit, but what they ended up with were these soft and squishy words... With skills like these in Zaun, you can’t protect your family.
The conflict between Philip and Elizabeth didn’t make Annan feel afraid.
But the way Philip ate the candy did cause Annan some physical discomfort...
This big brother... isn’t your chatting overly extravagant with candy?
From the moment he sat down beside Annan, in less than three minutes, he had eaten nearly twenty pieces of candy, averaging three pieces per sentence...
This level of abnormality is clearly not explained by a simple "love for sweets."
Annan looked down at the candy in his hand and peeled off the coating with one hand.
The candy seemed the size of Want Want milk candy, displaying a milky white color with a hint of yellow.
He waited for a long time, but no screen was triggered.
—So it wasn’t a cursed object, not even a potion.
It’s actually real candy?
Annan looked at it incredulously, then raised his head to look at Philip, who was vigorously chewing.
Philip noticed Annan’s gaze and gave him a sunny smile: "Go ahead, it’s delicious!
"Don’t worry, it’s made from condensed milk, cream, syrup, honey, and brown sugar. It doesn’t contain any cursed materials; anyone can eat it."
Philip said, laughing joyfully.
Annan clearly saw the incredibly sticky syrup clinging to Philip’s neatly white teeth. With his heavy breathing, the rich aroma of milk and honey wafted around him.
Because of the recent exchange between Philip and Elizabeth, the surrounding people had taken notice of them. Annan couldn’t act at this moment and had to continue holding the gun in his left hand inside Kafney’s dress pocket while politely asking Philip:
"Do you really like eating candy that much, Prince Philip?"
Philip answered cheerfully: "I like eating candy and I like eating meat! My favorite is honey roast meat—young people all like eating sweet and meat, right?"
He looked at Annan kindly and spoke again: "Call me brother, or Your Highness if you like. But definitely not uncle! Look at me, do I look like someone who should be called uncle?"
Having said that, Philip proudly patted his smooth face.
In fact, he did look the part.
Philip had a head full of thick hair and delicate skin, with not a wrinkle visible on his forehead. Unlike his brother Albert, Philip’s beard was cleanly shaven...he didn’t even wear any jewelry.
If he changed into younger-looking clothes, with his voice and vibrant spirit, he could even pass for a seventeen or eighteen-year-old youth.
...Did Philip care so much about his youthfulness?
About ten minutes from the start of the banquet, Annan decided to continue to inquire about Philip’s secrets and habits.
"Your Highness, you look no more than twenty,"
Annan said, with a childish voice.
In the mouth of a regular adult, such compliments would seem exceedingly false, but when paired with Annan’s serious, crystal-clear eyes, as innocent as a kitten’s, it became very convincing.
Upon hearing Annan’s words, Philip couldn’t help bursting into laughter, completely devoid of any royal image.
A man who seemed close to fifty, with a conservative and dignified demeanor, couldn’t help but speak up to reproach, "Philip, keep it down!"
Philip elongated the sound, responding nonchalantly.
Once the man shook his head and left, frowning, Philip leaned closer to Annan’s ear, pointed at the man with his chin, and said, "That’s my second brother... Looks like your brother, doesn’t he? They are all the same type of people.
"And you," Philip continued, pointing at himself, "and me. We’re the same kind. Happy—we’re both very happy."
But Annan didn’t show the slightest slip.
Hearing Philip’s remark, he could only look over with some confusion, "I don’t quite understand."
In his heart, Annan couldn’t help but curse—fortunately, the Winter’s Heart Curse Binding currently on him was covered with its reversed version, allowing him to ignore any sense of fear. Otherwise, that one sentence alone could have scared him into a heart-stopping panic.
Is it a family trait of the Noahs to have such perceptive vision?
"You will understand, Prince Annan,"
At Annan’s words, Philip simply smiled, and in a somewhat seductive tone, he whispered, "Pleasure... I can see it, you have a soul that follows pleasure, unfettered. If one day you feel oppressed and wish to break free from the chains that bind your fate... feel free to come to me.
"I will grant you the secrets to pleasure."
Annan asked in a low voice.
Philip laughed, "Certainly.
"Embrace the path of blood and desire, Prince Annan. Man is a machine driven by desire... What’s the difference between a life without desire and a puppet?"
"Then, what is the desire you’re pursuing?"
Annan pressed further.
Philip fell silent for a moment, before candidly saying, "What I’m pursuing, naturally, is ’youth.’
"You wouldn’t understand,"
Philip took a deep breath and shook his head.
Annan simply continued to inquire, "Is it eternal youth, or immortality?"
At this question from Annan, Philip fell into a moment of contemplation.
But it was only a momentary pause, lasting merely a breath.
He quickly revealed his characteristic, cheerful smile.
From his embrace, he retrieved a few candies and popped them into his mouth.
"Me... I want them both."
Philip said with a slight smile, whispering low, "I certainly don’t want to grow old. It’s an experience you only need once, and then never..."
Just then, a string of explosions suddenly came from outside, entirely drowning out Philip’s voice.
These weren’t explosions—but fireworks being successively ignited and soaring up at the palace entrance.
The fireworks display had begun.
Silently, Annan gripped the gun in his hand, pretending to watch the spectacle as he turned back and looked towards the entrance behind him.
Feeling Annan’s movement—or perhaps because Annan’s movement brought them closer together—Kafney, who had been silent, subconsciously tensed up.
——The opportunity would only last an instant.