I looked towards the source of the sound, and found Leon looking at me, waving his hand with great enthusiasm.
He ran towards me with heavy, resounding steps.
I sighed like a mother looking at her disobedient son.
"Leon!
Don't run and make noise!"
At my words, Leon started walking cautiously.
'Oh my God, there is no middle ground with him.'
I shook my head desperately.
“They say a new commander will arrive, so Calsen and the assistants are very busy.
I was left alone.”
“You have not been abandoned.”
'You probably went out to play because you didn't want to be busy.
Or is it the assistants who are left behind?'
“So what?”
“Master Calsen sent you to me.”
"Ah...right, right!
Sometimes Calson is really cool!"
I felt sorry for Calsen when I heard the emphatic “sometimes.”
“I was going for a walk, so come with me, Leon.”
“Okay, great.”
I started walking side by side with Leon.
The weather was particularly sunny.
I thought today felt great because I could walk with Leon since the morning.
I laughed to myf at this idea.
Why do I think like this?
Even under the bright sunlight, his red eyes clearly shone at me.
I looked at his face and exclaimed inwardly.
“Bill Bill.”
‘If he had not opened his mouth, he would have been a perfect creature made by the ruler.’
His high, cheerful voice broke my momentary admiration.
I quickly hid my frowning expression.
'He didn't see that, did he?'
“What, Leon?”
“Do you know who the new leader is?
Try to guess.”
“Hmm...”
Since he's asking like this, it must be someone I know.
Certainly not the Emperor, perhaps Marquis of Sweden?
I shook my head.
Certainly not him.
The faces of many of the nobles I had seen at the last ceremony passed through my mind.
Unfortunately, I don't remember anyone in particular.
“Lucas, who you said was your old friend, but he’s not a friend at all!”
'Why does he explain in such detail?'
The mention of this name suddenly surprised me.
I never imagined it.
Does Lucas have enough military power to lead the Emperor's forces?
Wasn't he just an idle, womanizer, and uess person?
I pursed my lips and nodded.
At that moment, Leon's face approached mine until it was very close.
For a moment, looking into his eyes, I felt like my heart stopped completely.
"What do you do?"
I quickly regained my composure, stepped back and screamed.
Leon's face was red with embarrassment at my scream, and his trembling eyes looked lost.
'He startled me by suddenly approaching.
What was he trying to do?'
My heart was beating so hard it felt like it would jump out of my chest.
‘But…did I yell at Leon now?
'I must have gone crazy.'
I covered my mouth with wide eyes.
My mouth is in trouble again.
I laughed awkwardly and said: “Leon… Your Highness, I was just surprised...”
Fortunately, his embarrassed face returned to its normal color.
“Ah!
Belle Belle shouted at me and told me to stay away!”
'Don't exaggerate like that!'
I smiled sweetly as usual and took a step forward.
The distance became as close as it had been.
A gentle breeze ruffled Leon's disheveled black hair.
The breeze brought its scent that surrounded me.
'Leon smells.'
I felt unjustified comfort from his scent that reached me through my nose, so I stood on my tiptoes and adjusted his hair that was covering his forehead.
“I shouted, but I didn't say go away.
I'm sorry for yelling.
I was really surprised.”
Leon grabbed my hand that was above his head and lowered it.
Then he lowered his head and started walking in front of me.
He would always surprise me and then embarrass me with his reaction.
I laughed as I saw his back as he walked with heavy steps.
“It's kind of cute.”
I muttered to myf and followed him with light steps.
Lucas, the new commander of the Emperor's forces, arrived at Aster almost as evening approached.
I was lying in the drawing room next to my bedroom, lost in trivial thoughts.
I did not want to meet him and hear his absurd nonsense, and he was not even my guest.
Since when was Lucas one of the Emperor's men?
Wasn't he involved in a scandal with the Emperor's daughter?
How could the Emperor trust him to send him to Esther?
He seems to have a very open mind.
Is this Hollywood?
'Divorce scandal, right?'
I did not search for details of the divorce scandal between him and the princess because I thought I had nothing to do with him really.
He didn't even appear in the novel, but his sudden appearance in Esther made me feel foreboding, like I was the reason.
I would have felt more comfortable if I had assumed that he had come because he was one of the emperor's confidants.
“Ma’am, I will come in.”
I heard Amy's voice as there was a knock on the door.
"Good."
At my permission, Amy entered.
“Ma’am, the gentleman asks you to come to the reception room now.”
'I?
Now, while Lucas arrived?
This is ominous.'
“Didn’t I say that if Leon invites me, say I’m not okay?”
“I said so, but he insisted that you come just to say hello.”
I had to go to the reception room.
When the door opened, my eyes met directly with Lucas's, who rose, smiling excitedly.
“I salute Your Highness the Princess.”
Lucas came forward animatedly, and bowed in front of me.
I nodded coldly and walked past him to sit next to Leon.
Leon, who had been looking at me and Lucas expressionlessly, was smiling happily when I sat next to him.
'Did I earn some points?'
I felt better because of his innocent smile.
“Bill Bill, this man… Uncle, wanted to ask how you were, so I invited him.
Sorry, you were resting… Our baby should be resting, right?”
"child?"
Lucas sat across from us and asked briefly.
None of us answered.
'
Don’t try to find out more.’ None of us wanted to go into detail.
“Uncle Commander was your friend, wasn’t he?
No, not a friend, but someone you know a little, right?”
I nodded and looked at Lucas, who tilted his head in surprise and looked at me.
“And you said it wasn't worth thinking about.”
'Stop, please.'
I felt like I was on a pillow of thorns.
'Don't talk about this in front of me.'
“Did I say that?”
At my words, Leon’s eyes flashed coldly.
I quickly added: “As expected of His Highness the Genius Duke!
Your memory is amazing!”
"Hahahaha."
“Your Highness, do you know why I came to Esther?”
'No, and I don't want to know.
Please, don't tell.'
I felt a bad omen and wanted to disappear from the place.
“I ed His Majesty the Emperor myf and came voluntarily.
Since our meeting in the capital, you have not left my thoughts.”
‘You…say this in front of Leon, completely ignoring him?
He's not a fool.
'You're done.'
My lips trembled.
I wanted to silence his mouth any way I could.
“How could you get into his head?
So, Belle Belle is locked in this uncle’s head now?”
Leon spoke with an innocent face as he tilted his head.
“No, I'm here.”
“Should I slit this uncle’s head to save Pill Pill?”
How could he say such scary things with such an innocent face?
I suddenly remembered part of the novel:
[He does not forgive those who lie to him.
He did not hesitate to punish liars.
Hannes's head was shattered...]
'Stop thinking.'