Two days after the investigators' visit, the front page of the Empire newspaper covered the news of the death of the Marquis, and that the killers were his wife and the young Marquis.
The whole country shook.
However, although the front-page news for days included suspicions about me, there was not a single article that addressed the violence I and my family experienced.
The day before the news broke, Leon had pestered me to travel together to the southern resort town of Palanubo.
For a moment, I thought he expected this news and wanted to console me, but Calsen said that Leon hated the cold of the north and spent time in Palanobo whenever he got the chance.
'The timing is perfect for a misunderstanding.'
"Let's go later.
Not now."
I knew Leon said it because he hated the cold, not for me, but I was really grateful to him.
I had strangely anxious days.
Of course, it was because of Walter.
The stone weighing on my chest was getting bigger day by day.
I didn't understand these feelings.
In the end, I decided to meet Walter even if I had to endure the annoying looks.
“Leon, I have to go to the capital.”
Leon's face, who was laughing cheerfully, froze in an instant.
“Why?”
He asked briefly, but the pressure in his words was enormous.
My words got stuck.
When he saw me hesitating and silent, he quickly changed his expression and pursed his lips.
“Why?
Why?”
He said this in a complaining tone, the opposite of what he was.
I froze at his complaining, and smiled naturally.
I always knew that Leon was the one who made me smile.
His gaze wasn't gentle, but looking at me with those eyes was enough.
“I'm going to meet Walter.”
“I will go with you.”
He said that without hesitation.
I wanted to say I would go alone, but my heart was the problem.
I couldn't refuse him or respond, so I looked at him silently.
"Not possible?"
He asked cautiously, watching my reaction.
I closed my lips and smiled.
I know he hates going to D.C., and I'm really sorry, but...
“Can you go with me?”
Leon nodded without hesitation.
There was no reason to delay after the decision had been made, so we headed to the capital immediately.
We decided to stay at the hotel we had stayed at previously.
Perhaps I was being watched without knowing it, because the moment we arrived at the hotel and completed checking in, the two detectives I had met before appeared before us.
Since I had intended to meet them to get to Walter, I was not surprised by their visit.
But I was happy.
But it seems that Leon had a different opinion.
He was laughing in front of them like an idiot, but his eyes were fierce.
Fearing he would forget his role, I grabbed a small teddy bear from the sofa and gave it to him.
Leon frowned slightly, but began to pretend to play with the doll, muttering strange words.
"I'm not in the mood.
We didn't tell anyone we were coming, so how did you know I arrived in the capital?"
“We apologize if this upset you.
Since you are not completely away from the case, we are monitoring the travel paths through the portals until the case is closed.”
They had no intention of lying, so they spoke frankly.
At that moment, the teddy bear flew from Leon's hand to the detective's face.
The detective frowned when the bear hit him, but smiled embarrassed when he saw my look and returned the doll to Leon.
“Surely you'll be wondering why we came to the capital?”
“…By order from above, we apologize.”
“Let me meet Walter.
I came to see my family for the last time.
He is my blood.”
“What?
We are sorry, but this is impossible.
His Majesty the Emperor has forbidden any communication with the outside.”
Leon's teddy bear flew out again.
The detective tried to dodge it, but Leon threw it accurately and it hit his face again.
“I'm going to meet my uncle the Emperor.
Come on, Pill Pill, let's go!”
Leon spoke as he stomped his feet.
The detective frowned, but lowered his head when he saw Leon's tantrum.
They exchanged glances and tried hard to hold back their laughter.
'Does Leon intend to meet the Emperor for my sake?'
“Come on quickly!”
I was lost in thought.
If meeting the Emperor was the only way to meet Walter, there was no need to hesitate.
The problem is that Leon hates the Emperor so much, but now he was insisting on my behalf.
“Okay… I will go to the palace and beg His Majesty the Emperor myf.”
The investigators exchanged embarrassed glances.
But I didn't say that to get their permission.
“But, are you going to stay here?
If you have something to ask, ask quickly and leave.
Our master gets nervous around strangers, and next time it might not be a teddy bear, but a vase!”
“No, no, we came to tell you that we will come if you have something to say.
If you don’t have something now, we will leave.”
“No, I have nothing.”
They left after a polite greeting.
When they disappeared, Leon stood in front of me, panting.
"Leon doesn't throw anything!
Why do you portray me as a disturbed person?
You are the most disturbed.
You slander your husband!"
Leon was very angry, his shoulders rising and falling with every breath.
But why did I feel that his words had a harsh tone?
“So, why did you throw the doll?
Who started throwing it?”
“Hmph.”
Leon turned his head.
As usual, there is no answer when he is in a vulnerable position.
I shook my head and got up from the couch.
“I will go to the palace.”
Leon looked at me quickly.
“I will go with you.”
He hates even hearing the word capital where the emperor is, yet he makes this offer?
I knew this would take a lot of courage from him.
I took his hand and caressed it gently with gratitude.
"Today I'm going because of my family, so it's better to go alone.
I won't compromise this time.
You coming here with me was a great support for Pill Pill."
Leon didn't say anything and lowered his gaze.
After a while, he raised his head and looked at me with sullen eyes.
“Why are you playing with my hand like that?”
I frowned and threw his hand away.
He started laughing merrily and turning around.
“Ah, this makes me dizzy.”
I muttered to myf so he wouldn't hear me.
“Go with me to the palace, or I will keep spinning.
I will spin all night and make you dizzy!”
“I didn't say that for you to hear...”
I said in a low, embarrassed voice.
Leon suddenly stopped and brought his face closer to mine.
“You lied, you said it loud on purpose so I could hear it.”
Then he started circling me again.
In the end, I went with him to the palace.
Although we did not make an appointment, we were able to meet the Emperor immediately thanks to his great kindness.
A servant escorted us to the reception room.
The servant was chattering endlessly about how much His Majesty the Emperor cared about Leon.
“Can you just keep quiet and walk quietly?”
I spoke in an annoyed tone.
“I'm sorry, Your Highness.”
The servant bowed and apologized repeatedly.
At such moments, bad rumors were useful.
Only the sounds of our footsteps echoed down the long corridor.
I felt that Leon's breathing was disturbed, unlike usual.
Maybe he was regretting his decision to accompany me.
I extended my hand to him.
“Here.”
Leon looked at my face in surprise, then at my outstretched hand.
"Very interesting!
Seeing the Emperor is always fun!"
“Your uncle the Emperor.”
I quickly corrected.
I laughed and he looked around in confusion.
He held my hand tightly.
I felt a slight tremor in his fingertips.
I held his hand tightly so I wouldn't feel its trembling.
Leon looked at our folded hands, then raised his head and smiled briefly at me.
"Thanks."
He muttered very softly.
I felt my heart sinking, but I pretended not to hear it and stared into the void, hiding my red face.