ILOIML 04

Chapter 4

Leon was lying on the sofa in the sitting room next to the bedroom, kicking his feet, but quickly got up when I came in.

“Bella!!”

He ran over to me excitedly like a puppy seeing its owner.

“But…”

“Here! I brought you chocolates and candy!!”

“No, not that. Your hair looks like a lion’s mane now?”

His face looked confused, but his eyes were sharp.

“My head was itchy, so I scratched it. Maybe I have fleas?”

“Ew, I hate fleas. Bella, that’s gross.”

“Then I guess I have to share them with you.”

I grabbed Leon’s head and rubbed mine against his. He got serious and tried to get away, and we both lost balance and fell over. I landed right on top of him. Surprised, I lifted my head—and Leon was looking at me with a blank expression.

We were so close I could feel his breath. I froze, taking in a deep breath. His strong, sweet scent made me a little dizzy. But this was not the time to enjoy it!

“Ah! I’m sorry.”

I tried to get up, but my dress was so full and heavy today that I couldn’t move easily.

“Your Grace, the Duchess, your outfit—”

Joanne knocked and came in, but stopped dead when she saw us.

“I’m sorry!!”

She got flustered and ran back out.

What the—why did she come in without permission? And what is she imagining now?!

“Bella, you’re heavy. Get off.”

Leon turned his head shyly, avoiding eye contact.

Blushing, I used all my strength to stand up.

“What do you mean ‘heavy’? You’re so rude.”

I whispered to myself and brushed off my dress.

“Bella’s mad at me?”

I had carefully dressed up and came all the way to the capital, and now it felt like everything was ruined.

“Joanne!”

I was annoyed and called her sharply.

She peeked through the door.

“Fix my makeup. It’s a mess.”

Joanne and the maids quickly came in. As I went toward the powder room, I looked at Leon. He was sitting on the sofa, eating the chocolates I brought and looking right at me.

When our eyes met, he even smiled casually.

That made me even more upset. I was trying hard to act calm!!

“Wow, Bella, you’re so pretty! But what about me?”

“You little—”

I almost cursed without thinking.

His white dress uniform was completely stained with chocolate.

Please stop. We have to leave soon. Is he crazy? I glared at Joanne, who was giggling behind me.

“You brought a spare uniform, right? Go get it and bring in His Highness’s attendants.”

“Yes.”

While the maids went to get it, I dipped a handkerchief in water and wiped his face and hands.

“Was it that tasty, Leon?”

“Yeah! Chocolate in the capital tastes totally different!!”

“Then we’ll have to buy lots when we go back to Aster, right?”

“Yep!!”

There was a knock, and Leon’s longtime attendants from Aster came in.

“Let us help His Highness change.”

Since he’d probably want to hide his muscular body, it was best to let them handle it.

How do I even know he has a fit body?

As that earlier moment flashed through my mind again, hot air started puffing out of my nose. I tried to calm my racing heart by eating the chocolate Leon had opened earlier.

“Hmm, this chocolate really is good.”

* * *

After finishing preparations, we got into the carriage with the Marquis and his wife to head to the Holland Duke’s mansion.

The Marquis kept talking the whole way, and Leon smiled happily for some reason.

The Marquess and I just responded with blank faces.

After our earlier conversation, I still couldn’t tell what the Marquess really wanted. Was she trying to help me? Her expressionless face made me feel she was hiding a lot.

“We’ve arrived. The Grand Duke and Duchess of Aster have arrived.”

I felt Leon’s hand holding mine trembling slightly.

Since the “foolish Grand Duke” rarely appeared in the capital, the banquet was packed with people wanting to get a glimpse of him.

We began walking slowly into the banquet hall.

As we entered, a heavy silence fell over the grand space.

My father, the Marquis of Sweden, looked like he was enjoying all the attention.

It was as if he was proudly announcing that he had brought this “foolish couple” here. His shoulders were high, and his face was full of smiles.

He was probably the one most hoping Leon would be laughed at here, just as the Emperor intended.

“Your Grace, Grand Duke!”

A short, chubby old nobleman came rushing toward Leon like he was reuniting with family after years apart. It must be the host of the banquet, Duke Holland.

He grabbed Leon in a big hug.

“Let go, you pig.”

“Your Grace, calling me a pig? Seems your language has gotten a little rough while we were apart.”

The Duke pretended to wipe away tears, but I was close enough to see his eyes were completely dry.

After the fake crying, his sharp gaze turned to me.

Me? You’re suspicious of me?

Well, whatever. If it’s for the future, I’ll gladly play the villainess if that’s what they want.

“With the Grand Duchess by your side, the whole hall is glowing from your beauty,” he said.

“Thank you, Duke Holland.”

When I said that, he looked at the Marquis with a displeased face.

Clearly, he didn’t really accept me as the Grand Duchess.

“Well then, I’ll go greet the other guests. Please enjoy yourselves.”

Once Duke Holland waddled away, more nobles lined up to greet Leon.

But it was obvious—they weren’t greeting him because they respected him.

They were waiting, hoping he’d say something stupid so they could laugh and gossip later.

Every time Leon said something silly, you could see the nobles’ faces light up with glee.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I raised my hand to stop the next noble from coming over.

“That’s enough. I’m too tired. My legs feel like they’re about to burst. If you have anything else to say, I’ll give you a big sheet of paper—just write it down.”

I glared at him, grabbed Leon’s hand, and pulled him to a chair near the auction area. Then I dropped down.

“Bella, do your legs hurt?”

Don’t act cute—it’s dangerous when you’re really that cute.

Wait, what am I even thinking right now? No, seriously…

“I’m just exhausted. You must be tired too, right? You were yawning nonstop.”

“Yeah! Bella, you’re a genius. You always know exactly how I feel.”

Yeah… I guess I do know more about you than I thought.

I nodded.

“It’s kind of warm in here, isn’t it?”

“I think so too. We really are a couple! Hehe.”

We sat there calmly, listening to the sweet music and watching the nobles.

After what I said earlier, no one dared come near us.

Did Bella not have any friends?

Why wasn’t anyone even saying hello?

Will there be no one to hang out with if I come to the capital again?

Well… that hope I had before coming to the capital disappeared after seeing the Marquis’ true self yesterday anyway.

At that moment, Leon suddenly stood up and began nervously shuffling his feet.

“What’s wrong, Leon?”

I looked at him, surprised. His face was red, like he drank too much. Was he really feeling that hot?

His red eyes were shaking nervously.

“Bella, I have to go back.”

“What? But the auction hasn’t even started yet.”

Wait, did he just call me Bella so clearly? Something serious must be going on.

“I… I can’t control myself.”

“Leon, Bella doesn’t understand what you mean.”

I gave him a hint to act—that he should fake something.

Leon frowned slightly at my words.

“…”

He closed his eyes,

took a deep breath—and then suddenly ran straight into the middle of the ballroom.

“Leon!!”

I ran after him fast