Episode 40

Episode 40. A Foxlike Man (1)

After yet another exhausting meeting, I stepped outside.

“Thank you for your hard work, Your Majesty.”

He greeted me as if he’d been waiting all this time. Right. I’d almost forgotten he was here.

“You’re still waiting here…?”

“Of course. I’m your personal knight, after all.”

He offered that smooth, infuriating smile. Why is the Empire’s Knight Commander acting as my personal guard? I just stared at him, stunned.

I remembered the tea party the other day. That was where it all began.

At first, it had been manageable—even when the noblewomen brought up rumors about Leonard, I was ready to deny everything. But then, of all moments, he had to appear right then.

As if he’d timed it perfectly.

When he made that dramatic declaration, the noblewomen were all too eager to swoon.

Hohoho, it seems we worried for nothing.

Exactly. Her Majesty clearly has everything under control.

Naturally. She is the Empress, after all.

I tried to tell them it wasn’t true, but by then it was too late.

Hohoho, there’s no need to be embarrassed, Your Majesty. We’re all on your side.

No matter how much I denied it, they thought I was simply too shy to admit it.

Ever since he so grandly declared himself my personal knight, Leonard had spent far more time at my side. Wherever I went, he followed without fail.

That alone might have been tolerable. The real problem was how people reacted.

Everywhere I went, I felt stares following me—no, us. Even the maids told me there was a new rumor spreading: that Leonard wasn’t just my guard but might actually become my lover.

It had already been bad enough when they whispered we were “close.” Now the rumor had evolved to something even worse.

Why does everything keep getting more complicated?

“Just what are you thinking?”

“About what, exactly?”

“You. Acting as my personal guard. Is it really appropriate for the Empire’s Knight Commander to be doing this?”

“Oh dear, I’m so touched that Your Majesty is worried about me.”

“I’m not worried about you. I’m worried about the Empire and its people.”

“As expected of Your Majesty. So thoughtful of you to care for a humble citizen like me.”

I fell silent. That smile of his was unbearably smug.

“…I didn’t know you were this shameless.”

“Neither did I.”

“…”

“But I just can’t help myself around Your Majesty.”

It sounded as if I were someone special to him. I remembered feeling this same disquiet when I’d woken up after fainting, hearing that low voice, seeing those eyes.

No. I can’t let myself be swayed.

I had to stay focused. I was determined to divorce Jerome and leave this palace behind, to break entirely from the original story. I wanted to go far away, where no one knew me, and live the quietest, most ordinary life.

Which meant I couldn’t get tangled up with these characters any further. Staying close to them would only drag me back into that plot.

I needed to draw a firm line.

“Sir Leonard.”

“Yes?”

“Just so you know, it doesn’t matter what you do. I have no intention of taking a lover.”

He lifted an eyebrow.

“Am I lacking in some way?”

Lacking? If anything, he was overqualified. One of the Empire’s most desirable bachelors.

“It’s not about you. I mean it doesn’t matter who it is—I don’t intend to have a lover at all.”

“May I ask why?”

Why…? I couldn’t exactly mention my plan to divorce.

“I already have a husband.”

Even if it was a husband I desperately wanted to divorce.

“How could I possibly keep a lover? It’s unthinkable.”

It would only complicate the divorce.

He watched me quietly for a moment.

“Do you love His Majesty?”

“Of course not.”

My answer was sharp and immediate. There was no way I could like someone like that.

At my response, the corner of his mouth lifted.

“Then there’s no problem, is there?”

He said it so lightly, as if it was the simplest thing in the world.

“If Your Majesty would only look at me… I wouldn’t mind being your lover.”

Meanwhile, someone else was watching us with horror.

Conrad, one of Leonard’s knights, was staring with wide eyes.

“My god…”

He’d come to see it for himself. He hadn’t believed the rumors until now.

He’d wanted to sneak away sooner, but brutal training had made it impossible. Even so, he’d watched for any chance to escape. Finally, he had managed it.

“It’s real… he’s actually doing it.”

He felt like he was witnessing a miracle.

Is that really my commander?

Leonard was known for his flawless features and peerless swordsmanship—a man worthy of any knight’s respect. Their idol.

But as a superior? He was cold, strict, ruthlessly professional.

Grueling drills, relentless discipline—he didn’t blink when knights sobbed on the ground.

And now he’s smiling like that?

Sure, he’d smiled before—but only polite, formal smiles.

This was different.

The moment he smiled at the Empress, that cold face melted into something warm and gentle, like a loyal hound.

Conrad squinted.

No fox in the world is that good at changing faces.

“I’ll have to keep watching. This needs a full report.”

He nodded solemnly, satisfied that today’s escape from training had been worth it.

A voice came from behind him.

“What are you doing.”

He didn’t even turn around.

“Just go on. I’m in the middle of something important.”

He didn’t need to look to know who it was.

“More important than training?”

“Obviously! If I miss this, I’ll never—”

He yelped as someone grabbed him by the collar.

“Hey! Let go! I have to see this!”

It wasn’t every day you got to watch your terrifying commander flirt in person.

No matter how he struggled, he was dragged away mercilessly.

“Let’s go. Don’t interfere.”

Back in my rooms, I asked the maids to bring tea. Leonard, acting completely at ease, asked for his own cup.

I raised a brow.

“Do bodyguards usually share tea with the person they’re guarding?”

“Let’s just say I’m not here as the Knight Commander right now.”

I sighed and gave up.

“Fine. Please wait. They’ll bring it soon.”

The maids giggled quietly before disappearing behind the door.

Ah—I almost forgot.

There was something I’d meant to do before the meeting but hadn’t had time. I pulled out a book and opened it to reveal red flowers, pressed and dried. Their color had faded a bit, but they were still beautiful. I added a new bloom.

Leonard’s gaze followed the motion.

“That flower…”

“Pretty, isn’t it? Cedric gave it to me.”

“Cedric? The Guardian of the Green?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t know he gave you flowers.”

He murmured it so quietly I almost missed it while arranging the bloom.

“What was this one called again… Bego… something…”

“Begonia?”

“Ah, that’s it. Begonia.”

I smiled.

“You know flowers too? Cedric said it was just a common wildflower.”

He lifted an eyebrow, watching me.

“He said that?”

“Yes. Why? Is there a problem?”

“No. Nothing at all.”

He shook his head, falling silent.

“So you’re pressing all the flowers he gives you?”

“He gives me one almost every time we meet. I didn’t know what else to do with them, so I started pressing them in books.”

I felt a little proud showing them off.

“This yellow one is from Cedric too.”

I thought I’d have to show Cedric next time. He’d be surprised to see how carefully I’d saved them.

Leonard tilted his head slightly.

“You really treasure his gifts.”

“Of course. They’re presents. And the flowers are lovely.”

“They really are.”

He leaned closer, far too close. His handsome face was suddenly right in front of mine.

This is too close…

I could feel his breath against my skin.

“If I gave you flowers… would you keep them like this too?”

Startled by his low voice brushing my ear, I instinctively turned my head.

Our lips brushed—warm, soft.

I jerked back immediately.

“This is… I mean…”

My face burned, and I could feel my heart pounding in my chest.

“I’m sorry. That was… an accident…”

But the heat of it lingered, leaving my mind blank. Even though it was only for a moment, it felt far too long.

He didn’t immediately pull away. Instead, he retreated slowly, almost reluctantly, eyes narrowing with lazy satisfaction.

“Does this mean… we’re even now?”