Episode 69

Chapter 69. Please Show Me Only

“Sir Leonard’s expression hasn’t looked good for a while now. Is something wrong?”

“Sir Leonard?”

At the noblewoman’s words, my head turned almost reflexively. Just as she said, Leonard wore a far more serious expression than usual.

Why did he look like that? Did something upset him?

Truthfully, that strange tension around him had been present even before we arrived at the banquet hall—no, more precisely, it had been there from the very moment I first saw him today.

He hadn’t shown it outwardly, but I’d felt it. Ever since earlier, something about him had kept tugging at my attention.

Even now, recalling the look in his eyes when we entered the hall made my chest tighten. I glanced toward Leonard again.

The moment our eyes met, his expression hardened once more.

Whatever’s bothering him…

It definitely wasn’t unrelated to me. That much, I was sure of.

But what on earth is the problem?

Meanwhile.

“Huh… No way.”

It was seriously insane.

From a distance, Conrad, the knight standing on guard duty, couldn’t stop muttering in awe.
His eyes were diligently tracking Leonard.

More precisely, he was watching Leonard shoot terrifyingly cold glares at every male guest who dared linger near the Empress.

Leonard’s presence was so intense, anyone who accidentally met his gaze flinched and recoiled instinctively.

Several male nobles had already quietly slipped away, catching on.

Apparently, the Empress hadn’t noticed yet.

That there wasn’t a single man left near her anymore—only noblewomen and young ladies.

And that wasn’t even the most shocking part.

The real kicker? Whenever the ferocious, predator-like Leonard happened to lock eyes with Her Majesty—

“Did you see that? His face changes in a split second. Like, total transformation! That man’s a born actor!”

—he instantly morphed into a picture of innocent gentleness. A harmless little lamb.

Even witnessing it with his own eyes, Conrad still found it hard to believe.

He nudged the knight standing next to him sharply with his elbow.

“Hey, you saw that too, right? I’m not imagining things, am I?”

The knight beside him, Felix, frowned in irritation.

“Are you obsessing over the captain again? Seriously, give it a rest. We’re on duty.”

“That’s exactly the problem! This is an emergency!” Conrad replied with a grave look.

“I’m telling you, someone’s kidnapped our captain and replaced him with a fake.”

To be fair, Leonard had been acting strange for a while now.

But today? Today was on another level.

There was no other explanation—he had to be a completely different person.

While Conrad grew increasingly agitated, Felix remained calm.

“Captain Leonard? Kidnapped? Intriguing theory. But do you really think someone could manage that?”

“…Yeah, fair. I mean, who’d dare try that?”

Conrad admitted quickly.

Who in their right mind would attempt to kidnap the strongest man in the Empire?

They’d be lucky to survive the attempt.

But still, there was something more urgent at hand.

“Then why is the captain acting like this?”

“Maybe… he’s just human too?”

“No, it’s more than that. It’s way more than that…”

Conrad was still deeply skeptical.

“And that outfit—look closely. The color’s different, sure, but the style is clearly meant to match Her Majesty’s.”

“His outfit?”

Felix glanced between the Empress and Leonard.

“Hmm. You think no one else in the room’s noticed that?”

“They must’ve. It’s obvious—same designer, same vibe.”

Felix nodded coolly.

“Yeah, but still… That’s not all. Do you know what I saw the other day?”

“What?”

Conrad glanced around cautiously before leaning in and whispering.

“He was looking into hiring mages for decorative enchantments.”

“Mages? For party decorations?”

Felix scanned the grand banquet hall.

Mystical ice sculptures shimmered all around them.

“Wait… You mean these ice sculptures—?”

“Yep. I’m pretty sure the captain pulled strings to make all this happen.”

“That must’ve cost a fortune. Why go that far?”

“Why do you think?”

Conrad’s eyes shifted to the Empress. Felix followed his gaze and nodded slowly.

“I see… So the captain’s serious.”

“Serious? He’s practically possessed.”

“Well… given Her Majesty’s looks, I kind of get it. She’s stunning. People just overlook it because of all the nasty rumors floating around.”

“Even so—this scale? Covering the entire hall in enchanted ice? He probably poured in his whole salary!”

What they didn’t know… was just how wealthy Leonard really was.

“Let him do as he pleases. More importantly…”

Felix’s gaze turned sharp.

“You. You didn’t sneak into the captain’s office again, did you?”

“…No?”

“After the banquet, I’m reporting this. You better be ready.”

Conrad paled instantly.

He hadn’t entered the office for anything shady—just to drop off some documents, really.

But that’s when he’d seen it.

Plans and blueprints, sprawled across the table.

Documents detailing everything.

Conrad begged.

“Please! Don’t tell him…!”

He was already imagining himself getting the scolding of a lifetime.

After a long chat with the noblewomen, I stepped out to the terrace to get some air. A cool breeze brushed past me.

“Ha…”

Now I could finally breathe.

The chill in the wind helped cool me down. Talking with the noblewomen had been enjoyable, but it did take more energy than I expected.

I lifted my gaze and saw the night sky, where a blue-tinged moon hung low. Countless stars were scattered around it, glittering as if they might fall at any moment.

It’s beautiful.

My head turned toward the scenery—and there was Leonard.

His expression was still rigid.

No… he looked like he was smiling a bit earlier, but it’s back again.

In fact, he looked even worse than he had when we met at the Empress’s palace. As time passed, the crease between his brows only deepened.

…Why?

I just didn’t understand. Why did he keep looking like that?

Even the noblewomen had commented on it, asking if something was wrong—Leonard was clearly failing to manage his expression. It was unlike him.

Unable to contain my curiosity any longer, I finally spoke.

“Sir Leonard.”

“…Yes.”

He responded a beat too late.

“Please tell me honestly.”

“Tell you what?”

“Why do you still look so upset?”

“Do I… look that way?”

“Yes. Very much so. Did I do something to offend you?”

Leonard’s lips pressed tightly shut.

They say silence is usually a form of affirmation.

So I really did do something wrong?

I racked my brain, and one thing did come to mind—when I had misunderstood him and followed him in secret.

Wait… did I ever actually apologize for that? No. I don’t think I did.

I hadn’t apologized even once. So if that’s what this was about, I could understand why he was upset. He had every right to be.

“If you’re angry about the time I secretly followed you… I’m sorry. I should have apologized sooner.”

But apparently, that wasn’t the reason.

Leonard shook his head.

“That’s not it.”

“Then what is it?”

“…Your back.”

My back?

“…I didn’t realize the dress was so low-cut in the back.”

“Ah…”

A quiet sigh escaped me.

So that was it.

It’s because my back is too exposed.

He must not have seen what the back of the dress looked like.

As I mulled over his words, my face grew hot. A faint, ticklish feeling rose in the corner of my chest. I had thought hearing his explanation would ease the tension in me—but instead, my heart felt heavier, fuller.

Ahem. I lowered my eyes and cleared my throat.

At that moment, I heard Leonard’s deep, low voice.

“I don’t like other people looking at Your Majesty.”

“……!”

Before I realized it, he had come closer. He reached out his hand, his fingers brushing against my hair.

“If it were up to me… I’d gouge out all their eyes…”

He muttered under his breath, then clamped his lips shut. Somehow, I had a feeling I’d regret it if I asked what he was going to say next.

With a strange expression on his face, he slowly ran his fingers through my hair. Then, gathering the loose strands, he tucked them gently behind my ear and whispered:

“Please show this side of you only to me.”