Chapter 174

After hearing Leon’s rejection, Jerry couldn’t help but sigh. Scratching the back of his head, he said with some difficulty, “Since you’ve got family matters to attend to, go ahead and return first. Once the Bureau Director wakes up, I’ll help you ask for leave…”

“No! It’s fine!”

Hastily gathering the photos on the table, Leon carefully inspected the woman who had come to report the case. While pondering her connection to Anna, he spoke:

“My place… it’s actually not that urgent. How about I assist you, Senior, in investigating the situation first before heading back?”

“Hmm, that could work…”

Seeing Leon suddenly change his mind, Jerry first raised an eyebrow in surprise. When he noticed Leon staring intently at the woman, a knowing smile appeared on his lips.

‘Give it up already!’

Reaching into his pocket, he felt around an anomalous item capable of soul-to-soul communication and nudged Leon with his elbow.

‘She’s already married. She filled out the registration form this morning; marital status is listed as married!’

“…”

That’s not what I meant at all… And if she’s married, then doesn’t that mean…

Worried that his sister might be hiding something scandalous, Leon, whose temples were still throbbing faintly, invited both of them into the office and sat down on the guest sofa.

Placing the shopping bag containing the black goat by his feet and pulling out a small notebook, Leon held his homemade charcoal pencil and politely asked:

“Miss, I need to gather some basic information first. Could you please tell me your name again?”

“Veronica.”

Looking at Leon, whose expression was gentle but carried a subtle air of distance, Princess Veronica sighed inwardly. Without directly revealing her relationship with Leon, she cooperated by answering a few questions.

“Alright.”

Through the soul vision of the black goat, Leon confirmed that she hadn’t lied; everything she had said so far was true. He discreetly gave Jerry a thumbs-up gesture and continued questioning:

“Could you describe the abnormal situations you’ve encountered? And how did you learn about our Clearing Bureau?”

“As for the abnormality… since yesterday noon, everyone has forgotten about me. As for how I know about your Clearing Bureau… I’ve always known about your existence.”

Glancing at the man who was once her prince consort, Princess Veronica explained with a somewhat complicated expression: “You might find it hard to believe, but until yesterday noon, I was the princess of this country.”

Princess?

Upon hearing this, Jerry couldn’t help but frown and cast an inquisitive glance toward Leon.

Something’s off here. I thought the king only had one son. Where did this princess come from? But wait, she wasn’t lying—at least, that’s what she believes.

Shaking his head slightly, Leon gave a negative response to Senior Jerry. Feeling somewhat disoriented, he massaged his temples and continued questioning:

“So… from when you noticed the abnormal situation until now, it must have been a whole night already. Did you try contacting any family members or close friends last night? Were their memories unable to be restored?”

“I guess I did reach out to some people.”

Princess Veronica sighed, “But everyone forgot about me, including the lady-in-waiting who always accompanied me. No matter how many past events I recounted, she refused to believe I was the princess and even tried to call for guards to arrest me. I knocked her unconscious and escaped.”

“And as for my family… Since I can’t enter the royal palace right now, I haven’t had the chance to see them or test whether I can awaken their memories.”

“I see…”

The conditions are still insufficient; we can’t judge the real situation yet.

After listening to the princess, Jerry immediately signaled Leon to ask sharper questions to determine if this woman was delusional or truly affected by an anomalous influence.

Leon gave him a look of understanding, straightened his posture, and stared into Princess Veronica’s eyes:

“It won’t happen.”

Having spent the entire night contemplating this question, the princess shook her head firmly, her expression resolute:

“I’m very certain that I am indeed the princess of this country, and I should have a way to prove it.”

At this point, she glanced at Leon, who smelled strongly of alcohol, looked clearly exhausted, and had half a lipstick mark on his collar. She couldn’t help but furrow her brows slightly before continuing:

“Gentlemen, do either of you know anything about the Leon family’s title inheritance ceremony yesterday?”

The Leon family’s title inheritance ceremony?

Upon hearing Princess Veronica’s words, Leon and Jerry exchanged surprised glances before nodding in succession.

“I’ve heard some about it.”

“Not only do I know, but I was also present yesterday.”

Without missing a beat!

After answering the self-proclaimed princess’s question, Leon’s mind suddenly went dizzy, feeling as though something was trying to surface from his memories.

However, when he attempted to grasp it, it was like reaching through an invisible thick glass barrier. No matter how hard he reached, all he could touch was a cold, solid wall.

“I was there yesterday too.”

Looking at Leon, whose eyes were growing increasingly confused and who unconsciously started pinching his eyebrows, Princess Veronica felt a flicker of hope. Clenching her fists tightly, she earnestly said: “Although it might seem strange to you, the king doesn’t just have one son—he also has an elder daughter, and that daughter is me.

Yesterday, I secretly went to Leon Manor to observe the Leon family’s title inheritance ceremony. But as soon as I entered the hall, I heard someone proposing marriage to me, offering the entire Leon family as a dowry.”

“Wait!”

At this point, Leon, whose mind was growing more chaotic, couldn’t help but raise his hand and reminded with a furrowed brow:

“Let’s assume for a moment that such a princess exists. Are you sure someone proposed marriage to you, using the entire Leon family as a dowry?”

“I’m sure.”

“But I don’t recall such an event happening.”

Leon rubbed his temples, saying, “The only person qualified to offer the entire Leon family as a dowry should be… you might not have met me, but I am actually…”

“You’re actually the new Duke Lionheart.”

Interrupting Leon mid-sentence, Princess Veronica revealed his identity. Looking at Leon’s astonished face, she gazed into his eyes and stated clearly:

“The person who proposed to me yesterday… was you!”

“???”

“And I accepted.”

“!!!”

Under the astonished gaze of Senior Jerry, who seemed to say “you pulled something like this?” Leon, somewhat startled, waved his hands repeatedly:

“That’s impossible. If you’re really the princess and you agreed to marry me, then…”

Then I should have a corresponding badge, starting at least at the Silver level, or possibly even Gold… Holy crap, it’s really there! Opening the system panel casually, Leon saw the shimmering gold light in the slot labeled [Travel Thrush Prince], and his brain felt like it had been hit by a hammer, buzzing loudly as everything went haywire.

Did I really propose to her yesterday? So she really is the princess?