Chapter 639

If there’s anything in this world more embarrassing than getting caught in a lie, it’s realizing the person you’re lying about is right outside the window, looking at you with a strange expression.

Veronica hastily came up with an excuse—”It’s already late”—to shoo away the lady-in-waiting and attendant who were eager to hear more gossip. Even though Princess Veronica had never retreated from Northland Kingdom’s artillery fire, she opened her bedroom window like she was undergoing torture. She kept her head down, her face flushed as she softly said, “Y-you… when did you come?”

“When you told the lady-in-waiting to keep an eye on the Ministry of Finance.”

“…”

That meant he’d heard everything, didn’t it?! Upon realizing this horrifying truth, Princess Veronica’s heart finally sank completely.

Under Leon’s strange gaze, the color of twilight spread from her cheeks all the way to behind her ears, even coloring her neck under the collar of her nightgown faintly red.

“So you…”

The princess, wishing she could vanish into a crack in the floor, quivered as she asked, “Why didn’t you come in? Or make some noise?”

“I saw you guys chatting happily, so I didn’t want to interrupt.”

“…”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Aaaaaaaaah!!! You might not have interrupted our conversation, but you’ve killed my sense of shame!

After a moment of silence with Leon, the princess turned aside, letting him into her bedroom, then looked away as she quietly asked, “So why did you come?”

“Well… I actually came because I wanted to ask something.”

Even though he’d listened to the entire fabricated “romantic history,” seeing how flustered the princess was, Leon decided not to dwell on it and instead cut straight to the chase: “What’s going on with next month’s wedding? Why was it set without me knowing anything?”

“I tried to find you a few times…”

Sensing that Leon might be coming to question her, Veronica couldn’t help but blink and said pitifully, “But you were never home. I really had no choice but to settle our marriage first.”

“Not… what nonsense are you spouting?”

Leon, speechless, asked, “Why do you say you had no choice? Don’t you already have half the kingdom under your control? Is there someone forcing you to marry me?”

“There is.”

Veronica blinked, now calm, and answered seriously, “Although Father has prepared to abdicate, I am still just the princess. There are many things I cannot officially do yet. Only after truly becoming queen can I take over everything in the royal family.”

“And according to the kingdom’s law, unmarried princes or princesses cannot inherit the throne. I must get married before I can become the next queen, so I must marry you soon.”

Must marry first to inherit the throne?

Upon hearing this, Leon couldn’t help but frown and counter-questioned incredulously, “I’ve never heard of such a rule. When did the kingdom establish this regulation?”

“Ah?”

“My proposal hasn’t been passed yet, but during the next Upper House parliament session, this will be written into the kingdom’s laws.”

“?!?!”

So it was your rule! Almost being struck by this cheesy line, watching Princess Veronica, who had successfully overcome the awkward phase, return to her habitual teasing, Leon’s face darkened instantly, and he retaliated without hesitation:

“What about your modesty? Weren’t you just saying that if I hadn’t pursued you too fervently, you definitely wouldn’t have…”

“Don’t… Ah!”

Not expecting Leon to suddenly dig up her past after they had moved past that topic, Princess Veronica couldn’t help but let out a startled cry. Flushing furiously, she rushed forward, wanting to cover Leon’s mouth with her hand.

However, whether due to panic or her own generous assets making balance difficult, Princess Veronica took one step forward, and her fuzzy slippers slipped on the wrinkled carpet. She stumbled, ready to fall forward.

And seeing her close her eyes, seemingly prepared for a hard fall, Leon couldn’t help but roll his eyes, then quickly stepped forward to catch her.

Phew… That was close! After taking a few quick breaths while half-lying in Leon’s arms, the slightly shaken princess was about to say something when she noticed Leon awkwardly turning his head away, his earlobes slightly reddening.

Not a single mistake occurred; one after another, the content appeared in 69 Book Bar!

Hmm~ Hmm?

When Leon stopped Veronica, he already regretted it a little.

If he had to describe his feelings with words, it would be like being gently hit by a water bag soft enough to swallow someone whole, causing his soul to waver involuntarily.

Plus, the fireplace in the bedroom was still burning with charcoal. Princess Veronica only wore a single-layered nightgown without extra lining, and the warmth emanating from her bountiful body almost entirely penetrated through.

To be honest, for himself in the midst of adolescence, this… was somewhat unbearable…

“Your Imperial Highness?”

After waiting a few seconds and hearing no response, Leon, relying on immense willpower, gently pushed his arm outward, intending to help her stand up again.

But Leon didn’t expect that the body he barely pushed away didn’t straighten up but instead softly entangled around him. A pair of warm arms quietly wrapped around his waist.

I knew you’d fear this~ Feeling Leon’s muscles tense up as her hands roamed his back, the princess buried her head in Leon’s chest and smirked cunningly. Then she grabbed his collar and tilted her head, looking up with a frightened expression: “Whew… I almost fell. Luckily, you were here.”

“…”

Fake! Fake! Seeing Princess Veronica pretending to look pitiful again, Leon’s lips twitched involuntarily. He raised his hand to push her shoulders away, but since his collar had already been pulled earlier, after pushing twice, he gave up. Instead, he sighed helplessly and said, “What do you want to do now?”

“I don’t want to do anything~”

The princess grinned triumphantly and then blinked her eyes, saying, “Did you forget? You came to talk about the wedding. Oh, what kind of wedding dress do you think I should wear that day? Something solemn and quiet? Or something grand and radiant?”

“…”

Honestly speaking, the issue now isn’t what kind of wedding dress to wear, but why should she wear a wedding dress, right? Knowing very well Princess Veronica’s tendency to “climb the ladder,” Leon immediately—shivered—and then firmly grabbed the hand drawing circles on his back, trying to maintain a serious expression as he said,

“Compared to this, you…”

“Compared to this, aren’t you a bit impolite, huh~”

The captured hand reversed its grip, clasping Leon’s right hand. Princess Veronica squeezed closer to Leon’s chest, then blinked her eyes, feigning innocence as she asked knowingly, “Leon~ Why don’t you look at me while talking?”

(End of Chapter)