ILOIML 13

Chapter 13 

It was ridiculous to think Leon had somehow become the standard of a handsome man. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Someone just came to mind… No, why am I even answering? I’m not interested in your confession or anything like that. Just leave already. It’s not even worth listening to.”

“Bella, are you serious? I’m Lucas Anderson. You were the one begging me to meet you.”

“Am I crazy? Why would I do that? Even if I did, I’m a married woman now. There’s no way I’d be interested.”

“Bella, are you serious? You confessed to me just two months ago. You were married even then.”

What the hell, Bella. What were you doing back then?

“……”

I had no words.

“Bella, I rejected your confession before, but after you left, I kept thinking about you…”

“Shut up. What are you even saying?! Get out. I said get out!”

I shouted and tried to drive him away. I was shocked by what he had said.

“Bella, why are you being so aggressive?”

“I’ve always been like this. So get lost.”

Lucas suddenly burst into laughter. A bad sign. Please, let this man have a normal brain

Why do healthy bodies always come with broken minds in this world?

“Alright, Bella. If that’s what you want. But I’ll give you my answer to your confession now.”

“Don’t.”

“I accept your confession.”

“Don’t accept it!”

Even though I clearly hated it, Lucas just smiled and looked amused. As I was about to angrily say something, he quickly stood up, gave me a cheeky bow, and left the room. He must’ve seen from my face that staying longer wouldn’t be good for him.

After he left, Amy and Mary, who had been waiting outside, came in. Even without looking directly at them, I could tell they were watching me carefully.

They probably didn’t know anything about my relationship with Lucas either. After getting married, I had gone to the capital alone without taking any servants, and I had just returned recently.

“Do you know who that man was?”

“Madam, you really don’t know?”

Amy and Mary looked at me suspiciously. Even Mary, who had only ever been in Aster, seemed to recognize him.

“Who was he?”

“He’s Count Anderson. The one involved in that scandal with Her Highness the Princess. It was all over the Empire.”

“And how do you know him?”

Amy quickly asked. I was certain now—this would reach Leon’s ears for sure. I started to panic.

“Before I married the Duke! He’s just someone I used to know. You know how those types are—they see a pretty woman and pretend they’ve met before or that they know you.”

“Well, Madam, you are very beautiful… but that man is famous for being a womanizer. Please be careful.”

Amy nodded in understanding. I felt so relieved.

“That’s why I warned him not to ever show up again.”

I looked at Amy with a trusting gaze and continued,

“This little incident—no, this isn’t even little. If Leon finds out that some woman-crazy guy came after me like this, he’ll be really upset, right?”

“We’ll be very careful and won’t tell anyone.”

“Thank you.”

The capital really didn’t suit me. Every time I came here, something from Bella’s past got revealed.

Leon returned only after dark with his aides.

As soon as he came in, he started whining with an annoyed face. When I just silently stared at him, Kalsen sighed deeply and gave me a look, begging me to comfort Leon.

“He’s been in a bad mood since the palace.”

Well of course. He had to pretend to be a fool all day long.

“Our dear Duke, did you have a hard time at the palace today?”

I walked up to Leon and gently stroked his hair. He looked up at me with a frown.

You’ve had a tough day, but you don’t have to keep pretending here…

Leon slapped my hand away.

“I’m not in a good mood!! They teased me for peeing my pants and called me dumb.”

“Those are terrible people. But do they even matter? Who are the people that really matter to Leon?”
“……”
“Me—Bell-Bell—and the people of Aster.”

Good education doesn’t care about time or place.

“Aster, my land… yes, it’s important.”

Leon repeated my words like a child.

“And Bell-Bell too.”

When I added that, he looked at me for a moment, then quickly turned his head away.

Not yet? Can you just count me as one of your people already?

“What did you talk about regarding the monsters?”

“They’re scary. The Emperor jerk—no, Emperor Uncle said he’ll send troops to Aster to protect us!”

“That’s great! I was scared too, but now I can sleep peacefully.”

I could guess what the Emperor was really planning, but I pretended not to. That was basic survival.

Then Leon looked at me with a teasing expression. Uh-oh. I had a bad feeling.

“And I bragged that we’re having a baby.”

“A baby?”

“Yeah! Since we always hold hands, a baby’s going to be born.”

“……”

“I even picked a name. Combine Bell-Bell and Leon: how about Belleon?”

He’s totally teasing me, right? And why does he call me Bell-Bell while he stays Leon?

I didn’t want to lose, so I teased him back.

“But Leon, there’s no baby. Sadly.”

“What? Why? No!”

“Even if we held hands, we never slept together in the same bed.”

“…But you crawled into my bed like a sneaky wolf once!”

“Hey! Leon, that’s not a nice thing to say. I was sleepwalking! People always want to sleep where they feel safe, right? And since we’ll be sharing a bed tonight, let’s hold hands and sleep. I’d love a baby that looks just like Leon.”

I smiled playfully, but then felt a cold gaze and looked around. Everyone—his aides and my maids—were staring at me in shock.

I had completely forgotten they were here while I was playing along with Leon’s act.

My face turned red.

But since I already said it, I had to stay shameless and keep going.

“Oh… I see.”

Leon said with a blank face, and then Kalsen stepped forward.

“Madam, I think there’s been a misunderstanding. There are two bedrooms prepared for the two of you.”

What?! Then why were we all hanging out in one bedroom?! What did I just say? I must sound like I’m trying to seduce him!

Amy came to my side and whispered,

“Madam, you haven’t even shared a room in the main house. Are you sure this is okay?”

I clapped my hands and started laughing loudly. I didn’t even know why my eyes were tearing up.

“You all don’t believe me, right? You know I was just joking, right?”

But no one laughed with me. The room was filled with heavy silence.

I felt someone’s gaze burning into me. I turned quickly and saw Leon smirking slightly. But when our eyes met, he quickly looked away.

“Holding hands, sleeping together, having a baby that looks like Bell-Bell… You weren’t lying, right? Lying is bad…”

I took a deep breath in and out. Let’s just think of him as a child. A handsome, well-built child.

“I thought it was a joke, but I feel the same way as Leon.”

Everyone probably thinks I’ve gone crazy now. My eyes were watery, but keeping Leon happy and not upsetting him was the most important thing.

But I made a vow.

From now on, don’t mess with Leon.

In this relationship, Leon is 100% the one in charge.

“If that’s what you two want, we’ll make the arrangements.”

Amy said with a serious face.