Chapter 29
The next morning, the temple was unusually bustling from the early hours.
Although the commotion over the Saint’s disappearance had been covered up by the news of her engagement within a single day, its aftermath had not completely died down.
The maids were constantly on edge, afraid that Elise might disappear again, while the priests, mindful of the imperial family, kept an even closer watch over every corner of the temple.
And at the center of all that commotion was Leonhardt, who had arrived at the temple earlier than anyone else.
“Commander, the Saint has not yet left her chambers.”
“That’s fine. I’ll wait.”
As always, he was dressed impeccably in his uniform, but his face was anything but composed.
There were faint shadows beneath his eyes, as though he had not slept at all the previous night, and his lips were stiff, like those of someone desperately holding something back.
Seria clicked her tongue inwardly as she watched Leonhardt.
And they call him a hero.
Perhaps because the incident involving the Saint’s disappearance had completely crushed his confidence, today’s Leonhardt was clearly different from yesterday’s.
Normally, he would have demanded to see the Saint even if it meant waking her up, yet now he was sitting quietly in the reception room, waiting.
Of course, the “quietly” only applied when he was in front of the Saint.
Leonhardt silently surveyed everything in the reception room—the old curtains, the cheap teacups on the table, even the ornaments above the fireplace—and frowned slightly.
Yes. It should be like this.
The temple was certainly still splendid and sacred.
But now he understood that it was not to Elise’s taste.
Though she is a woman who thought something like a glass-bead bracelet was pretty.
He remembered the sight of her smiling as she fiddled with the bracelet in the middle of the bustling street yesterday.
And then there was his own mouth, which had called it “tasteless,” along with the humiliation he had suffered because of it.
Leonhardt let out a quiet sigh.
That was when—
“The Saint is calling for you.”
At Seria’s voice, he immediately rose from his seat.
When he entered the room, Elise had already gotten up, albeit rather late.
Sunlight filtered through the thin curtains and gently settled over her platinum-blond hair.
Her hair, not yet completely arranged, cascaded over her shoulders, while the loose robe she wore revealed the pale line of her neck.
In front of her were a vanity, tea, bread, and fruit, all neatly arranged.
And as soon as Leonhardt entered, Elise spoke without even turning her head.
“You’re late.”
“…Pardon?”
A moment of bewilderment appeared on his face.
“I’ve been waiting for you for quite a while.”
Elise spoke slowly while gazing at her own reflection in the mirror.
“I thought things might be a little different now that we’re engaged, but I suppose not.”
“…I apologize.”
Leonhardt instinctively apologized.
But soon, his lips stiffened slightly as he sensed something strange.
The Elise of the past would have been delighted simply by the fact that he had come to see her.
Yet the woman before him now was behaving as though she genuinely expected the proper treatment due to a fiancé.
Elise did not miss the subtle change in his expression.
What? Are you uncomfortable?
She smiled coldly inwardly.
This is only the beginning.
“Are you just going to stand there, Leon?”
“What would you like me to do?”
He asked in a low voice.
Elise turned her gaze toward the mirror and looked at him through its reflection.
Her eyes were noticeably more subdued.
Yesterday’s engagement had clearly tied Leonhardt down completely.
“Pour me some tea first.”
At those words, Leonhardt hesitated for the briefest moment.
The hero of the Empire, pouring tea for a woman?
For the heir to House Gelina, it was something he had almost never done.
But naturally, Elise did not wait for him.
“What’s wrong? Surely you can do it?”
“…Of course.”
In the end, he put the roasted tea leaves into the teapot and immediately picked it up.
Hot tea quietly flowed into the teacup decorated with elaborate roses.
Elise accepted the cup and took a sip. Then she tilted her head.
“It’s too strong. Surely this isn’t the first time you’ve brewed tea?”
“…I apologize.”
She firmly set the cup down.
“Could you brew it again?”
Leonhardt blinked rapidly, looking utterly bewildered, but answered obediently.
“Yes.”
Then he poured a fresh cup of tea.
Seeing this, Seria lowered her head, hiding the twitching of her lips.
Elise took another sip and, this time, seemed satisfied as she set the cup down.
“This is better. Though it’s still not perfect.”
At the words not perfect, Leonhardt’s shoulders flinched.
Elise picked up a piece of bread, then promptly put it back down.
“Spread some jam on it.”
“…Yes.”
“Raspberry jam. Not too thick.”
Leonhardt’s fingertips stiffened slightly.
But in the end, he said nothing and spread a thin layer of raspberry jam over the bread.
Elise accepted it and ate it, then smiled brightly at Seria.
“Seria.”
“Yes, Saint.”
“Now I finally feel like everything is falling into place. Doesn’t it seem like Leon really loves me?”
“Very much so.”
Seria replied cheerfully.
Leonhardt’s jaw immediately tightened.
But Elise calmly took another bite of bread.
“Wonderful.”
Her voice was as sweet as honey, but inside, it was filled with poison.
“A man who does whatever I ask.”
Only then did Leonhardt slowly raise his eyes.
His gaze met Elise’s.
She was smiling. But her smile was anything but gentle.
It was the smile of someone who had learned how to handle a beast perfectly.
Is she… testing me?
Leonhardt swallowed quietly.
He knew that she had changed.
But he had never expected her attitude toward him to change this much.
“Leon.”
By the time he came to his senses, Elise was already standing.
“Come over here.”
“Yes.”
She sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at the loosened ribbon tie.
Her slender ankle, exposed beneath her robe, gleamed white in the sunlight.
“It came undone.”
“I’ll call a maid—”
“No need.”
Elise immediately cut him off.
“If I can ask my fiancé, why would I bother calling someone else?”
At those words, Seria’s eyes sparkled.
Leonhardt’s face immediately hardened.
“Surely you can do it?”
Elise’s question was gentle.
But there was something in it that made refusal impossible.
In the end, Leonhardt knelt on one knee before her.
His gloved hand touched the area near her ankle.
His fingertips were surprisingly delicate as he neatly aligned the loosened ribbon and tied it again.
Watching him, Elise felt an immense sense of satisfaction.
Yes. Lower.
She remembered the gaze of the man who had looked down at her while she was bound to the stake.
If so, shouldn’t she now have the chance to see him beneath her, unable even to breathe properly?
“Perhaps because you’re a knight. You’re rather good at this, aren’t you?”
Elise let out a small laugh.
“Tie it a little tighter. It’ll be uncomfortable if it comes loose again.”
“…Understood.”
Leonhardt silently tightened the ribbon.
Once he had finished the knot completely, Elise slowly reached out and lifted his chin.
“If I ask you to do something…”
“…”
“Will you really do anything?”
Leonhardt’s pupils trembled faintly.
At this distance, from this angle, her face was almost unbearably beautiful.
And that made her all the more dangerous. He was afraid that his resolve to protect the Empire and its people might crumble.
“Yes.”
He finally answered.
“If that is what you want.”
“Good.”
The corners of Elise’s lips curved alluringly.
“Never forget that promise, all right?”
Just then—
Bang!
The door suddenly flew open without warning.
“Oh.”
The person who entered with a languid exclamation was none other than Ian.
