FGFM 52🔐

Chapter 52

“Duke.”

Having finished dressng up, Fleur stepped out of the bedroom and faced Shane.

“L-Lord Valen. I hope I didn’t disturb you while you were busy preparing…?”
“No, it’s fine. I just need to put my clothes on now. What is it?”

Still unable to meet her eyes, he held out an outer coat.

“I heard you were looking for something warm and comfortable to wear while staying in Shamal. If it isn’t presumptuous, I’d like to lend you one of mine.”
“Oh my, your coat, Duke?”
“Y-Yes. It’s the cleanest and neatest coat I own. And it’s not too heavy, so it’s perfect for moving around.”

The way he almost seemed to beg her to wear it made him all the more adorable.

Fleur smiled sweetly, accepted it, and decided to play a small trick.

She deliberately let their hands brush as she took it.

“Ah—! I’m sorry…”

Startled, Shane hastily let go, and the coat dropped to the floor.

As he bent to pick it up, she quickly followed—and once again placed her hand on top of his as they both reached for it.

“Ah!”

Just as before, he flinched like it was the first touch—but then, carefully, he enclosed her hand within his own.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry. Was my hand too cold?”

When she looked at him with lowered brows and an apologetic expression, Shane shook his head so hard his hair flew out of place.

“No, not cold at all. It was—w-warm, actually!”
“Really? I thought you were so startled because of the chill in my hand…”
“N-No, it’s just… I’ve never held a woman’s hand before, so…”

Kneeling awkwardly on the floor, he confessed in a timid voice.

Looking at him, she felt an irresistible urge to just scoop him up and steal him away.

Unlike the suave types she had always encountered—who came close without permission, trying to force open the smallest cracks—this man, so pure and shy, flustered just from a little touch, was completely different.

She loved it.

“Duke.”
“Yes?”
“May I ask how old you are?”
“Ah, I’m nineteen… I came of age just last year.”

Younger than her.

“I see. I’m twenty.”
“O-Oh, I see… But I think I might be a bit taller than you…”

He shyly tried to claim some semblance of maturity.

Fleur barely restrained herself from dropping to her knees right there and asking him to marry her.

Of course, she’d need her trusty toy hammer for this one.

How could she possibly let go of someone who was the very picture of her ideal type?

She was already imagining her future with Shane when—

“What are you two doing?”

A familiar voice cut in.

Both of them, crouched in the hallway, turned toward the source.

Leonardo, in a pristine knight’s uniform, was striding over.

Tsk. Just when things were getting good. He always showed up at times like this.

Shane quickly picked up the coat and stood, Fleur rising right after.

“Y-Your Majesty. Have you finished preparing already?”

He bowed respectfully, but Leonardo’s gaze was fixed solely on her.

“I asked what you were doing.”
“The Duke was lending me a coat, but I accidentally dropped it while receiving it. We were just picking it up.”
“Strange, it looked like you were talking quite a lot.”
“N-No, Lord Valen is telling the truth.”

With Shane speaking up to defend her, Leonardo’s eyes narrowed even further.

“Shane.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Move the luggage we brought from the capital to the cart. I packed three months’ worth, but check to make sure we’re not missing anything.”
“Understood.”

Shane handed Fleur the coat, gave her a small bow, and left.

She couldn’t help but follow his retreating figure with longing eyes—until Leonardo’s broad frame blocked her view.

“Did you forget that today, outside, you have to pretend to be my wife?”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
“Then what do you think you’re doing, with another man?”
“Well, we’re still inside the mansion…”
“If you want to act properly, you need to immerse yourself—be that person, anywhere and anytime.”

Honestly, he sounded more like an actor than an emperor.

“…Understood. From now on, I’ll act like Your Majesty’s wife.”
“That’s not the right way to say it.”
“Excuse me?”
“What wife calls her knight-husband ‘Your Majesty’?”
“Oh, true… Then what name are people here using for you?”
“They know me as Kyle.”
“Then I’ll call you Kyle. Unless you prefer another title?”

He grinned, dimples showing, as if he’d been waiting for that question.

Fleur instantly realized what he wanted and shook her head.

“No. Absolutely not.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“I don’t need to hear it. I know.”
“What am I thinking, then?”
“Obviously ‘darling’ or ‘honey’…”

She clapped her hand over her mouth mid-sentence.

But Leonardo’s expression made it clear he’d heard exactly what he wanted.

“Finally, some reward for having you call me that before.”
“…I won’t call you that again.”

Her lips jutted out awkwardly at the thought of such a cringeworthy term. Leonardo folded his arms, tilting his head.

“Why not? Because Shane lent you a coat?”
“…What?”
“Or was he planning to buy you an entire wardrobe? Do you not need my help anymore?”

He glanced at the coat she was still holding and stepped closer.

“What I prepared is much lighter and cleaner than that.”
“…”
“And it’s custom-made with the fabric and design most fashionable among young ladies right now.”
“…”
“So wear what I brought.”

His words sounded like a command, yet the tone was almost pleading.

“The Duke only lent me this one coat. I’ll surely still rely on what Your Majesty prepared.”
“Then give that back.”
“No… He gave it with such sincerity. I’ll wear this one today—”
“You’re telling me, on the first day we’re seen as husband and wife, you’ll wear another man’s coat? Is that the mindset of someone playing the role of my wife?”
“The villagers won’t know whose coat it is.”
“But we know. That’s enough to ruin the act.”

Really? Was he seriously worrying about that level of detail?

Seeing he wouldn’t let up otherwise, she had no choice but to nod.

“…All right. I’ll wear what you brought.”
“That’s better.”
“But I still won’t call you ‘darling.’”
“Then what will you call me?”
“Hmm… I’ll call you ‘you’ or ‘Kyle.’”

At the mention of the name she’d once mistaken for him, Leonardo chuckled softly.

“Suit yourself. Not that it matters—once we’re outside, it won’t go the way you want anyway.”
“…? You said that last time, too. Just what kind of villagers are they?”
“You’ll see soon enough. Better to experience it than to hear me explain.”

He held out his arm to her. When she only stared blankly, he gave her a look, silently ordering her to link arms.

“…Can’t we just do that once we’re outside?”
“Then it won’t be proper acting.”

Suppressing a sigh, she slowly slipped her arm through his thick one, walking in step beside him.

“But you don’t disguise your appearance here?”
“No. If I wear a wig here, the cold will freeze the hair and it’ll look too fake.”
“That makes sense. Did you borrow this knight’s uniform, then?”
“Yeah. I stole it from my guard.”
“…I see. Odd—do knight uniforms come with whistles? That one looks just like mine.”
“It is yours.”
“What?!”

Fleur froze in place, forcing Leonardo to stop as well.

“Wait—why are you wearing my whistle? Give it back!”

It was the whistle Dylan had given her, something she cherished deeply.

Eager to retrieve it, she released his arm and held out both hands.

But Leonardo just looked at her hands, grabbed the whistle, and tucked it inside his uniform.

“No.”
“What? But it’s mine!”
“I’ll return it if you act your part well.”
“What kind of condition is that?!”
“It exists now. Don’t like it? Then reach in and take it yourself.”

He leaned in closer.

The whistle hung under his fully buttoned uniform—she’d have to undo at least two buttons to reach it.

But could she really touch the emperor’s body like that? She could only glare at the faint outline of her whistle beneath the fabric.

“…Fine. But if I play the role of your wife properly, you must give it back.”
“Of course.”
“And don’t go back on your word.”
“I won’t. I’m a man who’s never told a lie in his life.”

Another lie, obviously. Fleur narrowed her eyes at him, but he only seemed to enjoy the fiery look.

“Then let’s go—”

Just as he started to move, Fleur caught the tip of his hand, holding him back.

Though her grip was feather-light, Leonardo immediately stopped walking.