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Chapter 56
“Y-Your Majesty, did you call for the carriage again?”
Shane’s eyes widened as he saw the carriage parked at the main gate and he hurried over to Leonardo and Fleur.
“No. It’s Fleur’s guests.”
“Huh?”
“Her emotionally starved fiancé, the incompetent aide, and the money-obsessed noble have arrived.”
The blunt explanation left both her and Shane stunned.
“W-Why did they suddenly come to my mansion?”
“It seems to be because of me.”
“Sir Valen?”
“I didn’t even have time to inform Shamale that I was coming, so I ended up here with His Majesty.”
Fleur gave Leonardo a subtle glare, and he raised an eyebrow.
“Are you blaming me for this?”
“Not blaming, just saying there’s a bit of reason why this happened. So… Your Majesty, please have mercy.”
Fleur pleaded with a pitiful expression, trying not to leave them standing awkwardly.
“If we didn’t let them in and they got sick, it would trouble Your Majesty as well.”
“Not at all.”
Seeing his completely indifferent face, she was momentarily taken aback but quickly added:
“In that case, I’ll leave the mansion myself.”
“What?”
“Excuse me?!”
Both Leonardo and Shane raised their voices in surprise.
“These people came because of me, so shouldn’t I take responsibility?”
“Y-You mean… to stay with those big guys?”
“I’ll go to the houses of the grandmothers I met today.”
“They’ll let you stay there?”
“Yes!”
“I told him, ‘If he makes it difficult, let him stay at my place. He can be stubborn, you know? You have to be strong and make him listen.’”
Passing on the advice from the lead grandmother, Leonardo closed his eyes briefly, imagining her saying the same words, and then reopened them.
“So now you’re going to leave me and take that man with you?”
“I only need to develop the recipes, so it doesn’t matter if our accommodations are separate.”
“If you act like that, he’ll really believe we’re a married couple.”
“Then I’ll have no choice but to tell him the truth.”
As they spoke firmly without backing down, Shane anxiously glanced between them.
This is bad.
Leonardo’s affection level has dropped.
Current affection: 25% → 22%
It was the first time his affection had decreased.
Apparently, he had become sensitive, worried about ruining Fleur’s act of moving freely.
Fleur, now unmoved by such a small drop, met Leonardo’s gaze without blinking.
A tense silence lingered between them until he sighed and finally looked away.
“Shane.”
“Y-Yes, Your Majesty?”
“Can we let them in the mansion?”
Leonardo eventually yielded, siding with her.
“Your Majesty! Thank you so much!”
Fleur grabbed his hand in gratitude.
Leonardo could feel all eyes in the room, including Shane and the men outside the gate, drawn to them.
He responded with a dimpled smile as he clasped her hand firmly.
“How could I refuse when you’re this happy?”
“Thank you for your consideration. Duke, are you alright with this?”
Worried the situation might change, she quickly asked Shane.
“Ah, of course I’m fine.”
“That’s a relief…!”
“But there’s one problem.”
“Huh? What problem?”
He scratched his head and spoke carefully.
“There isn’t enough room in my mansion to accommodate everyone…”
Dallos Mansion – Living Room
Excluding Shane, the four men sat on separate sofas and chairs, each staring in a different direction with sour expressions.
The youngest, Shane, trembled in the tense silence, but he mustered the courage to speak.
“Even if I think about it, maybe it’s better if I leave the mansion to sleep…”
“What are you talking about? Why would the mansion’s owner leave?”
Leonardo interrupted with a harsh tone, unlike when he was with Fleur.
“But there are only five rooms available.”
Fleur was already using one, and the owner Shane, the Emperor, and Leonardo all required private rooms.
That left only two rooms for three people: Dylan, Colin, and Aidan.
“Of course the nobles should use them. Commoners should stay in the servants’ quarters.”
Colin spoke, looking at Dylan, who was standing in the living room.
“But Dylan came as Fleur’s aide. He’s an important guest; we can’t treat him that way…”
Shane stammered but bravely defended him.
Yet Dylan felt humiliated even by that. He had to rely on someone else to speak on his behalf.
“Then I’ll share a room with Fleur.”
Aidan, sitting in a single chair, lazily raised his hand to join the conversation.
“It’s natural for me to share a room with my fiancé.”
“You’re not married yet, only engaged.”
Dylan lifted his head and replied.
“We’re planning to marry next year anyway.”
“Fleur had no intention of that at all.”
“You just don’t talk to her, right?”
“The aide is right.”
Colin added,
“Even if you’re engaged, you shouldn’t share a room before officially marrying.”
When everyone silently agreed, Aidan sulked and lowered his raised hand.
They were still debating how to use the two remaining rooms.
“Assistant.”
Leonardo broke the silence.
“Yes?”
“You’ll share a room with me.”
Dylan’s eyes widened at the offer from the Emperor, who occupied the best room.
“Your Majesty, what do you mean? I’ll rather share with Dylan myself.”
Shane hurriedly tried to stop him, but Leonardo shook his head.
“No, I want to share with him.”
“……”
“Any objections?”
Since the Emperor was taking him, the remaining rooms would naturally go to Aidan and Colin, so everyone agreed.
Shane, thinking he shouldn’t interfere, kept silent.
Dylan, though clearly uncomfortable, could not refuse due to his status.
Leonardo smiled faintly and got up from the sofa.
“Since everyone agrees, I’ll leave now.”
The three nobles also stood and saluted the Emperor as he left the living room.
Dylan clenched his fists and followed, watching his back.
Emperor’s Bedroom
Leonardo brought Dylan in but didn’t even glance at him, acting like he was invisible.
“I’ll help you change clothes.”
Even with Leonardo standing right there, palace servants were called to help Dylan change into comfortable sleepwear.
Dylan stood in a far corner, covering his eyes and facing the wall, focusing only on sound and hoping Leonardo wouldn’t approach.
“Planning to stand there all night?”
This was the first time Leonardo directly addressed Dylan.
But Dylan didn’t turn and replied:
“…Sorry, I am Fleur’s aide.”
“I know.”
“Therefore, I cannot attend to Your Majesty tonight.”
Leonardo, lying down, blinked briefly and then laughed.
“Haha! Were you trembling thinking I would hug you?”
“……”
“Don’t worry. I have no interest in men.”
“……”
“Besides, I especially dislike someone your size.”
Even hearing this, Dylan wasn’t reassured.
“Then why did you bring me here?”
“You seemed intent on going to Fleur’s room. I brought you here as a precaution.”
Leonardo’s smile vanished, and Dylan slowly lowered his hand from his eyes and raised his head.
Still facing the wall, he straightened his shoulders as if standing firmly before the Emperor.
“You are mistaken. I only assist Fleur with her work; I do not intrude on personal matters.”
“Hmm, really?”
“Yes. I’ll stand here all night to prove it.”
Dylan, realizing he had been brought to be troubled, spoke with conviction.
Leonardo observed his back quietly and finally spoke:
“You’re getting used to acting like a commoner, aren’t you?”
“……”
“But why haven’t you abandoned the name Barchel yet?”
Dylan felt his heart drop as if it had fallen to the floor.
