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Chapter 68
“Here, this will fill your hunger.”
Leonardo took ingredients from a wooden box tucked in the corner of the shelter, chopped them quickly, and threw them into a small pot, cooking up a soup.
He then poured it into a small bowl and handed it first to Fleur, who was neatly dressed.
She nodded politely and accepted it, scooping a spoonful into her mouth.
“Wow…”
“Is it to your taste?”
“…It’s delicious.”
“Haha, that’s a relief.”
She was very hungry and ate quickly, finishing about half before she felt she could finally catch her breath.
“By the way, Your Majesty, how do you know how to cook something like this?”
“You just chop and throw it in.”
“That’s true, but Your Majesty, you’re someone who doesn’t need to do small tasks like this.”
Even with over seven chefs in the imperial kitchen, his cooking felt very natural.
“Before I became Emperor, I had to do it myself.”
“Eh?”
Her eyes widened as she looked at him.
Leonardo noticed her gaze but continued staring at the fire burning in the fireplace.
“…When my uncle was Emperor, even having a proper meal was difficult.”
“There are so many people in the palace, but no one took care of you?”
“Yes. The moment anyone acted favorably toward me, they became a traitor and were executed.”
She knew why he was so sensitive to poisoning and assassination—the palace was a place of brutal power struggles.
But she had never heard about his life before becoming Emperor, even in the game. This was new to Fleur.
“Then why didn’t they just kick you out of the palace? Why keep you close?”
“It’s easier to keep an eye on me that way.”
“Oh…”
“Since I had to survive on my own, I got used to doing this much.”
Now she understood why he had moved so fluidly when rescuing her from the trap, and she remembered something he had said before.
“When you disguise yourself, you don’t have to worry about the entire Empire depending on every word you say—it lets you breathe a little.”
She immediately understood what he meant by having to erase himself to survive.
“…The palace must have been terribly boring for you.”
“Exactly. That’s why I sought Shamal, where no one knew me.”
“So this place was Your Majesty’s sanctuary.”
Leonardo nodded slightly.
Fleur felt a growing sense of responsibility, realizing she had only thought of him as a means to become head of the family.
“Your Majesty.”
“Yes?”
“Were the capital’s dessert shops really for them?”
She asked the question that had been on her mind for some time.
When he had visited the mansion under the name Minos Vivant, he had said:
“If you’re removed from the palace delivery list, others assume the taste has changed and discard it. Most desserts get a little popularity and then disappear.”
“I also heard that Your Majesty roams outside the palace more than inside. So if a shop has good taste but few customers, you put them on the delivery list to help them.”
At the time, she had thought it was just a hobby to monopolize desserts.
But after living near Leonardo for a few days, she realized differently.
She saw that, because of the great responsibility he carried, even small actions were deliberate.
Leonardo smiled, showing his dimple, clearly aware that she understood the story.
“There are many talented people in the Empire. But just because they’re commoners and not nobles, they often can’t pursue their dreams properly.”
“A single careless remark by nobles could spread bad rumors and force a shop to close.”
“Exactly. They speak thoughtlessly, but for commoners, their work is everything. I couldn’t just watch.”
“So that’s why you protected them through palace deliveries.”
Leonardo nodded slightly.
“That way, no one could touch them for a year.”
“Once they gather enough funds, I take them off the list and help them start anew.”
“How did you know that?”
“I did some research. Those who stopped deliveries moved their shops to other parts of the city and did well.”
“Exactly. Even if it’s no longer necessary to send desserts to the palace, they all still send their new creations, so there’s always plenty of dessert.”
There was no falsehood in the smile lifting his lips.
What she had assumed was mere whimsy clearly had deeper meaning.
“…Doesn’t it anger you?”
“Anger me?”
“That others spread false rumors without knowing your true intentions.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Eh?”
“I don’t care about people talking without knowing me properly. I can’t go around explaining to everyone one by one.”
Hearing him speak with that calm, enlightened tone, Fleur looked down at the soup he had made and spoke.
“…Then I’ll at least go around clearing up the misunderstandings.”
“Eh?”
“Now I know well enough. I know how kind and thoughtful you are, Your Majesty.”
She met his gaze, her eyes full of genuine sincerity.
He looked at her, eyes slightly widened, and grinned.
“Since you believe in me, it feels like it doesn’t matter what others say.”
“….”
“Thank you.”
His low whisper brushed against her ears.
Her face heated again, and she turned toward the fireplace, hastily continuing to eat the soup.
After about three bowls, she felt a little less hungry.
The room was warm, her stomach full, and she began to feel sleepy, like a melting cat.
“Sleepy?”
He noticed immediately and spoke quietly.
“…Yes, a little.”
“Sleep more. The snow hasn’t stopped anyway.”
“But Your Majesty even made soup for me, so at least I should… Ah!”
He wrapped his arm around Fleur’s shoulder, already half-closed eyelids, and carried her to a soft bed.
“Stop talking and sleep.”
“…Then please sleep too, Your Majesty.”
She grabbed the edge of his clothing as he was about to move away.
He made space for her against the wall to lie down.
He looked at her small hand holding onto him and asked:
“Is it okay for a man who isn’t your fiancé to lie beside you?”
“…Eh?”
“I’m not your fiancé.”
Fleur, nearly asleep, murmured softly:
“It’s fine… since we’ll break off the engagement anyway.”
But he clearly heard her, his expression hardening slightly.
“…I see. So that’s what it is.”
Leonardo smiled, amused, and laid down beside her as she wished.
He placed one arm under her head as a pillow, wrapped the other around her waist, and closed his eyes.
The moon set, the sun rose, and the snowstorm finally ceased.
The dark sky cleared, greeting the people of Shamal.
Dylan, who had stayed awake all night, was already ready to leave.
Determined to find Fleur this time, he left the room for the living room.
“Dylan, I thought you’d be ready to leave.”
Shane, already present, nodded.
“I think I can leave now.”
“With all this snow, we need to clear a path first. But the people of Shamal are used to this, so we’ll be able to leave soon.”
“Good.”
Hearing that they could finally find her, Dylan clenched his fists in determination.
“I’ll go too this time.”
Aidan appeared, fully armed, only his eyes visible.
“Aidan? Your cold hasn’t healed yet.”
“I still want to go. If I just wait because I’m sick, I’d feel useless.”
“Same here.”
Colin also approached, dressed similarly, equally concerned.
Shane, understanding their concern for Fleur, nodded.
“Good. Let’s all head to the shelter.”
He, knowing Shamal and its paths best, led the way.
“Your Majesty!”
The shouts of servants clearing paths reached the mansion.
At the call, everyone immediately rushed out.
When they stepped outside quickly, they saw Leonardo walking toward them.
“Everyone came out to welcome us.”
He smiled, showing his dimple, and greeted the servants.
The four men quickly scanned for Fleur.
“Everyone, you must have been worried.”
Fleur, wrapped in a blanket, waved her hands while perched on Leonardo’s back.
“Fleur!”
Everyone from the mansion ran to them, welcoming them sincerely.
