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CHAPTER 06
Everyone’s gaze was fixed on me. Leonhart was no exception.
“…What did you just say?”
“I said I object. I can’t possibly support this proposal.”
“State your reasons.”
“First of all, the budget is excessive. I can’t believe the cost is just for a statue.”
“Take a look at the documents. It’s not a typical statue.”
“Exactly. Why on earth would you make a statue out of gemstones? It’s an extremely inefficient choice.”
“Inefficient, you say. Is that your only reason for objecting?”
His tone was cold. As expected, he seemed to be in a foul mood.
“Of course not. There’s more.”
“What is it?”
“I think the subject of the statue is inappropriate. If you really want to create a statue, it would be better to choose a subject that is aesthetically or artistically meaningful.”
“…!”
The nobles gasped, stunned.
‘Why are they so shocked? I’m saying something perfectly reasonable.’
Leonhart narrowed his eyes and asked,
“Then who do you think would be a more appropriate subject, Duke?”
“A public square has a lot of foot traffic. In places like that, it’s much more efficient to place medium-sized sculptures that stimulate artistic inspiration or curiosity. Oh, clever bench designs could be a good idea too.”
“…Are you saying Adela Helsing is unfit to be made into a statue?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Who would want a grotesque statue cluttering the path? It would just get in the way.”
Leonhart looked away from me and swept his gaze across the room.
“Does anyone else oppose?”
As if on cue, the nobles all shook their heads.
Seriously? Do they actually agree with this?
“So the only one opposed is Duke Ivrante. Is that correct?”
“…”
Even the sound of breathing vanished from the meeting room. The nobles couldn’t even meet Leonhart’s gaze.
‘Like mice before a cat…’
I could understand now why they were all afraid of Leonhart.
It was his overwhelmingly intense aura.
It was so powerful that you were subdued by it before even noticing how beautiful he was.
Ah, what a waste. If you smiled even once, everyone would love you.
“Then with the majority in favor, I’ll consider the proposal passed.”
Huh?
I quickly raised my hand.
“Wait a moment!”
“…What is it now?”
“The documents clearly state that proposals only pass with unanimous agreement. Are you really going to ignore the rules like this—?”
This time, all the nobles turned to stare at me.
Earlier, they had looked horrified. Now, they looked like they were begging me to stop.
“…I was just wondering if that’s allowed.”
I shut my mouth, defeated by their pitiful stares.
The more I spoke, the more it felt like I was bullying them. I felt oddly uncomfortable.
Thud!
Leonhart slammed the documents down on the table.
“Duke Ivrante.”
“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Come with me for a moment.”
“…Sorry?”
“Follow me.”
Leonhart left the meeting room without even saying goodbye.
I stared at the violently swinging door, then turned away.
The nobles were all looking at me with pity in their eyes.
…Did I mess up somehow?
I left the meeting room, nobles’ stares burning into my back. A servant guided me to the back garden.
It was a small, secluded space surrounded by hedges, with a white tea table placed in the center.
Leonhart stood there, smoking.
From the side, as he looked into the distance, the smoke curling from his lips, he exuded exhaustion and ennui.
Is he overworked? I felt both pity and rising anger.
‘Is he out of his mind? What if his asthma comes back!’
Leonhart had asthma as a child and weak lungs.
I’d spent so much effort taking care of him. Undine was his personal humidifier, and Sylph his air purifier.
I even turned the entire expedition into non-smokers for his sake.
‘And now you’re smoking with those hands?’
Part of me wanted to snatch the cigarette away immediately.
‘But that would be out of character for Adreian…’
I kept my distance and covered my nose.
“Your Highness, would you mind putting that out? The smell is awful.”
“Strange words coming from a former chain smoker.”
Right, Adrian was a heavy smoker…
“I-I’ve heard that long-term smoking can cause asthma. So I quit. Isn’t asthma a terribly painful condition?”
So you quit too. Got it?
Leonhart slipped one hand into his suit pocket and slowly walked toward me, cigarette still between his lips.
Maybe I’d gotten smaller, or maybe Leonhart had just grown larger. Or maybe his presence had become more overpowering.
It felt like a giant beast was lumbering toward me.
The pressure was so intense, my shoulders ached.
Whoosh—
“…Cough.”
Standing right in front of me, Leonhart blew smoke deliberately into my face.
The acrid smoke spread above me.
I was truly shocked.
I’d thought he might stub out the cigarette, but to be this rude?
“To think the one who would be happiest if I got asthma says such things… What a surprise.”
Wait, were they on such bad terms? But the nobles said Adrian hadn’t attended meetings for five years.
That would mean she and Leonhart wouldn’t have had much interaction since he returned after defeating the Demon King.
So why does he hate her so much?
“Your Highness, did I perhaps do something to you in the past—?”
“Cut the nonsense. Let’s get to the point.”
“…Alright.”
“Why did you attend the meeting?”
[Stage 3: (With a haughty look) You’re being rude. Are you disregarding a Duke’s authority?]
“I asked why you suddenly crawled out of hiding just to be a nuisance, Duke Ivrante.”
I stared at Leonhart’s lips, lost in thought.
What could’ve possibly happened during those five years I was gone, to turn that sweet kid into a spiky hedgehog?
‘Could it be… he’s still being bullied by the other princes?’
That made sense. He looked different on the outside, but deep down he was still sensitive.
Those bastards probably took advantage of that.
That must be why he became so prickly.
I thought of the vague faces of the princes and read the next prompt.
“You’re being rude. Are you disregarding a Duke’s authority?”
“You should’ve stayed holed up in your mansion like always. You’re annoying.”
[Stage 1: (Smirking) You’d better watch your tongue. You won’t become Crown Prince without my help.]
To become Crown Prince, support from nobles was essential.
So Leonhart would need to win over the Duke, the representative of the nobility.
Of course, since I’m now Adrian, I planned to support Leonhart unconditionally…
Still, I was starting to get annoyed.
‘Why is he taking it out on me?’
Did I piss him off somehow? You may be a prince, but I’m a Duke. That’s a position even the Emperor can’t ignore.
Still, arguing would only escalate things.
I exercised some patience and softened the next line as much as possible.
“You’d better watch your words, Your Highness. That’s the only way I’ll help you become Crown Prince.”
“Spare me the lies. I achieve what I want with my own hands. I don’t need a duke’s help.”
Sure, it’s ideal to achieve things on your own.
But if I help you, it’ll be so much easier?
Choosing the hard way when the easy one’s right there is just foolish.
Of course I was going to convince him.
Until I saw the next prompt.
[Stage 3: (Click tongue with disdain) Did Adela Helsing leave a will before she died? Telling you to stand on your own? Truly, commoners have such pathetic ways of thinking.]
Most nobles looked down on commoners, but Adrian took it too far.
An arrogant noble, drenched in entitlement.
The exact character type I despised, and unfortunately, Adrian fit it perfectly.
Despite my true feelings, my mouth spoke the line exactly as written.
Stage 3 only gave me 5% freedom, after all.
“Did Adela Helsing leave a will before she died? Telling you to stand on your own? Truly, commoners have such pathetic ways of thinking.”
Even though I said it myself, I was repulsed.
The cold tone dripped with entitlement and disdain for commoners.
“Hah…”
Leonhart let out a soft laugh and swept his hair back.
He looked so captivating it was hard to look away.
‘Oh, he smiled! See? You look so good when you—ugh!’
My breath caught.
Leonhart had grabbed my throat with one hand.
