Chapter 44

Seeing Nini, Leonhardt relaxed his lips.

"Although this is the first time I'm meeting Nini, as I heard, you have a completely white and adorable appearance. Moreover, it seems you are very close to your owner. Despite being afraid of me, you stood in front to protect your owner, didn't you?"

"Thank you. ...Nini is a good cat."

"Unya."

When Cordelia stroked Nini's back, the tip of its tail swayed gently.

The soft fur tickled her fingers as it brushed against them.

After stroking Nini for a while, as if praising it,

"...I'm envious."

"Your Highness?"

Leonhardt had knelt beside her.

Was he envious of how Cordelia enjoyed stroking Nini?

"Do you want to stroke Nini, Your Highness?"

"No, that's not it. I'm envious of Nini."

"Huh?"

"Nini is now being touched by you, monopolizing your gentle smile and thoughts. ...I can't help but feel jealous."

The whisper fell near her ear.

Leonhardt was tall.

Usually, Cordelia had to look up at him, but now, their faces were unusually close.

Realizing this, Cordelia hurriedly focused her attention on stroking Nini.

"...Nini is a cat."

"If I turn into a lion cub, will you touch me like you do Nini?"

The hand that was stroking Nini was lifted by Leonhardt.

Not a cat or a lion cub, but long, smooth human fingers gently held Cordelia's hand.

Her heartbeat quickened even more.

"Even if you turn into a lion cub, you are still Your Highness. I can't possibly stroke you like I do Nini; it would be too disrespectful."

"Even if I ask you to?"

"...I'll try my best."

Cordelia answered in a hoarse voice.

The closeness, the touch, and the embarrassment made her lose track of everything.

"Hehe, that's a serious and cute answer, just like you."

"...Please let it be enough for now."

Cordelia was at her limit.

(Calm down, my heart and my agitation...)

Cordelia herself was surprised.

Until now, Cordelia had experienced four broken engagements.

She had been engaged to four men and had relationships with them, but she had never been so emotionally stirred as she was now.

Meeting Leonhardt had changed Cordelia's world significantly.

This was her first experience of such intense and sweet feelings.

As she felt her heart pounding, Leonhardt's warmth began to fade.

"Right. We don't have much time today, so let's leave it at that."

"...I'm relieved."

Leonhardt stood up first and extended his hand.

Cordelia stood up when he pulled her and quickly adjusted the hem of her dress.

"I heard that Your Highness has political duties today. Is everything alright?"

"The first item on the agenda ended earlier than expected. I came here thinking I might be able to see you, in the form of a lion cub... But then I saw Femina's carriage on the way. Could Femina have come here?"

Cordelia pondered.

(It seems difficult to hide my relationship with Princess Femina...)

She didn't want to worry Leonhardt, but it seemed impossible to hide it now.

"Yes. She came to see my face, now that I am Your Highness's fiancée."

"I see. ...Femina's visit was sudden, wasn't it? As her brother and a member of the royal family, I apologize. Did Femina cause you any trouble?"

"I was envied."

"...Envy?"

"Princess Femina is very close to Your Highness, isn't she?"

"Yes, that's true. Though we have different mothers, I consider Femina a dear sister."

"For Princess Femina, Your Highness is a dear brother. She might feel that you are being taken away from her, and that's why she is envious."

"...I see. Perhaps she has been feeling lonely because I haven't spent much time with her lately..."

"I've been busy, and so have I..."

Cordelia hesitated.

She realized just before speaking that it would be embarrassing to say.

"And so have I?"

"...Forget it."

"...I'm curious. Did Femina say anything offensive to you? If so—"

"No!! It's just that... well..."

Suppressing her embarrassment, Cordelia managed to speak.

"...And I, if I had a brother as wonderful and kind as Your Highness... I can understand why Princess Femina wishes for Your Highness to always be by her side."

Leonhardt was silent.

When Cordelia looked at his face, he let out a small laugh and a sigh.

"Ha, it's a shame. Even though you are so cute, I have to leave now... I really envy Nini, who can always be with you."

"Your Highness..."

Leonhardt gently lifted Cordelia's right hand.

"I'll keep an eye on Femina. I'll write to you again, and we can discuss the details in the letter. For today, I'll take my leave."

Along with his farewell,

he kissed the back of Cordelia's hand.

"Your Highness..."

"Meow!!"

Leaving the kiss, Leonhardt left in the form of a lion cub.

"What a heart-stopping person..."

Cordelia stood alone, her face red, looking at her right hand.

Thank you for reading.

The next chapter will be updated on Sunday.