Chapter 62

"......As expected, you wanted to test me, didn't you?"

As Cordelia sighed inwardly, Balmund laughed loudly.

"Hahaha, I didn't just want to test you? When I heard that a young hero from the neighboring country was visiting, I wanted to gauge his worth. It seems Bernhardt was also interested in you and the 'Holy Beast,' so he readily agreed to help."

"......Did you find our actions satisfactory?"

"Aye, mostly. His reaction was quite interesting, making it rather entertaining."

'He' must be referring to Leonhardt.

To have even his son as an object of observation, Balmund was a relentless father.

Or perhaps, one must be this thick-skinned to be a king.

Bernhardt has been serving as the king of the great kingdom of Riobel for over twenty years without any major mishaps. Cordelia's standards alone couldn't fully measure the nobility of his position.

"Thinking back to that face, it's laughable... But for now, let's proceed with our conversation."

After a moment of laughter, Balmund returned to a serious expression.

"Let me ask you again. Are you prepared to live as Leonhardt's fiancée and eventually as the queen?"

In response to Balmund's question, Cordelia took a deep breath and said,

"Yes. As the crown princess and queen, I wish to walk alongside His Highness Leonhardt for the rest of my life."

She answered clearly.

Although she wasn't entirely confident in her suitability as a queen,

her desire to live by Leonhardt's side was firm.

"To walk alongside him, huh?"

While stroking his chin, Balmund repeated her words.

"As his father, it's a pleasant thing to hear... But are you sure you won't regret this? Understand that even as his fiancée and queen, your enemies won't completely disappear?"

In fact, the real test might begin after becoming his fiancée.

Once in the royal family, potential enemies would only increase.

The price of great power is that a single wrong choice could lead to a tragic future.

"Yes. I understand, though not completely. Whether I can stand up against the interference of adversaries by His Highness Leonhardt's side... ...Perhaps you were also observing Lady Daria's actions to assess this?"

"......Well, how about that?"

Balmund feigned ignorance, but Cordelia was eighty percent certain.

At the time, it wasn't just the conspiracy-savvy Daria, but Femina was also involved.

It was impossible for King Balmund to be unaware of all of this.

Balmund knew and deliberately overlooked it.

He was observing whether Cordelia could withstand the malice of Daria and others.

He was interested and testing her.

"......I think it was natural for you to test me. I've only known His Highness Leonhardt for less than a year, and my family is a minor earldom. ...It's only natural to doubt whether I'm suitable as a crown princess."

As Cordelia stated her speculation, Balmund shrugged.

"Haha, you're willing to forgive me for testing you? That's generous. ...I want him to be happy."

Sinking deeper into his chair, Balmund spoke quietly.

"I've made a mistake once. I thought Zayd was arrogant but had the potential to be a king if his rough edges were smoothed out. ...I overestimated him because he was my son."

"......"

Unable to find a response, Cordelia fell silent.

To her, Zayd was only an enemy who had tried to take her life and a villain who harmed the country, but to Balmund, he was a blood-related child.

"That's why this time, I wanted to be cautious. I tested you. Since he is to become the crown prince, his future and the prosperity of the country are inseparable. I wanted to assess whether you are suitable to stand beside him as a king."

"......Did I pass the test?"

Swallowing hard, Cordelia asked timidly.

Although the answer was likely already decided in Balmund's mind, it was still terrifying to ask.

"......You passed. To be honest, I underestimated you, a lady who had been abandoned by four fiancés... It seems those four were hopeless fools."

Balmund muttered, "Those men who let you go were foolish."

"Perhaps, it's also a testament to his 'nose' for choosing you."

Leonhardt's 'nose.'

In other words, the ancestral ability to sense 'something like a smell.'

Given that Balmund knew Leonhardt could transform into a lion, it was natural that he was also aware of his 'nose.'

As Cordelia confirmed this information in her mind, Balmund looked at her directly.

"Cordelia Gouenbourg. I recognize you as his fiancée. At the same time as the coronation ceremony in two months, I will officially recognize you as the crown prince's fiancée."

Cordelia's back trembled at Balmund's words.

She was now officially recognized as Leonhardt's fiancée.

Hope, joy, and pride swirled in her chest, along with anxiety and pressure.

Despite the overwhelming emotions, Cordelia bowed to Balmund and left the study.

"Cordelia, how did it go with Father?"

Leonhardt rushed over.

Smiling at him, Cordelia said,

"Father agreed to make me his official fiancée at the same time as the coronation ceremony in two months."

"Great! But in two months...?"

Leonhardt was delighted, but then his beautiful face clouded slightly.

"Your Highness, what's wrong? Are you concerned that the preparation for the official engagement might not be completed in such a short time?"

"No, it's the opposite, Cordelia."

His emerald eyes fixed on Cordelia.

(When I look at him like this, it's clear that he and the king are father and son.)

Blushing, she thought about this to distract herself.

"Two months is too long. I want to treat you as my official fiancée right away, but I have to wait."

"Wait..."

It was like a cat being stopped from pouncing on a toy.

His smoldering eyes were fixed on Cordelia.