Chapter 63

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

"Wait..."

Leonhardt looked as if he were a cat that had been stopped from pouncing on a treat.

His eyes, which smoldered with a rising heat, were fixed straight on Cordelia.

"Your Highness, please don't be so impatient. I am your... your treat, after all."

Cordelia's voice grew smaller.

She had become embarrassed while expressing her feelings.

Still, she managed to finish her sentence, but Leonhardt did not respond.

"Your Highness?"

"...t...oo... much..."

Leonhardt was staring at Cordelia, frozen in place.

"What's wrong?"

"...I thought two months is too long."

He placed his hand on his forehead and let out a complex sigh, one that seemed both happy and discontent.

"I want to touch you as my fiancée right away... but for now, this is all I can do."

"!"

His hand lifted, and a kiss was placed on the back of it.

A light touch, like a bird brushing its wings.

But to Cordelia, the spot where his lips touched seemed to grow hotter and hotter.

If this is how it feels now, what will it be like when we become official fiancés?

The thought made her a little afraid.

Cordelia, with her heart pounding, spoke to Leonhardt.

"...I also heard about what happened with Lord Bernhardt earlier. It seems you were involved in that as well."

"That's right..."

Leonhardt's eyes, which had been melting, regained their sharpness.

He seemed to be adjusting the atmosphere to match Cordelia's.

"I'm sorry. I had a feeling that my father would test you during today's ceremony, but I didn't expect Lord Bernhardt to send such a threatening aura. I'm sorry for making you feel scared."

"Your Highness, you tried to protect me. That's enough for me."

"...You're so kind. But I'm the one who's frustrated. I don't want to see anything threatening you, and I failed."

Leonhardt's shoulders slumped.

He seemed genuinely upset, not just acting.

(Maybe that's why he let slip about Heilroot earlier...)

Perhaps Leonhardt had been anxious and flustered.

Leonhardt cared for Cordelia more than she did for herself.

His straightforward affection warmed her entire body.

"...Your Highness, thank you. But if I am to become your official fiancée, I want to be able to protect myself to some extent."

Because Leonhardt cared for her so much.

She wanted to stand by his side, unyielding to both political pressure and direct violence.

"So, Your Highness, if possible, could you introduce me to a teacher for swordsmanship or self-defense?"

"Swordsmanship or self-defense...?"

"Yes. If I can't defeat an attacker, at least I can buy some time, which would give you peace of mind."

She didn't want to be attacked, but royal families and their associates often faced dangers.

She wanted to learn how to protect herself.

She had been waiting for the right moment to propose this, especially after the kidnapping incident with Nini.

(I still lack so many abilities...)

She was grateful for Leonhardt's concern for her, but a lingering sense of inferiority smoldered in her chest.

She didn't want to be a burden to him and wanted to do whatever she could.

"Even if it's just a stopgap measure... what do you think?"

"That's true. I don't like the idea of you wielding a heavy sword with your delicate arms, but... you have a point. It would make me feel more at ease."

It seemed her proposal was accepted.

Relieved, she was about to discuss the specifics when—

"Okay, I understand. Let's start by equipping you with the Holy Sword."

"..."

Cordelia couldn't help but ask, taken aback by Leonhardt's smile.

The Holy Sword. The golden longsword that Leonhardt could freely summon and retract from his body.

Cordelia had held it a few times out of necessity, but it was a national treasure passed down since the founding of Liorbern.

She was confused when he offered it to her so casually.

"Your Highness, what are you doing? This is your, and the country's, greatest treasure. I can acquire a personal sword myself."

When she tried to return the Holy Sword, Leonhardt refused to take it back.

"I have my own steel sword that I use regularly, so it's fine. You saw me wield it during the Nini kidnapping incident, right?"

"Yes. You looked very... cool—no, that's not what I meant!"

She almost got caught up in Leonhardt's cheerful pace and regained her composure.

"Your Highness, why? Using the Holy Sword for my swordsmanship practice seems like a waste."

Cordelia was a complete novice at swordsmanship.

The phrase "pearls before swine" kept echoing in her mind.

"That Holy Sword is sharp but not heavy, making it very convenient. You can shorten the blade to carry it like a dagger, and it would be perfect for self-defense."

"Using a national treasure as a self-defense tool is out of the question, Your Highness..."

If she accidentally chipped the blade, she would be wracked with guilt.

Cordelia resisted, but Leonhardt seemed unperturbed.

"Listen. There are other advantages. If you train, you should be able to manipulate fire like a mage."

"...I can manipulate fire?"

"Yes. The Holy Sword is part of my power. If you are recognized by me, you should be able to draw out some of that power and control fire."

"Really?"

"It's possible. Would you like to try practicing with it?"

"..."

Cordelia stared at the brilliant blade.

If she could freely manipulate fire, it would be a much more powerful weapon than swinging a sword, especially for a woman.

From a self-defense perspective, it was not a bad choice.

(And above all, I can't resist when Your Highness pushes with that smile...)

For example, when they were alone in a room, and Leonhardt tried to pamper her.

Or when he gave her a new dress and asked her to try it on.

Leonhardt always smiled, but he never backed down.

Knowing this, Cordelia gave up her resistance and decided to accept the Holy Sword.

"Then I will gratefully accept it. I will be very careful not to break it, no matter what."

If she broke it, she couldn't possibly compensate for it.

Cordelia, with trepidation, took hold of the Holy Sword.