Chapter 78

"Why was Lord François so aggressive towards Lord Bernard? If that hadn't happened, the misunderstanding might have been cleared up a bit sooner."

At Cordelia's question, François raised an eyebrow.

"That's ridiculous! It's because I'm angry at him, of course!"

He shouted with such force that Cordelia flinched.

François clenched his fists, shouting with all his might.

"Wouldn't you be pissed too?! He always does it! He acts so cool and pulls off the most outrageous things! He leaps over my efforts as if mocking them, so effortlessly!?"

The words François spat out were filled with such clear jealousy.

He was shouting with all his body, filled with frustration and anger.

"Lord François..."

And his cries were something Cordelia could understand.

Every time she saw the excellence of Bernard and Leonhardt, she couldn't deny the jealousy and anxiety that smoldered in her heart.

(Lord François might be struggling with the same issues as me...)

Thinking this, she might have felt a little more at ease.

Relaxing her shoulders, Cordelia looked around.

Bernard, as expected, was quick with his work, securely tying up the suspects.

"Thank you, Lord Bernard, for agreeing to my proposal."

"It was a stroke of luck for me."

While checking the surroundings, Bernard answered casually.

This time, she couldn't approach Leonhardt with the plan to use herself as bait.

Unlike during the Nini kidnapping incident, where she could accompany him in her cub form, the likelihood of Leonhardt opposing the plan was high.

That's why Cordelia approached Bernard and his team.

"I am satisfied that the suspects have been secured..."

Just as she thought it would come,

"CORDELIA"

Cordelia's eyes widened at the sound of Leonhardt's voice, who should have been at the mansion.

(Why is His Highness here...?)

She had been extremely careful to keep the plan a secret.

Bernard and his team had not broken their promise to keep it from Leonhardt.

Even though they were in the same capital, the distance from here to the mansion was considerable. Even with Leonhardt's ability to sense a "kind of smell," it should have been too far to track.

"Your Highness..."

As Leonhardt approached, Cordelia involuntarily stepped back.

Leonhardt's face was completely devoid of expression as he walked slowly towards her.

She was afraid to know what emotions were swirling beneath that mask-like face.

"...I'm sorry for carrying out the plan without telling you and causing you worry."

With resolve, Cordelia faced Leonhardt.

She might be scolded. She might be hated.

But she had to face it all without running away.

"But, I—"

Suddenly, she was tightly embraced by Leonhardt.

"...I thought..."

"Your Highness...?"

"My heart almost stopped."

Leonhardt exhaled a long, thin breath.

It was a sigh that seemed to release all his anxiety and fear.

"Never do this again."

Leonhardt whispered weakly while still holding Cordelia.

"...I was able to track the presence of the Holy Sword and come here because you had it with you."

"I didn't know the Holy Sword could be used like that..."

Cordelia answered, but she was overwhelmed by guilt.

(I wanted to be a help to Your Highness, but...)

She had caused him much more worry than she had intended.

Cordelia gently wrapped her arms around Leonhardt and returned his embrace.

Feeling his muscular, masculine build, Leonhardt whispered to her.

"...You were in a hurry, weren't you?"

He didn't say what, but Cordelia knew exactly what he meant.

"...Yes. I still lack confidence in whether I am suitable to be Your Highness's fiancée. Even after coming to this foreign land, seeing Lord Bernard's unwavering strength and talent, I can't help but compare myself to him..."

All of this stemmed from Cordelia's inferiority complex.

No matter how much she tried, she couldn't shake the anxiety that she would never measure up to the geniuses like Bernard.

She understood François's cries from earlier.

"...I don't want you to be better than anyone else. I want to see you, the hardworking and earnest you, moving forward. It's okay to be anxious. It's okay to be troubled. I would even be happy to be a burden to you."

Looking into Cordelia's eyes, Leonhardt smiled slightly.

"You may not believe in your own strength and power yet... but I want you to believe that I will always be by your side."

Touched by Leonhardt's gentle, warm, and earnest words,

"...Yes."

Cordelia nodded.

Even if the smoldering anxiety in her heart wouldn't easily disappear,

she felt that with Leonhardt, everything would be alright. She wished to be a support for him, even if it was a small one.