Chapter 86

"——Have you heard that the Alphasal delegation is coming to the palace for diplomatic relations?"

"They are scheduled to arrive in about a month."

Alphasal is a relatively distant country. There are several countries between us, and since they also use sea routes for travel, the exact arrival time of the delegation is still unknown.

"It seems that Princess Latisha is also part of the delegation. The messenger who arrived at the palace yesterday brought up a marriage proposal to my father, directed at me."

"……And that proposal has already leaked to people in this country other than the king."

That's why Femina came by just now. Recently, Femina has been studying politics to support her brother, Leonhardt, and she has been keeping an ear out for palace gossip.

"It seems the leak was intentional, aimed at spreading the news."

"They were trying to secure the king's approval by closing off all other options."

Currently, if it were a marriage proposal from a noble lady within the country, it wouldn't be too difficult to decline. However, if the proposal is from a princess of a major country and the news has leaked, it's not that simple. To decline, a reasonable and convincing reason would be necessary.

"That seems to have been their intention. But, Cordelia, you are now known as the 'Holy Maiden of the Lion,' and your name is beginning to be recognized even in foreign lands. To avoid neglecting someone blessed by the sacred beast of the royal lineage, my father told them I don't need any other fiancée. He managed to get them to agree, but..."

"They haven't given up yet?"

Leonhardt nodded.

"Princess Latisha is a legitimate daughter, but the king's favor lies with his concubine. Princess Latisha wants to secure the throne for her full brother and seeks my support through a marriage alliance."

Cordelia recalled the information about the Kingdom of Alphasal. The king is known to be excellent at developing the country's commerce, but he is also quite a womanizer. There are also rumors that the struggle for the throne is heating up beneath the surface, and the crown prince has not yet been designated.

"Princess Latisha can't easily back down, can she?"

"Probably not. She is a wise but proud woman. She likely can't accept her half-brother, born to a commoner, becoming the next king."

"……Has Your Highness met Princess Latisha before?"

Leonhardt's tone suggested he had met her directly. After a brief pause, he answered Cordelia's question.

"……Yes. There was a marriage proposal between us in the past."

"At that time, you met to get to know each other, right?"

Cordelia's heart began to beat irregularly and uncomfortably. Given Leonhardt's status and age, it was normal for him to have been proposed to before meeting her. Despite understanding this, she couldn't help but be aware of it.

"I met her, but ultimately, I declined. At the time, I wasn't the crown prince, and she didn't seem very enthusiastic about the marriage either. Most importantly, I couldn't even consider marrying Princess Latisha. I had just met you then."

"Met me...?"

"I told you before that the first time I noticed you was at a ball about two years ago, when we passed each other. From that moment, I was captivated by your scent. In that state, I couldn't accept a marriage to Princess Latisha, even if it was for political reasons."

After finishing his explanation, Leonhardt exhaled and placed his finger on Cordelia's cheek.

"Now that I know your character and have spent time with you, that feeling is even stronger. I can't love any woman other than you, and from a national interest perspective, I have no intention of accepting a new marriage proposal."

Leonhardt caressed Cordelia's cheek lovingly and then stood up.

"I'm sorry, but I need to go now. I need to discuss the response to Princess Latisha and the future relationship with the Kingdom of Alphasal with my father. It's going to be a busy time."

"Please take care of your health and don't overwork yourself."

"A little fatigue disappears when I see you. I'm really glad you came to the Young Lion's Palace."

"Hehe, I am too. I can meet Your Highness every day now."

Cordelia smiled and saw Leonhardt off.

Although she still has some concerns about Latisha, she trusts Leonhardt's feelings and actions more. She wants to stand tall, without rushing or fearing, and be a worthy fiancée for him.

Thank you for reading.

The next update is scheduled for Saturday.