Chapter 29: I can’t do it anymore.
“J-Just a moment, Sir Leonard!”
I shouted in shock.
But Leonard responded indifferently, unperturbed by my startled cry.
“Stay still for a moment. It’ll be over soon.”
“B-But…”
I tried to move my leg to escape his grip, but it was futile.
Leonard’s hand, clasping my ankle, was as unyielding as a shackle.
“P-Please stop…”
His office.
A situation where I was alone with him, my foot caught in his grasp.
How did it come to this?
Just moments ago.
I had stumbled and ended up in Leonard’s arms.
But that wasn’t the end of it.
― Truly… you’re someone I can’t take my eyes off, even for a moment.
He had murmured inexplicably to himself.
Then, carrying me bridal-style, he walked straight to his office.
Yes, a bridal carry!
I couldn’t even lift my head in embarrassment.
A bridal carry… it was mortifying.
Of all places, it had to be in full view of everyone.
The curious gazes of the maids who were watching me.
Even the knights in the distance, their stares burning with intensity.
Amid all those eyes and attention, Leonard carried me to his office.
“Looks like you’ve twisted your ankle. I’ll treat it, so please excuse us for a moment.”
At Leonard’s request, the maids quietly withdrew.
No, don’t go! Please stay!
I screamed internally, but the maids simply left with amused smiles.
“Excuse me.”
Leonard seated me in a chair and began examining my sprained ankle.
“I’m fine. It’s just a little twist. I’ll rest for a bit back at the Empress’ Palace, and I’ll be perfectly fine.”
“Even so, if left untreated, it could worsen.”
“In that case, I’ll ask Cedric to heal it when I return, just like my wrist…”
“I.”
He interrupted me with a calm voice.
“I want to take care of it myself.”
Was it just my imagination?
I felt his grip on my ankle tighten ever so slightly.
He had no intention of letting go.
In any case, he was so adamant that I found it hard to refuse.
‘Just close your eyes.’
This isn’t Leonard treating me.
It’s just an anonymous healer helping me.
“It might hurt a little.”
He applied pressure to my ankle.
As his fingers pressed against certain spots, a sharp, electrifying pain surged through me.
“Ah! T-That hurts!”
“Just a bit more.”
His firm fingers pressed on various points along my ankle and calf.
This person… he’s a stranger.
There’s no way this is Leonard…
“This really hurts now. I can’t take it anymore, Sir Leonard. Please stop!”
No matter how beneficial this treatment might be, I couldn’t bear it anymore.
“Your muscles are quite strained. It might hurt just a little more.”
Wherever he pressed, it felt like a sharp spike driving into me.
“All done.”
Leonard finally announced the end of the treatment.
The comfort that followed the pain was indescribably sweet.
Wow, this is incredibly effective!
“Oh!”
Then I remembered where I was… his office.
If I stayed here any longer, it might lead to all sorts of misunderstandings.
“Thank you for the treatment. I thought you were only skilled in swordsmanship, but you’re quite adept at massages too.”
“Do you feel any discomfort?”
“No, I feel great now. I’ll make sure to repay this favor later. Well then, I’ll be off… um?”
I couldn’t stand up.
Leonard still had a hold of my ankle.
“Sir Leonard?”
I called his name, and he responded with an action.
“…!”
A warm sensation spread over the top of my foot.
He had kissed my instep.
For a moment, my mind went blank.
When he finally withdrew his lips, I barely managed to speak.
“W-What was that…”
“A blessing.”
“A… blessing?”
“Though I may lack magical abilities,”
His gaze softened as he looked up at me.
“I wished for Your Majesty’s swift recovery with a small prayer.”
***
At the same time, in the Imperial Consort’s Palace.
The Imperial Consort, Fay, was spending time with Jerome.
They were strolling through the rose garden, her favorite spot.
The garden was filled with pink roses, the same shade as her hair.
It was a place Jerome had created just for her.
Usually, Fay would be brimming with joy, eagerly sharing stories with Jerome.
But today was different.
Her expression was sour.
Her lips were slightly pursed, as if deeply upset by something.
Eventually, unable to ignore her demeanor any longer, Jerome asked first.
“Is something wrong?”
“…No.”
“You don’t look like nothing’s wrong. Tell me, what is it?”
Fay grumbled as she replied.
“It’s because of you, Your Majesty.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
Fay nodded.
“You broke our promise last time and disappeared. And yet, you haven’t said a word about it.”
She lowered her long eyelashes sorrowfully.
That day had meant so much to her.
She had been eagerly anticipating time spent with the person she loved.
But…
“I’ve already explained about that day.”
Despite her complaints, Jerome remained indifferent.
This only deepened Fay’s frustration.
“You didn’t even explain it to me in person.”
Fay pressed her lips together tightly in disappointment.
It was as if she was trying to hold back tears.
That day, Jerome had left only a short note, stating he was busy, and disappeared.
“Where exactly did you rush off to so urgently?”
“I had something pressing to attend to.”
At Fay’s persistent questioning, Jerome sighed in frustration.
“Fine. I admit I was in the wrong this time.”
An awkward silence hung between them.
Breaking the heavy stillness, Fay spoke up.
“Your Majesty, in that case, will you answer my question instead?”
“Go ahead.”
“First, you have to promise me you’ll answer it.”
Jerome raised an eyebrow.
“A promise? What are you trying to ask?”
“Just promise me already.”
“Fine. I promise.”
Fay’s face lit up instantly.
“It’s not that big of a deal, actually.”
Despite her words, her voice was brimming with curiosity.
“This is it!”
She pulled out an object she had been hiding.
It was a dazzling golden mask.
One that Jerome recognized immediately.
“….”
Jerome’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the mask.
“Where did you get that?”
“I found it in Your Majesty’s office.”
Fay replied with a bright smile.
“This mask is so stylish!”
She turned it over in her hands, examining it from all angles.
“What exactly do you use this mask for?”
“….”
“You don’t seem like the type to participate in masquerade plays, after all.”
She quipped as if joking.
“Can I keep this mask?”
“If you want a mask, I’ll get you another pretty one.”
“No, I like this one.”
Uncharacteristically, Fay was being stubborn.
“Give it to me.”
Jerome was firm.
Fay’s expression turned sullen.
“…Here you go.”
She reluctantly handed over the mask, her movement filled with reluctance.
Yet Jerome’s expression was as cold as ever as he accepted it.
At that moment.
“Your Majesty!”
A man called out to Jerome from across the garden.
He seemed to have rushed over, his breathing labored.
It was Jerome’s secretary, Marquis Niklad.
“What is it?”
Jerome asked.
Niklad glanced at Fay nervously before speaking.
“There is a visitor at the Empress’ Palace.”
“A visitor?”
“It’s…”
Niklad leaned in and whispered something into Jerome’s ear.
Jerome’s brows furrowed slightly.
“…That person?”
***
Inside the carriage returning to the Empress’ Palace.
I couldn’t shake off the shock.
A blessing, he called it…
A kiss on the foot!
What kind of fairy tale nonsense was this?
Why would Leonard, of all people, say something so romantic to me?
I shook my head.
Something must be wrong.
Otherwise, Leonard wouldn’t be acting like this.
Who was he, after all?
Later in the original story, he descends into darkness and leads the Empire to the brink of destruction.
Leonard, as the awakened antagonist, was as cold and ruthless as they came.
And now he’s smiling warmly?
Kissing feet?
“What on earth is happening…”
I thought everything would be fine if I refrained from playing the villainess.
But Jerome, Fay, and now even Leonard…
The main characters of the original story were becoming unrecognizable.
“Maybe I did something wrong…”
But I couldn’t pinpoint what.
At some point, the smoothly moving carriage—no, the “model taxi”—came to a stop.
It seemed I had arrived at the Empress’ Palace.
As the door opened, the waiting maids greeted me with bright smiles.
“Y-Your Majesty!”
“You must hurry inside.”
Hm? I tilted my head.
The maids seemed unusually flustered for a simple welcome.
“What’s going on?”
“There’s a guest here!”
“A guest?”
“Ha ha, you’re causing quite a fuss over me.”
A laugh echoed as a middle-aged man appeared.
He was adorned in a luxurious ceremonial outfit, his appearance exuding authority.
Despite his stern demeanor, his face was filled with warmth.
One striking detail stood out—his violet eyes, similar to mine.
The moment I saw him, a single word slipped out of my mouth.
“Father?”
***
Helena’s father.
In other words, Hastings von Schwaben, the Duke of Schwaben.
He was a figure who appeared multiple times in the original story.
As one of only three Grand Nobles in the Empire, he often clashed with the male lead, Jerome.
Though not exactly a villain, his actions often painted him in a negative light.
This was largely because he was Helena’s father.
Despite being nicknamed the “Iron Duke” for his ruthlessness, he was a notorious doting father at home.
Anything his daughter wished for, he granted.
Everything she desired, he made sure she had.
A classic doting father.
Ultimately, his indulgent parenting style was a major reason Helena became the selfish young lady she was.
“I heard you were traveling abroad. When did you return?”
“Two days ago. I had mountains of work to handle, but I couldn’t stop thinking about seeing your face.”
He replied with a gentle smile.
Then he turned to the maids.
“I’d like to have some time alone with my daughter. Could you leave us for a while?”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The perceptive maids bowed and exited the room.
With a firm click, the door shut.
Then, as if he had been waiting, the Duke spoke.
“You fool.”
His voice turned sharp.
It wasn’t just his tone that changed.
His eyes narrowed with anger.
His thin lips trembled slightly with barely contained fury.
His cold gaze seemed to pierce through me.
This was not the gaze of a loving father.
“During such a critical time, where on earth have you been wandering?”
He clicked his tongue in disapproval.
I was completely taken aback.
A doting father…?
Where exactly is the “doting” in this father?
Seriously, what’s wrong with everyone here?
Why does everyone’s personality change the moment the door closes?
—
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