Chapter 646: Poor Leon Heavy, Got

「……」

Did the two of us... pick up the wrong script?

While preparing to come over and break off the engagement, Hearing Li Ang had already braced himself mentally; however, he had imagined the princess might refuse outright, might set some harsh conditions, or even use coercion and bribery, and so on and so forth.

While preparing to come over and break off the engagement, Hearing Li Ang had already steeled himself in advance. However, he had imagined the princess might refuse outright, might set some harsh conditions, or even use threats and inducements — on and on and on.

But the one thing he never expected was that the princess actually chose to "reason things out" with him, and even launched a confident, forceful, fierce pursuit against him...

Speaking of which, does that even count as a pursuit?

"I admit, if I absolutely had to make a choice right now, then we... really do seem quite a good match..."

「I admit, if I absolutely had to make a choice right now, then we... really are quite a good match... 」

Pinned into a corner of the sofa by the princess, who was pressing closer and closer, and curled up like a little bride, Hearing Li Ang summoned an iron will to pull his hand back and continued to resist with all his might:

「But I don't necessarily have to make a choice, at least not necessarily right now... Your Highness, you really are wonderful, but at the moment I'm still... 」

「Since you're not in a rush to make a choice right now, why are you in such a rush to reject me? 」

Facing Hearing Li Ang's "desperate last stand," the princess did not press the attack relentlessly. Instead, following the military maxim of "besieging on three sides and leaving one open," she deliberately left him a path of retreat:

「I'm not forcing you to accept this marriage right away — I just don't want you to cut it off too hastily.

Leon Heavy, if you're not in a rush to make a choice, then let's just maintain things as they are for now. Let's spend more time together, get to know each other better, and not reject fate's gift so lightly. 」

「You still believe in fate? 」

「I didn't, before. 」

The princess smiled and said:

「But since fate delivered you to me, I'm willing to believe in her, just this once. 」

Stop hitting, stop hitting, I'm really about to surrender...

Facing the princess who, when soft tactics failed, switched to hard tactics, and when those failed too, resorted to awkward flirting, Hearing Li Ang, retreating step by step, truly could not withstand her wave after wave of offensives and could only raise his hands in surrender, saying:

Facing the princess, who had tried gentle coaxing, then hard pressure, and finally awkward flirting when neither worked, Hearing Li Ang was beaten back step by step and truly could not withstand her wave after wave of offensives. He could only raise his hands in surrender and say:

「Then... let's leave it like this for now? 」

Having successfully repelled Hearing Li Ang who came to call off the engagement and recovered all lost ground in one fell swoop, the princess tugged the shallow V of her nightgown neckline upward, then sat up straight and, with a smiling face, shifted the battlefield, saying:

Having successfully repelled Hearing Li Ang, who had come to call off the engagement, and recovered all lost territory in one fell swoop, the princess tugged the shallow V-neck of her nightgown up a little, then sat up straight and, with a beaming smile, shifted the battlefield:

「Also, I haven't even had the chance to thank you yet for helping me recover my identity. Regarding this matter, what kind of reward would you like? 」

Hearing the princess's words, Hearing Li Ang, who had just slightly breathed a sigh of relief, grew wary again and hurriedly waved his hands, saying:

Hearing the princess's words, Hearing Li Ang, who had just let out a small sigh of relief, grew wary again and hurriedly waved his hands:

「I'm a Cleaner for the Cleanup Bureau. Under the agreement between the Cleanup Bureau and the royal houses of every nation, I already have the duty of ensuring the safety of royal personages, so... 」

「A Cleaner's reward can be waived, but a princess consort's reward still has to be given. 」

Seeming to greatly enjoy Hearing Li Ang's reaction, the princess, leaning sideways against the sofa back, smiled, then extended her fair, delicate fingers and reached them into the neckline of her nightgown.

Seeming to greatly enjoy Hearing Li Ang's reaction, the princess, who was leaning sideways against the sofa back, smiled, then extended her fair, delicate fingers and reached them into the neckline of her nightgown.

「Uh... I'll just stop bothering you, then. 」

Amusedly grabbing Hearing Li Ang who was trying to rise and leave, and placing a somewhat old small pendant into his palm, Princess Veronica said softly with a touch of nostalgia:

Amused, she grabbed Hearing Li Ang, who had stood up to leave, and placed a slightly old-looking little pendant into his palm. Princess Veronica then said softly, with a touch of nostalgia:

「This is a pendant my mother gave me... Don't worry, it's not the kind with great commemorative value where accepting it means you have to marry me — it's just a small blessing, that's all. 」

Gently wrapping her hand around Hearing Li Ang's palm to make sure he held the pendant, which was still warm with her body heat, Princess Veronica said with a serious expression:

「When my mother gave it to me, she hoped it would keep me safe and smooth my path. Now I'm giving it to you, hoping it can keep you safe too. 」「Thank you... 」

After turning the pendant over in his fingers — it was not an anomalous object, had no special effects, but felt rather warm — Hearing Li Ang looked at the princess, who had first played a ruthless game of wits on him but now seemed utterly sincere. He couldn't help but hesitate for a moment, then said, somewhat tentatively:

「Actually, if you only wanted the Leon Heavy family fortune, the support of the Ministry of Roads and the Ministry of War, and a seat in the Upper House, you don't necessarily have to do it with me... 」

「Leon Heavy, I am definitely going to marry. 」

Before he could finish, the princess cut in, gazing at him with an earnest expression:

「This country cannot be handed to Joshua — he has no talent for it. So I will, and must, become the next queen!

And a stable family, as well as heirs to carry on the royal bloodline, are both indispensable conditions for becoming queen. Since I must marry someone and start a family anyway, why can't that person be you? 」

「……」

After gauging the progress of her fish-teasing and finding it basically in place, the princess, who had just been deliberately leaving a gap of three to lure him in and feigning retreat, immediately revealed her true colors and launched an incomparably fierce all-out assault!

After gauging the progress of her "fishing," and finding it was basically in place, the princess, who had just been feigning a tactical retreat on three sides, immediately dropped the act and launched a ferocious all-out assault!

「To be honest with you, before and after you inherited the Lionheart Duke title, I investigated you very thoroughly. 」

Taking Hearing Li Ang's hand again, and proactively confessing her investigation of him, Princess Veronica said with a reminiscent look:

「Although my plan at the time was only to seize the chance to reclaim part of my control over the Ministry of War after the Leon Heavy family fell, I had no other intentions toward you.

But after you proposed to me publicly at the inheritance ceremony, I quickly realized you were the most ideal consort candidate in my heart! 」

Looking at the somewhat surprised Hearing Li Ang, the princess softly voiced her assessment of him.

「Leon Heavy, you really are wonderful. Not only are you diligent and reliable, steady in character, family-oriented, and willing to shoulder responsibility — you also never abandoned your seriously ill sister. To save her, you were willing to take risks and join the Cleanup Bureau, which has an extremely high mortality rate.

And after joining the Cleanup Bureau, you were also conscientious and responsible, brave in taking on tasks, and never flinched no matter how great the danger. During the sewage incident, you even ran around everywhere on behalf of the victims. And you have almost no desire for power — even when faced with a ducal title, your heart didn't waver... 」

Hearing the princess's evaluation of himself, Hearing Li Ang could not help but blush and said somewhat sheepishly:

Hearing the princess's assessment of him, Hearing Li Ang couldn't help but blush and say, a little embarrassed:

「I'm actually not that great... 」

「And you're especially humble, too. 」

"I admit, when I agreed to your proposal back then, perhaps it was more for the sake of a seat in the Leon Heavy family, but after thinking it over carefully, I am now absolutely certain that you are the best prince consort I could ever find; if I let you slip away, I would definitely regret it in the future!"

「I admit, when I accepted your proposal back then, perhaps it was mostly because of the Leon Heavy family's seat. But after thinking it through carefully, I am now absolutely certain that you are the best consort I could possibly find. If I let you slip away, I would definitely regret it in the future! 」

After seizing the chance to heap lavish praise on Hearing Li Ang and, along the way, express her determination to have him at any cost, the princess, having fully displayed her attitude and resolve, suddenly dimmed her gaze and said, somewhat dejected:

【61】 「I know it's not the same for you as it is for me, who only has you to choose from. Besides me, this troublesome woman, you still have other options. Tying you to me in advance might not be entirely fair to you.

But... but I really don't want to miss this opportunity!

Gazing into Li Ang's eyes, the princess abandoned her earlier forceful and decisive demeanor; her bright eyes shimmered with tears, her voice trembling as if on the verge of weeping.

This is the only time I will ever be able to choose my husband according to my own heart. I admit, just now I did play a small trick, but I truly had no other choice.

When I first heard you came here to break off our engagement, I panicked completely, my mind grew chaotic, and without thinking, I resorted to the most familiar tactics I knew, trying to keep you...

I... Li Ang, please don't be angry with me? If you reject me, then I... I...

(End of Chapter)