Chapter 772: Come Prepared

I originally planned to eat first, but after seeing you, I just want to go back and work overtime again…

"Princess Veronika!"

After interrupting the Princess's teasing question, Leon's face fell, filled with exasperation.

"Can you stop messing around? Why are you suddenly in my house? Where are Anna and the others?"

"Anna's asleep with the two children… besides, I'm your fiancée—does it seem strange for me to be in your house?"

Seeing Leon's wary distance, Princess Veronika blinked, feigning sorrow:

"Darling, why are you so cold to me? Could it be… you've found someone else?"

"…"

This… I don't know if it counts, but we're definitely clean between us. Why did you suddenly ambush me at home, and why are you dressed so… casual?

Struggling to keep his gaze elevated, avoiding inappropriate spots, Leon groaned:

"Princess Veronika, between us…"

"Though we spend little time together, our feelings are still strong."

Taking Leon's arm, she dragged the bewildered man inside and pushed him onto a chair beside the table, then pointed to the covered dishes:

"Eat quickly—these were prepared by Anna for you, and I tasted every dish myself. They're delicious!"

"…"

I thought you made these yourself—so you just watched and still claim credit? Also, why do you seem weird today? You look…

unusually happy?

Watching the Princess, oddly energized despite his cold reception, her lips still curled in a smile, Leon hesitated briefly, then sat down calmly at the table.

"Princess, why did you come to see me today?"

"What are you saying? Can't I come see you if there's nothing important?"

Princess Veronika adjusted her loose nightgown, sat elegantly across from Leon, propped her chin on her hand, and smiled sweetly:

"But I do have a few happy things to share… eat first, and I'll tell you while you eat, alright?"

As she moved, the silk nightgown's loose sleeve slipped slightly down to her elbow, revealing a sliver of dazzlingly pale arm.

Combined with the Princess's radiant smile and the faint glimpse of soft flesh at her neckline, it sent a faint tremor through Leon's heart—he quickly turned his head away, refusing to look further, focusing solely on his meal.

Good reaction~ Not wasted on me specially ordering this oversized nightgown.

Secretly tugging the loosened sleeve with her finger, exposing more of her arm, then drawing her elbow inward to accentuate its full curve, Princess Veronika smiled:

"There are many happy things lately, but the happiest is that our wedding has been set—we're getting married the day after tomorrow at noon. I came today specifically to pick you up."

What?!

Hearing Princess Veronika's words, Leon, mid-sip of soup, jolted violently, nearly choking half the warm fish broth into his lungs.

"Cough! Cough! You—you said what… cough cough cough!"

"Oh dear, there's plenty of soup—why rush so much?"

Circling the table to Leon's side, she patted his back gently, her eyes flickering with mischief, then sighed with feigned regret:

"Seeing you so happy makes me truly glad—too bad… it's not real."

"…"

Revenge! This is definitely revenge—for being cold to you earlier!

After catching his breath, realizing he'd been tricked, Leon frowned, ready to confront her—when a shiny little fork, skewering a piece of fish, appeared before his eyes.

The Princess, who had just been sitting across from him, had used the back-patting moment to slip onto the chair beside him, grinning as she held out the fork to feed him.

"Ah~"

"…" Ah, what the hell are you doing?

Feeling the subtle warmth radiating from the mature, voluptuous body beside him, Leon internally screamed in despair, scooted away from the intoxicating heat, then grabbed the fork.

"No… no need, I can feed myself."

"Mm-hmm, whatever you say~"

Seeing Leon's embarrassment, Princess Veronika realized she'd pushed far enough—if she went further, he might push her away. She let him take the fork and smiled sweetly:

"By the way, do you still want to hear why I'm so happy?"

"…"

After two seconds of silence, Princess Veronika sat up straight, sighing with feigned boredom:

"Hmm, if you don't want to hear this, sitting here alone is pointless… how about…"

Leon's expression shifted slightly.

How about you leave?

"How about I keep feeding you!"

"…"

"Ah~"

"Please… no more 'ah'… I still… yeah… I'd still like to hear what you have to say…"

Heh, got you.

Smiling with unhidden mischief, the Princess, having successfully subdued him, sat upright and said with a smile:

"Then I'll tell you… have you heard about the Marquis of Golden Cuckoo?"

Marquis of Golden Cuckoo?

Hearing the familiar name, Leon's expression flickered slightly, then he nodded:

"I've heard something… the one who drowned accidentally recently?"

"Yes, him."

Though the weather had warmed considerably, nights were still chilly, and the Princess's silk nightgown, while accentuating her figure perfectly, offered little warmth.

She instinctively curled up, drawing her limbs tighter to warm herself, her nose slightly red from the cold, yet she spoke cheerfully:

"He was the Treasury's Tax Secretary, second only to the Minister of Finance. He long blocked military budgets and ruthlessly exploited artisan guilds, using royal funds to fill… well… let's just say he was a terrible man—terribly, terribly terrible!"

Indeed, he was a terrible man—in every sense.

Nodding in full agreement, Leon asked curiously:

"So you're happy because he's dead?"

"Not entirely."

She blew warm air onto her palms, then shook her head:

"I'd have preferred to arrest him myself and make him face punishment for his crimes.

But this outcome isn't bad either—even if I could have toppled him, I doubt I could've forced a confession. Now that his position is vacant, the Treasury has opened a crack.

Without him blocking it, many stalled reforms now have a chance to proceed. If we can seize part of the tax authority, we can clean up those harsh, convoluted taxes, avoiding… hmm…"

Leon, are you interested in this? Should we talk about something else?"

Looking at the Princess, curled up on her chair from the cold but eyes alight with passion, Leon hesitated briefly, then took off his coat and draped it over her, shaking his head:

"No, I'm still interested—keep going. Just speak quietly, so you don't wake Anna and the others."

"Mm~"

Watching Leon finally, after seven or eight hints, think to cover her with his coat, Princess Veronika shot him a mock-reproachful glance, then leaned against him with an exaggerated "I'm so moved" expression.

"You're so sweet~ Then I'll continue… oh, by the way, have you heard about the attack on Dock Tower?"

(End of Chapter)