"It's not a great feeling being treated like a bad guy by a cute girl. Let me explain a little—Euphie, dear, could you...?" Leon said, glancing at Euphilia.
A moment later, the silver-haired girl stepped forward and explained the reason behind the incident to Lumine.
After all, Leon didn't like explaining things to others, so she often did it for him.
"Miss Lumine, you've misunderstood His Highness. While the dragon disaster in Mondstadt was indeed orchestrated by him, there was a reason. The Lawrence family, who controlled Mondstadt at the time..."
A few minutes later, Euphilia finished recounting the truth.
Lumine and Paimon were stunned.
They truly hadn't expected the story to be that deep.
Lumine didn't understand what was going on in Mondstadt back then.
Less than half an hour after she entered the city on her first day, she suddenly encountered a wind dragon attacking it.
Then she was completely fooled by Dvalin's acting and instinctively drew her sword on the spot, without time to think.
She was defeated by Dvalin and rescued by Leon. Later, she found the "Lawrence Family Destruction Plan" during an adventure in the snowy mountains. After a misunderstanding, she snuck into Leon's castle to investigate the truth.
After discovering everything...
Lumine was speechless.
"So, the Lawrence family was that evil?"
"Well, calling them 'evil' might be an understatement."
"That's so shameful..."
Having realized she'd misunderstood everything, Lumine scratched her head, embarrassed.
The truth was, she had come to investigate because she was deeply worried. After Leon saved her that day, she had dreamed about him for several nights.
Originally, she wanted to keep it as just a fond memory.
But when she found that plan, it shook her. She couldn't accept the idea that those precious memories might've been a lie.
So, even after Paimon tried to talk her out of it several times, she still decided to sneak into Leon's castle to learn the truth.
She didn't expect it to end like this.
"So we suffered for nothing!"
Paimon was also stunned. Recalling the traps in the castle that nearly killed them a dozen times, she couldn't help but roll in the air, clutching her head.
"That's true."
Leon shrugged, agreeing casually. If they had come to see him properly, he would've welcomed them warmly.
"..."
Lumine sat on the floor. All the hard work she had put in over the last few hours had been for nothing.
But at the same time, she felt relieved.
It turned out Leon wasn't a bad person. He was just taking down corrupt nobles, building his reputation, making money, winning over two sisters, and conquering three small kingdoms.
This man must be a demon...
"Your Highness, please stop carelessly throwing things around..."
Lumine held back her emotions for a long time and finally muttered that one sentence. Now she regretted going into the snowy mountains chasing after that treasure chest. If she hadn't, she never would've picked up the plan Leon had tossed aside.
Clearly, there are some things people just shouldn't know.
She had lived her greatest adventure since arriving and almost died several times—without any reward.
If she had remained ignorant, she'd still consider it a beautiful memory of being saved by a hero. But now...
Lumine: Why did I even do this!!?
Leon: "Okay, okay. Just be sure of your actions next time."
Leon's attitude was completely nonchalant.
"Ugh~ What the hell was I even doing?"
Lumine was so exhausted she wanted to cry.
Leon had said in the last chapter that he'd give her some money before she left, right? At this point, it'd be better to just accept it. If she didn't take something from him today, she wouldn't be able to live with herself.
"Hey, sorry for the trouble, Your Highness. I'll be heading back now."
"Lumine, don't leave so quickly."
Just as the blonde traveler, sulking, was about to take the money and go, Leon grabbed her small hand.
"Eh?"
"Even though you've finished asking questions, I haven't finished yet."
Leon tossed her another fruit. Although it was a common fruit in the castle, it was still a rare and expensive delicacy outside.
After taking a bite, Lumine felt her sense of disappointment melt away. It was hundreds of times more delicious than the fruits she'd foraged during her journey.
Maybe today wasn't so bad after all.
"Is there something else, Your Highness?"
"Yeah. I want to recruit you."
Leon got straight to the point.
Lumine's eyes widened in shock, and the fruit pulp in her mouth got caught in her throat, nearly choking her.
"Ahem! Your Highness, you don't need me."
The blonde girl glanced around the room.
All the women present were stunning and clearly extraordinary. Their auras were more intense than some of the monsters she had fought on her journey.
"That may be true, but having more talented people like you is always a good thing. Who doesn't like cute, pretty, and capable girls?"
Leon gently lifted Lumine's chin. His intense, possessive gaze made her cheeks turn red as she panicked and turned her face away.
"Flattering me won't work."
"But you're blushing."
"Hmph~ Even if I messed up this time, any fondness I had for you, Prince Leon, has been wiped clean."
Lumine took another big bite of the fruit, remembering all the life-threatening traps in the castle. That fruit wasn't enough! He should give her at least ten!
Paimon, also munching on a fruit not far away, gave Lumine a subtle look... As her travel companion, she knew Lumine had occasionally murmured Leon's name in her sleep over the past few days.
Well, she is at that age, after all.
"So it's really not possible?"
"Hmm, no~ I'm a traveler. I want to explore the world and find my brother. Sooner or later, I'll have to leave this country."
"That's true."
Leon's eyes showed a hint of sorrow.
The girl before him was a free bird, a breeze that couldn't be captured. She had her own journey and her own purpose.
He couldn't keep her here.
Leon: You really think I'd accept that?
The possessiveness in the dark prince's eyes hadn't faded at all.
Even if she was a free bird, even if the wind couldn't be caught—so what? He was a tyrant. And if he liked something, he'd capture it, no matter what.
"Lumine, I'm the future king of this country. And a king needs a special skill. Do you know what that is?" Leon narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"You have to be able to read people."
Leon's violet eyes locked onto Lumine's.
His gaze felt like it pierced straight through her.
"I'm very good at reading people. I can see parts of their true nature at a glance."
"What are you planning, Your Highness?"
Lumine swallowed hard and instinctively backed away from him.
Was he planning to force himself on her?
If Leon really decided to take her by force, she honestly wouldn't be able to resist. What should she do then? Well, to be fair, Leon was really handsome. He was obviously a guy, but his skin was even better than hers.
And his dominant aura... was kind of thrilling.
But this would be her first time.
Surely she had to resist! A girl's greatest treasure couldn't just be taken like that!
But if she couldn't resist...
Then she'd just have to enjoy it!
Lumine: "Come on, Your Highness. I won't back down. Face me properly!"
Leon: "...What the hell are you thinking?"
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."