Leon and C.C. remained in the corridor for quite some time. It wasn't until a guard came out to look for Leon that the two reluctantly broke their kiss.
Then she took over for the weary Leon.
The green-haired witch returned to the party in disguise.
Aside from a few girls close to Leon, no outsider would ever see through her cover.
As for someone finally being free…
"It's nice to enjoy a quiet moment alone like this from time to time. It makes me feel relaxed."
Leon strolled through the courtyard behind the palace.
The moonlight bathed the rose garden, where hundreds of blooms swayed in the night breeze—magnificent and dreamlike, beautiful and dazzling.
Although Leon enjoyed being surrounded by beauties, sometimes solitude like this was a rare and welcome pleasure.
He plucked a blue rose, holding it in his hand as he walked leisurely through the courtyard, doing nothing and thinking about nothing.
It was as if time itself had stopped.
As if he were the only one left in the world.
However—
"Hm? Someone's there."
Unexpectedly, that blissful solitude ended all too soon, and Leon couldn't help feeling a twinge of regret.
Looking ahead, he saw a seductive beauty in formal attire sitting in a white pavilion. She stared into the distance with a melancholy expression, as if troubled by some unspoken sorrow.
When Leon first saw her, the phrase "beauty under the moonlight" instantly came to mind.
Options appeared in Leon's thoughts:
1: Go over and talk to her.
2: Ignore her and walk away.
No matter what, option 2 was immediately discarded.
How could a gentleman ignore such a beautiful woman, sitting before him so clearly sad and pensive? Solitude could be enjoyed anytime, but such beauty was a rarity.
So Leon walked straight toward her, speaking with a tender, appreciative gaze and a smile as dangerous as any woman's.
"My lady, could you share the reason for your melancholy with me?"
"You are… Prince Leon? Why are you here?"
"I came out for some fresh air. I didn't expect to find a lady here with such a sorrowful look. Naturally, as both a prince and a gentleman, I couldn't simply ignore it."
Leon had to admit—he was laying it on rather thick.
If she had been an ordinary noblewoman or a princess from another land, she would already be overwhelmed with admiration.
But the woman before him was exceptionally beautiful. She rose and curtsied to Leon.
"Prince Leon, I am Guinevere, wife of the Knight-King Arthur of Camelot, in Great Britain."
"Guinevere…?"
Leon blinked in surprise.
His first thought: Ah, so you're a married woman. His second: Hmm? That might actually be even better.
But questions followed.
"I didn't expect the Queen of Great Britain to be here, without even a knight to escort her, and not at the palace banquet… What can I do for you?"
It wasn't unusual for queens to carry out diplomatic duties—Sylphine did the same.
Leon also knew a little about Great Britain. Over a decade ago, it had been a land of constant turmoil and strife. But a few years ago, a man named Arthur had drawn the sword from the stone and become its ruler.
King Arthur quickly gained fame, forming the Knights of the Round Table. Over the years, they fought battle after battle, nearly bringing an end to Britain's chaos.
He earned the title [Knight-King], winning countless victories.
Yet the land remained poor.
From king to commoner, meals were simple and mostly potatoes. Civil unrest continued to flare.
"I'm visiting the Kingdom of Palettia as an envoy from Great Britain. I hope to secure provisions for my country… I was hoping to meet the King to discuss the matter." Guinevere spoke hesitantly.
Once again, civil war had broken out in Britain, and food production had been falling year after year.
Not even the invincible Knight-King could conjure food from thin air.
Now, most of the Round Table knights had gone with King Arthur to quell the unrest, leaving the Queen to seek aid in Palettia—known for its abundant harvests.
That abundance was largely thanks to Leon's introduction of hybrid rice the year before.
In the Magic Kingdom, the natural environment posed no threat—its vast number of mages ensured that droughts were countered with water magic, and heavy rains dispersed by wind magic.
Palettia's territory was also immense, and its current food production was more than ten times greater than other kingdoms'.
In short, since Leon's rise to power, even commoners could eat their fill.
"I understand. I'll mention the matter to my father later. But just to ensure things go smoothly, would you accompany me for a while, Queen Guinevere?"
"...Prince Leon, I was escorted here by one of the Knights of the Round Table, and I am loyal to my husband, King Arthur."
Guinevere immediately crossed her arms, the young queen regarding Leon warily.
Leon paused, then produced a goblet and some wine from somewhere.
"You misunderstand. I simply wish to share a drink, enjoy some conversation, and admire the moon together. It's just social interaction."
"Uh… Forgive me, I was rude."
Guinevere looked slightly embarrassed, leaning back and offering an apology.
"So, will you drink with me?"
"Yes, it would be an honor to share a drink with the great Dragon Slayer."
"Haha, I recall your husband Arthur is also called the Dragon of Britain. I'm quite interested in this king who has won so many battles. Let's talk about him."
"... "
At her reaction, Leon raised an eyebrow. Something felt off.
It seemed this woman did not wish to speak about her husband.
Interesting. Even if it was just intuition, Leon had the distinct sense there was something big hidden beneath the surface.
His curiosity grew.
[Although Britain is a barren land, it's still part of my plan. I just want to see if I can get some useful information from her.]
Leon wasn't inviting the queen to drink for no reason—it was obvious he had ulterior motives.
He had been wondering how to put his plan to seize Britain into motion, and now Guinevere had walked right into his hands. How could he waste such an opportunity?
And how to make her talk?
Why, by getting her drunk, of course.
Leon glanced at the newly released 76% alcohol spirit from Mitsugoshi in his hand, a wicked smile curling his lips. He looked forward to hearing what truths Guinevere might spill after a few drinks.
He didn't yet know just what interesting news he would hear later.
---
(End of Chapter)
Guys, sorry for the absence these past few days. I ended up dealing with a serious issue in my neck and, to make things worse, I also caught a really annoying flu. Because of that, I wasn't in any condition to write or edit anything new. Unfortunately, I'm still not feeling well, so I'll keep this fic's updates at just one chapter per day for the next 3 or 4 days, otherwise it could end up making my neck worse.I was only able to keep posting MLS because I already had chapters prepared in advance for Patreon, so its schedule wasn't affected.
Thank you all for your patience and understanding! 🙏
"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."