Chapter 45 – Running Away Is The Answer To A Couple’s Quarrelling

Leon was curious about the way Kaien tapped his finger against the pocket of his jacket, but then noticed that Gloria had grown quiet.

‘Sometimes, being quick-witted is something else, I tell you.’

Because of his early education(?) by the Duke and Duchess of Bayern, he quickly noticed that Kaien held Gloria’s weakness. The Young Duke of Bayern always cursed at himself for noticing secrets that he should have never known.

‘You, despicable man.’ Gloria bit her lip as she glared at the arrogantly smiling Kaien. He smirked at her defiance.

“I thought I was being as considerate as possible, but it seems I wasn’t?”

“Of course not!”

Even before he could finish speaking, Gloria snapped forcefully at him. Kaien’s face hardened at the sincerity of her reply.

‘Eek—’ Leon found himself caught in the middle of an unexpected lovers’ quarrel(?) and slowly got up from his seat.

As he was about to turn and run, Gloria asked with a crooked smile.

“Young Duke Bayern, I have not even dismissed you yet, and already you want to leave?”

“I don’t think I’m in the mood, Your Majesty.”

Leon replied with a respectful bow. He knew all too well that nothing good could come of being caught in the middle of a fight like this. He bowed again and hurried to leave the room but suddenly—

“Your Majesty?”

“Your Majesty.”

Gloria grabbed the fleeing young duke by the collar of his robe. Leon hadn’t expected the emperor would grab him and was startled, and Kaien’s face grew cold. She turned to Leon, leaving the glaring Kaien behind her, and spoke resentfully.

“I’ve taken a break from work to meet with the young duke today, but you’re leaving like that?”

“No. It’s not that…”

“Are you really going to leave me alone, Young Duke?”

‘Anyone would think I am a bastard who’s leaving his fiancé alone, Your Majesty!’ Leon’s face turned pale at Gloria’s appearance.

‘Damn it, don’t use me as a shield in your couple’s fight, please!’

Two people, one desperately trying to escape, and the other trying to use him as a shield at all cost, were engaged in a battle of nerves.

[tl/n: I’m sorry Leon, lmao poor guy]

Leon’s heart nearly stopped as he noticed Kaien’s eyes becoming more murderous with each passing minute.

‘Please let me go, Your Majestyyyyy—!’

Kaien’s violet pupils stared coldly at the startled Leon and Gloria holding onto him. It seemed as if he would snap at him any minute and turn things upside down.

‘This is why I’m done with these obsessive, possessive dudes!’

Realizing that he was really going to get in the middle of a couple’s fight at this point, Leon shook Gloria’s hand away for his own survival.

“Young Duke!” Gloria was stunned by his unexpected rejection.

‘I never thought I’d see you reject the Great Emperor like this!’

Leon only felt like he had done something wrong after he noticed Gloria’s hardened face. Even though her appearance seemed like a feeble person, her status was strictly that of an emperor. However, as his one life was more precious than anything, he began to give her advice and say whatever passed through his head.

“Your Majesty, it is said that quarreling between lovers is like cutting water with a sword. I realize you are in a very difficult situation, but lovers should fight to get to know each other, talk to each other, and cultivate their love so that they can marry.”

“What did you say?”

Leon’s declaration stunned Gloria.

‘Who is a lover and what does he mean by nurturing love?’

Gloria froze, but he feigned ignorance. Leon covered his mouth with his hand and whispered in a low voice.

“Just a tip of advice, those types completely melt after one hug.”

“—!”

“I’ve seen it happen for 13 years, I can vouch for its effectiveness.”

Gloria was dumbfounded by the man’s confidence.

‘What the heck have you been watching for 13 years as you grew up?’ She thought they had a bond! Coffee-hating and all!!

‘This is betrayal!’ She watched in disbelief as Leon said something that didn’t sound like advice and fled the room at breakneck speed. And then—

“Heeuk!” Gloria froze as a finger tapped her shoulder.

Sensing Kaien’s presence behind her again, she struggled to look behind. And what her eyes met…

“Are you done now?”

“No. Not… not yet…”

Kaien seemed to be thundering around her. Tears pricked in Gloria’s blue eyes at the sight of him. Behind her, was a tea table; in front of her, a man who looked like he would jump her any moment. Gloria’s eyes began to spin.

Not liking the look on his opponent, he grabbed her around the waist with both hands and pulled her closer.

“Huh!”

Caught off guard by Kaien’s strength, Gloria desperately tried to hold on. There was a creaking sound and the sound of heels grinding, but Kaien didn’t care. When Gloria was finally in his arms, he beamed at her with satisfaction. Such a victorious smile made her nervous.

She flinched reflexively, as she’d done every time he smiled like that since the day they’d signed the contract. Kaien chuckled softly as she squeezed her eyes shut. Gloria’s face burned at the sound of his laughter, which rumbled in his throat.

It was as if he was thinking ‘I want to eat you,’ looking down at her with that strange gaze. If this were a bedroom, would she be completely in his arms by now? Closing her eyes tightly, Gloria couldn’t see the lustful light in Kaien’s pupils.

Kaien cupped Gloria’s face with one hand and spoke in a pleased tone.

“It’s my greatest pleasure to be greeted by Her Majesty like this.”

“Who’s greeting you uub—!”

Gloria’s eyes opened wide at Kaien’s comment as she shot back fiercely. But he had no intention of hearing the emperor’s response and pulled her into his arms and kissed her deeply.

How could anyone be so passionate? The beautiful invader devoured Gloria’s lips wantonly as if he were eating whipped cream. Such a strong kiss made her dizzy.

She had to pull away. It was just a contractual relationship, but kissing this deeply was not in it.

However, caught by Kaien’s scent and his mind-blowing kisses, Gloria couldn’t help but pull him closer. Feeling her hand around his waist and lifting her heels, the man broke away from her lips. His eyes drank in the lovely sight of Gloria’s dazed face, breathing heavily.

He chuckled and kissed her red, puffy lips lightly.

“I’ve missed you, Your Majesty.”

* * *

“Woah. I really thought I was going to be caught and die,” Leon breathed heavily after daring to shake off the Emperor’s pleas for help.

He brushed off his clothes as he made his way from the secret garden with the help of a knight waiting in the distance. The hem of his jacket was wrinkled from how tightly she’d gripped it.

“Fufu!” Leon laughed as he recalled the image of Gloria grabbing his collar like a timid child.

As he thought she was even more endearing, resembling the Duchess of Bayern, Leon raised one eyebrow as a shadow fell in front of him.

Who would dare to block the path of a noble in such a large garden? It was none other than Erun.

Wherever he had gotten the information, Erun wasn’t pleased with Leon’s first entry into the Empire.

‘You dare to send a man as a potential husband when you’re nothing more than a small country stuck between ancient empires?’ Erun’s unsmiling expression said it all.

Leon was familiar with his face from the portrait and gave Erun a polite bow.

“A pleasure to meet you, Marquis Lebossi. I’m…”

“I already know who you are. Young Duke Bayern.”

Erun greeted while throwing his glove irritably at the aide next to him.

Although Leon was now called Young Duke of Bayern, he was in line to the throne of the Rituana royal family. Though far down the line, one never knew what the future held.

‘Look at this?’ The corners of Leon’s mouth twitched at the sight of Erun’s sharp reaction. It was a fleeting moment, but the quick-witted Erun recognized the smirk.

‘You little country bumpkin, how dare you be arrogant with me.’ Erun’s green eyes began to glow with contempt. The wedding was just around the corner, but with widespread rumors of the Emperor’s broken engagement, nations had begun to send in their suitors as if waiting.

Those invited to the wedding quickly turned into rivals. The first of all to arrive in the Erant Empire was the Young Duke of Bayern, and Erun could hardly look kindly upon him.

Leon didn’t cringe too much, as he’d already seen it coming. He hadn’t come to the Empire to fight in the mud like this anyway.

‘I’m here to play a love dove.’ This bothered Leon terribly. For about three seconds, he thought, “I don’t like this evil father who’s trying to get rid of mother’s beloved son, so should I aim to become the emperor’s concubine?” But upon entering the Empire, Leon immediately erased that thought from his mind. It was as soon as he saw Kaien greeting him.

‘Ah, this man.’ He was the kind of person who obsesses over the woman he loves. Realizing that he was the sort of man who would bite and kill anyone who tried to steal his woman if he caught them, Leon decided to stick to the role of Love’s heraldic pigeon.

Even so, he had never thought of Gloria as a woman. Kaien realized this, too, and “personally” arranged for him to have a private meeting with Gloria. Leon had expected him to arrange a meeting but never gave him space to be alone, so re-evaluated his perception of Kaien.

‘His obsession and possessiveness may be no joke, but at least he has some sense!’

“And here comes this stinky man.” Leon muttered to himself as he looked at Erun, who was not hiding the expression of wanting to stomp on him like grass.

—

TL/N: We love Leon, right? I want him to meet Diana and be besties rooting for Kaien and Gloria’s eternal love lmao