Chapter 251: Unforgivable Crime
Leonard was rendered speechless at Eleanor's shameless behavior.
What did she mean by pointing at her left cheek?
There was no dirt around it, and he couldn't seem to spot anything amiss with it either.
"Are you seriously confused by the gesture?" Eleanor asked in disbelief when she saw him motionless.
"You want me to wipe your left cheek?" Leonard cleared his throat and asked. He even retrieved his own handkerchief, seemingly ready to help her clean whatever was bothering her.
"..."
'I forgot… he might be too young to understand this.' Eleanor sighed inwardly.
As much as she would appreciate a peck on the left cheek, she wouldn't rush or pressure him.
"Thanks," she smiled warmly and took his handkerchief. Once she finished wiping a bit, she cleverly stored the handkerchief in her pockets.
When Leonard saw her sneaky action, he extended his hand.
"10 silver coins please." He requested. "That handkerchief isn't cheap."
"Are you being serious?" She was startled by his stinginess.
When did he have this kind of cute side to him?
Money was something she never lacked. With the amount of money she obtained from raiding clowns' houses, her wealth only continued to rise.
"Are you sure it's just 10 silver coins?" Eleanor chuckled. "Since you want 10 silver coins for this handkerchief, then the answer you want requires 100 gold coins."
"Did I say the handkerchief cost money?" Instantly, Leonard laughed and retracted his hand. "Consider the handkerchief a welcome gift of mine to the capital."
"Wow, a Crown Prince of Aldros, but the welcome gift is just a handkerchief?" Eleanor gasped in astonishment.
"Are you that poor?"
"Are you that greedy?"
"I'm not greedy, but I would appreciate receiving more items from you. It can be kept as a memento."
"..."
At this point, Leonard was starting to lose his mind.
This woman really doesn't play by the rules!
Why was her face so thick?
By thick, he didn't mean it in the literal term, but rather the sarcastic term.
A sarcastic term that described her as having no qualms in doing embarrassing things with a straight face and confident demeanor.
"You coming to my palace and not paying rent is already outrageous enough. But now you even want me to give you things?" Leonard rolled his eyes.
"Isn't that a woman's privilege?"
"..."
While the atmosphere in the carriage turned awkward, back at the Imperial Palace, Royal Steward Clark had finished relaying the information to Emperor Aldros, Kaelion Aldros.
"Hmm, was that really the words from the Princess?" Kaelion narrowed his eyes and asked.
Clark's body trembled slightly. He hurriedly bowed his head and clarified.
"No, Your Majesty. This subtle warning came from the Princess's butler and bodyguard, Albert."
Feeling that wasn't enough to pacify the situation, Clark proceeded to go on his knees and explained.
"According to the intel received, Albert should be around the sixth or seventh circle of power. But his actual combat record remained a mystery."
"Does that mean any sixth or seventh circle can threaten my throne?" Kaelion's voice dropped. It was one thing if his son decided to rebel a bit and not meet with him, but another thing if royalty from a different continent refused to pay their due respect.
As if that wasn't enough for his prestige to be challenged, he even received an indirect warning that his lack of resolution could possibly involve a continental war.
Clark's forehead began sweating profusely. 'His Majesty is displeased.'
Just when Clark thought he would suffocate in the main hall, his predicament was saved when Russel arrived.
"I greet Your Majesty," Russel knelt on one knee.
"Speak," Kaelion coolly said, his chin leaning on his palm. He appeared bored and disinterested in current affairs.
However, it was precisely because of such behavior that both Clark and Russel shuddered.
Each and every time that Kaelion displayed such behavior, it meant the butcher knife—no, the emperor's knife was about to swing down.
A few minutes later, Russel reported his actions, including how he went to warn House Viren regarding the incident.
"Concubine Beatrice and her son had dealt with the culprit. The evidence is in the files."
"Concubine Beatrice and my son Derrick, huh?" Unamused, Kaelion already knew about the information. The problem was that General Henry was clearly a discarded pawn used by his other son, Sylas Viren.
But House Viren's attitude made it clear that they planned on safeguarding Sylas from the incident.
Yet Leonard's side, or more specifically, the Xundraeth's Princess, was adamant on pursuing the matter.
"Relay my order. Confine Sylas to House Viren for a month." Kaelion extended his hand and declared. "As for General Henry and those responsible for this farce, including their direct lineage. Have them execute in public."
"What about Instructor Norman?" Russel inquired.
General Henry was under the Aldros Empire and held no influence over other neutral parties. His execution was obvious, but Instructor Norman was someone who held a standing in the Mage Association.
If they execute Norman as well, then the Mage Association might have an excuse to use this as leverage to negotiate for a better deal within the Valdoria Continent.
"Send him to Leonard's palace. He can decide what to do with him." Kaelion scoffed and pushed the ball to Leonard's.
He called for General Henry's execution because he wanted to warn the rest to learn their position. He was still alive and not some dying old man.
Daring to play some political games with him at this juncture was equivalent to courting death.
As for Norman, the situation was a bit sticky because it wasn't the time to break off the facade with the Mage Association.
Since that was the case, leaving the mess for Leonard to handle was better. At the very least, it could be considered the punishment price for rejecting a meeting with him.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Russel adhered to the command and waited till Kaelion left the main hall.
"Steward Clark, I'll leave the execution order to you." Russel turned to Clark and said.
"Leave this issue to me." Clark nodded and couldn't wait any longer to vent some of his frustration. This ridiculous incident had nearly caused him to lose the emperor's favor.
Such an unforgivable crime could only be cleansed with blood!