Chapter 52: Anthony
"By your command, I will do anything you wish, my young queen, Leon said with a faint smile, slowly stepping closer to her."
"Y-young?" Maylan stammered, feeling her cheeks flush red. "Oh, don't joke like that. I'm already old," she added, trying to shake off the sudden wave of embarrassment.
But Leon wasn't about to give her a chance to collect herself.
"Old? When I walked in here, I thought I saw a beautiful young princess—graceful and radiant, like a spring flower, he continued, with a teasing yet sincere tone."
"B-beautiful?" Maylan whispered. Without realizing it, she took a step closer. Her hand instinctively reached out for Leon's, clasping it firmly. Their eyes met, and time seemed to stand still.
But suddenly, a loud, deliberate cough broke the moment.
"Ahem, ahem," came the voice of a maid who had been silently standing in the corner of the room. Her gaze clearly suggested they should stop.
The queen quickly pulled her hand away and stepped back, her face burning with embarrassment.
Leon, clearly annoyed, clicked his tongue as he let go of her hand.
"Tch... Just a bit more, and I could've been Julius's stepfather," he thought, smirking to himself.
Out loud, however, he quickly adopted a more serious expression and began apologizing.