Just as Leon was reflecting on what kind of trouble Lana would create to challenge him, even feeling excited and eager at the possibility—
"Your Highness... Your Highness."
"Hm? Ah... you're still here."
Upon hearing someone calling out to him from in front of him, Leon finally pulled himself out of his thoughts and looked forward.
Only then did he realize that Guinevere was still standing before him.
The young woman's lips tightened slightly.
Her expression grew somewhat gloomy.
Even standing so close to that person, less than two meters away, she still felt as though there was an impossible abyss separating them.
Because, in Leon's eyes, there was simply no place for her.
Even possessing a beauty capable of eclipsing flowers and jewels, she could not capture his attention.
Even carrying the unforgettable memory of that night, she could not leave any mark upon his heart.
Even standing directly before him, she could not make him interrupt his thoughts for even a moment.
Although Leon appeared gentle at first glance, Guinevere knew that he was, in reality, more ruthless than anyone else.
Because those violet eyes, beautiful like precious amethysts, never reflected anyone without value.
"How I should deal with you is truly a problem."
Leon rested his face against one hand.
"Let's do this. If there's somewhere you'd like to go, just tell me. I can guarantee that no danger will ever reach you."
He spoke with a casual smile.
Part of it was a way of repaying everything that had happened before.
And also...
For the memory of that night.
Although the woman before him possessed extraordinary beauty, Leon was not someone desperate for women.
For a very long time, countless beauties had surrounded him.
In fact, there were far more women than men around him.
Guinevere might be a beautiful decoration.
But there were already more than enough decorations in his castle.
If she wished to leave, Leon would not mind arranging a safe and comfortable life for her for the rest of her days.
However...
"I... I want to stay by your side."
Guinevere clenched her hands tightly.
It was as if she had finally gathered the courage to say it.
She no longer wanted to be ignored.
Especially by Leon.
Ever since hearing countless stories about him from Euphyllia, combined with the deep memories that moonlit encounter had left in her heart...
A vague and silent admiration had begun to grow.
Because Leon was precisely the ideal king she had always imagined.
In truth, Artoria had never been that king.
Although, at first, Guinevere had deeply admired the King of Knights.
She admired her courage.
Her determination.
Her tireless efforts to support Britain.
But when she discovered Artoria's true identity, part of that idealization crumbled.
Even so, she chose to remain by her side.
Even as someone with no remarkable talents beyond her appearance, Guinevere believed that at the very least she could dedicate her life to the kingdom.
However...
As the years passed, she realized something cruel.
Her sacrifice changed nothing.
Britain continued to sink.
Year after year.
Day after day.
The land became more barren.
Poorer.
More desperate.
Artoria was capable of keeping the kingdom alive.
But she could not make it prosper.
She merely prevented everything from collapsing.
Nothing more.
That deeply disappointed Guinevere.
Then she met Leon.
She would never be able to forget that night.
The night the two of them met beneath the moonlight.
In the silent garden.
Within the sea of flowers.
That young man was practically the same age as Artoria.
Yet he carried ambitions vast enough to encompass the entire world.
He was intelligent.
Confident.
Handsome.
Dangerous.
And absurdly charismatic.
The wine she drank that night shattered the last barriers of rationality she still possessed.
Without realizing it, she began speaking about her troubles.
Her frustrations.
Her loneliness.
And...
The hunger that had never been satisfied.
After all, Guinevere had already reached a certain age.
Yet her "husband" could never fulfill that particular need.
And so...
That night, she allowed herself a small moment of selfishness.
And naturally...
She was the only one affected.
The only one who drowned in emotion.
The only result of that passionate kiss was a permanent scar engraved upon her own heart.
Leon, on the other hand, had never seemed to care.
Or perhaps he had noticed everything and simply did not consider it important.
After all...
There were countless people in this world who fell in love with him at first sight.
Daughters of nobles from the Magic Kingdom.
Merchants' daughters.
Ordinary girls.
Foreign princesses.
Queens.
And naturally, the girls of Night Raid.
No matter where he went, flowers bloomed around him.
Leon was like the sun itself.
Shining upon everyone.
But not everyone had the right to approach the sun.
Without sufficient strength, drawing too close to that light only meant being consumed by it.
And now Guinevere was doing exactly that.
"I see. You want to stay by my side. But why?"
"Because I—"
"Ah, there's no need to answer."
Leon raised a hand.
"That was an unnecessary question."
He answered it himself before she could.
It was only natural.
Girls wanting to get close to him were as common as moths drawn to a flame.
"Hmm..."
Leon rested his chin against his fingers.
"Even if you want to stay, honestly, I can't think of anything I'd actually want you to do."
"I... I can start as a maid!"
Guinevere replied immediately.
"As long as it's your order, I'll do anything!"
"Ah..."
A subtle expression appeared on Leon's face.
In reality, Guinevere did not even qualify to become his maid.
After all, a personal maid was someone in constant close contact with him.
Leon's current maids were almost all members of Night Raid.
And not ordinary members.
But the absolute elite.
Women who possessed extraordinary strength.
Even the weakest among them could face dozens of soldiers alone.
Beyond them, there was Noelle.
Not to mention the countless noble ladies, aristocrats' daughters, and even princesses from neighboring nations who dreamed of occupying that position.
Guinevere believed she was asking for very little.
But the position she desired was far more valuable than she imagined.
"I'll do anything."
She insisted.
"Anything within my power."
"I suggest you give up."
"Please, Prince Leon!"
Guinevere took several steps forward.
The distance between them shrank.
She had lost everything.
Her title.
Her family.
Her future.
She did not even know where she should go after this.
So she thought that, at least once...
She wanted to leave a small mark on that man's heart.
"Are you truly willing to do anything?"
Leon raised an eyebrow.
His gaze traveled over Guinevere from head to toe once again.
Confirming once more that this woman possessed only one truly exceptional ability.
Her beauty.
"Yes!"
She answered without hesitation.
"Excellent."
Leon smiled.
"Since you've said that, I'll allow you to become my maid."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!"
"No need to thank me."
Leon replied calmly.
Then he added:
"Come sleep with me tonight."
"..."
Guinevere froze.
For an entire moment.
She stared at Leon in shock.
The young man sitting in his seat wore an amused smile.
His gaze clearly seemed to say:
— Can you do that?
— If you can't, you can give up now.
At that moment, Guinevere understood.
This was an opportunity.
A final chance to back out.
An elegant escape route that Leon was offering her.
Her cheeks immediately turned red.
Leon merely shrugged.
There was nothing else to be done.
Guinevere possessed only beauty and an exceptional body.
If she could at least serve as a social representative and public symbol, she would still have some usefulness.
Although...
Her intellect truly was not particularly impressive.
Leon had always believed that every person should occupy the position where they could best use their talents.
After all.
Wasting talent was one of the things he despised most.
"If you don't want to do it, then you can—"
"I understand, Your Highness."
Guinevere took a deep breath.
Her face was red.
But her eyes remained firm.
"I will come tonight."
"..."
Leon tilted his head.
Blinking once.
Then twice.
And for the first time during their entire conversation, he was genuinely surprised.
This woman...
Was she serious?
(End of Chapter)