I Will Protect You This Time

Episode 49

(Exhausted)

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"..."

Aghh! Why isn't he saying anything! I looked at his face. He looks surprised. And for some reason… Wait… Is he... Smiling?! 

Leonus was covering his smile with one hand. Is he… making fun of me?

"Princess, you… Did you really miss me?"

Leonus asked while removing his hand from the mouth.

"No."

Humph! 

"What? But you just said you did!"

Leonus asked with a look of disapproval.

"I didn't."

"No. You absolutely did! 

"I didn't."

"No. Princess! You absolutely definitely did."

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Princess… Sigh~ I guess you didn't. I was just so happy that My mate missed me… But… It was just my delusion!"

Leonus said as if he was a pitiful beauty of a tragedy novel. 

Wait. Is he sad?!

"Huh? No. To-To be honest, I did miss you."

"Really? You did?"

Leonus asked with a sad tone.

"Yes."

"Really?"

"Yes! Really!"

"..."

"..."

"Sniff* It's okay, Princess. You don't have to lie like that. I understand you want to keep my heart."

"Wait! No. That's not it!"

"What! You mean, you don't even want to keep my heart?!"

"Huh? That's not what I meant!"

Ughh~ How am I supposed to make him believe me!

Pfft! Chuckle*

Leonus suddenly laughed out loud while covering his mouth with one hand and another hand holding his stomach.

Hahaha~

Wait… What?! He is laughing now. (ー_ー)

But he does look so handsome though...

Huh?! No That's not it! That's not what I am supposed to think!

"I-I am sorry, Princess!"

Pfft! Hahaha~

Leonus continued laughing.

Aghh~ Do what you want… I don't care anymore. Humph!

After a minute, he was finally done laughing and asked while wiping his tears with one hand.

"Oh my… Now you are pouting?"

"I am not."

"Oh really?"

"Yes."

"Are you angry?"

"How can I be angry with Your Highness, the Crown Prince?"

"Oh my. My Princess is definitely angry."

Suddenly the music started playing in the hall implementing the start of the Banquet.

"Then My Lady, shall we?"

Leonus asked for a dance while forwarding his hand.

Sigh~ I don't have any choice, do I? I put my hand on his. Then Leonus escorted me to the middle of the hall and we started dancing. After us, other Aristocrats joined the dance floor too.

Now that I think about it, the Emperor and the Empress aren't here yet. How can the banquet even start without them!

"Princess. What are you thinking about?"

"I was just thinking how did the banquet start without the presence of His Majesty, the Emperor and the Empress."

"I can't believe this!"

Leonus said with a serious tone.

"Huh?"

Is there something wrong? Are they okay?

"Princess, are you thinking about someone else in front of me?"

Huh?... What?... He…

Sigh~

"Princess… Tell me… Am I not handsome?"

"What?"

"Just answer me."

"..."

"Princess!"

"Actually, no. You are not handsome at all."

"What?

"Yes. My previous fiance was much more-"

"Isabella."

I flinched at his cold voice. His grip on my waist became tighter. He then pulled me close to his body and whispered in my ear,

"Princess, don't ever mention him again. You probably don't know but Beastmen are very green eyed when it comes to their mates."

Huh?

He is definitely saying that with a smile. But his eyes… I have a feeling that I shouldn't provoke him any further.

"Okay."

At my answer, his stiff smile loosened a bit.

"Don't worry about the Emperor and the Empress. They are talking with other Kings and Queens or Emperors and Empresses of other Kingdoms and Empires in the feast room, My dear."

Leonus informed me with a smile. 

"…"

He could've just said that to me from the beginning. Now that I think about it, I can only see young Aristocrats here.

After a while, the music reached its peak and we finished our dance. Then the music stopped too.

"Greetings everyone! I, Emperor Theobald Cedric Carados, welcome you all to the Fellmirr Empire. I know you are all exhausted travelling all the way here. So I won't drag the banquet any longer. Now then let the feast begin."

Emperor Theobald announced while raising his wine glass. He was standing on the second floor of the hall. Empress Alicia was beside him. 

Clap* Clap*

The whole room was filled with people's claps and murmurs.

After that, everyone entered the feast room that was just beside the Hall. The feast room had 5 long tables parallel to each other. All of them were filled with all kinds of food.

At the main table, The Emperor sat at the very front and beside her the Empress. And at the opposite side of the Emperor, the other Emperor of another Empire sat. On the opposite side of the Empress, I and Leonus sat. Then the other Aristocrats sat according to their rank.

I feel nauseous seeing all this food. But I have to hold it in.

I ate some fruits and fruit salads just to keep face.

"Princess, are you okay?"

Leonus whispered in my ear.

"No. I want to return to my room now."

I am exhausted!

"Please excuse us. We will be returning to our room now."

"Oh, yes. Of course. You are excused."

After that, we got out of the feast room and started walking in the hallway.

"Princess, how are you feeling now?"

"A lot better."

The fresh wind swept away my nauseousness. 

"Good. Let's walk towards the room then."

Leonus said while putting his coat on my shoulder.

"Yes. Thank you."

I answered with a weak voice. I guess I am really tired.

It was a beautiful night with a full moon. One can hear the rustling sound of the trees because of the wind. The crickets buzzing add another charm to the night. Sometimes I can hear weird noises. Must be the animals of the forest.

I can hear this all day. 

After walking for a while, we reached in front of my room. The Knights guarding the door opened it after seeing us.

"Get in, Princess."

Leonus said in a gentle voice. On the way here, he didn't utter a single word and escorted me in silence.

"Yes. Good night, then."

"Good night?"

"Umm. Yes. Did I say something wrong?"

"Sigh~ Nevermind. You will know later anyways."

"Okay."

After that, I entered my room and Leonus went away somewhere.

"My Lady! You have returned!"

Ella said with a smile.

"Yes."

"Oh my! You must be exhausted."

Cande said, hearing Isabella's tired voice.

Cande and Ella came running towards me as soon as they saw me entering the room. Now that I think about it, from the moment I entered Fellmirr, Ella has always kept me company. Except for some special occasion, of course. And after entering the Castle both Ella and Cande. Honestly, nowadays I hardly see Anne.

No. To be honest, she was like that in Fellmirr too. I don't know why… For the past month, I feel uneasy whenever I see her. Sometimes it's fear, sometimes it's disgust… I don't feel much sympathy towards her nowadays. Is there something wrong with me? Am I really a person whose feelings change so easily? 

I feel so wicked. How can I feel this way towards a person who left everything… her friends, family, homeland… for my sake. It's disgusting. 

"Please wait a little longer, My Lady. We will change your dress in a minute."

Saying that Ella brought out a white nightgown.

"Ah, Yes."

Meanwhile, Cande started to undress me.

Both Ella and Cande hurriedly changed my dress into that nightgown then started to untie my hair.

"Did you two eat?"

"Not yet, My Lady. We will be eating soon with the others."

Cande replied to Isabella's question.

"You two must be tired too."

"Don't worry, My Lady. We don't get tired easily."

Ella said in an assuring voice.

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

After untying, Ella combed my hair then braid it. And Cande washed off my makeup.

"You guys can leave now. I want to sleep."

"Oh okay, My Lady."

Saying that both of them bowed and left the room.

I jumped on the bed as I was too exhausted. As soon as I lay on the bed, I fell asleep. 

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Yawn~

"What an exhausting day."

Cande said while yawning. She was walking with a lamp in her hand.

Ella: "Right~"

Cande: "After eating, I am going to jump to bed."

Ella: "Me too."

Cande: "That b*tch Anne must be sleeping now."

Ella: "I know, right?"

Cande: "Why did she even come here?"

Ella: "I don't know. But we have to keep an eye on her."

Cande: "Mhmm."

After that day, both Ella and Cande kept an eye on Anne. At first, she acted a little suspicious but then returned to her usual b*tch self. 

The securities around Isabella increased tenfold. Of course, it was kept a secret from her. 

Before leaving the castle, a special knight squad was assigned by Leonus to keep an eye on her 24/7 without her noticing. And of course, they were all female.

Ella: "Why did he order the Knights to return? I mean, shouldn't they be keeping an eye on her more than ever? For other Empires, Princess is an easy target. And also his weakness."

Cande: "It's probably because he is here now."

Ella: "Ah. Right."

Yawn~

After that, they both walked in silence to the garden and returned to the Servants Annex.