A breeze stirred, lifting Jessica’s long hair, her strands flowing in the wind, and the fluttering of her robes added an almost ethereal quality to For silhouette. It made Waldo’s heart tighten.
Though he disliked her methods and schemes, it was impossible to deny her beauty. There was no one else in the entire capital who could compare to
her.
Such a woman, even if he didn’t favor her, couldn’t simply be left to wander freely. He had to keep her in his grasp, away from the reach of other men.
Waldo quickened his pace. “Jessica…”
His steps suddenly halted. He had just realized who was sitting across from her.
“Prince… Leon?” Waldo stood frozen in shock. “When did you return?”
“Last night,” Leon answered, his towering form seated on a stone bench. Sunlight spilled over him, casting a long shadow on the ground. “I’ve already met with Father.”
Though it had been years, he seemed just the same–his presence, as intense and cold as ever, sent a chill through the air. Anyone else would likely have hesitated to even look him in the eye.
Waldo’s attention shifted to Leon’s face, which was covered with half a mask. His appearance was terrifying.
But seeing the mask brought a sense of reassurance to Waldo. In terms of talent and looks, he, Waldo, was the finest in Capitalia. There was no reason to humble himself before Leon.
“Jessica, you invited Prince Leon over but didn’t inform me? I would have gladly joined you both for a drink!” Waldo said.
But seeing Jessica’s pale face, Waldo realized that Leon’s arrival was likely a surprise, even for her.
Jessica, indeed, looked uneasy. The mask on Prince Leon’s face reminded her of the battlefield, where it was her actions that had led to his disfigurement.
Now that he had returned to Capitalia, met with the king, and come to see her, she couldn’t help but wonder if he had other motives.
However, Waldo’s comment made her laugh despite herself.
“If Your Highness wants to invite Prince Leon for a drink, shouldn’t you be inviting him to the Waldo family? Why are you blaming me?” she asked.
House? What does this have to do with the Yates
Waldo stiffened. He thought, ‘She is still angry! But with such a significant threat looming, shouldn’t we at least unite for now?‘
“It seems the rumors about you and Waldo aren’t as good as they say,” Leon suddenly remarked, a sly smile on his face. “So, Ms. Yates, have you given my suggestion any thought?”
Jessica’s face grew even paler, her expression drained of color.
Waldo’s mood darkened, and he shot his brother a pointed look. “Prince Leon, whatever issues we have, we should handle them ourselves. Why make things difficult for a young lady? Jessica doesn’t understand everything. She’s just-”
“You misunderstood,” Leon interjected, standing up. His imposing figure now radiated even more power. “I came to the Yates family today to talk about matters between Ms. Yates and myself. This is unrelated to you.”
The moment he stood, his presence seemed to eclipse everything else, casting a shadow over Jessica. She felt as if all the light around her had been swallowed up by him.
Prince Leon’s aura was overwhelming, and it made her instinctively feel small and vulnerable.
Chapter 22
“Ms. Yates,” Leon continued, holding out a small gift, “this token represents my feelings. I hope you’ll accept it. Once I’ve taken care of matters at fos I’ll come back to visit.”
Turning to Waldo, he added, “Waldo, I have urgent business today and can’t stay long. If you’d like to drink with me, you’re always welcome at the Les House.”
With that, he turned and walked away.
Monica, standing nearby, watched as Prince Leon passed by. His chilling aura was so intense that she quickly bowed her head, not daring to make a
sound.
Years ago, Prince Leon had been the terrifying demon of the battlefield. Now, after returning from the Northern Border, he seemed even more
formidable.
Getting too close to him made her heart race with fear. He was simply… too intimidating.
Waldo stared at the wooden box on the table, waiting until Leon had left before turning his gaze back to Jessica. “Did Prince Leon come here for that battle? What did he say to you?”
It was clear that Jessica was unsettled. Waldo had known her for years, but it was rare to see her so shaken. He thought, ‘Has Prince Leon really frightened her?‘
When she didn’t answer, he called her name again. “Jessica?”
کو کچھ ہے
Jessica snapped out of her thoughts and met his gaze. With a faint smile, she said, “What if I told you that Prince Leon came here to propose? Would you believe me?”
