Chapter 83

“Thrown out? Why would you imagine such a thing?”

“B-because you went to seek an audience with Her Majesty… the Queen…”

Elwin knew little of the Queen, yet he understood that even a standard parent would likely seethe if they discovered their child’s betrothal through the clamor of the press. Furthermore, setting aside Elwin’s personal affection for Leon, the man possessed a peerless aptitude for inciting fury in others. Even in this moment, Leon grasped the root of Elwin’s stammering and met it with a delighted, roguish smirk.

“So, you feared Her Majesty would fly into a rage and cast us both out? You anticipated that I would inevitably provoke her during our conversation.”

“Yes. Though, rather than the both of us, I expected that I would be the one shown the door.”

“Ah, then you truly do not know Her Majesty. Why would Mother banish an innocent guest? She is far more likely to dispose of her own useless son, perhaps.”

“T-then, that is a relief.”

“And yet, you know me intimately, Elwin. I did, in fact, provoke my mother.”

At Leon’s mirthful admission, Elwin’s expression turned glacial. “You suggest I know you well? What is that supposed to mean?”

Leon seemingly recognized his misstep. He banished the laughter from his features and composed himself, folding his hands neatly upon his knees in a posture of formal deference. Watching such a large, imposing man hunch into himself, Elwin felt a reluctant pulse of affection; he found him cute. Yet, this was not a grievance he could simply wave away.

Alone in the unfamiliar chamber, Elwin had spent hours dissecting the situation. The reality of it remained jarring, a surreal, unsettling weight upon his chest. Yet, through the haze, one truth crystallized: Leon had been deceiving him for the entirety of their acquaintance. With his features set in a stern, practiced mask, Elwin began to articulate the accusations he had carefully structured.

“Considering your station, I understand the difficulty of revealing your identity with abandon. Nevertheless, from where I stand, I cannot help but feel profoundly deceived.”

Silence stretched between them.

“To you, perhaps it was a fleeting diversion, but I believed I had shared a meaningful, enduring connection with you. Surely, there must have been some moment where the truth could have been shared.”

It was the hour of judgment.

Perhaps sensing the gravity of the atmosphere, Leon’s countenance smoothed into a mask of gravity. He measured his words with deliberate caution.

“Elwin, I never once viewed our time together as a mere passing fancy. If that were the case, I would have had no cause to orchestrate such a commotion.”

His fingers, resting upon his knees, twitched—a restless instinct to reach for Elwin’s hand, though he remained anchored. He feared that any rash movement would only stoke Elwin’s anger further. He could only gaze deeply into Elwin’s eyes, as if attempting to plumb the very depths of his soul.

“Beyond that, however, your assessment is correct. It is my own failure that I withheld the truth. This may sound like a hollow justification, but if I may explain… originally, it was a matter of royal duty. I was traveling incognito, my identity strictly shielded.”

Silence returned, thick and heavy.

“However, I never intended to shroud the truth from you indefinitely. Even when I acknowledged that confession was inevitable, my courage failed me. I feared that the closeness we had labored to build would wither away. I was terrified that you would be disillusioned, harbor resentment, and eventually turn your back on me.”

At the sight of Leon’s contrition, Elwin’s resolve began to fray. Yet, he refused to let this pass entirely. He sharpened his gaze, interrogating him as if from a witness stand.

“Even so, how could you hold me up to such ridicule? When I reflect on every instance I behaved with such careless abandon, ignorant of your true standing, I am overcome with a cold dread.”

“No, Elwin. I have never once considered you ridiculous. You never once treated me with carelessness. I was always the one who acted the rogue.”

“And yet, when I pledged to take responsibility for you and offer my support, you must have found it absurd. I must have appeared so utterly foolish…”

At that piercing indictment, Leon winced. Elwin, indignation flaring anew, pressed his advantage.

“See? Why would you make a mockery of me? I even misjudged you as someone linked to the criminal underworld.”

“The underworld?”

“…You know. A criminal organization of some sort.”

At Elwin’s hesitant admission, Leon’s lips betrayed him, crumpling as he fought a losing battle against amusement. Only after Elwin clamped his mouth shut and scorched him with a glare did Leon manage to regain his composure.

“Hm. Hmph. So that was the extent of your misunderstanding. I see now. In truth, Elwin, when you pledged to take responsibility for me, I nearly laughed aloud.”

“Leon.”

Elwin nearly struck His Royal Highness, third in line to the throne, with a force that would have left a mark.

“No, no… I held no shred of intent to mock you. How could I laugh at such beautiful, heart-wrenching words of support? I nearly laughed only because I was so profoundly happy.”

Elwin continued to track him with a jaundiced eye, but Leon held his ground, compelled to speak his truth.

“You told me, did you not, that you were indifferent to my origins or the life I had led? Do you grasp how much relief that brought me? Surely you cannot argue that your support is contingent upon my lack of criminal ties, but withdrawn if I happen to be royalty?”

The man was blessed with an insidiously clever tongue. As Elwin faltered, Leon adopted a pathetic, wounded expression and edged closer.

“Elwin. Did you not vow to take responsibility for me? Having offered such a firm promise, do you now intend to abandon me?”

Any observer would have perceived him as a desperate soul adrift. Even knowing it was a performance, Elwin found himself paralyzed. In truth, the brazen, pitiable display was undeniably endearing.

Feeling his composure unraveling, Elwin averted his eyes. The rising heat in his neck and ears, however, betrayed his emotional volatility. Emboldened, Leon reached out, his hands closing firmly around Elwin’s. It was infuriating, yet Elwin sensed he was destined to lose this contest; he found he could not force himself to pull away.

“A-a promise… is a promise.”

Mumbling with a softness that barely broke the silence, Elwin adjusted his fingers, interlacing them with Leon’s. At that gesture, Leon lowered his head to mask his triumph. The subtle twitch of his cheekbones betrayed the victory he felt blooming within.

The sight was endearing, yet, for some reason, it grated upon his nerves. Still clutching Leon’s hand, Elwin resumed the airing of his grievances.

“And since I had already assured you I would accept you regardless of your status, you should have at least offered a hint before we stood before the court. Was it truly necessary for me to learn in such a chaotic fashion? Do you have any idea how terrified I was?”

“It pained my heart to see you collapse. Yet, if I am to be entirely candid, I orchestrated that scene in part because I wanted to witness your surprise.”

“What did you just…” Elwin’s gaze rose, his initial softness hardening into a glare that signaled the reprimand was far from over. Leon calmly massaged Elwin’s hand, continuing with measured calm.

“The reason I caused such an unseemly spectacle is that we are pressed for time. I wish for you to become a member of the royal family and secure the qualification to claim your title before the mourning period for the late count reaches its end.”

Silence.

“It is a plan I have harbored since I first knew you, and after our conversation in the glass conservatory, my resolve became unshakable. I intended to reveal the circumstances gradually, but the situation spiraled when that man acted against you.”

At the mention of Dwight, Leon’s gaze flickered with a sudden, sharp malice. Despite this, his touch remained, stroking the back of Elwin’s hand with the reverence one might show a delicate jewel.

“While relentless commotions barred me from finding an opening, the theft occurred… and once we reached that threshold, I knew I had to forge a crisis into an opportunity. Especially since our lives have now become inextricably linked.”