CHAPTER 16…………………………………………
But suddenly, what Terius had said came to mind.
“Wow… isn’t that just lingering attachment? Leo. Why don’t you just admit it?”
“Admit what?”
“Are you asking because you really don’t know, or because you want to pretend you don’t?”
“…Shut up.”
Leonhardt ignored it, casually picking at his ear. It felt like he was hearing nonsense from somewhere. This wasn’t about lingering feelings or anything—this was simply a matter of principle.
Should he go confront her? Or call her out again?
Calling her out would seem too provocative, so he decided to go to her first and demand a proper apology. It absolutely wasn’t childish or because he still had feelings. This was just… a matter of principle. Yes, principle.
“Your Highness, it is time for you to come out of the bath. If you stay in too long, you may feel dizzy.”
At the attendant’s voice from beyond the partition, Leonhardt—who had just decided to go confront her—suddenly stood up. And at the same time—
Crash! Thud!
“Your Highness! Crown Prince! The Crown Prince has collapsed! Hurry and call the manager and the royal physician!”
Meanwhile, the ministers and the royal couple of Petrion held a secret meeting without Leonhardt and Rosennelly.
“How can we get His Highness Leonhardt to propose to Lady Rosennelly again?”
“Well, shouldn’t we just somehow get them to share a room?”
“It would be easier if we knew His Highness’s taste in women.”
“Come to think of it, we know nothing about his preferences. Why don’t we find out and relay that to Lady Rosennelly? She’s clearly beautiful, so if we can just match her personality, clothing, or even overall vibe, wouldn’t that work?”
“But they were married for four years and never even held hands once.”
“Well, they were young back then, and now they’re fully grown adults.”
As the old men put their heads together, devising plans, Terius—who had been listening—suddenly slammed the table.
“I know Leonhardt’s taste in women very well.”
“Oh! You two spent two years together on the battlefield, so you must have been able to talk more openly about such things than we could!”
“That’s right, that’s right. So just trust me.”
“Ah, thank you, Your Majesty King Terius!”
“Haha, no need to thank me so much.”
As the ministers bowed repeatedly as if looking at a savior, King Terius of Petrion waved his hand playfully. Beside him, Queen Kenis, who had been quietly sipping tea, set her cup down and spoke softly.
“I think you’re all misunderstanding something.”
At her words, not only the ministers but even her husband Terius looked at her with wide eyes.
“You all saw it with your own eyes today, and you still don’t get it?”
“Pardon? What do you mean, Your Majesty?”
“Oh dear… and you people call yourselves cupids. Perhaps His Highness the Crown Prince has been abandoned by the goddess of love.”
“My dear, what do you mean? Leonhardt abandoned by a goddess?”
Men really can be so simple. The queen muttered to herself before continuing in a tone of disbelief.
“Do you think love is something that appears automatically in one person just because it appears in the other? Why is everyone only focusing on the Crown Prince, and not thinking about Lady Rosennelly, his counterpart? From what I saw today, the harder one to win over isn’t the Crown Prince—it’s Rosennelly, the owner of this place.”
“Pardon? Why do you say that, Your Majesty?”
“Isn’t it obvious? She started a business proudly even after her divorce. Everyone called her crazy, yet she ignored them and firmly opened this bathhouse. If anything, she’s an even more difficult person than the Crown Prince. It means she has very strong convictions. In other words, she’s not someone who will be swayed by outside influence.”
The queen clicked her tongue. From what she saw today, they had completely misjudged their target. The way Leonhardt looked at Rosennelly—full of curiosity, interest, and a hint of excitement—was completely different from how Rosennelly looked at him. For her, he was nothing more than a massive bundle of money. Pure business.
“In my opinion, His Highness looks like he’ll fall first.”
As she sipped her tea, the ministers’ eyes widened.
“What? His Highness Leonhardt? Fall first? Him?”
“Oh dear, Your Majesty, you must not know him well. Surely you’re joking?”
At their identical reactions, the queen let out a quiet chuckle. These men may be diligent in state affairs, but when it comes to romance, they’re hopeless.
Of course, Leonhardt was objectively a very handsome man, with the charisma and capability of an emperor. But that didn’t necessarily make him a man with whom a woman could happily settle down.
“He may have the makings of an emperor, but whether he can make a woman happy as a man is another question. That’s why they divorced, isn’t it? Because their marriage wasn’t happy.”
“His Highness didn’t seem particularly dissatisfied.”
“Then that makes it even more of a problem. It means the dissatisfied party was the Crown Princess. Once a woman’s heart turns away, do you know how difficult it is to win it back? That handsome face, his power as Crown Prince, his competence—none of it mattered to her as a ‘man’ or a ‘husband.’ Wasn’t it the Crown Princess who initiated the divorce?”
At the queen’s calm explanation, the ministers froze as if struck by lightning.
“Well… it’s true she was the one who requested it, but we thought it was simply because she felt lonely.”
“Oh, so you mean she asked for a divorce because she resented a cold, inattentive husband, and that if His Highness just acts affectionately, she’ll come back easily?”
“Wouldn’t that be the case?”
“Oh dear, Leonhardt truly must have been abandoned by the goddess of love. Otherwise, how could there not be a single person around him who understands a woman’s heart?”
At that, Terius smiled brightly.
“But he has you, my dear! Please give these ministers plenty of advice.”
“Love isn’t something that can be completed by being spoon-fed by others. It’s something each person must figure out for themselves. Matchmakers can only do so much—they can’t interfere between the two. So, are you going to do it or not? The bet.”
“Well, if you want a bet, I must accept. Then I’ll bet that Lady Rosennelly will confess first. What about the rest of you? There should be some fun in this for all of us.”
As expected, Terius wouldn’t let such an entertaining opportunity pass.
“You’re all wealthy men, so let’s bet something a little different this time. My dear, since you brought it up, do you have something in mind?”
“Of course I do.”
“What is it?”
“The losing team grants one wish to the winning team. Simple and clean.”
“And the limits?”
“Well, anything except matters involving life?”
“My dear, that’s quite bold. It almost sounds like anything goes as long as it doesn’t involve killing someone. You should be more specific.”
“Well, I’m confident enough to stake even my position as queen if I had to.”
“My dear! That’s too much!”
“That’s how confident I am.”
“Then let’s do this. If you ask for land, you’ll get land. If you ask for a gold mine, you’ll get a gold mine. Gold and treasures, anything. Let’s split into two teams, and the ministers of the winning side will receive the reward.”
“Trying to back out subtly? Not so confident after all? I don’t mind either way. What about you all?”
At that, the ministers’ eyes gleamed. They could ask for anything? Even a gold mine from Petrion? What incredible luck. They all quickly nodded.
“Then let’s divide the teams. Those who think Lady Rosennelly will confess first, raise your hands!”
The ten ministers split evenly, five to five.
And just like that, a wager began—sparked by a playful, perfectly matched royal couple. Everyone looked highly motivated.
That evening, in the VVIP suite prepared for the royal couple of Petrion, King Terius was relaxing in a hot spring bath in a spacious courtyard. Queen Kenis, wrapped in a robe, approached and slowly dipped her feet into the water before asking:
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
