"You are really brave to use me as a shield, Princess Alexia."
After Zenon left, Leon looked at the silver-haired princess, who was still hugging him, and said playfully.
Alexia suddenly froze. She looked into Leon's eyes and felt her heart skip a beat.
Suddenly, she panicked.
If she offended the Black Prince, Alexia was a little concerned about becoming food for a dragon.
"Are you angry?"
She asked, pretending to be calm, but Leon showed a charming smile.
"Haha, how could I be? I have no reason to get angry. Although you proposed marriage, I refused. Our current relationship is that you are chasing me, but I ignore you, and... I also received some benefits."
Leon smiled and pointed to his arm.
Only then did Alexia realize that she was still embracing Leon. She quickly released him and took a few steps back, with a flush in her cheeks.
She thought to herself that she seemed very bold now—this was the first time she had thrown herself into a man's arms.
"But you really dared to do this, to propose marriage so directly. Aren't you afraid that I might agree?" Leon asked.
"I was sure you would not agree. If you had, it would have been very lucrative for me. A mere princess without talent marrying the future king of Palettia, known as the Dragon Slayer, Dragon Tamer, etc... I'm afraid my father would laugh out loud even in his dreams."
Alexia smiled in a self-deprecating way.
She had a sister with extraordinary talent for comparison, which made her look like an ordinary and incompetent sibling.
"And the two girls by your side are as beautiful as me. They seem to be your followers. For you, I'm just a woman who is almost like a follower—or even less... You would definitely not agree to marry me."
Alexia spoke as if she were teasing, although such provocation only made her look a little pathetic.
But it was true.
Euphilia and Noelle had the same level of appearance as her, but also possessed powerful talents that were beyond her reach.
"Hmm, no matter how good your sword is, you are a very smart person," Leon said.
"Thanks for the compliment. As you said, I'm just a princess who has fallen in love with you at first sight and is chasing you enthusiastically. So... do you mind keeping this relationship?"
"I don't care at all. But what will you do if I keep refusing?"
"I haven't thought about it, but I'll figure it out when the time comes." Alexia shrugged.
She no longer kept her disguise in front of Leon and gave a look of fear and obvious disgust at Zenon, who was leaving.
"But no matter what happens, I'm never marrying Zenon. This man is inexplicably annoying to me."
"That's the right choice. He really isn't a good person. You did the right thing," Leon nodded firmly.
"Huh? Prince Leon knows something?"
"I just think the more perfect a person is on the surface, the greater the darkness behind them."
"We practically have the same idea."
Alexia's eyes lit up, and she felt a little happy. This was the first time she had met someone who shared her thoughts.
Leon smiled back. It would be strange if Zenon could be a good person, considering he was involved with the Diablos cult.
"Then, let's continue the training. Let me see what the princess's fencing is like."
"So... please be prepared to be disappointed. My fencing is pretty bad."
"But for someone who can say these things, their sword skills are usually not so bad."
Then the two pulled out their swords and started sparring.
Leon did not use magical power. Given the difference between him and Alexia, if he used magic, it would be as if he were intimidating her.
The silver-haired princess was relentless, using her ordinary sword skills to launch a futile attack on Leon.
"How was it? It's very weak, right?"
"Yes, super weak."
"You were brutally honest."
The corners of Alexia's eyes trembled, but her red eyes shone, because Leon's fencing was exactly what she had dreamed of.
The fencing of both was normal. This was a sword technique that did not require strength, speed, or magical power, but focused on improving skill and reaching the peak.
Although their skills were still average...
Leon's skills were already at their peak.
Thinking that she could be like him in the future, the silver-haired princess couldn't help but feel a warmth in her heart, along with a little desire and expectation.
"Princess Alexia, your sword is really very weak. It's a sword prototype that still has a long way to go, but... I don't think it's ugly."
"Thanks for your comfort, but someone like you—a genius—how could you understand my feelings?"
Alexia's expression was a little distorted.
Her sister was the champion of the "God of War Festival" and the kingdom's magical swordsman. She possessed dominating swordsmanship that could defeat any enemy head-on, as well as talents completely incomparable to hers.
But she had no talent.
It was an extreme contrast.
Unlike her sister, who had a sequence of unstoppable victories, Alexia—who also participated in the "God of War Festival" in the past—was completely defeated in the first battle.
Iris Midgar, who won the match easily, went to the salon and comforted her: "I really liked your technique, Alexia."
The words sounded almost sarcastic to her ears.
What does she like in my technique? Alexia thought.
What is good about such a weak technique?!
No matter how much I try, I can't reach my sister's level, because she's a genius and I'm just an ordinary person.
Even if an ordinary person and a genius work hard...
With the same amount of effort, the results achieved by the latter are much better than those of the former! This is an irrational gap—it's a natural difference!
And Alexia knew that very well.
There were countless people in the world more talented than her. Even if she worked six or seven times harder, she still couldn't surpass a genius.
"I hate my own weakness more than anything. My technique is so bland, without power, imperceptible... but it can only be this way. I hate it more than anything in the world!"
Thrust! Thrust! Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!!
The silver-haired princess launched one fierce attack after another, regardless of her own defense, brandishing her sword as if she were simply expressing herself.
And Leon faced it head-on, effortlessly and without concern, even without using magical power.
"Yes, yes, you are a princess with a distorted personality... but it's still much better than my idiot brother. Again... I think your technique is very good. Very good."
"Prince Leon, think about it. How could a genius like you understand my mood?"
"Yes, I don't understand anything—I don't understand anything—but..."
Leon suddenly stepped forward and attacked the weakness in Alexia's form at a delicate angle.
The princess's sword flew through the air.
After spinning a few times, it landed in Leon's hands.
"Even if you complain like this, your body is very honest... Although it is a sword that requires only hard work and no talent, you haven't given up yet, right?"
If you really hated your sword...
Then just put it down.
Anyway, as a princess, Alexia had numerous options to choose from, but she didn't give up the sword she hated the most. Instead, she worked hard, training repeatedly, putting in effort and sweat that others could not imagine.
"Actually, you really like swords, right?"
"Wrong."
"Ah, you seem to be a tsundere."
Alexia's face turned red.
She then grabbed her sword and fled.
This prince is simply too poisonous! Even though they had only just met, he was able to peel away the sincerity she had hidden behind her lies and excuses.
Can he read minds or something?
(End of Chapter)
Give me some power stones there you go~😉