The Queen Who Shares Love
S2 Chapter 28 Taste of Stiffness

Leonard stared at the ceiling of the room while linking both hands at the nape. The desire for revenge on Judith, did not cross her head at all again. The self-esteem wounded by being defeated by a girl turns into a desire to have the girl completely.

His status as a commoner precluded his plans to establish a relationship with Judith. The news of Judith having the lover of a commoner would be the subject of nobility's ridicule. Leonard didn't want the Duchess to be talked about because of her. By becoming a noble, Leonard was more free to marry Judith.

Leonard was surprised by Idris who opened the door without knocking first. He frowned in annoyance because his beautiful daydreams collapsed instantly.

Leonard looked up at Idris sitting before him. "Do you want to be here?"

"I want to convey Marquis Loid's next plan. More precisely on the Duchess's birthday."

Leonard raised one of his eyebrows. "When? Then, what did Marquis Loid command."

"Two weeks away, the Marquis plans to poison the Duchess of the birthday party. When the Duchess drinks wine with Prince Arion, the Marquis will accuse the prince. The Duchess will be incited to hate her sister. All Marquis's plans are complete and we'll be free."

Leonard clasped his hand tightly. He refrains from looking angry in front of Idris. He did not understand why his former self could be tempted to cooperate with the crafty Marquis.

"What do I do at the party? Should I put poison in the wine?"

"I'll do it. Your job is to keep the Duchess safe and make sure the Duchess talks to Prince Arion both" Idris explained with a grin.

"Alright, with this we don't need to be slaves of Marquis Loid anymore. Should we celebrate after this?" 

Idris unsuspectingly agreed to Leonard's plan. He patted Leonard on the shoulder. "May also your idea."

"Now come out, I'll think of whatever food we ate when we were freed from this bondage." 

Leonard put away Idris' hand. He shook his hands to drive away the Duchess's servant. Not wanting to linger, Idris came out.

Leonard vented anger by hitting the bed. He'll tell the Duchess tomorrow.

***

"Is that true?" ask Flint to make sure.

Leonard conveys Marquis Loid's plans to the Duchess and Flint. He tells them not to trust Idris.

"Right, you can trust my words" Leonard replied reassuring Flint.

Flint continued to frown in disbelief at the words of the Duchess' bodyguard. He turned his eyes to the Duchess busy working on the documents.

"Do you believe it, Duchess?"

"There's nothing wrong with tightening our security. We can prevent bad things from happening" Judith replied without glancing at Leonard or Flint.

"Alright, if that's your decision, Duchess." Flint bowed.

In fact, Flint also had trouble finding witnesses to Marquis Loid's rebellion. No one dared to open their mouths about the Marquis' ugliness, as if they were being threatened.

Flint glanced at Leonard, still questioning the truth spoken by the one-time mercenary. At first glance he saw Leonard who was stealing glances at the Duchess with a knotty smile. A very familiar sight. Where'd Flint ever seen her? He recalled the attitude of his sister who often peeked from a distance to see Arion practicing.

'Don't.' Flint's inner self stared at Leonard and the Duchess alternately. However, the attitude of Duches is very contrary to Leonard. The Duchess looked extremely cold even more than when she met Marquis Loid, as if she did not consider Leonard.

Judith wants to get the job done and get out of here. He felt more claustrophobic than meeting his enemies.

***

Arion ate breakfast with his father and mother. It feels so lonely without Judith and Ariana. He continued to convince himself that their departure would happen sooner or later. He could not stay with his brothers. One day, his mother and father will leave him. He will stay with his girlfriend and have children, although it may be a long time.

"After Judith's birthday, we'll have your coronation ceremony as Crown Prince, Rion." Gerald looked at his son straight.

"Good, Dad." 

Arion finished his meal and walked out of the dining room. He's headed for the training ground. By practicing, he could eliminate all the burdens that were flogging in the mind. 

Finished training, Arion sat on the grass field. A gentle breeze blew his fatigue away. He lay down and closed his eyes, enjoying the atmosphere for as long as possible.

"What are you doing, Rion?" the voice of a girl.

Arion opened his eyes. Sylvie sat next to him smiling. 

"Just get some rest, Sylvie." Arion closed his eyes again.

"Do you have a problem, Rion?" 

"Not a problem, just a distracting thought."

"What indeed? You can tell me." 

Arion gets up looking at Sylvie, his only remaining friend nearby. In the past, Raymond and Flint often heard Arion's complaints and played together, but since they left, only Sylvie faithfully accompanied him.

"I'll be crown prince."

"Is that so, not good?" ask Sylvie who's a little confused.

"I feel that Big Brother deserves to be the next Emperor. He's better."

"You're great too, Rion. Don't be humble." Sylvie cupped Arion's hands together in encouragement.

Arion smiled tiredly. "Thank you, Sylvie."

"Then, it looks like we'll have a hard time seeing each other again" said Sylvie Lirih.

"Why?"

"You'll be busy looking for the crown princess."

Arion widened his eyes. He forgot to look for a lover after becoming Crown Prince, choosing among the girls who would replace his mother in the future. A broad-minded, independent girl, and being able to help him in running the Empire was one of his criteria. However, it was difficult to find such a noble girl. 

"From your words, don't you want to be the crown princess, Sylvie?" 

"Eh." Sylvie's face flushed. He looked away from Arion. In his heart he continued to convince himself not to misunderstand Arion's question. Arion did not ask her to be the crown princess or her lover.

"Okay, I'm confused too. My rivals are so many, I have a lot to learn to be with other noble girls who are graceful," continued Sylvie turned her back on Arion.

"And you encouraged me not to be humble, but you looked down on yourself. You also have advantages over another noble girl, Sylvie. No noble girl is capable of mastering magic more than you."

Sylvie could feel her face getting hotter. Arion's praise continued to catapult his heart. He doesn't want to hope, but Arion keeps giving him hope. 

"Rion, what if I like you?" ask Sylvie.

There was no response from Arion. Sylvie turns around to find Arion asleep. Sylvie sighed, either relieved or disappointed that her words were not heard. He lay down beside Arion, staring at the face of his loved ones.

"I like you, Rion, not as a friend."

Sylvie closed her eyes, hoping that one day Arion would realize her feelings.