Leon’s voice unknowingly uttered that name, causing Kasha’s eyes to widen. As if wondering how he knew.

‘Again, that surprised rabbit-like expression.’

The flustered Kasha wriggled, trying to escape from his embrace, but Leon pretended not to notice and tightened his arms around her.

He was displeased by the fact that the author’s voice was interrupting this moment. Moreover, Leon felt an inexplicable irritation at the fact that Kasha reacted to his voice – even if it was an unpleasant reaction.

He whispered in her ear.

“Let’s listen a bit more.”

Her eyes, which had been blinking in surprise, narrowed slightly. Then, as if agreeing, she nodded her head and began to listen intently with a serious expression.

At that moment, a very agitated female voice was heard from the same direction.

“Please know your place! With no career or background, how long has it been since you got a job at the company? You should quietly learn what Father tells you to do, why are you trying to interfere with the company’s management?”

Wait, this voice is…

“Odette Tyrot?”

At Kasha’s small whisper, Leon looked down at her and nodded.

Kasha let out a soft gasp of ‘ah’ and made a expression of realization.

She must have also heard the rumors about Simon and Odette. Her friend Margaret would surely not miss delivering the rumors circulating in social circles.

Then, Simon’s anxious voice was heard again. But somehow, it felt as if the direction the voice was coming from was getting closer to where Leon and Kasha were standing.

Kasha also seemed to feel it and shrunk back. Leon’s lips curved into a slight smile as he tightly embraced her, as if hiding her in his arms.

Simon’s voice was heard again. His tone was blatantly flattering, with unparalleled cunning.

“It’s not interference, I thought that if I knew the internal situation of the company well, I would be able to properly help.”

Haha.

His attitude was so diligent, even adding a forced laugh at the end of his words, like a subordinate employee sucking up to his boss.

“I really have good intentions, wanting to be of help to the ducal family…”

“Help, how can you be of help!”

“Still, if I at least review the company’s import and export items and accounting books, when reporting to Father…”

“Fatheeer? Ha!”

Odette let out a loud scoff and seemed to stop in place, from then on, the voices were heard from one location.

Leon took the opportunity to lift Kasha and moved to the bushes behind a large old tree. Kasha, surprised, tightly hugged Leon’s neck, and at the same time, the curve of Leon’s lips deepened.

Meanwhile, the conversation between Simon and Odette became more intense.

“Already calling him Father and so excited? Simon Blanche, don’t misunderstand. You’re just a son-in-law for Daril. Do as Father says, and just keep pleasing me as you’ve been doing. Why do you keep trying to do things? Who expects that from you!”

“Wh-what… no, Lady, how can you say that.”

“Why, is your pride hurt?”

Odette, who usually maintained a noble aloofness, was now revealing her tyrannical nature. Perhaps her situation, driven to the edge of a cliff, did not allow her the leisure to properly package her tone.

Leon’s sharp gaze turned towards the voices beyond the bushes.

The plan he had made since hearing the news that a complaint had been filed against Odette Tyrot was producing results beyond imagination.

Originally, Leon’s goal was to create an environment where Odette could not act recklessly towards Kasha. But to also handle Simon Blanche as a bonus, this was an unexpected harvest.

Simon was still stammering his protests.

“That’s not it, but it’s true that you’re going a bit too far. No matter what, I’m about to become your husband soon, so you don’t have to go that far…”

Even while arguing, his voice was clearly cowed as if gauging her mood.

This is closer to a master-servant relationship than a conversation between engaged couples.

Thinking that, Leon glanced down at Kasha’s face. An expression distorted by an emotion that could be either satisfaction or displeasure, and slightly flushed eyes.

He had guessed that Kasha and Simon had been some kind of lovers. But her expression seemed to go beyond the uncomfortable feeling of witnessing the unsightly romance of a former lover.

It was unclear whether it was hatred or jealousy. Honestly, it seemed to be neither.

‘What in the world happened between the two of you, for you, who are usually so indifferent, to show this kind of reaction.’

Whatever it was, it was definitely terribly unpleasant. The fact that Kasha was reacting to the author.

Just as Leon thought that, Odette shouted.

“If you don’t like it, then quit!”

“What? Ah, no, that can’t be… I’m not.”

Simon was flustered, trying hard to appease her. And Odette was yelling at him as if she had forgotten all her manners.

“If you don’t like it, quit! Who do you think wants to marry you, you stupid boy?”

“S-stupid boy… Lady, no matter what…”

Oh dear.

Then, with a sound like a beast’s cry, there was the sound of a skirt fluttering and her plopping down.

“No, Lady! If you sit like this in a place like this… this expensive dress will be ruined.”

“Shut up! Why do I have to marry someone like you in the first place? Argh! I’m so irritated I feel like I’m going crazy, get lost!”

“Odette, don’t be like that.”

“Don’t call my name and get lost! I don’t even want to see you!”

After a while, the sound of footsteps slowly moving away from her really began. Then Odette shouted again.

“Hey! Where are you going! Are you going to leave me alone in this forest, as my fiancé? You cowardly bastard!”

“That’s not it, you just told me to get lost…”

“Shut up and come lift me up! Do you know how hard it is to get up in this dress?”

“…”

After that, for a while, there were noises of rustling along with Odette’s voice scolding Simon as if she would devour him, and the sound of Simon grumbling under his breath.

After a while, their bickering began to fade away.

Kasha, who had been holding her breath, finally hesitantly pushed against Leon’s chest. Leon readily let himself be pushed away, but gritted his teeth at the regret of her body heat quickly leaving him.

Kasha whispered softly.

“The rumors were really true. I didn’t think they would be.”

Leon pretended not to know and replied.

“…It seems so. It looks like not all the gossip circulating in social circles is useless.”

Kasha nodded, but asked as if surprised.

“Yes. But, you knew too, Leon?”

“I heard they came to the temple to get a marriage permit.”

It was something Leon already knew through an informant planted on the Tyrot ducal side, though.

“Oh my. But how on earth did Simon and Odette…”

Kasha tilted her head.

“It’s also a mystery how the two of them got close… but why would Odette Tyrot, of all people, try to marry Simon? Until just recently, she was clinging to you.”

“Who knows. I don’t know how the two of them got close, but it seems like we’re the ones who brought them together.”

“We did…?”

Kasha asked back in a voice full of doubt, then suddenly covered her mouth and widened her eyes.

“Don’t tell me, that time, on the balcony…!”

Leon only grinned.

The wedding reception of the crown prince. The day Leon’s curse reached its peak, the two’s first kiss. And Odette and Simon who simultaneously witnessed it.

That scene probably became the decisive occasion that brought the two closer together. Maybe they joined forces to try to drive a wedge between Kasha and Leon.

“Whoa… I never thought. For the two of them to become like that.”

Kasha murmured softly. Her clever eyes gradually took on a tint.

“This is really an unexpected development, but it’s a good thing. Really.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

At her unwavering answer, the corner of Leon’s mouth curved in satisfaction. It was because he confirmed that she had no lingering feelings for Simon at all.

“It’s really, really a good thing. Because right now, Odette is probably… not alone.”

“What?”

Leon couldn’t believe his ears.

“She’s pregnant right now. Simon Blanche will now… have to raise a child whose father he doesn’t even know… as his own child.”

A chilling smile settled on Kasha’s small face. Carefully examining it, Leon asked.

“Kasha. But how do you know that?”

“That.”

Kasha suddenly lifted her head and met his eyes. What should the complex emotions sparkling in her deep pink eyes right now be called? Relief? Pity? Joy? Exhilaration?

“I just… heard it. From a very… unhappy man.”

“An unhappy… man.”

Whoever it is, the gender is already irksome first of all. But Kasha didn’t seem to have the leisure to look at what expression Leon was making. She seemed to be lost in thought, her small face growing more serious.

“I can’t predict… how this change will affect… the predetermined fate.”

“Predetermined fate?”

When Leon slowly asked back at the abrupt words, Kasha turned her words as if flustered.

“No, I… That guy Simon, he’s a cunning and sinister person. Just now too… it seemed like he was trying to dig up internal information on the Tyrot company under the pretext of marriage.”

“Internal information on the Tyrot company. What is he trying to do by digging that up?”

“He’ll take it to the one he’s loyal to.”

Leon noticed that Kasha’s voice as she said that carried a clear hostility. His voice suddenly lowered.

“The one Simon Blanche is loyal to. Do you know who that is?”

At Leon’s question, Kasha’s eyes wavered. Her pupils dilating as if facing danger up close.

Leon silently waited for her answer. But she soon lowered her head. And when Kasha lifted her head after a long time, she brought up a completely unexpected topic.

“Leon. Our contract dating… I think we should end it now.”

Leon felt as if his heart sank. It seemed like an illusion that the shadows of the summer forest at sunset had suddenly deepened.

He tried to ask calmly.

“…What do you mean by that?”

“The hunting tournament ended… it’s been well over a month already. We can end our exclusive courtship relationship now.”

The hunting tournament was in mid-June, so more than two months had already passed. But what does that have to do with anything?

“Our dating was a separate contract unrelated to winning the hunting tournament.”

“Of course, yes. But… your curse is lifted now too.”

“But you haven’t asked anything of me yet.”

“I needed you… to get rid of Simon Blanche. Plus, now that Simon… is going to marry Odette, contract dating… is no longer necessary.”

“Kasha Lyuschino.”

At Leon’s cold voice, Kasha suddenly stopped talking.

“Kasha. I’m not a fool.”

“…”

“Just Simon Blanche? He’s a minnow that can be easily cast aside with just the Lyuschino family’s power. You didn’t approach me because of him.”

“…”

“If you still can’t say what your real purpose is, you don’t have to say it. But we can’t end our contract dating like this.”

“Leon.”

“I told you before.”

“…?”

“That there are still aftereffects of the curse left.”

Leon felt disgusted with himself for having to use this kind of low-grade excuse for fear that she would push him away.

But even if he himself was dragged down to the bottom, he absolutely could not let her go like this.

“Leon. Sigh.”

Kasha moved her lips as if to refute, then let out a deep sigh as if frustrated.

Leon felt his heart sink at that sigh. His head was still so hot from the lingering joy of the kiss just now, but the fact that she so easily spoke of parting was driving him crazy with sorrow.