"The emperor is hosting a banquet in celebration for another year of his reign." Leon spoke, in the midst of signing more documents on his desk.
"The banquet will be held in three days." He said, not lifting his head to look at her.
"You will come with me. You will be my partner." He proceeded.
"Then I must prepare myself for the banquet, my lord."
Finally, Leon raised his head, now looking at her and holding her ye contact after a few minutes of not doing so. "....."
He gazed upon her in silence, as though thinking about something.
"Do that." He said. "I'll give you money to spend. Buy new dresses and jewel ties with that."
Cordelia softly nodded, holding the faint gentle smile on her lips. "Yes, thank you my lord."
"You may go."
She lightly bowed, respectfully, as she turned around to leave. Her feet took small and quiet steps, eventually nearing the door. But before she could reach for the knob, a voice made her stop.
"Ah. Right, had I not told you before to call me Leon?"
His voice made her halt amidst taking a step.
Cordelia turned around, not expecting to her such a thing. "Oh, yes but-"
"Call me Leon from now on."
Slowly, she nodded. "Alright... Leon."
"Get used to it by now. Because you will be required to call me that every time we go to social events."
'Ah, that's right...' Cordelia thought, remember something important that was settled between them, that had slipped from her mind for a while now.
"Just like before, we need to act like a real couple in front of other aristocrats. Especially on social gatherings."
'That's it, something that we had agreed upon the contract.'
"Yes, I understand." She nodded, meeting his cold gaze.
"Good. Very well, Del." He said.
For Cordelia, who's heard her intimate name come out so suddenly from Leon, who had always been distant through their marriage, it was surreal.
She did not expect to hear Del from him. She looked at him, brows subtly rose from surprise. But soon he broke contact as he continued to sign over the documents on his table.
"You may go." He spoke emotionlessly.
"Then I shall take my leave, Leon." Cordelia turned around, gently opening the door before exiting the room, unaware of the eyes of her her husband that bore on her back. His gaze never left her until she closed the door behind her.
Clack
"Ha..." A quiet sigh left his lips, turning his head to the meal his wife brought.
Just in that very moment, Leon's stomach suddenly to express its hunger. The sound of grumbling silently filled the room just as Cedric stepped back inside.
"Well..." Cedric grinned upon greeting his master. "It just seems like the madam came at the perfect time, my lord." He said, chuckling.
He quickly received a glare from Leon with that.
"Well?"
"Yes, my lord?"
"Aren't you going to bring that plate here?" Leon spoke, frowning at Cedric who stood beside the tray.
With that, the corners of Cedric's lips rose into a smile, noticing the pacing improvement of his master and his wife.
"You can take a break while you eat the food that the madam had prepared, my lord."
"Tsk." Leon clicked his tongue, turning to see outside the window. His eyes followed the three small figures that walked across the garden.
"That's what I was going to do." He spoke firmly, answering Cedric. His gaze lingered at the figure in the middle in particular.
It Cordelia who was being followed by her handmaidens. She was walking across the garden to make her way at the other side of the castle.
"Did you feel touched by the madam's sudden effort to please you these days?" Cedric asked, grinning.
Hearing that made Leon turn back around, facing Cedric with a long frown and knitted brows. "What..?"
"You look like you're in a good mood already my lord. You know, I'm starting to think that you're starting to like the lady-"
"If you do not refrain your mouth from speak any more nonsense, you would lose your job." Leon tightly smiled, his eyes fiercely piercing Cedric's head.
Cedric immediately covered his mouth with his hand. "Ah-hahah" He laughed awkwardly.
"I was only fooling around, my lord. You should try loosening your mood more often."
"Ah, by the way. The madam's handmaiden told me that she was planning to-"
"That is enough Cedric." He said, continuing to read through the documents while taking a bite of the food that Cordelia had prepared.
"Don't inform me of everything she does. I have a lot of matters to worry about right now."
"Understood, my lord."
"....."
In the brink of the moment, despite his words, Leon somehow found himself looking back at the window. His eyes searching for Cordelia, and as soon as his gaze landed on her, his eyes never left her back until she was out of his sight.
THE days passed, and the day of the royal banquet finally arrived.
Rattle
Rattle
The sound of the rattling carriage filled the silence between the two.
Cordelia watched the passing scenery in the moonless night from inside the carriage. Her eyes never left the window since earlier.
Her hands were nervously fidgeting as she realized they were nearing the castle.
Cordelia's neck was decorated with a fine green jewel, sparkling under the dim lamp light. The dress she wore was extravagant, suiting the latest trend.
A small nervous breath left her lips as the sight of bright and lively the royal palace entered her sighed. Cordelia's eyes shifted from the window onto Leon.
Her gaze lingered upon her husband's sleeping figure. Leon slept peacefully while sitting in front Cordelia. His head rested on the side of the carriage, seemingly in deep slumber.
She had already guessed that he was still exhausted.
'He must be tired be cause of his work.' She thought to herself, quietly pursing her lips. She was lost in thoughts as she started at his face, mesmerized.
'Even in his sleep, he still looks handsome.' Thought Cordelia. Her eyes no longer bore on the scenery from outside the carriage window, but was now fixated on the face of her husband.
She couldn't help but get lost at the sight before her. His beauty was unordinary.
"...!"
Cordelia flinched as she abruptly averted her gaze, moving her eyes back to the window.
Leon's eyes had opened, now awake. And she had to act like nothing happened.
"Have we not arrived yet?" The tired voice spoke.
Cordelia slowly tilted her head and glanced at him from the side of het eyes. "We are near." She spoke.
'The color of the jewel in my necklace... is the same color as his eyes.' The thought came naturally into her head.
With softened blinks, Leon looked outside the carriage window. "Oh? We're entering the gates now." He murmured, still half asleep.
Loud music of instruments lively filled the hall. Many nobles were gathered in the palace.
The marble floor and golden ceiling was ever so wonderful, glistening with the warm light.
Faint murmurs of different conversations from each corners of the room blended with the music, just as many people danced with the slow waltz in the middle of the hall.
On the far front that stood the throne, the emperor sat and watched the crowd. But as soon as he met a pair of green eyes, he stood from his seat, smiling and walking toward the owner of those eyes.
"Leon!" The emperor greeted merrily. The two had been close friends for so long.
"Greetings, your majesty, the Sun of the empire." Leon bowed, followed by Cordelia.
"Greetings to your majesty." She spoke as well, both raising from their bow.
"Greetings to the Marquis and Marchioness Elvoye." Said the emperor.
"How are the both of you?"
"We have been good, sire." Said Leon.
"I see, then I'm glad to hear that." Said the emperor. "I've been waiting for your arrival Leon."
"I have something to discuss with you later."
"Please feel free to speak, sire. We can discuss about it now-"
"No, no." The emperor shook his head.
"Take your time to enjoy the banquet with your wife and everyone else. We have plenty of time to speak later."
Cordelia stood silently beside Leon, letting the two speak freely with each other as her eyes roamed around the place.
It was marvelously decorated with gold and marble. Such an extravagant sight to see— was all that she could think of.
The instruments slowly faded as the music finally ended. And soon, new notes began playing, beginning a new music. A familiar sound to Cordelia.
"Ah~" The emperor smiled radiantly, turning toward the pair.
"This song is for partners. You should enjoy the banquet and dance."
The corners of Leon's lips rose into a sincere smile. "Yes we will, your majesty. It just happens to be the favorite dance of my wife and I."
'What—'
One thing ringed on Cordelia's mind in that moment. 'We must pretend like a real couple, especially in front of the emperor.'
And as soon as she recalled that, she felt a large firm hand snake into the side her waist.
It was Leon.
His hold on her waist became firm yet gentle. And as he pulled her closer to his side, she couldn't help but look up at Leon in surprise. All while still in the pretense of the emperor.
Right in that very moment, she felt her heart flatter as she saw something she had never seen before. The beautiful sincere warm expression on her husbands face, displayed in front of her so closely.
"Right, my dear?" He asked, softly leaning closer to her face.
Suddenly, a warm sensation landed on her cheeks. 'Did he just... kiss me?'