Titania had her head resting comfortably on my lap while I worked on braiding her hair.

Her breathing was soft and steady, the kind that made it obvious she was relaxed. There was even a faint rhythm to it, like she was enjoying every second of this. Every now and then, she would move her legs slightly, almost absentmindedly, like someone stretching while lying under the sun. It gave off the feeling that she was completely at ease, just basking in the attention I was giving her without holding anything back.

I kept my focus on her hair. I was styling it into her usual twintails, the look she always seemed to prefer, but this time I decided to make things a little different by braiding them together. My fingers moved carefully, weaving each strand into place. It wasn’t anything overly complicated, but it still took some attention to keep it neat.

She didn’t complain once. If anything, she leaned into it more.

While I was still in the middle of braiding, the door opened.

It was Myrcella.

"Myrcella!" Titania’s voice immediately brightened the moment she saw her. She sat up so quickly it almost felt like a spring had gone off under her. Before I could even say anything, she dashed toward Myrcella and wrapped her arms around her tightly.

She didn’t even think twice about her hair.

One of her twintails was already neatly braided, while the other was still unfinished, strands left hanging awkwardly. The contrast was almost funny if you paid attention to it, but she clearly didn’t care at all right now.

Well, it made sense.

She missed her.

Anyone would, considering what had been going on. Myrcella had been out there in the middle of a war, not just watching from afar but actually fighting on the front lines where things were at their worst. That kind of situation wasn’t something you just brush off like it was nothing.

Titania had been sent back to the country of Bethlan for a while, along with the King. It wasn’t exactly the safest place either, but with her father there, she was definitely more protected than she would have been here.

The King himself refused to hide in a bunker or stay out of danger, which honestly sounded like him. Because of that, I ended up agreeing with his decision to bring Titania back to Bethlan for the time being.

"I must have worried you a lot, huh?" Myrcella said. "But well, there’s nothing to worry about now, right? Leon is with me, after all."

"Well, I know Leon is here with you," Titania replied. "But this was still a very distressing situation. I mean, I’m glad it’s all over now, but it was still a little worrying."

As she spoke, Myrcella gently rubbed the back of Titania’s head. The gesture came naturally, almost instinctively, like she had done it many times before. It had a kind of warmth to it, something that made the whole scene feel quieter despite everything that had happened.

Somewhere along the way, she had really matured.

It wasn’t something that hit all at once. It showed in small things like this. The way she carried herself, the way she spoke, the way she comforted others. It was different from before, and it stood out more when you actually paid attention.

After a moment, Myrcella looked up and met my eyes.

"Leon, by the way, the King of Bethlan is requesting your presence," she said.

***

I made my way toward the King’s room without wasting time.

When I reached the door and stepped inside, I was greeted by a rather relaxed sight.

The King was sitting comfortably on a chair, holding a cup of tea like he didn’t have a care in the world.

"Such a splendid flavor," he said, his voice carrying a clear sense of satisfaction. He took another sip, almost like he wanted to confirm it again. "It feels as though I’m not drinking tea at all, but rather something far more refined. Tell me, young man, how exactly did you come up with this flavor?"

His attention was fixed on the cup in his hand.

The tea he was drinking was Leonamon tea, something Maya had developed herself.

"I didn’t come up with it," I answered. "One of my women did."

"One of your women, hm?" he repeated, a slight smirk forming as he glanced at me. His eyes then went back to the tea, as if examining it more closely. "Most people wouldn’t be so bold as to say that in front of the parent of one of the women in their harem. You’re quite confident. Does that come from not caring what others think, or from the belief that even if I take offense and try to kill you, you’d still come out just fine?"

"Well, I’m proud of them," I said. "So I don’t see any reason to hide it. If anything, it feels natural to say it. To me, all of them are equal."

He let out a small breath, almost like he was holding back a reaction.

"The way you say things like that honestly irritates me," he admitted. "But setting that aside, congratulations on bringing Princess Myrcella to the throne."

"It’s not official yet."

"Who are you trying to convince?" he replied, raising an eyebrow. "Just looking at her now, it might as well be official. I doubt anyone is capable of bringing her down at this point."

I didn’t fully agree with that.

Power wasn’t something that stayed still. It shifted, sometimes quietly, sometimes all at once. There were always forces strong enough to change things that seemed unchangeable.

"It’s only natural to celebrate, isn’t it?" he continued, as if brushing past that thought. "Come, take a seat. Have a drink with me."

"Alcohol? It’s still the middle of the day," I pointed out.

"Drinking early has its own appeal," he said with a faint chuckle. "Besides, there’s something I want to tell you. And I believe it’s best said over a drink. I doubt I’d be able to say it properly otherwise."

"What is it?" I asked, watching him carefully.

He lifted his cup slightly, as if to signal something unspoken.

"Let’s have a drink first, shall we?"