Chapter 11: As Long As My Son Likes Her, Even a Dumb Fiancée Is Fine

The Alex family had a small guest visiting today. Although Leon’s father had yet to return home, Alisa was in high spirits, and she brought out her best cooking to welcome Fiora.

“Little Fiora, how is it? Are you satisfied with the taste?” At the dining table, Alisa asked with a warm smile.

Fiora placed the food into her small mouth, so moved she was on the verge of tears.

“Lady Alisa’s cooking is amazing! This is the best food I’ve eaten since I was born! Am I really allowed to be this happy?!”

“Little Fiora, if you want to learn, I can teach you.”

“Really?!”

“Of course. Let me tell you a little secret.”
Alisa leaned in and lowered her voice mischievously.
“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

Then, she shifted her gaze to her son.

Leon’s expression instantly grew tense as he straightened his back.

“Mo-Mother, what are you talking about!”

“Ahem~ Who knows?”

Fiora didn’t really understand what Alisa meant, but it sounded impressive.
Seeing Leon’s awkward expression, she grinned smugly.

Hoh hoh hoh, serves you right!

“Hey, why did we let this person of unknown origin into our home?”

Vivian’s voice cut in, filled with hostility.
She’d been gripping her knife and fork since the meal began, staring at her plate in silence—until now.

Fiora caught Leon’s subtle signal from the corner of his eye.
It was time for her to step up and perform their pre-rehearsed story.

Don’t worry, Leon! Acting is part of a monarch’s education!
As the Ice Dragon King, I will complete this perfectly!

Fiora gave him a thumbs-up under the table to show her confidence.

“Um, I… my parents died when I was six, so I wandered… uh!”

Vivian’s cold stare locked onto her face. Fiora’s social anxiety flared violently.
Her brain went blank, and her words spiraled into confusion.

“Uh, I wandered… met Leon… then bandits kidnapped me… Leon saved me… um… and I came here… uh, that’s how it is. Yes.”

Fiora’s forehead was drenched in sweat.

An uncanny silence fell over the dining table.

What am I doing!!
How could I forget something I’ve rehearsed so many times the moment I opened my mouth?!
This is too suspicious! Who would believe this?!

Fiora lowered her head, nervously fidgeting with her fingers like a criminal awaiting sentencing.

“Oh? You’ve been wandering outside for so long, and yet your hair and skin are so well-maintained? Like a noble lady’s,” Vivian said, eyes narrowing.

“Could it be that you’re naturally beautiful?”

“Right, right! I’m naturally beautiful!” Fiora blurted, panicking.

“Hm? Say that again?”

“…”

Leon, I’m sorry! I’ve failed! The opponent is too strong!

With that, Fiora mentally shut down.
She cut off her hearing, sight, and thoughts—activating full shutdown mode.
Her head hung low as she retreated into the void.

Leon was also speechless.
He wasn’t good at negotiations himself and had no idea how to persuade his sister.

“This is too suspicious! We absolutely can’t let this kind of person—”

Vivian stood up, clearly about to drag Fiora out of the house, but she was stopped by a single glance from Alisa.

“Vivian. Sit down.”

“But Mother—”

“I said sit down and listen to me.”

“…Yes.”

Alisa’s gentle smile was enough to make Vivian fall silent and return obediently to her seat.

“As a mother, I can tell,” Alisa began softly.
“It wasn’t little Fiora who approached Leon. It was Leon who sought her out.”
“He must’ve been the one who actively asked Fiora to become his s*ave, correct?”

“What?”

Vivian turned to Leon, stunned.
She’d never heard of her brother taking the initiative with a woman before.

Leon didn’t respond. Instead, he turned his face away shyly.

That alone was a full admission.

“Don’t you get it yet, Vivian?” Alisa said, her tone matter-of-fact.
“Leon says he’s bringing little Fiora in as a maid, but that’s just an excuse.”
“He wants to use it as a cover to have little Fiora undergo bridal training with me.”

Before Vivian could protest, Leon—completely unaware of how incriminating he sounded—tried to defend himself.

“Mother, you’re exaggerating. Fiora and I are just friends…”

BOOM.

Vivian felt as if a hammer had slammed into her head.
Her mind buzzed, and she slipped into a haze of total confusion.

“Huh? Vivian, what’s wrong?”

“Mother, I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well today.”
“I think I’ll go back and rest.”

She couldn’t stay a moment longer.
Rising abruptly, she muttered, “I’m full,” and left the table like a salted fish that had lost all hope—leaving Fiora alone with the mother and son.

Although Alisa was slightly concerned, she remembered Vivian had mentioned dieting recently, so she let it go.

“So Leon and little Fiora are just friends for now,” Alisa mused, her smile deepening.
“Then—have you two done it?”

Guh— — — — — — — —!!
Leon nearly choked to death.

He gulped down his drink in a panic, pounding his chest as he coughed violently.

“Mother, please don’t make that kind of joke!”

“Just kidding, just kidding~ don’t mind me.”
“But, if you do want to do it before getting married, that’s not out of the question, you know.”

Leon’s face turned beet red.

He had nothing left to say.
Alisa found his flustered reaction more and more amusing.

Her son, whom she’d once thought destined for monkhood, was finally showing some interest in a girl.

There was no way she was going to let this chance go to waste.

In that case, if it becomes necessary… even if I have to use a few little tricks, I’m sure little Fiora and Leon will forgive me, right?

Fiora, just recovering from shutdown mode, had no idea what had happened.

All she saw was:
—Alisa looking at her with a meaningful glint in her eye
—Vivian mysteriously gone
—Leon looking like he’d just crawled out of a blender

She tried to process the situation and arrived at what felt like a logical conclusion.

Alisa must’ve found out Leon was bullying me and gave him a lesson!
That’s why he looks like he’s been chewed out.
And Vivian probably realized what a scumbag Leon was and stormed off in disgust!

So that’s how it is!
What an understanding Ma’am!
I will love Lady Alisa forever!

“Lady Alisa… thank you for your support!” Fiora responded with sparkling sincerity.

“Little Fiora, you… if you think so too, then I will help you—no matter what means I must use.”

Is she talking about punishing Leon?
If so, of course I’ll support it with all my might!

Without hesitation, Fiora declared, “Please, you must do so!”