Chapter 22: This Was Part of My Plan All Along

That night, after returning home, Vivian wasted no time reporting the day’s madness to Alisa. And of course, she couldn’t help but embellish it—just a little. Every exaggerated detail added fuel to the fire.

Leon and Fiora stood stiffly off to the side, too scared to argue.

As she listened to her daughter’s animated retelling of their escapade, Alisa… smiled.

Leon’s blood ran cold.

Oh no. She’s not mad. That’s way worse.

He would’ve much preferred getting yelled at. But this calm, knowing grin? That was the expression of a woman who’d already buried you six feet under in her mind.

“You two. Come with me.”

“I need to have a proper talk with you.”

Alisa led them to her room.

The always-gentle noblewoman didn’t raise her voice. She didn’t scold them. She just smiled sweetly.

It was horrifying.

Fiora cracked first. Her resolve collapsed as she tearfully ratted Leon out, listing all the indecent things he’d done while stammering and hiccupping.

Leon said nothing—choosing to accept his fate in silence.

Alisa gently patted Fiora’s head, whispering something in her ear.

In an instant, Fiora’s stormy expression cleared up. She nodded cheerfully and skipped out of the room, wiping her tears.

Leon blinked.

“Mother… what did you say to her?”

“Oh, nothing important.”

“Then why do I feel like I just lost?”

Alisa’s expression turned colder.

“But you, Leon… we need to talk about what the hell that was.”

“I… I’m sorry, Mother. I know I brought shame upon the family—”

“You have! Shame upon the family, shame upon men everywhere! You had her under you, robes barely hanging on, and you still didn’t go for it?!”

“…I’m sorry, I shou—WAIT WHAT?!”

“You heard me.”

Alisa folded her arms, expression stern. “Did I not raise you better than this? What happened to ‘get on the bus first, buy the ticket later’?”

Leon choked. “Mother! Isn’t that exactly the kind of thinking I should avoid?!”

“Don’t give me that. You missed your window, and now someone else might steal your Fiora.”

Leon fell quiet.

“…Actually,” he muttered, “I think she might like someone else…”

“HAH. I knew this day would come.” Alisa narrowed her eyes. “But this, too, was within my calculations.”

She patted her generous chest proudly.

Leon swallowed, hope flickering in his eyes. “M-Mother… you’re saying… there’s still a way?”

“There is.”

She winked. The kind of mature, knowing wink that promised nothing but danger.

“It’s the ultimate finishing move.”

Leon leaned in.

“A shotgun wedding.”

He froze.

His brain refused to process what he’d just heard. That… that wasn’t a real suggestion, right?

“That’s a crime!! A full-on, you-go-to-jail-for-this kind of crime!! At least three years!”

“As long as you knock her up, no one can take her,” Alisa said calmly.

“I can’t do that!! I’m not that kind of guy!!”

Leon nearly collapsed from shock. “I’d rather die than pull something like that! Who even says that to their own kid?!”

Alisa rolled her eyes.

“Relax. I’m kidding.”

“…Don’t joke like that!!”

She chuckled and pulled out a small glass bottle from her pocket.

“Oh, by the way. Here.”

“This is… a potion?”

“A very special one,” she said, smiling mischievously. “An ultra-fast healing potion. Great for post-battle recovery. And other things.”

Leon stared at it. He wasn’t sure whether to thank her or run.

Alisa, an elite alchemist in her prime, had long since retired after marrying his father. But she still dabbled in high-level research.

“I know what you’re planning,” she said. “It has to do with Fiora, doesn’t it?”

Leon’s eyes widened.

He had been worried about that exact issue—if he kept Fiora hidden like this, it was only a matter of time before the Donghui Kingdom caught wind of her. Then it would be war.

So Mother really had seen through him all along.

“…Thank you, Mother.”

Life returned to its usual pace.

Leon, though a Sword Saint, wasn’t tied to any government post. He was a free agent—a top-ranked adventurer who often went on missions.

Fiora, on the other hand, was a stay-at-home dragon queen with no job, no social skills, and a mountain of anxiety.

One day, in a moment of peak irresponsibility, she snuck out just to buy a light novel—and promptly got herself lost.

Had Leon not found her in time, she might’ve panicked and blown up the entire shopping district.

Since then, Leon had made a decision:

Never let this disaster-loli go anywhere alone.

He headed to her room, knocked a few times, and opened the door.

“Gehehe!! So stupid!”

“This loli healer actually got railed by the hero after he popped an X-potion!”

The silver-haired girl lay sprawled on the bed in an undignified mess, laughing her head off.

Potato chip crumbs clung to her cheeks. Her legs swung lazily as she read from a smutty novel, completely immersed.

Leon stood in the doorway, staring.

Mellen was right. She really is a trash-tier shut-in.

“Hey.”

Fiora turned around.

She froze like a criminal caught red-handed, clutching a pillow to her chest.

“W-What do you want?!”

“Come with me to the Mage’s Guild. You’re getting certified.”

“Why?! I don’t wanna! Is this about work?! You’re trying to make me get a job!!”

“Calm down. It’s not about that.”

“I just want you certified so I can officially bring you along when I take missions.”

“I knew it! You’re gonna drag me into battle! You liar!!”

Leon pinched his brow.

This freeloading menace really had no shame.

“I’m not afraid of anything! I’m ready to die at any time!” Fiora shouted.

Leon sighed.

Alright. Time to lie through my teeth.

“You think I’m doing this just to make you work? Think deeper.”

“…Huh?”

“Right now, you’re safe. But how long do you think that’ll last?”

Leon wasn’t even sure what he was saying anymore. But it sounded convincing.

And Fiora… was buying it.

“Only you know my true identity…”

“So you are saying…”

Her expression turned serious. She bit her finger, eyes sharpening.

“…I see. You’re a scary man, Leon.”

Leon blinked.

Wait, what? What did she just figure out?

But she seemed convinced. And if it helped get her certified, he wasn’t about to question it.

“That’s right. It was all part of my plan.”

Fiora nodded solemnly.

“No wonder you’re such a devious bastard.”

Leon smiled awkwardly.

He had no idea what plan she thought he had…

…but hey. If she was motivated now, why ruin it?