Chapter 75: Lilia’s Intervention and Leon’s Humiliation

Just then, a thunderous roar erupted from a distance, instantly drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

“Hey, what’s going on up ahead?”

“I don’t know, but it looks like there’s some excitement.”

“Come on, let’s go take a look!”

A surging tide of people immediately swarmed the area, encircling it so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass.

At the heart of the throng stood a man and a woman. The man shielded Gern, his hands poised as if ready to grasp. Before him, Gern, the silver-haired girl, stood gracefully, her clothes and hair fluttering with the gentle breeze, resembling a vibrant, blooming flower. Her exquisite face and cool, ethereal aura immediately captivated the attention of most men present.

“Who is that person?”

“I don’t know, but she’s truly beautiful.”

Lilia, having just returned from her shopping, glared at the man who was inappropriately touching Gern. A furious blaze ignited within her. She glanced back at the entourage trailing her, a chilling smirk playing on her lips. This situation was perfect; she could seize the opportunity to publicly declare her claim over her little Luoya, and expose Leon’s disgraceful conduct in the process.

With a swift stride, Lilia moved forward, interposing herself between the two and pressing an object from her hand into Gern’s.

“Eh, what’s this?”

Gern, holding the exquisite small box, paused in surprise. The box was entirely red, adorned with sparkling trinkets. Just looking at it, the contents inside surely wouldn’t be cheap.

“This… this is for me?”

“Mmhmm, of course!” Lilia giggled, nodding, then gently pressed a finger against Gern’s delicate nose. “Don’t even think about selling it for money!”

Gern gave an embarrassed cough. ‘She’d actually been wondering how many gold coins she could get if she sold these things.’

“I promise I’ll keep it safe.”

As she spoke, Gern moved to open the box, eager to see what lay within. But her hand froze mid-air. It suddenly occurred to her that they were surrounded by a large crowd. If Lilia’s gift was truly valuable, having so many eyes on it could easily lead to complications. In her previous life, she had learned this lesson the hard way. Reluctantly, she put the small box away, deciding to open it later when no outsiders were present.

Once Lilia saw that Gern had safely put away her small gift, she finally turned her attention to Leon. Leon, who had been on the verge of fleeing the scene, blanched, his face twisting as if he had swallowed an immortal fly. The memory of Lilia brutally beating him was still vivid, and now, for her to catch him in such a compromising state, filled him with an undeniable sense of guilt.

“Lord Leon, given the current situation, could you perhaps offer an explanation?”

“Your Highness, I merely wished to befriend this young lady; I harbored no other improper intentions.”

“Oh? I distinctly saw you laying hands on little Luoya just now. How do you explain that?”

“Th-th-this… Your Highness, it’s all a misunderstanding!”

“Hey, I was here the whole time! I saw everything! You were clearly trying to take advantage of that silver-haired girl.”

“Yes, I saw it too!”

“This man is nothing but a scoundrel!”

The murmurs of the crowd grew incessant. Lilia, hands on her hips, stared coldly at Leon.

“Well, Leon? Do you still intend to argue your way out of this?”

“Th-that… Your Highness, I… I have something to attend to, so I’ll just be taking my leave. You all chat, you all chat.”

“Stop right there! Did this princess give you permission to leave?”

Leon had just begun to move, but his figure abruptly halted. After taking two more steps, he suddenly felt the oppressive aura of a knight. He mechanically turned his head, forcing a smile uglier than a cry.

“Your Highness, I…”

Leon’s voice trembled as he spoke, clearly paralyzed by extreme fear.

“What ‘you’?! With so many eyes watching, do you still dare to try and deny it?”

“Exactly, exactly!”

“Apologize! Hurry and apologize!”

“Young master, I, this humble maiden, witnessed everything that just transpired. I implore you to offer a sincere apology to that silver-haired sister.”

“I truly despise such scoundrels!”

At that moment, Fenstro, a red-haired girl with fox ears, emerged from the crowd. Every arch of her brow, every subtle smile, exuded an intoxicating charm. She wore a short skirt, her fair shoulders bared, and her expression was utterly alluring. When she spoke, her voice was like a seductive poison, eroding the hearts of every man present. For a moment, many harbored illicit thoughts towards the woman before them. Then, with a captivating smile, Fenstro unleashed the full power of a Tier 3 Knight.

“If you are unwilling to apologize, this humble maiden, though not well-versed in magic, possesses some martial skill. Perhaps I could offer you a lesson?”

“N-no, no, I wouldn’t dare…”

Leon wiped the cold sweat beading on his forehead. Lilia alone was terrifying enough; now, a Tier 3 Knight had suddenly appeared. No matter how unwilling he was, he had no choice but to apologize shamefacedly.

“My beautiful lady, I apologize. My actions just now were entirely my fault.”

“Merciful lady, please forgive my rude behavior.”

With that, Leon bowed deeply to Gern.

Gern watched him with an unmoving, cold gaze. ‘Her body remained still, but then she extended a small, pristine hand.’

“What does this mean?”

“Shouldn’t an apology come with some sincerity?”

Leon hastily pulled some gold coins from his pocket and placed them into Gern’s outstretched hand.

Gern frowned slightly. ‘Leon, the son of a Grand Duke, only offered such a paltry sum to dismiss her?’ Truth be told, Gern’s personal treasury now held thirty or forty gold coins, all gifted by princesses Lilia and Sina. If she spent sparingly, it would be enough to live comfortably for most of her life. The gold coins Leon gave her were, by now, mere pocket change. Still, she wasn’t an unreasonable person. ‘If this is all he gives, then so be it. She wasn’t losing anything anyway.’

Gern had no objections to the gold coins Leon offered, but Lilia, standing beside her, was displeased. ‘This was her little dragon girl! How dare anyone covet her? Leon absolutely had to be taught a painful lesson, to serve as a public example.’

“Leon, the Klett Kingdom hasn’t treated you unfairly, has it?”

“N-no, Your Highness.”

“Your family’s stipends and taxes are quite substantial. Who are you trying to fool with just a few gold coins?”

“Your Highness, I… I used all my money for purchases when I left home this time… I truly don’t have much left.”

“Oh? Very well then, compensate her with a treasure instead.”

Upon hearing this, Leon wrestled with his thoughts for a moment. After a brief internal struggle, he finally made up his mind, drawing a pitch-black object from his storage ring. Lilia’s brows furrowed at the sight of it. She detected no magical fluctuations from the item, nor any traces of an alchemist’s work; it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary hunk of iron.

“Leon, you bring me *this* one thing? Are you trying to fool me?”