Leorino’s expression stiffened slightly.
Leorino realized who the woman before him was at first glance.
She was much more mature and beautiful than he remembered, but there was no doubt that she was the woman who had once been his husband’s fiancée.
Helena, daughter of the Duke of Müller, had married the third prince of the former king of neighboring Francoure not long after her engagement to Gravis had been broken off.
Helena was visiting Fanoren with her husband and son to celebrate Gravis and Leorino’s union.
As royalty, Gravis and Leorino were of a higher rank. Helena, her husband Bernard, and their son, the prince, stepped forward to greet Gravis and Leorino.
“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Your Highness Lord Leorino.”
“…The pleasure is mine, Your Highnesses Prince Bernard, Princess Helena, and Prince Michel. Welcome to Fanoren.”
Leorino fought to keep his face composed. This was part of his official duties. Remembering Maia’s lessons, he tried to keep his face as expressionless as possible, only raising the corners of his mouth.
Helena had retained the appearance of the girl from his memories, but had taken on an even nobler air. He had not expected her to marry into the royal family of a neighboring country, but it appeared to have been a good marriage for her as well. She was regally dressed in opulent Francoureish clothing.
Meanwhile, Leorino’s outfit had been arranged to perfection by his attendants.
He wore the formal attire of a royal with no superfluous decoration, only perfectly tailored to fit his slender body. However, when observed closely, one could see that the fabric had been intricately embroidered and inlaid with tiny jewels, and when approached, it subtly glistened.
Other than the jewelry that marked his royal status, Leorino felt no need to adorn himself with anything at all.
His medium-length hair hung loosely on the lower half of his head, while the rest of it was arranged in an elaborate updo and held in place by his circlet, making it appear as if he was quite literally glowing.
Standing alongside Gravis, his flawless masculine beauty on display, Leorino’s appearance radiated an unconventional, unique aura.
The guests from Francoure looked on in admiration and astonishment at the boyish spouse standing next to Gravis.
Prince Bernard, Helena’s husband, finally came to his senses and began to praise Leorino between his many sighs. Bernard was Gravis’s cousin on his mother’s side.
“Your Highness Prince Gravis…we have heard rumors of His Highness Lord Leorino in our country, but seeing him in person, I am frankly speechless. Such a gorgeous spouse you have. I feel dizzy simply gazing upon him.”
Seeing Leorino up close, Helena’s son, Prince Michel, was also lost for words at the sight of his pure, graceful beauty.
“…Father, you are right. I have never seen anyone so beautiful in my life.”
Saying this, Prince Michel gazed at Leorino’s beauty once more. The prince was two years younger than Leorino and would come of age next year.
Leorino smiled modestly.
“I am very grateful for your kind words. You have come a long way to see us.”
“We were rather surprised to learn that His Highness Prince Gravis had pursued marriage,” Helena answered gracefully. “He had been a bachelor for so long, we couldn’t help wondering who he had chosen to wed in the end… We couldn’t have expected to find such a beautiful young man at the end of our journey.”
Sensing a certain implication in Helena’s words and her gaze, Leorino cast his eyes down for the briefest moment. Perhaps she intended no malice. But Leorino felt hurt regardless.
That was when Gravis gently placed his hand around Leorino’s back. Leorino looked up at his husband.
“We were forced to overcome many obstacles before I could marry Leorino. This included his father’s vehement protests… But at long last, we are together, and I wouldn’t trade him for the world,” Gravis said.
He looked down at Leorino and smiled tenderly. The smile faded quickly, but the three guests from Francoure were shocked at how far Gravis had come from the cold, expressionless man they had known.
At the same time, Leorino felt instantly encouraged by his words and was able to regain his composure.
Of course. I must keep my chin up. I can’t embarrass Vi.
“Lord Leorino, I believe you hail from the family of the Margrave of Brungwurt. Your mother is Maia from the Ducal House of Wiesen, is she not?”
Leorino inclined his head.
“…You’re familiar with my parents?”
The royalty of Francoure burst into laughter. All royalty from the surrounding countries were familiar with the Margrave of Brungwurt, not to mention that Helena had been the daughter of a Fanoren duke.
“Oh my… I see you are still young and ignorant of worldly affairs, aren’t you?”
Leorino found himself in shock again.
What had been so wrong about asking if she knew his parents? He worried if it had been a foolish question or if the woman was laughing at his expense.
“Leorino does not possess the power of his family name. His value as a person is entirely his own. His blood is of no import.”
Gravis immediately offered a helping hand.
Perhaps realizing her mistake, Helena fell silent. She seemed ill at ease, but eventually said to Gravis:
“I see Your Highness has married a truly sheltered son of a good family… How lovely. But considering his beauty, it’s no wonder.”
“He is certainly a sight to behold, but that is also not why I pursued him. It is only one of Leorino’s many virtues that hold me spellbound.”
This time Helena’s smile faltered completely.
“…I would like to congratulate you once again. Francoure wishes you both every happiness in the future.”
“Thank you, Princess Helena. We appreciate your well wishes.”
Leorino looked up at his husband.
Gravis wore a cold expression on top of his flawless beauty that made it impossible to guess what was going through his mind.
Despite his outward appearance, Leorino felt quite uncertain inside, worried about what Gravis was thinking when met with his former fiancée.
He looked at Helena again.
Their eyes seemed closer than he remembered, though it must have been because he had only seen her from Ionia’s point of view. She was by no means a woman so beautiful as to be intimidating, but she had an undeniable air of nobility about her.
Perhaps having noticed the uneasiness in Leorino’s eyes, Helena seemed to smile as she gracefully covered her mouth with her fan.
All these years later and still he could not stomach this woman.
That she affected him so negatively and there was so little he could do to stop it doused Leorino’s spirits.
That night, Leorino had already taken off his formal attire and changed into his pajamas when he sat on the settee, holding the backrest and feeling melancholy.
As Theodor assisted him in removing his jewelry, his husband asked, “What’s wrong? Are you tired?”
“…No, I didn’t stay at the venue long.”
After greeting their distinguished guests and making the rounds of the hall, Leorino was quickly allowed to return to their palace alone. Gravis was the only one who remained at the venue and entertained the guests until almost the end of the evening.
At any given soiree, Leorino rarely stayed longer than it took him to exchange greetings.
There were two reasons for this. First, they had to consider Leorino’s physical condition. His overall frailty was part of it, but there was also his inability to stand or walk for long periods of time due to the injuries he had sustained in his youth.
The other reason was entirely the whim of his husband. He could not bear to leave his beautiful spouse exposed to the public for too long, knowing how much attention he attracted.
Gravis’s intense desire for exclusivity resulted in his spouse being quickly hidden away in the depths of their palace.
“Now, come here.”
“…Hmf.”
Back in his indoor clothing, Gravis scooped up his spouse from the settee. Leorino was not pleased.
Pressing a kiss to his platinum hair, Gravis rocked Leorino in an attempt to comfort him.
“What’s wrong? Why are you melancholy? What’s upset you so much? Meeting Helena?”
“No… Fine, yes. It upset me. It made me doubt myself.”
“Doubt yourself? Because she used to be my fiancée?”
“Yes… Frankly, I was hoping I would never have to see her again.” Leorino nodded honestly. There was no point in lying about his feelings.
Gravis forced a smile.
“Helena would hate to hear it, but I never had any feelings for her in the first place. You know that better than anyone, don’t you?”
“I never suspected you had feelings for Lady Helena.”
“Then what’s the issue?”
“…I’m just feeling upset and irritated! For no particular reason!”
“…We wouldn’t want that.”
Suddenly feeling possessive about his husband, Leorino wrapped his arms and legs around Gravis’s strong body.
“…Lady Helena still seemed to have some unresolved feelings for you, Vi. She called me ignorant, as if I were a child.”
“I agree, that was rude of her. But,” Gravis smiled, rocking Leorino’s clinging body, “objectively speaking, you are ignorant of the ways of the world, just as much as you are sheltered. Whatever she was trying to imply, I think she was simply jealous of your beauty.”
“N-no, I highly doubt that. I believe she still has feelings for you. Because, I mean, although her husband Prince Bernard seemed like a kind man, you’re still a hundred, no, a thousand times better, Vi.”
Such precious jealousy, Gravis thought, smiling at his spouse’s immature phrasing.
But Leorino’s next remark brought a serious look to Gravis’s face.
“The entire venue, women and men alike, were all looking at you, entranced and cooing!”
“…That jealousy of yours is adorable, and I see you’re still making an attempt on my life with these compliments, but…Leorino. You should learn to read your surroundings a little more objectively.”
“What do you mean?”
“People may fear me; they do not coo at me.”