I! Cleaner!-Chapter 432 - 370: Kidnapping Skills MAX

The boarding tower was attacked... How could I not know about that?

"I have a bit of understanding about it," Leon said tentatively, glancing at the enthusiastic princess in his arms,

"My friends at the Department of Police told me they’ve been working themselves crazy with overtime lately. Many clerical staff have been drawn into daily patrols, searching for the boarding tower attacker, and the lost items from the Kingdom of Crolock... Has this affected you too?"

"Greatly!"

The princess nodded slightly, frowning,

"The suspects attacking the boarding tower have been mostly identified; they’re likely the rebels who attempted to assassinate me multiple times and set fire to Louther Arcade. All their previous activities combined weren’t as troublesome as this incident.

This time they’ve made such a big deal that the Kingdom of Crolock keeps putting pressure on us. If we can’t produce results that satisfy them in a month or two, it will surely affect normal trade.

However... the burning of the boarding tower is not entirely a bad thing."

At this point, the princess sighed with a slightly complex expression,

"Since early last year, I have been collaborating with the Minister of Defense to reform the military, cutting excess troops and reducing miscellaneous expenses, and replacing outdated military equipment.

Even with the support of your Ryan Family, progress has been slow, facing resistance beyond my imagination. However, the boarding tower incident has somehow reignited many of my previously blocked reform proposals.

I guess the burning of the heavily guarded boarding tower finally made some people feel the crisis and they had to relinquish some of their swallowed interests to ensure their stability...

Ha, some people are just like that; unless they’re freezing or starving, they’ll continue to lay in the car with their eyes closed. Only when the cold air drafts through the car window, chilling their lips blue will they reluctantly get out and give a push!"

After venting her grievances about the short-sightedness of the Kingdom’s upper echelons, which had bottled up inside her these past days, the princess felt somewhat relieved.

"Dear, you’re so sweet~"

She snuggled back into the warm embrace behind her, warming her body, and Veronica, the princess, took Leon’s hand and looked up, blinking,

"I’ve kept these words in my heart for so long, but it’s not appropriate to tell anyone else. Luckily, there’s you who can listen... When do you plan to marry me?"

"..."

Wait, how did the topic turn back to this?

Feeling a sudden prickle at the back of his head from the abrupt talk of marriage, Leon pushed back with a headache,

"Well, Princess Veronica, I’ve thought it over these past few days, and I realized that we might not actually be suitable, so about the engagement before, can we..."

"Okay."

???

What did you say? You agreed? So easily?

Hearing the princess’s straightforward answer, Leon was slightly taken aback, feeling a slight relief accompanied by an inevitable twinge of disappointment.

"As I said before, regarding the relationship between us, the final decision is yours; I won’t insist."

With a slight withdrawal of her smile, the princess, who just leaned against Leon, sat up straight, her gaze lowered, speaking in a calm tone,

"Moreover, even with my special status, I’m a normal woman; I also have my self-respect. While I am indeed fond of you and willing to approach you actively time and again, I still have my boundaries. ƒгeewёbnovel.com

Leon, I have never liked forcing others. Since you’ve made your decision, then I too... should let go. If at this point, I still cling on, it would be shameful, and I cannot bring myself to do such a thing."

"..."

Sorry...

Feeling the slightly cool hand of the princess in his palm, Leon couldn’t help but feel a surge of deep guilt.

The root of this issue stemmed from him. Though Princess Veronica did have other motives, she had always been very proactive, whereas he, daunted by her status as a princess and the troubles this status brought, continually pushed her away.

Whatever the calculation, he owed her, not the other way around.

"I apologize..."

After sincerely apologizing, Leon tried to make amends,

"If in the future..."

"There won’t be any future, you probably won’t see me again."

Princess Veronica slightly turned her head, avoiding Leon’s gaze, then reached to wipe her eyes, saying softly with tears in her eyes,

"Without the marriage contract between us, I’ll likely be married off. It could be to the Kingdom of Morna, the Kingdom of Heisen, or the Kingdom of Orleson... In any case, I won’t be staying in the Capital City.

In the future, I’ll most likely be marrying someone I’ve never met, and then, due to the interests between the Kingdoms, I will be neglected by my future husband, living a lonely life in a castle colder than your heart.

If one day, the country I marry to wares with the Kingdom, I might also be humiliated, even handed over to the gallows by my husband, cursing my miserable fate, dying despairingly and painfully..."

"..."

"Don’t worry about it, this has nothing to do with you. My tragic life is not your doing, so you don’t have to feel guilty. I... I just..."

After offering Leon two weak reassurances, large teardrops rolled from Princess Veronica’s eyes. She hurriedly wiped them away, but they only seemed to increase.

"I just... just feel a bit regretful..."

Realizing she couldn’t stop the tears, Veronica gave up, turning her head away and biting her lip, speaking with a trembling voice,

"It seemed... it seemed like everything was just starting to get better, military reform had begun to proceed, I was addressing the issues with the Department of Road Administration, and the long-stuck fiscal problems had started to untangle recently.

If only things could proceed step-by-step in this direction, I’d have a chance to completely transform the Kingdom, so ordinary people wouldn’t live so hard and the Kingdom could regain its strength, with nobody dying from warfare.

After I leave, it will be difficult to find someone to take these matters over. Joshua is inadequate, and if the Kingdom fell into his hands, the Minister of Finance and the Queen would dominate, continuing to exploit ordinary people as tools for nobles and big merchants...

Boo... It was... it was just about there!"

"..."

"It’s okay, you don’t have to worry."

After wiping her eyes again, the tearful princess clenched her fists, her eyes red, gently said,

"No one will blame you, you have your own life. No need to marry a particularly beautiful but unloved woman for anyone’s happiness.

Leon, you don’t have to feel guilty; whether it’s me, soon to live a lonely life, or those losing a chance to change their fate because of my departure, none of us will blame you, you...

Why are you holding my hand? Have you regretted it? Do you want to hold my hand and walk through life together again?"

"..."

*I admit defeat... How can you say so much nonsense with a straight face?*

With a dark expression, Leon pried open the princess’s fingers and took out the wrinkled onion slice she was holding, then remarked with a headache,

"Your Highness, can’t you be a bit more sincere..."

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