Chapter 30: The Queen Illyria Needs

After dressing and going through the blood samples she collected from those corpses, Leonardo arrived with her breakfast a few minutes later. His usual stern demeanor was firmly in place, and Esme raised an eyebrow at his considerate gesture, playfully crossing her arms as she sauntered over to the table.

"You're the king's trusted advisor, Leonardo, not my personal attendant. I could have easily gotten the food from downstairs myself instead of going through the trouble for me. I'm capable of doing something as miniature as this." she teased, her playful words striking a chord within him.

For a fleeting moment, Leonardo's mask slipped, and it revealed a glimpse of his true, soft nature before he swiftly regained his composure.