President Baby's Bride

Chapter 6: Names and Games

The lavender dress was exquisite, revealing just enough leg to be elegant while not scandalous. A black leather belt cinched her waist, complementing the crystal pendant at her throat that perfectly matched her earrings and bracelet. Was this really her?

Leona stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror, barely recognizing herself. Her hair had been styled to achieve that perfect balance of sophisticated and alluring messiness, while her face bore the subtlest hints of makeup. The overall effect was...startling.

So this was what a proper young lady of means looked like.

Would people accuse her of being a pretender? Hehe! How awkward!

"You look absolutely beautiful!" the maid exclaimed sincerely. Indeed, once properly dressed up, Leona cut quite the striking figure.

"Thank you, but this doesn't suit me." Just like a certain little brat didn't suit her. It wasn't that she disliked designer clothes, but charity always left a bitter taste in her mouth.

Leona gave the maid a slight smile and, ignoring the confusion in the other's eyes, walked out the door first.

She was led to a private dining room, and along the way, Leona had to admit that the royal family truly was the wealthiest of the wealthy. Having spent her life tasting poverty, she couldn't help but swallow hard at the opulent displays.

How could she not be impressed? Everything gleamed with gold, and priceless antiques were casually displayed everywhere.

Just how much was all this worth?

"The future Crown Princess has arrived!" The maid's announcement snapped Leona out of her mental calculations. She quickly schooled her expression into neutrality, hiding any trace of her previous covetousness.

The long golden tablecloth was laden with exquisite dishes. Lucian sat at the far end, radiating his usual cold aura even while eating breakfast.

Although... with such a long table, how could anyone reach the dishes at the other end?

Extravagant! Wasteful! Shameful!

Leona mentally criticized while casually drifting toward the opposite end. Just as she was about to sit down, a maid caught her arm.

"Future Crown Princess, your seat is over there!" The maid pointed to a place beside Lucian.

Seriously? They even had assigned seating for breakfast? The royal family really did make everything complicated! Leona's lip twitched slightly.

Lucian looked up coldly. "That's my father's seat."

The President's— Leona froze, looking between the seat and Lucian's position. Understanding dawned. So this was how royal seating worked: father at the head, son below.

Unable to argue, she could only float to Lucian's side. She definitely couldn't sit in the President's place! She might get charged with attempting to usurp the throne! Hehe! Just kidding!

The guards stood like stone statues, the maids kept their heads bowed respectfully, and the atmosphere was suffocatingly formal. The silence made Leona incredibly uncomfortable.

She thought about meals at home, full of chatter and laughter. This was just... cold.

Watching Lucian eat with perfect elegance, his small face its usual mask of frost, even his delicate features seeming rimmed with ice, Leona finally couldn't take it anymore. "Hey, you don't actually like me, do you?"

This wasn't idle chatter—she genuinely wanted to know. It had been bothering her.

Could a twelve-year-old even understand romantic love?

Yet his behavior was so bizarre!

"My name is Lucian. You may call me 'my man' or 'husband' if you prefer," he said coolly, taking a sip of juice. "But 'sweetie' is absolutely forbidden."

It was the first time Lucian hadn't referred to himself as "This Crown Prince" when speaking to Leona. However, the dangerous glint that flashed through his dark eyes suggested that if she called him "sweetie" again, well—

Instinctively touching her neck, Leona decided she valued her life. But calling this tiny child "my man" or "husband" would be ridiculous!

A thought struck her, and she smiled sweetly, her voice dripping with sugary affection: "Little Lucy!"

The guards visibly flinched. The maids' lips twitched. Their future Crown Princess's tone was just too... horrifying.

Lucian's fingers tightened on his glass until it creaked ominously. His icy gaze and murderous aura bore down on Leona as if trying to eliminate her through sheer force of will.

Unfazed, Leona's smile widened. "No? How about 'darling' then?"

D-darling? A black line appeared on Lucian's pristine forehead.

"Oh! Maybe something more international!" Leona mused, batting her eyes flirtatiously. "How about... honey-bunny?"

The assembled staff choked, wanting to laugh but not daring to, nearly suffocating with the effort of holding it in.

Lucian's exquisite little face twitched violently, turning dark as he stared at Leona's smiling face. His obsidian eyes took on a dangerous red tinge. He looked ready to breathe fire.

"Well then," she continued cheerfully, "maybe something more traditional? Luci-kins!"

Her tone was somehow even more saccharine than before. A vein pulsed prominently on Lucian's forehead as he ground out through clenched teeth: "Leo. Na."

The temperature in the room dropped several degrees. The staff held their breath, wondering if they were about to witness a murder.

"What's wrong, sugar-pie?" Leona asked innocently. "Don't you like pet names?"

"You," Lucian said with deadly calm, "are playing a very dangerous game."

"Me? Never! I'm just trying to be a proper fiancée, dumpling!"

The glass in Lucian's hand finally shattered.

"Clean this up," he ordered without taking his murderous gaze off Leona. "And bring me the documentation for the royal dungeons."

"The... dungeons, Your Highness?"

"Yes. I believe we still have some medieval torture devices in storage. They might need... updating."

"Now, now, muffin," Leona chided. "That's not very romantic!"

Several maids had to excuse themselves, their faces turning purple from suppressed laughter.

"You know," Lucian said conversationally, "most people who value their lives don't deliberately provoke me."

"Most people aren't being forced to marry a twelve-year-old who marks them with acid," Leona replied just as pleasantly. "Besides, snookums, I thought you liked my creative approach to situations?"

"I'm beginning to reconsider my assessment of your qualities."

"Aww, don't be like that, cuddle-bear!"

"The dungeons are looking better by the minute."

"Is that any way to talk to your future queen, sugar-plum?"

Their verbal sparring might have continued indefinitely if Year hadn't chosen that moment to enter. "Your Highness, the President requests your presence."

"We'll continue this discussion later," Lucian promised ominously as he stood.

"Can't wait, sweetie-pie!"

As Lucian stormed out, his small frame practically vibrating with rage, Leona finally allowed herself to giggle. The remaining staff looked at her with a mixture of horror and admiration.

"Miss," one brave maid ventured, "perhaps it's not wise to... antagonize His Highness quite so much?"

"Oh, probably not," Leona agreed cheerfully. "But if he's going to make my life difficult, I might as well return the favor. Besides," she added with a wink, "he's absolutely adorable when he's angry!"

The maid looked faint. "Please... please don't let His Highness hear you say that."

"What's the worst he could do?" Leona asked, then quickly held up a hand. "No, wait, don't answer that. I probably don't want to know."

Still, as she finished her breakfast in relative peace, Leona couldn't help but smile. If she was going to be trapped in this bizarre situation, she might as well have some fun with it.

Though perhaps she should avoid any more pet names for a while. There was only so far you could push a genius/demon child before he actually did resort to medieval torture devices.

Then again... "cuddle-muffin" did have a nice ring to it...