President Baby's Bride

Chapter 8: Unexpected Visitors

One minute passed. Lucian remained motionless... Two minutes. Still no movement... Three minutes. Not a twitch...

The silence was deafening, crushing the fragile nerves of the assembled staff. The longer their prince remained still, the more terrified they became. After all, unknown dangers were the most frightening.

Your Highness, please just say something! — This was the collective thought of everyone present.

Even Leona's smile had grown strained and peculiar. She reached out to pat the little pudding's head again, asking suspiciously, "What's wrong? Turned to stone? Planning to become a museum exhibit?"

The staff broke into fresh sweats, their hearts leaping into their throats at her actions.

Future Crown Princess, please stop patting His Highness's head! If you want to die, don't take us with you! They silently pleaded.

Suddenly, Lucian raised his head. In an instant, all the cold air around him seemed to be drawn back into his body. He looked directly at Leona as if nothing had happened and said calmly: "I understand now."

The staff was dumbfounded. Leona was stunned. This was certainly unexpected, but wasn't this response a bit too... casual?

She eyed him suspiciously for a long moment. When it seemed he truly wasn't planning anything else, she finally relaxed her wary expression.

Hehe! Finally resolved!

Just as she turned to leave, Lucian's cold voice rang out again: "Wait until I grow up."

THUD

Leona nearly tripped, her heart jolting. So THIS was his "understanding"?

Clenching her fists in frustration, she gritted out, "Big sister's too old to wait!"

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "Eighteen is old? Then should thirty-year-olds just die?"

"One word: will you let me go or not?" She demanded through clenched teeth.

"Do I look like an i***t?" Lucian asked coolly, a frigid joke.

Fine! I'm the i***t!

Leona's lips twitched. She was truly angry now, her eyes blazing as she stared at Lucian's composed face.

Suddenly, she grabbed his collar and pulled him close, sneering: "Who do you think you are? God? Zeus? Ultraman? You're just a little brat who wants to make me his woman. Being Crown Prince isn't that great! I'd be the i***t to agree!"

"Let me tell you something: I'm not delusional, not crazy, not neurotic. I'm very rational, very normal, very clear-headed, and I don't play dangerous age-gap games!"

"Don't try to drag me into your madness! If you want to be crazy, be crazy by yourself! Go crazy until you die, it has nothing to do with me! Got it?"

After her explosive outburst, she roughly patted his head again. The staff trembled. Sister, please stop patting! o(╯□╰)o~

Lucian nodded calmly—very, very calmly. He elegantly removed her hand and straightened his clothes.

Under everyone's bewildered stares, including Leona's, he turned without a word.

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned back. His lips curved into a slight smile as he pronounced: "Madness is a lifestyle. Casual madness is a sophisticated art form."

Whoosh—whoosh—

An invisible wind seemed to blow through the room. Everyone froze!

Leona: Savage level 99! Lucian: Savage level 100!

With one sentence, Lucian claimed victory! Hehe!

...

The summer morning was brilliant; Leona was miserable.

Lucian had issued strict orders: the future Crown Princess was not to step foot outside the palace buildings. All means of communication were confiscated. Imprisonment, pure and simple!

After wandering aimlessly back to her room, even the antiques she'd admired all morning had lost their appeal. Staring at the ceiling, Leona fell into a daze.

Boredom was an understatement.

The door opened, and an elderly man entered, his face wreathed in kindly smiles.

While Leona watched curiously, he set down a tray beside her, saying gently, "Miss Leona, I've prepared some snacks. You should eat something to keep your strength up!"

Leona started. This was the first time anyone here had called her "Miss Leona." Hmm! It felt nice, genuinely nice!

"May I ask who you are?" Her expression brightened as she sat up politely.

"My name is Butler Chen, the palace's head steward. You may call me Uncle Chen!"

"Then you must have been here many years, Uncle Chen?" Leona smiled, taking a delicate bite of a pastry. If she weren't in such a bad mood, she'd have to admit the food here was excellent.

"Miss Leona is very perceptive!" Uncle Chen smiled kindly, pouring her a glass of juice.

Leona smiled wryly. Perceptive? Hehe! Not perceptive enough to avoid being trapped by a certain little demon!

Speaking of whom, she hadn't seen Lucian since lunch. She wondered what he was doing.

"What does he do all day?" she asked curiously. "Does he go to school?"

Uncle Chen shook his head, chuckling. "His Highness used to attend the Royal Academy, but since he's essentially mastered the university curriculum through self-study, he rarely goes anymore. With the President away, as Crown Prince and future heir, he naturally helps handle some state affairs."

"What? He's mastered university material? And handles state affairs? He's only twelve!" Leona gaped. This was too much, wasn't it? Wouldn't he burn out?

"Hehe! His Highness is exceptional, and quite driven," Uncle Chen winked, smiling. "Sometimes I wonder if that child is even human!"

Leona could relate to that joke. Thinking of that ice-cold little face, his mature speech, elegant bearing, poisonous tongue, and dark psychology...

Indeed, indeed not human at all!

A true monster!

Just as she was pondering this, a theatrical voice suddenly rang out from outside—

"Darling Prince! Your beloved Cici has arrived! Won't you come out and greet me?"