Chapter 106 - A Bad Reason

"Lissa, calm down. There hasn't been an execution since some Duke decided to look at mom."

Leo's words provided a calm explanation to his little sister. It didn't really mean anything to him if she tried to get Rynold executed. Because of how strong the guy is, Leo didn't have any problems when his little sister would try something like that.

What's more, executions only apply to when his parents wanted to have one. Lissa didn't really have any power in making such a thing happen.

"I merely decided to grace that peon with my presence, and how he treated me was inexcusable!" Lissa hysterically ranted. "How dare he treat me like that?!"

Raising his hand, Leo gave a light chop to his little sister's head to bonk her out of her arrogance.

"Little sister, control yourself," Leo warned as he let out a deep sigh, "You honestly think that you'd even get the chance to touch him? You gotta know that he's not so easy to stand up against."

"Then explain to me why is it you have chosen him as your champion?!" Lissa contradicted her older brother's warning as she rubbed her head.

Leo clicked his tongue. Knowing full well that his little sister was stubborn to a fault, Leo doesn't have anything else that he could do to alleviate her of her curiosity in the matter.

"Alright then," Leo said as he walked back into his room and sitting back down to his desk chair. Prompting Lissa to follow him, Leo started to disclose information that would satisfy her little sister's curiosity.

"The moment you decided to drop out of the tournament," Leo started to explain, "It meant that you have nothing to do with my participation. So, why are you so diligent in trying to find out who my champion is?"

It was a reasonable question. From Leo's perspective, asking something like this would gauge his answers from henceforth. Well, that is, if Lissa gave a good answer.

"Brother," Lissa answered as she closed the door behind her. "You must understand that I dropped out because I cannot be bothered dealing with all that nonsense. I do not care who wins or loses. So long as you stay out of my way, we won't have any problems."

Leo scoffed as soon as Lissa ended that sentence. Truthfully, Leo was a bit underwhelmed with her response. To some degree, he had even expected her to say something like that.

"That's great and all," Leo continued to press on, "But, you didn't answer my question. Why are you so curious about my champion?"

"Hmph," the young princess acted with an air of arrogance around her, "Fine. If you must insist on pestering me with that question, I shall give you an answer. I..."

Suddenly, Lissa hesitated and was somewhat embarrassed.

Leo, in utter confusion, was surprised by the sudden pause in his little sister's words. "You what?" He pressed on his little sister to continue the statement.

"I... want...," Lissa still hesitantly continued her sentence, "to... HAVE A HUSBAND!"

His eyes immediately widening in surprise. Leo didn't expect something like this to be a reason for her interest in Rynold. Well, no older brother would ever even think of something like that happening to their little sister.

Leo immediately stood up as his blood pressure rose along with him. As a person who rarely talks about personal relations with his family, Leo was uncomfortable to the core.

Massaging the bridge of his nose with his right hand, Leo tried to make sense of what his little sister had just said.

"Okay, okay," he spoke after a few seconds of complete silence, "Is there any reason why you're thinking of stuff like this now of all times? I mean, isn't there somebody else of royal blood that suits your tastes?"

"You see, older brother," Lissa answered the questions of her confused older brother, "I am now at that age to find someone and get betrothed. I often hear the handmaidens talk about these things.

As a person of royalty, I must seek out those worthy of my time. Those who are willing to serve me to the end of their days. Those of royal blood cannot even wipe their own asses, let alone defend me in these times."

"Oh, for fuck's sake," Leo couldn't believe what he was hearing. Since Lissa didn't have many friends her age growing up, she had often learned from the handmaidens around her.

Furthermore, since parenting wasn't a thing in most of her life, Lissa was under the impression that her partner would be completely subservient to her. Whoever manages to fall for her little sister would be utterly insane.

Leo let out a deep sigh as he slumped back in his chair, disappointed at whatever reason that his little sister had whipped up from the wrong people.

"First of all," Leo started to explain, "He'd kill you if you speak like that in front of him. Second, even if you are at that age, it doesn't mean you have to get married. That's just irresponsible and hive-minded.

Third, if you do plan on doing that, do not pick my champion. It would be the worst experience of your life. Regret won't even begin to cover what you have to go through if you decide to push through with this."

The third point may be a bit of a stretch, Leo noted, but, considering his experiences with Rynold so far, it wasn't completely baseless either. The point being is that Leo would say anything to get his little sister out of it.

"Dear brother," Lissa continued to act in her arrogant and overly confident manner. "He can certainly try to do those things. However, he will surely fail!"

The young princess immediately left after her announcement of getting what she wanted. It was completely characteristic of her to do something like that, to which Leo could only sit back and sigh.

'Fucking hell,' Leo swore in his own thoughts, 'Can't believe she would actually be interested in Rynold. Well, whatever she does shouldn't be a problem for the mission.'

With another sigh of frustration, Leo stood up and walked out the door.

Truthfully, there could be worse reasons for Lissa's interest. The one she just gave should, thankfully, be the better one. However, Leo was still conflicted as to what to do next.

Before being so brazenly interrupted by his little sister, Leo had gaps in a plan. Well, if one could even call haphazard ideas thrown together a plan.

Regardless, Leo could actually go for a walk to clear his head a bit. At the same time, visiting Rynold should put some things into perspective.

Moving past the same halls and corridors alone without any guards, Leo soon found himself in a hallway that was near the entrance of the cages.

However, before he could continue walking, he was stopped by two guards that crossed their spears which blocked the hallway.

Behind one of the guards, the figure of a small child came into Leo's view.

"Ah, cousin," Leo greeted while holding back his hostility, "what can I do for you?"

The child looked up at Leo. Since the height difference was staggering, Leo's cousin had no choice but to look up when talking to someone.

But, whenever his cousin looked up, Leo felt as if his cousin was looking down at him. The child's level of arrogance and dominating aura was second to none. Even Leo's parents didn't compare.

"I saw your champion today," the child answered, "An interesting creature, I must say. It seems that my champion would have some competition in the tournament, eh?"

Leo couldn't help but click his tongue. 'What the hell did Rynold do that grabbed so many people's attention?' Leo thought to himself.

"Is that so?" Leo feigned ignorance, "I wouldn't know what that thing is capable of when I picked him off the street. Perhaps I shall pay more attention to the matches ahead."

His instincts were telling him that he was in danger. Only thing was, he didn't know from where. Leo could only stare intently at his young cousin that was considered a protege in every sense of the word.

Leo's hands were ready to pull out his sword from his inventory at any moment. He could easily kill the kid without even breaking a sweat, only problem was that he'd be immediately disqualified and executed.

He had no choice but to hold back. Leo needed to wait and see before he could do anything else.

"Perhaps... you should," the young child replied before ordering his guards to let Leo through.

Taking his chance to leave, Leo passed his cousin and walked straight, not daring to look back. Deep in his mind, Leo couldn't help but swear in a very compulsive manner.

With his cousin now on to him, Leo wouldn't dare relax his guard. The stakes have gotten even higher now that they knew what Rynold was capable of.

What bothered Leo the most was that his cousin was now suspicious of his activities. There wasn't anything more dangerous than a predator who was both smart and clever.