Chapter 5: The Guest of the Emperor

Leona and her maid, Anna, finally reached home after their long journey. As they entered the grand foyer of the Hearth estate, a servant approached Leona with a message from her father.

"Young Mistress Leona," the servant began, bowing respectfully, "your father wishes to inform you that an important guest has arrived. The emperor has ordered an inspection of the estate."

Leona furrowed her brow in thought. "Who might that person be? If the emperor himself chose them, then they must be the emperor's most trusted individual," she pondered aloud.

"That's quite intriguing, but I'm too tired to think about it now," Leona said, rubbing her eyes. "Anna, I need to rest. I'm going to sleep." Anna nodded understandingly. "Of course, Young Mistress Leona. I'll have the maid prepare your bed."

She gestured to a nearby maid, who nodded and hurried off to fulfill the request. "Please make Mistress Leona's bed and ensure everything is ready for her," Anna instructed.

"Right away, Miss Anna," the maid replied before heading towards Leona's quarters.

In the following days, Leona completely forgot about the important guest her father had mentioned. She spent her days secluded in the vast library, devouring books to gain more knowledge about the kingdom. She knew that if she ever ran away, she needed to be well-informed and capable of earning her own money.

One evening, as Leona was deeply engrossed in a book titled "How to Become a Billionaire," she heard a noise behind the shelves. The sudden sound startled her; the library was usually a place of silence, and it was rare for anyone else to be there.

"Oh my god, what's that noise? Hope it's not a ghost," Leona whispered to herself. "Don't be stupid, Leona. There's no such thing as ghosts," she tried to calm herself. But then she reconsidered, "But then again, if magic and dragons exist, then ghosts might exist too."

"Who's there?" Leona called out, her voice tinged with fear.

She cautiously moved towards the source of the noise. As she walked slowly, someone touched her from behind, causing her to scream and cry out for help.

"Oh god, why am I so unlucky? You know I'm weak, please don't do this to me!" Leona pleaded, trying to hide behind a book.

Suddenly, a firm grip stopped her. Turning around, she was shocked to see Duke Adrian.

"You!" Duke Adrian exclaimed, equally surprised. He had met Leona in the street before and had mistaken her for a commoner.

"What do you mean by 'you'? You scared the life out of me!" Leona almost cried. "But anyway, I'm thankful it's you and not a ghost," she added, relieved.

"Ghost? Are you a child? You believe in ghosts?" Adrian asked, amused.

"No! I mean, in this world, there might be," Leona replied defensively.

"In this world?" Adrian frowned, puzzled.

Realizing her slip, Leona quickly corrected herself. "Nothing, my tongue just slipped." She gave Adrian a friendly smile.

Adrian found himself captivated by Leona's smile. "Who are you?" he asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

"My name is Leona Von Hearth. It's a pleasure to meet you, sir," Leona introduced herself politely.

Adrian, thinking to himself, found Leona quite endearing. "So, you like going out in disguise?" he asked.

"Yes, of cour-" Leona began, then stopped abruptly. "Huh, how did you know?" She tilted her head in confusion.

Adrian smiled unconsciously. "You look good when you smile, miss," Adrian commented.

Regaining her composure, Leona continued, "I know you are the guest my father mentioned, the one sent by the emperor. But may I ask your name, sir?"

"Dren. My name is Dren," Duke Adrian replied, choosing to conceal his true identity.

"Dren?" Leona thought to herself. "I've never heard this name in the novel." Aloud, she said, "Alright, Dren. Nice to meet you."

"Me too," Adrian said with a smirk.

"Then, see you again," Leona said as she turned to leave.

"Sure," Adrian replied, watching her go.

After Leona left, Samuel, Adrian's loyal servant, emerged from the shadows. "My lord, according to the rumors, she is not favored by all. But watching her behavior and seeing her in reality makes me doubt those rumors."

Adrian pondered Samuel's words. "How can a weak person torture anyone? Even if she tried, she would get bullied instead. Her mana is too low, and her physical appearance is more delicate. And what kind of noble daughter raised in luxury wants to become a billionaire? Interesting," Adrian thought to himself, an evil smirk forming on his lips.

Adrian was looking forward to meeting Leona again. There was something about the young woman that intrigued him deeply. Little did Leona know, she had already met one of the main leads of the novel she was trying so hard to avoid.

The next morning, Leona woke up early and decided to head back to the library. She found solace among the books, and it was the one place where she could momentarily forget about the pressures of her noble life. As she was immersed in a tome about the kingdom's trade routes, a familiar voice interrupted her concentration.

"Mistress Leona, there you are!" It was Anna, looking slightly out of breath. "Your father wishes to see you in the drawing room immediately." Leona sighed, closing her book reluctantly. "Alright, Anna. I'll go at once."

As she made her way to the drawing room, Leona couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Her father's unexpected summons rarely bode well. When she entered, she was greeted by the sight of her father and Duke Adrian, or rather, Dren, sitting across from each other.

"Ah, Leona," her father said, gesturing for her to sit. "This is our esteemed guest, sent by the emperor for the estate's inspection."

Leona sat down, glancing at Adrian, who gave her a knowing smile. "We've already met, Father. I had the pleasure of meeting Dren in the library last night."

"Is that so?" her father replied, surprised. "Well, I'm glad you two have already been acquainted."

Adrian leaned forward, his eyes never leaving Leona's. "Indeed. It was quite an interesting encounter."Leona shifted uncomfortably under Adrian's intense gaze but managed to maintain her composure. "Yes, it was."

Duke Von Hearth thought, "But why is Leona calling Duke Adrian 'Dren'? Maybe yesterday's meeting really did make them closer, that's why."

"Leona," her father continued, "I want you to assist Dren during his stay. Show him around the estate and help him with anything he might need."

Leona nodded obediently. "Of course, Father. I will do my best." Adrian's smirk widened. "I look forward to spending more time with you, Leona."

And thus, the wheels of fate began to turn, drawing Leona deeper into a web of intrigue and destiny that she could not escape.

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