âAll of you, what are you doing! Step back immediately.â
The Prince who came out from behind Leonard rebuked the men loudly.
âYour Highness, this is something that could shake the foundation of our countryâs diplomacy. This isnât the place where love affairs should be prioritized. In any case, please just leave this matter to us diplomats.â
*hmph* The man who called himself a diplomat laughed from his nose and stepped one step further with an attitude that didnât even care about the Princeâs earlier words.
Seemed like the nobles who held a post in diplomacy saw that Emma could speak Imperial Japanese and gathered here in a rush.
âWell, well, what is this, Diplomat Oliver deFros. How rude! Wasnât what you said a little too discourteous considering the other party is the Second Prince of this kingdom?â
Hilda backed Leonard and the Prince from behind.
âHii, Duchess Hilda Sullivan! âŠno matter what you say, we will fulfill our duties!â
The diplomats were frightened by the Manner Demon for a moment, but they quickly used the âitâs all for our countryâ excuse to justify themselves and didnât back down.
âHah, how funny. Canât you see that Emma is just a 13-year-old girl? Why must she serve the country when she is not even conscious and is in pain? Are you trying to push the consequences of you diplomatsâ inability to speak Imperial Japanese to my granddaughter?â
Said Emma was currently sleeping very soundly, but thereâs no way people other than Leonard would know.
âW-What are youâ!? We are only doing this for the sake of our kingdom! Even if you are the Duke of Sullivan, if you say anything more than this⊠!â
The one who stopped the diplomatsâ frantic babbling was Hildaâs deep, deep sigh. Something that could make young ladies whoâre learning manners tremble and even make the King freeze for an instant, the Manner Demonâs sigh.
âOliver, and then those behind you, Connor, Robinson, Blanc, Mason, Kristen, Morrison, Austin⊠Haah⊠If you, the parents, have no manners to this extent, I suppose I also canât expect anything from your daughters? I heard that itâs about time⊠for your daughters to find a fianceâŠ? Seems like itâs going to be a hot topic in the upcoming tea party.â
âA-Are you threatening us!!?â
Any young lady the Manner Demon is displeased with has no hope of getting married.
âYou are the ones who have been threatening me with the country as an excuse. I did nothing but personally try to figure out which family has bad manners, did I not?â
â â âHiii!â â â
â â âW-We are terribly sorryâ!!!â â â
Except for the man in the lead, the diplomats scattered and ran.
âH-Hey, all of you! Donât run away! Oi!â
The diplomat who was left alone stood still in front of the door and glared at Leonard.
âSorry to say, but my daughter is incomparably more important to me than the Kingdom. If I am to be punished for this, I will accept as much punishment as you like.â
The diplomat quivered as Leonard looked down at him smilingly from above. He continued to receive pressure just like that and fell on his bottom.
Leonard was smiling, but the air around him was tingling with tension.
âI would greatly appreciate it if you could understand.â
Not minding the diplomat who fell on the ground, now that the blocked door was opened, Leonard went out of the room, bowed to the Prince and Hilda, and left the royal castle.
. . .
Emma, who just woke up refreshingly, would know much later that Leonard had made the turmoil even bigger by picking her up.