I! Cleaner!

"Okay."

Leon nodded in response to show that he understood, then got up and alighted from the carriage.

At the lady official's request, he donned a cloak and hood, concealing most of his face, and then entered a roadside restaurant named "Golden Herbs," where he found the private booth the princess had reserved in advance.

Seriously... even having a meal has to be so clandestine, like an underground party rendezvous...

After silently mocking the princess's peculiar dining style, the ravenous Leon took off his cloak and sat in the obviously meticulously prepared booth, patiently waiting for his dining partner to arrive.

However, ten minutes, fifteen minutes, twenty minutes... a full forty minutes passed, and the princess who claimed she'd definitely arrive within fifteen minutes was nowhere in sight.

And having slept an entire day since returning home that morning, with his last meal still being lunch yesterday, Leon was truly so hungry his eyes were almost turning green.

Perhaps I should order something to eat first...

Unable to wait any longer, Leon asked the waiter for a menu, planning to order something to fill his stomach. Yet upon seeing the prices on the menu, he decisively abandoned the idea of ordering, opting instead for two glasses of plain water.

No choice, although being a Cleaner is considered a "high-paying career," he wasn't unable to afford it, but he had only received two months' salary so far, and after paying rent, tuition fees, furnishing his home, purchasing medicine for Anna's health adjustment, and cigarettes for the unlucky black goat...

After tallying up all these expenses, the remaining balance wasn't substantial, and with Anna, who managed his accounts, sent away by him from the capital, if he ordered and the princess didn't show up, he'd have a hard time getting by before Anna returned next week.

...

Seriously... I just repelled an Evil God attempting to invade the mortal realm yesterday, and I can't even bring myself to have a good meal. I need to request another fieldwork allowance from the director.

Pinching his empty and pathetic wallet, Leon couldn't help but shake his head. Just as he stood up to leave the booth and find a more affordable place to fill his stomach, hurried footsteps sounded outside the booth.

"Leon?"

Pushing the booth door open in haste and seeing Leon still there, the travel-worn princess immediately breathed a sigh of relief, then apologetically said:

"Something just came up and delayed me. I'm sorry, did you wait long?"

"It's alright, probably a few more hours before I starve to death..."

Responding with a hint of annoyance, Leon glanced at the weary-faced princess, whose elbow was slightly bleeding, hesitated a bit, then asked in surprise:

"Weren't you meeting with the Prime Minister? How did you end up in such a mess?"

"Because someone set me up..."

Upon hearing Leon's question, the princess gave a bitter smile, then said helplessly:

"Recently, the Minister of Defense and I have been promoting the selection and replacement of military officers, attempting to gradually replace those positions filled through family connections within the ranks of officers and sergeants.

The proposal concerning this selection order was supposed to be presented at the upcoming parliamentary session, but someone leaked it prematurely, and not just this issue was leaked, but also my schedule today.

Then, those officers worried about being replaced, incited by certain individuals, banded together to block me outside the Prime Minister's residence. The patrolling guards must've been informed as well, as nobody stopped them along the way.

After blocking the residence, they threw stones inside and nearly broke through the guards to rush in. I barely managed to escape, and it's during that time my arm got injured."

Ah, no wonder even a meal feels like sneaking around - it seems the princess's life isn't easy either...

Glancing at the panting, sweat-glistened forehead and blood-dripping elbow of the princess in front of him, Leon's resentment eased a bit, then he retrieved the [Plague-Infected Blood Band] from the Mirror World and said with slightly sympathetic eyes:

"Judging by your wound, it'll probably leave a scar. Would you like me to help treat it?"

"Yes! Of course, please do!"

After checking Leon's expression, Princess Veronica smirked, then sat beside Leon with a gleeful glint, rolling up her sleeve to expose her fair arm, leaning her wounded elbow towards him, she said in a sweet voice:

"Leon, I'm glad you're here~"

"..."

I feel like you're trying to set me up again...

Watching the princess gazing at him fondly, eyes seemingly twinkling with stars, Leon felt a slight paralysis on his scalp. Then he grumbled:

"Stop pretending! If you rushed here from the Prime Minister's residence, it takes at least twenty minutes; there's surely enough time to treat the wound and bandage it, right?"

"Well, I was eager to see you~"

Not embarrassed by being caught feigning sadness, the princess continued to hold up her pale arm with a smiling gaze, responding:

"Both of us are usually so busy, it's rare to have some free time. Naturally, if we can hurry, let's hurry, and take advantage of the break to gather as much as possible; otherwise, how will we maintain our marital relationship?"

"..."

No... I haven't even married, where do we have a marital relationship from? Did you get it from Heaven's Bank with a loan?

Leon rolled his eyes at her remark, then grabbed the pale arm waving before him, intending to wrap it with the [Plague-Infected Blood Band].

Yet as the soft, cool feeling of the princess's delicate arm found its way into his hands, almost like an exquisite coolness wrapped in water, he paused slightly and unconsciously gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Mmm..."

Apparently, his action tugged at the wound, and Princess Veronica let out a soft hum, furrowing her beautiful brows ever so slightly.

Upon realizing what he'd done, Leon's face flushed faintly red, and he began hurriedly wrapping the bandage, even accidentally winding it around his fingertip a little in his haste.

"All done."

After hastily activating the [Plague-Infected Blood Band]'s effect to heal the princess's arm wound, Leon slightly avoided his gaze and unwound the bandage. However, the fair arm didn't retract, instead suddenly lifted, brushing softly against the corner of his lips.

"?"

Feeling the warmth and softness at the corner of his lips, Leon paused in confusion, quickly pushing aside the arm before frowning and glaring back.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing~"

Noticing Leon's slightly reddened ears, Princess Veronica blinked and covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she chuckled:

"You were staring so intently earlier; I thought you liked it~"

"I'm not interested!"

"You even gave it a squeeze."

"..."

"Would you like to squeeze again? You may continue if you wish~ I don't mind~"

"..."

"If you don't speak up, I'll assume you..."

"Order the food already! I'm starving!"

"Alright, alright, I'll follow your lead~"

After pushing the menu stand over and seeing the princess's half-smiling face, Leon wished desperately for a crack in the ground to open up so he could crawl right in and never emerge again.

Darn! Seriously... why couldn't I control my hand just now!

Haha, I got you!

Seeing Leon, who was full of resentment when she first arrived and now instinctively turning his head, not daring to meet her gaze, Princess Veronica smiled triumphantly. She then lowered her sleeve to cover her arm and elegantly picked up the menu standing at the side of the table.

Teasing has come to a natural pause, as continuous teasing is unwarranted. Though the little man has a tender face, his temper isn't mild, and if overdone like last time, he tends to retaliate~