The Alex family had a little visitor today.

Even though Leon’s father hadn’t come home yet, Alisa was still delighted. She brought out her own cooking to welcome Fio.

“Little Fio, how is it? Does it taste good?”

At the dining table, Alisa asked Fio happily. Fio put a bite of food into her little mouth, so moved she nearly burst into tears.

“Lady Alisa, your cooking is amazing! This is the best food I’ve ever eaten in my life. Am I really allowed to be this happy?!”

“Little Fio, if you want to learn, I can teach you.”

“Really?!”

“Of course, Little Fio. Let me tell you a secret,” Alisa said, lowering her voice playfully. “The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

Then Alisa shifted her gaze to her son. Leon looked nervous and straightened his back.

“M-Mother, what are you talking about?!”

“Hmm~ Who knows?”

Fio didn’t quite understand what Alisa meant, but it sounded pretty impressive. With Leon making such a strange face, he must’ve gotten chewed out.

Heh heh heh, serves you right! Fio giggled to herself.

“Hey, why’d you bring this stranger into our house?”

Vivian spoke with open hostility.

She’d been gripping her knife and fork ever since sitting down at the table, staring at the food on her plate without saying a word. She’d finally run out of patience.

Fio could tell Leon was signaling to her out of the corner of his eye. It was her turn to put on a performance and use the story they’d rehearsed to shut this family up.

Don’t worry, Leon! Acting is part of the art of kingship. As the Ice Dragon King, I’ll pull this off perfectly! Fio gave him a confident thumbs-up under the table.

“Um, I… My parents died when I was six, so I wandered around… Uh!”

Vivian stared straight at Fio’s face, and her social anxiety started acting up. Her mind went blank, and she stumbled over her words.

“Um, I was wandering… then I met Leon, and bandits kidnapped me… Leon rescued me… Mm… and then I came here. Um, yeah. That’s what happened.”

Fio was sweating all over. An awkward silence fell over the dining table.

What am I even doing?! I’ve rehearsed this so many times, but the second I have to say it, I forget everything! This is so suspicious! Who would believe me?!

Fio lowered her head and fidgeted with her fingers, like a criminal waiting for the judge to pass sentence.

“Oh? You’ve been wandering around outside for so long, yet your hair and skin are so well cared for. You look just like a young noblewoman.” Vivian pressed on mercilessly. “Could it be that you’re naturally beautiful?”

“Y-yes! I’m naturally beautiful!”

Vivian had led Fio right off track.

“Hmm? Say that again?”

“……”

I’m sorry, Leon! I failed! My opponent was too strong!

Fio simply shut off her mind, hearing, and sight, retreating into her specialty: shut-in mode. She lowered her head and turned her brain into a blank sheet of paper, thinking about absolutely nothing.

Leon was at a loss for words too. He wasn’t good at talking things through himself, and he had no idea how to convince his little sister.

“She’s way too suspicious! There’s no way we can let someone like her—”

Vivian stood up and was about to drag Fio away, but Alisa stopped her with a look.

“Vivian, sit down first.”

“Mother, but—”

“Sit down first. Listen to me.”

“Yes…”

Alisa gave her a kind smile, and Vivian froze. She obediently returned to her seat.

“As his mother, I can tell,” Alisa said. “Little Fio wasn’t the one who approached Leon. Leon went looking for her. I’d say he was the one who asked Fio to become his slave.”

“What?”

Vivian turned to look at Leon. She’d never heard of her brother taking an interest in a woman of his own accord!

Her brother wasn’t showing his usual cold indifference. Leon actually turned his face away, looking a little shy. That was basically confirmation of what their mother had said.

“Don’t you understand, Vivian?” Alisa said, sounding as if she’d seen right through Leon. “Leon says he wants to make Little Fio his maid, but that’s not what he really has in mind at all. He’s using it as an excuse to have Little Fio train to be a bride here with me.”

Before Vivian could object, Leon calmly started defending himself as if it were nothing. “Mother, you’re exaggerating. Fio and I are just friends…”

Vivian felt as if she’d just been hit hard on the head. Her ears rang as she sank into utter confusion.

“Huh? Vivian, what’s wrong?”

“Mother, I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well today. I think I’ll go rest.”

She couldn’t stay there any longer. She stood up, said, “I’m full,” and left the table like a limp, hopeless fish, leaving Fio alone with the mother and son.

Alisa was a little worried about Vivian, but then she remembered that her daughter had mentioned a few days ago that she was trying to lose weight, so she didn’t think much more of it.

“So Leon and Little Fio are just friends for now,” Alisa said, her smile growing. “Then, have you done it yet?”

“Uuuuuugh—cough, cough! Mother, please don’t joke about things like that.”

Leon nearly choked to death. He hurriedly gulped down his drink and patted his chest to recover.

“I’m joking, I’m joking. Don’t worry about it. But if you want to do it before you get married, that’s fine too.”

Leon’s face turned bright red. He had nothing to say.

Alisa found Leon more and more entertaining. She’d thought her son was about to become a monk, but now, at long last, things were turning around. He’d suddenly taken an interest in a girl, and she was determined to bring the two of them together.

If the time came, even if I had to use a few little tricks, Little Fio and Leon would forgive me, right?

Fio came back from shut-in mode without the slightest idea what had just happened. She only noticed Alisa looking at her with a suggestive expression, Vivian nowhere to be seen, and Leon looking utterly mortified.

Fio tried to make sense of the situation. She got it. Alisa must’ve realized Leon had been bullying her and given him a scolding, which was why he looked like he’d done something wrong. Vivian had found out about Leon’s scummy behavior too and left in disgust.

So that’s what happened. What an understanding woman! I’ll always love Lady Alisa!

“Lady Alisa… thank you for standing up for me!” Fio responded just as passionately.

“Little Fio, if you feel the same way too, I’ll help you, no matter what it takes.”

Is she talking about punishing Leon? If so, then I’m all for it!

Fio said without hesitation, “Please do!”