What witch? The Deadly Pharmacist!

She knew perfectly well that Leon was simply asking a question and didn't mean anything by it, but she still couldn't help but think about all sorts of things.

Suddenly, she realized something, glanced at Lena in the distance, then at Leon, and hesitated before she could ask him something.

"What's wrong?" Leon asked when he saw her hesitate.

"No, it's nothing." Weiss evaded the topic somewhat flusteredly, and as if to cover up her actions, she began to deal with the medicine on the lab table.

Leon's question made her think of a possibility: Leon and Lena were lovers and had many opportunities to spend time together in this temple. Could it be that they had already... tried it?

Thinking of this, she suddenly felt a chill in her heart, and her hand trembled, almost knocking over a bottle, but fortunately she managed to grab it back in time.

so close!

Weiss quickly put the bottles and jars away, reflecting on her earlier distraction—a truly elementary mistake she should never have made!

"Uh, am I bothering you a little here?" Leon asked.

Before Weiss could answer, Lena, looking over from a distance, said irritably, "Exactly! You don't even work here, so constantly asking questions is bound to be distracting!"

The atmosphere suddenly plummeted to freezing point. Weiss looked back and forth between the two of them, somewhat at a loss. She could also clearly sense that the atmosphere between Leon and Lena had been strange these past two days.

Just now, Leon was talking to her right here, but Lena kept her distance.

“Lena…” Leon breathed a sigh of relief, wanting to take this opportunity to talk to Lena again.

"I'm working, I don't want to gossip with you, get out!" Lena replied somewhat angrily.

"Can I ask you something?" Weiss hesitated for a moment, then finally couldn't help but ask, "What's been going on with you guys lately?"

This temple is mainly used by her and Lena, and Leon also comes in occasionally. If this continues, even her research environment will be affected.

"This..." Leon was thinking about how to appease Weiss, but there was no need for Weiss to know about this.

At that moment, Lena glanced at Weiss's concerned expression, pointed at Leon, and suddenly said, "This person wants to marry someone else!"

"What?" Weiss stared at Leon, her eyes wide with surprise. "You're going to marry someone? To whom?"

Chapter 193 The most serious injury I suffered in the laboratory

Leon didn't answer immediately. He first looked at Lena in surprise, then at Weiss with astonishment.

He hadn't expected Lena to bring this up with Weiss here. This was a problem that should have been discussed and resolved between them; there was no need to involve outsiders.

That said, why did Weiss react so strongly?

In his eyes, Weiss didn't seem like the type of person who would be interested in such private gossip.

“It’s a sham marriage,” Leon had no choice but to explain. “I’m planning to obtain a title and become the lord of this island. Only in this way can we make our current situation safer.”

"And then they'll turn this fake relationship into a real one?" Lena muttered.

“Lena, I understand, it’s understandable that you’re angry about this, but we are now…” Leon tried to persuade her again.

"Stop lecturing me! I understand! I'm tired of hearing it!" Lena interrupted Leon, glaring at him.

"Okay, okay, I won't say anything, as long as you don't deliberately ignore me. This can't go on like this." Leon quickly raised his hands, and breathed a sigh of relief.

For him now, it's better for Lena to say something to complain than to keep sulking and not saying anything. Once you have a partner, you'll understand that the hardest part of a conflict isn't arguing, but the silent treatment.

Lena crossed her arms and stared intently at Leon, finally letting out a long sigh.

She was well aware that it was unwise to remain deadlocked on this matter, and that they would eventually have to make a decision.

After a long silence, she spoke: "Is the viscount's daughter you mentioned beautiful?"

"Well..." Leon hesitated for a moment, "To be honest?"

Lena really asked a crucial question: Miss Adele's most outstanding feature is her face.

"Hesitating?" Lena said coldly. "Then she must be a beauty?"

"Since you care so much about this issue, how can I not hesitate? Objectively speaking, the Viscount's eldest daughter is indeed very beautiful," Leon replied somewhat helplessly.

"Prettier than Weiss?" Lena pressed.

Weiss glanced at it, wondering how this had gotten involved with her.

However, it's not surprising that she was chosen as a standard; her image as a saint must have been outstanding enough.

Most people's most beautiful faces in their lifetime are probably the saints who preach in the church.

“This…” Leon hesitated for a moment.

"Tell the truth!" Seeing Leon hesitate again, Lena immediately knew what to do and repeated herself word by word.

“In my opinion, Miss Adele is indeed the most beautiful person I have ever seen,” Leon replied frankly.

This time, not only Lena, but even Vice felt a chill run down her spine.

Weiss was immediately surprised by her own feelings.

Strange, why should I care if someone is prettier than me? What's the point? She wondered to herself.

But hearing this assessment from Leon made her feel choked up.

Lena frowned, her displeasure growing stronger.

She has a more outstanding appearance than Weiss and is married to Leon. If she doesn't feel threatened by this fake marriage, then something is wrong!

“But Lena, she can’t compare to you,” Leon continued.

"I don't want to hear your lies and empty promises!" Lena interrupted Leon.

“No, what I mean is my honest assessment. She really can’t compare to you, and this isn’t just about your place in my heart. To be honest, I don’t really like her,” Leon said.

"Do you think I'd believe you if you said that?" Lena said coldly.

"Lena, when I first met you, I respected you a lot. You were able to persevere in your research to save your family and to find a cure, and you even took risks to become a witch. This is something that ordinary people cannot do."

Mrs. Hershey and Melissa both struggled and worked incredibly hard for others or for a particular goal. Of course, Weiss is the same; I admire her dedication to research.” Leon said, glancing at Weiss.

"Th-thank you..." Weiss was a little caught off guard by the sudden praise.

"As for this viscount's daughter, she is the kind of person who is truly spoiled and pampered. She has never really suffered or experienced dire situations. She seems to be working hard, but she is working hard in the wrong direction. Even though her situation is already very bad, she still cares about some completely unnecessary dignity."

Leon shook his head slightly at this point. "We're not on the same wavelength. I simply can't bring myself to respect her, so I don't like her."

Lena stared at Leon for a while, tentatively believing that he was telling the truth, but her brows did not relax. She muttered softly, "I'm not worried that you'll fall for her, I'm worried that you won't be able to resist temptation!"

“If you’re worried about that, perhaps we can send her elsewhere after we get the title?” Leon suggested.

“I…” Lena paused, then sighed deeply, “That’s not what I care about most…”

Despite all her complaints, she knew in her heart that Leon's goal was very clear: to marry the viscount's daughter purely for the title and this territory. Only by becoming the lord of this place could he have the opportunity to fight for enough power to protect everything they owned, which was also to protect her.

But having been with Leon for so long, she longed to wear a wedding dress beside her beloved, but she suppressed that desire because she couldn't see a secure future on the path they were on.

Now, the first woman to have this kind of marital relationship with Leon is another woman. How can she not care?

“I know.” Leon lowered his eyes.

He also wanted to see Lena in a wedding dress by his side. He was somewhat bothered by the idea of ​​a fake marriage, but it couldn't compare to his feelings for Lena, so he knew he had no right to bring it up.

Rationally speaking, this is indeed the safest option, but people can't be completely rational after all.

Lena was angry because she cared about him. If he were insignificant to her, why would she care about such a thing?

“If you absolutely cannot accept it…” Leon said, looking at Lena.

"I know, I know! I know this is the safest way, I already know!" Lena interrupted him irritably, then muttered under her breath, "So what if I'm angry for a few days? Stop nagging!"

Leon paused for a moment, then realized what he meant and nodded: "Okay."

Lena is actually quite sensible. They are in a precarious situation and can only proceed cautiously and make the right choices.

Only by surviving into the future can they have a future.

She just needs time to process these emotions.

“...But you have to promise me a few things.” After a moment of silence, Lena spoke again.

“You say it,” Leon said, looking at Lena.

“You register your marriage with her, but you can’t have a ceremony,” Lena requested.

“That’s how I prepared too,” Leon nodded.

“When this marriage ends is up to me,” Lena continued.

“Then we’ll have to wait until our situation stabilizes…” Leon cautiously reminded Lena.

After marrying a viscount's daughter, there is also the option of divorce. However, according to imperial law, a title obtained through marriage must be returned to the eligible person once the marriage is dissolved, including the former spouse and other heirs, or the original title holder.

However, if by then Leon has acquired real power and status beyond his noble status through his business dealings, or if he has completely taken control of Arende Island through other means, then he will not necessarily have to maintain his marriage with the viscount's daughter.

“Of course I understand that. I’ve already chosen to believe you, so why don’t you believe me?” Lena retorted.

“Of course, I promise you.” Leon nodded.

"Let's leave it at that for now," Lena sighed. "I'll be angry for at least another day. You can come and coax me again tomorrow, okay?"

"I understand." Leon finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. With Lena saying so, at least this matter would be considered settled by tomorrow.

At this moment, Weiss, who had been silent all along, listened to the entire conversation, looked back and forth between the two of them, and finally spoke after a long while: "Um..."

Leon and Lena looked over at the same time, and Weiss hesitated before saying, "Can I go and rest for a while?"

“Of course.” Leon blinked.

"Excuse me for a moment." Weiss walked expressionlessly toward the room in the temple that had been partitioned off for resting.

Upon hearing about Leon's upcoming marriage and watching him try to comfort Lena, Weiss felt a weight pressing on her heart, making her feel incredibly heavy-hearted.

It was something that had nothing to do with her, and she didn't even have the right to comment.

Perhaps it's because she doesn't even have this much right that she feels so bad—a voice in her heart vaguely said this to her.

But no matter what, she knew very well that she couldn't stay in the lab in this state; she needed to adjust.

Seeing Weiss leave, Lena also began to get back to her work. Leon had no reason to stay any longer, so he said goodbye to Lena and turned to leave.

He left the maze, intending to inspect the construction progress of the new fortifications within the fortress.

Just then, he heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats coming from the direction of the city gate, rushing straight toward him.

His subordinates are bringing him an urgent message from outside.

"Mr. Fenrir!" the subordinate shouted, "An urgent report from the brothers stationed in the Foley area: the target convoy has been spotted entering port! The target convoy has been spotted entering port!!"

Leon's expression immediately turned serious. From Bishop Beckett, Leon already knew the Count's shipping fleet's usual meeting point in the ports of Foley, and had stationed men there to monitor it. They were to immediately send messengers back to inform him as soon as a matching fleet entered the port, because it meant…

Johnny Wellman's fleet has returned from Moyland.

What's meant to happen will eventually happen.

Chapter 194 You little brat, you killed the Earl?

The Viscount Arendt residence, located on the eastern side of Arendt Island.

Adele finished writing a letter alone in her study, and just as she was about to seal it in an envelope, she suddenly remembered something, stopped, and then cautiously called out to the door, "Miss Petra?"

Footsteps approached, and a short-haired woman in an Inquisitor's uniform appeared in the doorway, standing at attention and addressing Adele: "What is it, young lady?"

Petra, the Inquisitor, is Leon's subordinate. She was assigned to the Inquisition as a junior judge to assist Leon in his various tasks.

Originally, she was working in the prison, mainly responsible for looking after Selene when Leon was away. Shortly after Selene's "death," she was assigned the task of protecting Adele, the daughter of Viscount Arend, under the pretext of "protecting an important witness."

Besides her, there are two other subordinates of Leon who work together, and Petra's role is Adele's personal attendant, who has the most contact with Adele.

“I’d like to send a letter to the representatives of the business group I’ve worked with on a previous investment project. Would you… like to take a look?” Adele asked.

“Let me take a quick look.” Petra stepped forward, took the letter, carefully examined its contents, nodded to Adele, and handed it back to her. “No problem.”

"Can I take it and mail it?" Adele took the letter back and prepared to seal it.

To send a letter from Arendt Island, you have to pay twenty pfennigs to hire a local fisherman to run a boat to the port station in Castel City. This process alone takes half a day, so you have to send the letter early.

“We will send it for you. You can leave immediately and continue your work here.” Petra took the letter and went out. She then called over a companion who was guarding downstairs and entrusted the task of sending the letter to him.

Watching Petra leave, Adele sat back down in her chair and let out a long sigh of relief.