It was indeed odd—meeting the Emperor not in the palace or at the Erzet estate, but unexpectedly on the street.
'Perhaps… it wasn't a coincidence after all.'
Just as Eileen reached that realization, Leon confirmed it with his next words.
"I apologize for startling you. I've been wanting to speak with you privately, but there's never been an opportunity. As you know, we can hardly avoid attracting attention wherever we go. If we wanted to meet without anyone knowing, this was the only way."
Leon led Eileen down a quieter, more secluded street, away from the bustle of Venu. The road was uneven, flanked by worn-down walls and buildings that had clearly seen better days. No one would suspect that the two people walking there were the Emperor and the Grand Duchess.
After a while, Leon spoke again, his voice casual yet probing.
"Cesare took a feather from the Duke of Farbellini's house—a lion's feather. I heard he gave it to you as a gift."
