Chapter 113: Persuading Liliana and One Condition
Twenty minutes later…
Leon, Fiona, Charlotte, and Iris lounged against the backs of their dining chairs, their expressions radiating contentment.
Their lips curled into satisfied smiles, and their stomachs slightly distended after indulging in all the food spread across the dining table.
However, their smug smiles instantly vanished as Liliana, seated across from them, slowly rose to her feet and began clearing the dining table of dirty dishes with a cold and indifferent expression, causing Leon, Fiona, Charlotte, and Iris to feel goosebumps as if they were caught in a blizzard.
They gazed at Liliana with fearful expressions, none daring to utter a single word.
Even Fiona, the most innocent and usually outspoken, tightened her lips and could only gaze cautiously at her mother, closing her little mouth tightly.
Only when Liliana finished clearing the table and retreated to the kitchen did the four of them release a collective sigh of relief.
“Daddy, you’ve really made Mommy angry this time,” Charlotte, seated on Leon’s left side, complained, pouting as she looked at him.
“Mm-hmm! Daddy, you’re so mean to Mommy,” Iris, seated to Charlotte’s left, accused Leon as well.
“Mm-hmm! Daddy is so mean,” Fiona, seated to Leon’s right, added, shooting him a dissatisfied look.
Facing the accusations from his three daughters, Leon felt his corner lips twitching, and he rubbed his nose with a somewhat embarrassed expression, stealing glances at Liliana in the kitchen.
‘Hey… it seems like I went too far earlier and really upset her,’ Leon muttered, shaking his head with a helpless smile.
He hadn’t anticipated that Liliana would be so furious about his joke regarding the rating of her dishes.
However, looking back, he realized that his joke had been excessively inappropriate, and it was completely understandable for Liliana to be upset.
After all, Liliana had poured her heart into cooking, even amidst her hectic schedule for the impending war.
Furthermore, her culinary creations were undeniably superb, deserving a rating of 100 points.
Quickly regaining his composure, Leon glanced at Charlotte, Iris, and Fiona, who continued to stare at him with pouting expressions.
With a faint smile playing on his lips, Leon spoke gently, “Well, I admit fault in this matter, and I’ll persuade your mother.”
Upon hearing his words, the three little girls nodded simultaneously in acceptance and agreement.
“By the way, Daddy, can you really persuade Mommy when she’s angry and sulking?” Charlotte inquired, casting a curious glance at Leon.
“Yeah, Daddy, can you?” Iris blinked innocently, echoing her sister’s question.
Though Fiona remained silent, her round golden eyes betrayed her curiosity, mirroring that of her sisters.
In response to their collective curiosity, Leon chuckled softly and leaned back casually.
“Don’t worry, little girls,” Leon reassured them with a light tone and a faint smile gracing his lips. “Haven’t you realized the powers and capabilities of this handsome daddy of yours?”
Fiona, Iris, and Charlotte’s eyes sparkled with admiration for their daddy’s confidence.
What frightened them most was their mother’s anger, marked by her indifferent expression.
Whenever she was upset, they’d quickly retreat to their rooms, only reemerging once her mood improved.
Their fear of their mother’s anger was palpable.
Yet, seeing their daddy’s relaxed demeanor as he claimed he could persuade her filled them with amazement and admiration.
“You’re amazing, Daddy!” Charlotte exclaimed with a small clap, gazing at Leon as though he were an idol.
“Exactly! Daddy is so impressive and confident!” Iris beamed sweetly, nodding in admiration.
“Wow! Daddy, you’re the best!” Fiona cheered, her round, golden eyes sparkling like twinkling stars.
Feeling the admiration from his daughters, Leon chuckled softly, releasing a small sigh.
“Well, thank you for the compliment,” Leon said with a hint of pride in his expression.
Then, as he picked up a grape from the table and took a bite, Leon continued, “However, to have the best chance of persuading her, I need some personal space. So, why don’t you all head back to your rooms for now?”
Upon hearing Leon’s request, Charlotte and Iris nodded in understanding.
Despite their youth, Charlotte and Iris grasped the significance of their daddy’s words.
As children, they recognized that it wasn’t their role to intrude on or eavesdrop on their parents’s conversations.
Moreover, despite their daddy’s assurance that he would persuade their mother, they still felt a tinge of fear at her angry expression and were eager to retreat to their room.
However, unlike her two sisters, who promptly complied with their daddy’s request, Fiona, upon hearing that she was to return to her room, immediately wore a disgruntled expression and puffed up her cheeks.
“Ehh! I don’t want to go back to my room,” Fiona protested, pursing her lips in a pout.
Leon looked at her tenderly, gently stroking her hair with affection.
“Don’t worry. Once I’ve spoken with your mommy, I’ll take you to play,” he reassured her, his smile warm and gentle.
“Really?” Fiona’s eyes sparkled with hope.
“Of course,” Leon replied nonchalantly, his tone calm and reassuring.
“Okay~,” Fiona replied, her sweet smile returning as she ceased her protests.
Smiling slightly at Fiona and his other two daughters, Leon said, “Alright, girls, hurry back to your rooms before your mommy comes.”
Upon hearing this, the three nodded in unison, quickly rising from their chairs and walking hand in hand to their rooms.
Watching them depart, Leon leaned back casually, resuming his grape-eating while awaiting Liliana’s return from the kitchen.
After five minutes, Liliana returned from the kitchen, carrying two cups of coffee, and walked toward the dining table.
Her continued sullen and cold expression elicited a slight chuckle from Leon.
“What are you laughing at?” Liliana asked coldly as she placed the coffee in front of him, glancing at him indifferently.
Pulling his coffee saucer closer, Leon smiled at Liliana and replied, “It’s nothing. I just think you look stunning with your current appearance. The long white hair tied in a ponytail, paired with the simple white dress adorned by a pink apron.”
“Moreover, your indifferent and cold expression only adds to your charm, elevating it to the highest level,” Leon praised, his words causing Liliana’s expression to freeze.
Snapping out of her reverie, Liliana averted her gaze to the side and let out a cold snort.
“After giving my cooking such a poor rating, you still have the audacity to speak so sweetly?” Liliana sneered sarcastically, her tone icy, yet a faint, concealed smile tugged at her lips as she heard Leon’s praise.
As a keen observer, how could Leon have missed noticing that concealed smile?
Taking a small sip of his coffee, Leon gazed at Liliana with a gentle smile.
“Your cooking is truly excellent, Liliana. I was merely joking, so please don’t take it to heart, okay?” Leon’s reply was soft and reassuring.
“Huh!” Liliana snorted coldly, taking a seat at the dining table opposite Leon and taking a sip of her coffee to calm herself down.
Observing Liliana, who appeared to have calmed down, Leon chuckled softly, shaking his head slightly as he continued to eat the grapes in front of him.
Liliana set her coffee cup down on the saucer, her gaze sweeping the room until she noticed the absence of their three daughters, prompting a furrow to crease her brow.
“Where are Charlotte, Iris, and Fiona?” Liliana inquired, her tone notably less cold than before.
“I told them to go back to their rooms first,” Leon replied casually, leaning back in his seat.
Liliana paused, nodding in acknowledgment, before redirecting her gaze back to Leon.
“By the way, how’s the antidote for the devouring poison? Have you managed to create it successfully?” Liliana inquired, blinking her eyes with curiosity.
Upon hearing the question about the antidote, Leon’s expression immediately darkened.
“I’ve failed ten times,” Leon replied with a slight sigh, taking a sip of his coffee.
This failure had left him in a terrible mood last night, and his once towering confidence was now shattered.
Meanwhile, upon hearing his admission, Liliana’s facial expression remained unchanged, devoid of any sign of shock, leaving Leon to wonder slightly.
Setting down his coffee cup, he regarded Liliana with a puzzled expression: “Did you already anticipate that I would fail?”
Liliana smiled faintly, nodding in affirmation. “Of course, Leon, I had guessed it. Otherwise, why would I provide you with so many ingredients to concoct an antidote for the devouring poison?”
Upon hearing this, Leon took a deep breath, realizing that his earlier speculation had been accurate.
Initially, he had been puzzled as to why Liliana had provided him with so many ingredients to concoct just one bottle of antidote for the devouring poison.
He had wondered if Liliana had feared his failure.
However, his initial confidence had led him to believe that the amount of ingredients Liliana provided was excessive, considering he was certain he could concoct the antidote in one try.
Regrettably, after ten failed attempts and his confidence shattered, he now realizes that Liliana’s provision of ingredients was insufficient.
With a slight intake of breath and anticipation written across his face, Leon asked Liliana eagerly, “If you’ve guessed that I failed, do you know what caused me to fail?”
Liliana smiled and nodded, then reached for the grapes before her, popping them into her mouth one by one.
“Of course I do,” she replied, a thin, mysterious smile blossoming on her lips.
Upon hearing her response, Leon’s palms clenched, and he implored, “Then, what caused me to fail? Please, tell me!”
Liliana remained silent, continuing to eat the grapes as she pondered Leon’s question.
After swallowing the grape in her mouth, Liliana nodded and replied, “I’ll tell you, but on one condition,” raising a single index finger.
Leon furrowed his brow, casting a puzzled glance at Liliana.
Nevertheless, he didn’t decline and responded, “Alright, tell me your condition.”
Liliana’s face radiated happiness, akin to a succubus finding its prey.
Leaning her chin on her palms, Liliana fixed her gaze on Leon, a subtle glow concealed within her red eyes.
“The condition is that you beg me…”
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