Supreme Spouse System.-Chapter 156: Mia Starlight [Part -2]

Mia Starlight [Part -2]

"And... the woman who’s been hopelessly in love with you, Daddy. Just like me."

Her eyes flew wide, and she turned to Rias.

"Rias!" she squeaked, voice high with shocked horror. "You can’t just—!"

Rias laughed unapologetically. Clearly relishing her reaction on my comment.

Behind her, Aria laughed softly. Cynthia shook her head, a warm smile on her face. Kyra and Syra looked at each other with gleeful faces, their mischief barely contained.

Leon blinked—momentarily taken aback—but then he laughed, low, deep, amused. Leaning back against the couch with smooth ease, his lips curled into a curious smile.

"Well... that’s quite the introduction."

Rias spun around, beaming proudly. "You liked it, Daddy? The way I presented her to you?"

Leon laughed, ruffling his head in delight. "Yes... I really loved the way you presented her, sweetheart."

As for Mia, she was still looking down at the ground, her blush increasing by the second. She couldn’t dare look up—her heart racing, cheeks burning. Then she heard the mocking tone in Rias’s voice once again.

"Come on, Mia," Rias said with a teasing prod. "I know you don’t actually need an introduction to my Daddy, but just anyway... let me do it officially. He deserves a big re-intro."

Mia’s heart beat even faster.

Rias looked to Leon, dramatically laying a hand over her chest. "Leon Moonwalker — Duke of the Moonwalker Duchy. War hero. The kingdom’s most eligible bachelor... well, technically no longer," she continued, looking about the room with a flirtatious grin, "but to most commoners, you still appear to be one—so I’m retaining the title."

Then, with a pompous flourish, she tacked on, "And, of course—My hot, dashing, dangerously handsome daddy... and my cherished darling."

Leon let out another low, rumbling laugh, his smile expanding on own introduction. "That’s some introduction, sweetheart," he said, obviously amused.

The air was filled with warm smiles and giggles. Aria laughed. Cynthia, Kyra, Syra—each of them joined in, their faces smiling fondly and amusedly. They were accustomed to Rias’s theatrics at this point.

Mia, though, did not take her eyes from the floor, her blush deepening even further as her mind sped.

Tch, tch. Rias, why must you always be so forward? she thought, embarrassed. You always make me look like this. One day, I swear, I’ll get even with you for it...

She knew just why Rias did it. It wasn’t to tease—it was her way of grandly introducing Mia. Her way of ensuring Leon saw her. And that made Mia all the more embarrassed.

But her mind was interrupted by the unmistakable presence of a person standing very close.

She looked up reflexively—just a little—and ceased to breathe.

Leon was standing only a few paces away, his eyes fixed on her with a warm, curious smile. His presence enveloped her like a silent storm—unforeseen and overwhelming.

Her heart pounded loudly in her chest.

That smile... those gold eyes...

Leon stepped closer. Mia’s eyes dropped immediately—but she had already glimpsed it: the heat in his golden eyes. The smile that made her knees go weak.

And yet... somewhere within her heart, she wished to glimpse those golden eyes again.

Slowly, as if compelled by something outside her control, she raised her face—just far enough to catch his eyes. Black eyes locked with gold, and she was carried away all over again.

Leon, observing her response, smiled faintly.

Hmm... there it is again. That look, he said to himself with quiet amusement. Just like the first time—every time—a woman gives me that look when I smile at them.

He chuckled softly to himself.

Another girl. caught up in my allure, then?

But on the surface, he maintained his expression kind, even a bit cautious. Then, with melodramatic flair, he cleared his throat—loud enough to shatter the silence between them and jolt her back into the present.

Mia startled slightly, blinking as if she’d been dreaming. Her breath caught.

She caught herself—again—having no clue how long she’d been gawking.

Her blush deepened to a burnished crimson.

Tch, tch... what’s the matter with me? she berated herself. Why must I lose myself staring at his face? Just stare anywhere else but at his face! What’s wrong with me today? Perhaps... perhaps I should not have come tonight. I should have waited for the banquet tomorrow—then I could have properly introduced myself, with some decorum.

But before she could spiral further, Leon’s voice pierced through the haze—warm, magnetic.

"Mia Starlight," he murmured softly.

Her head jerked up before she could catch herself. Her breath halted once more.

It wasn’t that he said her name—it was the way he said it. Like it was important. Like she was important.

Leon went on, his voice reflective, almost wistful.

"You’ve grown into such a lovely young woman. The last time I saw you... you were just a little girl, playing barefoot in the garden with Rias."

There was a gentleness in his tone, a smile playing on his lips—as if he remembered a far-off, pleasant memory.

But the reality was... Leon only remembered her in flashes. Snippets. Remembrances given to the mind of former Leon like fragments of a dream.

Nevertheless, he said it with such warmth and faith that even Mia could not distinguish.

Mia felt that the world outside her had vanished.

Her blush grew so intense she was certain her ears would incinerate. She was flustered, close to lost—not embarrassed, certainly, but... something different. Something she could not quite describe—a warmth.

Being declared beautiful—by Leon Moonwalker—nearly too much to handle.

The man she secretly loved since she was old enough to grasp what love was.

He was more than just her best friend’s dad, though. He was a war hero. A duke. The most handsome man in the entire kingdom of Galvia. A legend.

And yet, despite all that. he was still the kindest, most gentle man she’d ever met.

To have such a compliment from his lips—it was not the same. It meant something. It settled deep within her heart, too heavy and too light all at the same time.

Her voice was little more than a whisper.

"T-thank you, Lord Leon."

Leon observed her response quietly, eyes gentle and contemplative.

She’s truly lovely when she blushes, he thought to himself.

There had been a time that he didn’t know if her emotions for him were genuine—or merely a child’s infatuation, shallow and transitory.

But here, now, this close. gazing into her eyes. the quiver of her voice.

No mistake.

Her emotions weren’t small.

They weren’t silent.

They were vivid. Alive. Resounding in the way she gazed at him—and more so in the way she couldn’t sustain that look for long.

Still... just to make sure.

Still, to confirm, he quietly initiated his system Pannel and order System: scan her...

[Target: Mia Starlight]

Name: Mia Starlight

Age: 19

Cultivation: Novice Peak

Race: Human

Talent: High

HP: 100/100

STR: 27/100

AGL: 30/100

VIT: 28/100

STM: 25/100

INT: 31/100

DEF: 29/100

Love Meter: 90% – Deep love detected.

Leon arched a brow slightly, a flash of surprise darting across his face.

Ninety percent...?

So it wasn’t admiration, by any means.

Just as the system had verified—this was love.

And now... there was no doubt.

He admired love. Particularly the kind that was borne in quietness—the kind that marched ahead on quivering feet, rosy cheeks, and unspoken courage.

He looked at Mia, still flushed, head down.

A gentle smile pulled at his mouth, interwoven with silent amusement.

To be here like this... still so red-faced, and yet stand in front of me anyway.

Leon did not voice the truth to himself—but within his own heart, he accepted it completely.

A man must never crush love. If a woman feels this hard for me... how could I just turn my head?

How could I turn away so honest a heart?

He nodded to himself just so, a faint, self-knowledge gesture. He wouldn’t hurry along—but neither would he act like he hadn’t just witnessed what he had witnessed. Mia’s affection was genuine. And he... he couldn’t help but deny her space in his mind anymore.

She was lovely. She was sweet. And there was no reason to close her out—not when destiny had already braided her into his life.

Still, he could see the way her shoulders tensed, the way she struggled to breathe normally in his presence.

She’s overwhelmed, he realized. It’s too soon to press anything.

So instead, he chose a gentler path—one that might ease her nerves.

With calm warmth, he asked casually, "By the way, Mia... does your father know you’re here?"

In an instant, Mia’s blush vanished.

Her expression shifted—her gaze cooled, her posture stiffened.

"I don’t know if that man does or not," she replied softly, her voice dead and flat.

Leon hesitated, the gentleness in his gaze replaced by an instant of introspective consideration.

He had anticipated refusal.

But not this degree of impassivity.

Nevertheless, pieces of memory from the first Leon resurfaced to help him comprehend.

Edric Starlight.

Mia’s father in title—but never in essence.

She had been the child of Edric and the sole daughter of the late Duke of the Starlight Duchy—a frail, ailing noblewoman, much favored by her aged father.

The late Duke, who had spent much of his life childless, had been overjoyed when his wife finally gave birth to a daughter in her advanced years.

Although frail at birth, Mia’s mother was the Starlight family’s pride. The duke loved her dearly, raising her with tender care and devotion, despite her own poor health.

Concerned for her future—and his own declining vigor—he married her off to his most trusted counselor, Edric. It was a marriage of convenience, designed to secure the stability of the duchy.

And then Mia was born, after the wedding.

Her mother’s health, however, declined rapidly.

Some suspected that Edric had sped the death of the former Duke.

Others suspected that Mia’s mother’s mysterious coma wasn’t an illness but rather some work of dark magic before her eventual death.

None of these things was ever validated.

But the harm was already done.

Mia had grown up emotionally estranged from her father, kept on the peripheries of his home and heart. The chill between them wasn’t a phase but something that existed all along.

So, it wasn’t surprising that she had no desire to involve him now.

Leon didn’t pry further.

He only gave a quiet, understanding smile. "All right."

Turning to the others, Leon spoke warmly, "You’ve come a long day from helping the princess. And it’s already late. Go upstairs, freshen up. We’ll have dinner together soon."

The women all nodded.

"Alright, darling. We’ll be down in a bit," Rias said sweetly, speaking for the others as well.

Leon returned a nod, his gaze softening as Rias stepped beside Mia.

"Come on," Rias said gently, touching Mia’s arm. "Let’s get cleaned up before dinner."

Mia hesitated for a moment, then gave a small nod.

Leon stood silently by and let his wives and Mia climb the stairs together. When they were out of sight, he turned and proceeded back towards the couch in quiet, effortless poise.

Sliding deep into the cushions, he looked in the direction of the maids standing respectfully at the corners of the room.

"Dear maids," he said quietly, "would you mind getting dinner for all of us?"

The five maids advanced at once and curtsied. Fey, the head among them, spoke first.

"Certainly, my lord. Just give us a little time—we’ll make something new and wonderful."

Leon smiled. "Thank you."

Fey cocked her head to one side, her voice gentle. "Any special wishes tonight, my lord?"

Leon hesitated for a moment, then shook his head with a faint smile. "No, Fey. Just prepare what you normally do. I have faith in your judgment."

Fey smiled and bowed again. "As you wish, my lord."

As the maids were turning to go, Leon’s voice boomed once more.

"Fey—wait a moment."

The five maids turned and walked back in his direction.

Fey moved forward. "Yes, my lord?"

"Would you please summon Captain Black from outside?"

Fey bowed again. "Right away, my lord."

She turned to the other four maids and said softly, "Go ahead—I’ll be with you soon."

The rest nodded and walked towards the kitchen as Fey rushed towards the main door.

Within a few minutes, Fey brought in Captain Black. The tall armored figure stepped in and bowed low before Leon.

"Lift your head, Black," Leon instructed calmly.

Fey gazed at him too. "My lord, do you require anything else from me? Or should I go to the kitchen?"

Leon gave her a peaceful smile. "No, Fey. You can leave."

She curtseyed and departed quietly.

Black stood up. "You summoned, my lord?"

Leon looked into his eyes. "Do you happen to know where Duke Edric Starlight is residing at present?"

Black nodded readily. "Yes, my lord. His mansion is two streets south. Southern estate."

"Good. Go over there and tell him his daughter, Mia, will be here overnight. Just in case he decides to come looking."

Black nodded crisply. "As you wish, my lord."

Without a word, he turned and departed.

Leon leaned back against the couch, letting out a soft sigh.

He didn’t particularly care for Edric’s judgment—and obviously, Mia didn’t either. But Leon liked to anticipate issues. Edric had a reputation for being challenging, even manipulative sometimes. Better he hears it from Leon himself than distort it later into a mess.

The room grew silent once more, the fire shadows casting gentle gold lights against the buffed floor.

Leon sat by himself, pensive, waiting for the meal to commence.