After I Treated the Lion Prince's Secret Ailment, He Won't Let Me Go

Belle Mercier is a physician specializing in reproductive disorders in male beastfolk, a profession every race despises. Her family hates it too, and her grandmother, Grandmere Mercier, forces her into a blind date with a noble family. Belle agrees but plans to wreck it.

Leon Leopold, the Lion Crown Prince, comes to her healing sanctum for a private examination because the male physician he booked is away. Belle is the only one on duty. She finds he cannot hold human form steadily and is likely infertile. He has no sexual history. During the exam he gets hard in her hands. She calls it a normal nerve response. He decides that once cured, his first act will be to kill her. She agrees to keep his secret for eighty thousand gold pieces.

The blind date is Leon. He recognizes her. She expects revenge. Instead, he declares himself utterly enchanted by her from the moment he laid eyes on her and hopes they marry soon. Their families settle the match. Belle becomes the future princess of the Lion clan. They sign a contract: separate rooms on the same floor, a loving couple in public, respect and boundaries in private.

Belle keeps working. Leon has her daily patient count logged and reported to him. Her senior fellow Alaric Aspen returns and asks to meet. At Lionheart Hall, Leon interrupts their reunion, and the furniture ends up scratched. He takes Belle back to the castle. She threatens to expose his infertility. At a family banquet, Silvana Serpentine, a Serpent Clan noble lady, mocks Belle for touching men's private parts as part of her work. Leon shuts it down and calls Belle his betrothed and the future princess.

Lord Thorn, Leon's third uncle, goes into cardiac arrest. Belle slams her fist into his chest and revives him. The old Lion King, Leonidas Leopold, gifts her Starlight Manor, an estate built by the founding Lion King for his Queen. Leon warns her the manor remains under Leopold name until the title transfers, and forbids her from the west wing's last door.

Belle hears sounds from the west wing and finds Leon's beast power spiraling out of control. His life rose is losing petals—each one a piece of his humanity. She designs a one-month treatment plan. Leon gives her the library and apothecary chamber. Later, fully awake, he kisses her. She does not know what it means.

Leon asks Belle to attend the autumn banquet. She refuses because of case files and the treatment plan. Alaric invites her to the Saint Hypatius Healing Academy centennial. Leon shows up. Alaric promises to always have her back. By the end, Leon's attendant requests Belle's company for lunch with the prince.