ILOIML 19

Chapter 19

“This doesn’t make sense.”

“The Saintess said so herself.”

Kalsen reached out with a trembling hand toward the sacred sword Aesar on the table.

But Leon quickly pulled it into his arms.

“I told you not to touch it carelessly.”

“No, this is just too unbelievable.”

Kalsen kept repeating the same thing over and over.

“Well then, what about all the nonsense I’ve gone through? Would it hurt to believe that I finally got a bit of good luck?”

“Still, this is something huge… If the Emperor finds out you have such a powerful relic, he won’t stay quiet.”

Leon gently touched Aesar, stroking it softly as he looked at Kalsen.

“No one knows I have Aesar. Except for Bella.”

“Do you trust her?”

Kalsen asked, remembering how the Grand Duchess constantly stayed in touch with the Marquess of Sweden.

“Before? Absolutely not. But now… I’m not sure what she’s really thinking. But one thing is certain—she’s the one who brought me this luck.”

A faint smile touched Leon’s lips as he thought of Bella.
He gazed lovingly at Aesar, his glowing red eyes reflecting affection.

* * *

“My lady, should I bring you some warm milk?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Are you having trouble sleeping tonight?”

“Yeah.”

I rested my chin on the desk, staring blankly into space.

The tapping of my nails on the desk echoed like my anxious thoughts.

I felt like I was standing in the way of two people who were meant to meet.

Was I doing the right thing?

Am I being selfish?

I just wanted more time.

Time to earn Leon’s trust, so I could safely rely on him with my life.

But in the end, because I acted differently from the original story, Leon and Cassia met earlier than they should have.

Maybe I was overthinking it, but since it wasn’t their fated moment, I didn’t sense any sparks between them yet.

Do I really belong in this world?

Or am I just here to play my part and disappear, like I was meant to?

These questions kept circling in my head with no answers.

“I’ll sleep soon. You two can go rest now.”

The maids hesitated, but left the room after I repeated myself.

Even after they left, I couldn’t fall asleep for a long time.

Eventually, I dozed off without realizing it.

Then, I felt a strange sensation—like someone was watching me.

When I opened my eyes, Leon was sitting beside me, staring quietly.

“Ah! You scared me. Leon, what’s going on?”

It was still dark. What time was it?

“Leon, did you have a nightmare?”

He nodded, and I chuckled softly.

‘This sneaky wolf. I know you’re hiding something under that sweet face.’

Maybe it was because I’d been upset about Cassia earlier, but Leon’s presence made me feel calm again.

I lifted the blanket and said,

“Come in.”

“Waaah, Bella is even scarier.”

I glared and lowered the blanket, but Leon jumped in anyway.

His cuteness made me laugh without thinking.

“Okay, give me your hand!”

I reached out, and he grabbed my hand tightly.

Looking at his sweet face made my heart feel warm and proud.

“But really, why did you come here? I know you’re not actually scared. You’ve never done this before.”

In the dark, Leon’s red eyes sparkled.

“You seemed upset. Ever since the Saintess left.”

“So you were worried about me?”

My heart fluttered.

“No, I was worried she might take my sword.”

So much for being touched.

‘Wait, did he come to check again?’

“Didn’t you feel anything when you saw the Saintess? Like your heart racing? Or the sudden urge to protect her like a brave knight?”

All the questions I’d been dying to ask spilled out at once.

Leon just stared at me.

Then he gently pulled our joined hands to his chest.

“I just thought Bella is the prettiest in the world. She’s even prettier than the Saintess. To me, you’re an angel.”

My face turned bright red.

I couldn’t believe those words were real.

Whether he meant it or was just teasing, it didn’t matter.

This moment alone made me happy.

I kept looking into Leon’s eyes until I slowly drifted back to sleep.

* * * 

What Leon said about the nightmare was true.

In his dream, Bella was torn apart by monsters.

Lately, he’d been so focused on magical beasts that even his dreams were filled with them.

But he didn’t know why Bella, of all people, was in that nightmare.

He had woken up screaming, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

The dream had felt too real.

He had to see with his own eyes that she was safe.

Without hesitation, Leon headed to Bella’s room.

He didn’t want to wake her, so he quietly entered.

He sat beside her bed, watching her sleep peacefully.

Inside him, a storm colder than the harshest Asterian winter blew.

Something wasn’t right. These feelings weren’t normal.

Leon bit his lip and clenched his chest.

‘What are you doing to me? You’re just a puppet of the Marquess. Just do your role and stop this act…’

He felt annoyed seeing her sleep so comfortably.

It seemed unfair.

It wasn’t the same as the gratitude he felt when she gave him the sacred sword.

This emotion was unfamiliar, and he didn’t like it.

He sat there, staring at her, then let out a long sigh.

‘What am I even doing?’

A bitter smile spread on his face.

He never imagined she’d wake up.

“Leon?”

Her emerald eyes sparkled as they met his.

And the small bit of resentment he’d felt toward her melted away instantly—like snow.

Before he knew it, he was lying beside her, face to face.

Still holding her hand.

Leon gently gazed at the sleeping Bella, filling his vision with only her.

* * *

‘Something feels off today.’

I had finished a light breakfast and was planning to walk around the garden.

But something about the way the staff moved, and the strange tension in the air, made me stop.

Moments like this reminded me that I didn’t truly belong in Aster.

It felt like I lived in a different world than everyone else—and I didn’t like that feeling.

“Is something going on today? It feels tense.”

Amy, who was walking behind me, stepped closer and whispered,

“A new commander is arriving from the capital.”

“But isn’t Count Kandelsmann the commander?”

“Apparently, he got into a scandal with a woman here in Aster.
The Emperor heard and ordered him back to the capital.”

So someone sent by the Emperor had caused trouble in Leon’s territory?
How careless.

If the man had been innocent, maybe Leon had planned the whole thing to get rid of him.

But none of that really mattered to me.

“So how come you knew about all this… but I didn’t?”

I stopped walking and looked at Amy and Mary with a pout.

“…Didn’t you tell us not to report anything about Aster’s affairs unless you asked first?
You said your head hurt.”

“Ahahahaha… Did I say that?”

I sighed and laughed awkwardly.

Now that I thought about it, I did say that—back when I first arrived here.

Everything had been overwhelming at the time.

“Bella!!”

A loud, familiar voice suddenly called out from far away.