ILOIML 28

Chapter 28 

“Wrong! Totally wrong!”

I glanced at him with a bit of a glare, then quickly changed my expression. It was the same gentle smile I had practiced during the charity event while watching Cassia—the kind of smile that made you look like you could accept anything.

“Eww, what’s with that face?”

Leon gagged playfully.

‘Excuse me, aren’t you the one who likes Cassia? That smile looked kind of like hers, didn’t it? I’m trying my best and still getting teased.’

I pouted and stared at him, but the moment our eyes met as he smiled brightly, all my irritation melted away. Even the warm sunlight was nothing compared to Leon’s smile. His smile was warmer than sunshine and seeped right into my heart. A fresh breeze brushed past the two of us.

It lasted just a moment, but it felt like time had stopped. Everything around us disappeared, and only Leon existed in that world.

Even though I was struggling to escape my dark future, in that moment, it felt… kind of okay. It felt like a blessing that the one who might save me from that future was Leon. A warm feeling surged up inside me.

‘No, this isn’t right.’

At that moment, Leon suddenly pulled me into a hug. The unexpected action left me dazed. My body stiffened, and the sounds around me became fuzzy, like I was in a dream. I held my breath and just blinked. All the strength left my body—I barely managed not to collapse.

“I really missed you.”

Leon loosened the hug and held my shoulders, looking at me with those deep, fiery red eyes. As he smiled at me, my heart began to pound wildly.

I couldn’t keep looking into his burning red eyes and turned my gaze away. I had to deny these feelings and step back. My chest ached.

I knew my place better than anyone. I couldn’t let Leon find out how I truly felt.

“…Of course, I missed you too.”

Unfortunately, my voice was trembling like a leaf.

“Ugh, what a lie. Your voice sounds like a baby goat’s.”

…This little brat?

Still, somehow his silly words helped my pounding heart return to normal. I smiled gently and held out my hand to him. Leon looked at it for a second, then slowly took it. His warmth flowed through our joined hands and spread through my chest.

I looked up at Leon standing beside me. Whatever the future held, right now I was the one standing next to him. That was enough. I didn’t need to hide it behind other feelings. Just remembering this shining moment would be enough to carry me through whatever was ahead.

“Leon, I promised to donate to the Temple of Esta too. I did well, right?”

“…Hehe. Is Bell-bell going to use her big allowance money to donate?”

I firmly shut my mouth and shook my head with determination.

“What are you saying? Of course it’s a donation in the name of the Duke and Duchess of Aster.”

“Then why did you go and promise that without asking me first?!”

Leon suddenly burst out, speaking so fast I could barely keep up. Even I could feel Kalsen whacking him from behind.

“Hehe. Did you pinky swear when you made that promise?”

“No?”

I widened my eyes and gave him my most innocent look. Leon’s eyes sparkled.

“Then it doesn’t count! That promise is totally invalid! Everyone knows you have to pinky swear to make it real!”

At that, Kalsen finally stepped forward, clearly fed up.

“Milady, don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”

For the first time, Kalsen seemed trustworthy. But while my eyes were full of gratitude, Leon had to endure Kalsen’s cold glare for quite a while.

* * *

“Milady, where should I put this?”

Amy asked, holding a bracelet she found under the goddess statue.

“Give it to me.”

When I said that, Amy handed it over. I held it up and asked her,

“Amy, what does this look like to you?”

“A bracelet? It looks like a kid’s bracelet.”

“Just a bracelet?”

“…A dirty bracelet?”

At that, I gave her a sharp look, then laughed bitterly.

“Yeah. That’s right. A dirty bracelet.”

Amy flinched, expecting me to get angry, but when I just placed the bracelet on the table and let it go, she quickly fled the room.

I watched her leave, stretched out, and lay down on the sofa.

“Milady, are you tired? We’ll leave you alone so you can rest.”

I nodded, and Mary left the room with the other maids.

‘Home is still the best.’

Since neither Lucas nor the emperor’s guards were at Aster right now, our days were very peaceful. Leon, too, had calmed down and looked much more relaxed.

After saying in our last communication that we’d be staying at the Esta Temple for a week, I didn’t bother telling Bella’s father that we returned early.

But even after the week passed, we didn’t hear from the marquis. I didn’t want to hear from him, but I couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling.

Then, a few days later, I got a sudden message—not from the marquis, but from the marquise.

She didn’t say a word about what happened between Leon and the marquis. She just calmly asked how we were doing.

“What is this about?”

“My, how cold you are.”

She laughed, but her voice was even colder than mine.

“Your father is very sick. So we came to rest at the Crowde estate. We brought the communication stone but couldn’t contact you sooner—we’ve been so busy. He really wants to see you. Can you come, just for a bit? If you use a portal, it’ll be quick.”

He’s sick? In the original novel, Bella barely even appeared, let alone her family. And now they suddenly say he’s sick? Why should I care?

“He’s never been like this before. He must really miss you.”

When I didn’t answer, the marquise repeated herself.

“This could be his last time. He’s very sick.”

I didn’t know how to answer. I still hated him—that hadn’t changed.

“Let me ask one last time. Are you really okay with this possibly being his final moments?”

Would Bella want to see him?

I bit my lip.

“Alright. I’ll pack right away and head to Crowde.”

“Thank you, Bella. We’ll be waiting.”

After the communication ended, I let out a deep sigh, told the maids to pack lightly, and went to find Leon.

Leon was in the study with Kalsen.

“My father’s very sick, so I’ll go see him.”

Leon tilted his head slightly, just looking at me without saying anything. I raised my eyebrows like I was asking for permission. Then he tilted his head the other way.

“You really want to go?”

“I don’t know if it’s true, but… if he’s that sick, I think it’s my duty as his daughter…”

Wow. I sounded like a total traditional daughter. I laughed awkwardly at myself.

“Then I’ll go with you. As your husband, I should go too.”

I clearly remembered how badly Leon was treated at the Sweden mansion. I didn’t want to drag him into that again. I wanted him to enjoy some peace while I was away.

“No, I think it’s better if I go alone. I’ll just check on him and come right back, so don’t worry.”

“You’re really okay with this, Bell-bell?”

His voice was calm and caring.

‘Ugh, when you talk like that, it really sounds like you mean it.’

“Yes. Really, I’m okay.”

Strangely, once I said that, I actually started to believe it.

Leon nodded and sighed shortly.

“Alright. Travel safely.”

Maybe it was just my imagination, but he looked really worried. Was he truly worried for me? It felt… sincere. My heart started pounding, and at the same time, it ached a little.

“Since you’re gone, I guess I’ll eat a whole big steak by myself. I can eat a lot more without Bell-bell here!”

He’s so considerate, really. Always trying to keep me from getting lost in my own thoughts.

“Oh please. Do whatever you want.”