ILOIML 38

Chapter 38

‘Am I crazy? What am I even doing right now?’

I tried to lower my hand, but it froze midair, and my expression stiffened too. Even Leon, who had been smiling, lost the expression on his face. His eyes gleamed strangely as he looked at me.

Leon slowly moved closer to my face. Even blinking felt difficult. A suffocating heat surrounded me all at once, and hot breaths escaped from my lips.

Not wanting him to notice my ragged breathing, I held my breath. My heart was already out of control, beating wildly on its own.

‘Is this the moment when I’m supposed to close my eyes?’

I tried to close them, but instead, they widened even more. No matter how hard I tried, only hot air puffed out from my nose.

“Rhinos are known for strong snorts. Bell-bell, you’re a rhino.”

“……”

Leon tightly pressed his lips together, barely holding back laughter. Just how ridiculous must I have looked for him to get that red in the face trying not to laugh?

My pride was hurt.

“That was all a lie. I actually like cold weather. I don’t care if my lips get chapped and start bleeding.”

I spoke coldly, just saying whatever came to mind.

“Bell-bell, that’s mean. You told me to bleed to death.”

“You’re so selfish.”

I shot up and turned around, heading to the walking path next to the villa.

“Bell-bell!! Wait for me.”

Leon shouted from behind, but I yelled back, annoyed.

“Don’t come! I want to be alone!!”

*.* *

Leon couldn’t take his eyes off Bella’s retreating figure as she stormed off.

‘That was close.’

He let out a breath of relief. He had almost kissed her without even realizing it. If she hadn’t let out that snort at the last second, he might have gone along with the mood.

“…Ha.”

He ran a hand through his hair. The humid wind from Palanuvo made his hair stick, feeling rough against his fingers.

“Damn… I must be crazy.”

His cheeks were still burning red, and his chest remained hot. Whether it was the sun or his emotions, even his heart felt scorched. He let out a long sigh and looked up at the sky.

The clear sky without a single cloud seemed to cool his heat just a little.

‘It’s all Palanuvo’s fault.’

He remembered her wide eyes. Her trembling lashes. Leon let out a small laugh and shook his head. Then, he sluggishly stood up.

“Should I go after Bella?”

He looked toward the path where she had gone but then shook his head and started walking back to the villa instead. She was in a mood—chasing after her now wouldn’t end well.

As he stepped into the villa, Zeus approached with a flustered face.

“I heard you were in the library with Lord Kalsen.”

“Who said that?”

Leon replied curtly and pushed his damp hair back again. He wanted nothing more than a bath.

“Haha, maybe I misheard. Uh… there’s something I need to tell you. Let’s go inside…”

“Ahhh!!”

A sharp scream echoed through the air.

That voice—it was definitely Bella. Leon’s body moved on instinct. He ran out of the villa toward the walking path where she’d disappeared.

“Bella.”

He whispered her name and ran frantically. His mind spun with worry. What if something had happened to her? His lips began to tremble.

Then he finally saw her.

‘Thank god.’

Bella looked safe.

“Damn, that’s so cool?”

“Bella?”

Leon panted as he called her name. She was holding her arms out and muttering something when she turned to him in surprise.

Her emerald eyes sparkled with confusion.

“Are you okay? What happened?”

Leon asked.

“Leon, I’m fine. A small wolf—or something that looked like one—attacked me.”

He looked around her in alarm. But everything seemed quiet and clear.

“I heard your scream and ran over.”

“Oh… I’m okay now.”

Bella nodded. Leon stepped closer and looked her over from head to toe. Only after confirming she wasn’t hurt did he finally relax.

“By the way, what did you mean by ‘so cool’ just now?”

He had ignored the comment earlier, but now it caught his attention. Bella gave an awkward smile and avoided his gaze.

“Me? Did I say that? I don’t remember…”

Well, whether she did or not didn’t really matter. What mattered was that she was safe.

“So, where’s the animal that attacked you?”

Leon cleared his throat and raised his voice like he was acting in a play.

“When I screamed, it got scared and ran off that way.”

“Bell-bell, I ran all the way from the villa in this heat because of you.”

Leon whined as he flapped his tunic, which was stuck to his body. Bella gave him an awkward smile and started fanning him with her hand. He stared at her, amused by her effort.

‘I’m really glad she’s okay.’

People who had followed Leon were now standing nearby, watching the two.

“My legs hurt. Zeus, give me a ride.”

Leon tapped his thigh with his fist and called Zeus over. Zeus quietly crouched down, and Leon climbed onto his back.

“Bell-bell, see you back at the villa.”

He waved cheerfully.

“What even is this?”

Bella laughed in disbelief.

‘I was the one in danger, so why is he the one getting carried away?’

Still, the fact that he’d run so hard he was drenched in sweat made her feel a little good.

“Milady, are you really alright?”

Amy and Mary, who hadn’t had a chance to step in because of Leon, asked with concern.

“Yes, I’m fine. Really.”

Bella nodded and looked proudly down at the bracelet on her wrist—the one she used to hate for being dirty.

On Zeus’s back, Leon whispered to him.

“Find the animal that attacked Bella. If you don’t, you’re dead.”

“Your Highness, this place is too open. It’ll be hard to track it.”

“Then figure out why the animal showed up right in front of Bella in this open area. Someone might’ve done it on purpose.”

“Haha… Surely not…”

Cold sweat ran down Zeus’s back. Leon leaned in and spoke low into his ear.

“If anything had happened to Bella, I would’ve killed you. Be thankful she’s safe, got it?”

* *.*

“This isn’t helping. It feels like I’m being dragged, not supported.”

Despite saying she didn’t need help, Amy and Mary insisted on holding her arms and escorting her back to the bedroom.

The fear she had felt when the animal first appeared still lingered. Just remembering it made her tremble.

“We’ll prepare your bathwater now.”

She nodded, and as they entered the bathroom, she collapsed onto the sofa.

The mystery still bugged her.

She raised her arm and looked closely at the bracelet she used to call dirty. Now, it looked mystical.

“Wow, seriously.”

She didn’t even know how many times she had said that already.

She couldn’t forget the bright light that burst from the bracelet when she screamed. It wrapped around her body, and the creature that had tried to attack her ran off in shock.

“Does this thing actually work?”

She truly regretted looking down on it before. She didn’t know how it worked, but it had activated just in time.

Wait a minute.

Didn’t they say the Temple of Esta had the Goddess’s Torch where this bracelet was found? A holy item that only works when infused with divine power by a priestess.

Of course, the creature today didn’t seem like a monster, but still, if this really was the Goddess’s Torch…

Didn’t Cassia say the holy relic she found was just a painting? She didn’t know if the torch was even drawn in it.

Her heart pounded as she let out a silent cheer.

‘Finally… a way for me to protect myself is opening up.’