[Chapter 6] The Second Confession

When Leon approached and looked closely, he seemed even thinner than the last time I saw him. Small scratches on his body were also noticeable.

‘Idiot.’

“……”

“Why didn’t you sell the necklace? You should’ve sold it, so you wouldn’t end up like this.”

“……”

Even when I spoke directly in front of him, Leon’s head was still turned away.

‘Hmm, maybe I’ll provoke him a bit.’

“Did you not sell it because you were thinking of me?”

“No, I didn’t!”

Leon immediately reacted to the provocation. My favorite finally turned his head toward me. At some point, the tips of his ears had turned red.

“…It’s not like I couldn’t sell it because I was thinking of you.”

Pink threads, dirty like Calandiva tangled in muck, youthful and brilliant pink eyes, clear but slightly mismatched facial features, small yet rough coral-pink gemstone earrings, pink cheeks, and ragged breath from excitement.

‘Ah, what a beautiful scene I can’t capture!’

I was so sad that I didn’t have my smartphone with me.

“…Hey, are you even listening to me?”

While I was lost in my thoughts, my favorite spoke to me.

“I can’t capture my little one….”

“…What? Why are you saying things I don’t understand?”

“Shh. There’s something like that.”

“……”

Leon’s expression became strange as if he couldn’t understand me at all.

But I didn’t back down and boldly spoke to him.

“Favorite, invite me to your house.”

“…Why?”

“To treat your wounds. I brought ointment.”

“…Why me?”

“Hurry, let’s go to your house.”

“…Hey, can’t you hear me?”

“Okay, let’s go to your house without anyone knowing. Is that fine?”

“……”

* * *

“Excuse me.”

“……”

After a few rounds of back-and-forth, I was able to accomplish my goal.

It was small enough for only two children and one adult to fit. The walls, made of moldy and cracked planks, allowed the inside to be clearly visible. Even just brushing against the walls seemed to send sawdust flying.

A mattress made of hay bound together, giving off a musty smell, a cloth pillow, a rickety table, and a chair that looked like it was scavenged from somewhere.

What about the ceiling? It was full of holes, and the area around them was damp and rotting.

‘He must’ve lived here without any help.’

I tried to keep my emotions in check as I spoke calmly.

“Favorite, would you like to sit in the chair?”

I sat Leon down in the chair and opened my bag.

I had brought alcohol, cotton, ointment, and some food, just in case he hadn’t eaten since I remembered the scratches from last time.

“Where’s the water?”

“…It’s in the bucket.”

Looking around, I spotted a dented copper bucket.

“Now, I’ll start touching it. Let me know if it hurts.”

I asked for Leon’s permission. His pink eyes, meeting mine, remained calm.

I wiped the wounds on Leon’s arms and legs with a clean towel soaked in water, then dipped the cotton in alcohol.

I then disinfected the wounds with the cotton and applied the ointment.

“Ah! That hurts!”

Leon jumped back in surprise when I touched the cotton to his skin.

‘If he reacts like this from the start, I won’t be able to treat him.’

“I thought my favorite was tough, but turns out you’re a baby.”

I teased him on purpose.

“Who’s a baby! …I’m not a baby, I’m eleven!”

Leon responded immediately.

‘…My little one, so cute.’

“Yeah, yeah, my favorite little one. Can you turn over to the other side?”

Leon glanced at me in response to my words.

“……”

He seemed to understand me well, as he quietly endured the pain with dignity.

“Favorite, I think I should check the rest of your body. Can you lift your clothes for me?”

“……”

My favorite stayed silent at my words.

‘Maybe this is too difficult for him.’

“If you don’t want to, I can treat you next time.”

“…Just my back.”

After some hesitation, Leon spoke and bent his body down.

I quickly lifted his clothes up, worried that my little one might change his mind.

“……!”

On his creamy skin were bruises in shades of red and purple, scars from something he had been hit with, faded after a long time, and his spine was visible on his thin, emaciated body with no flesh.

The moment I saw Leon’s back, I could feel the hardships of the life he had lived, and it made my heart tighten. But I had to stay strong.

‘Pity is a natural emotion, but if I express it carelessly, I could hurt Leon.’

Swish, swish, swish.

I silently disinfected and applied the ointment to his wounds. After finishing the treatment, I lowered Leon’s clothes.

“All done, my favorite.”

As I finished speaking, Leon straightened his body.

“Does it feel better?”

I asked with a gentle smile.

“……”

Without answering, Leon looked down, his ears red. His hand was placed over the left side of his chest.

‘Could he be hurting somewhere?’

Just as I was about to ask why he was holding his chest, Leon gave me his dismissal.

“Now, leave my house.”

‘Yes, that’s my little one.’

I felt reassured seeing the Leon I knew.

“Okay, but I have something to say. I’ll tell you before I go.”

“…What is it?”

“The Empire’s army is going to do a skill selection test soon.”

“……!”

‘…He looks really surprised.’

In the original story, Leon’s magic had been proven at the age of 14, and he went to the Tower of Magic.

‘Wait, could it be? Has his magic already manifested?’

“Before the skill selection test, they will distribute grain and food.”

“……”

‘Maybe I’ll push a little more, try to get closer to Leon’s heart.’

“My favorite, are you scared?”

“……”

“When I was 8 years old, my mother passed away from a monster attack.”

“…Why are you telling me this?”

‘Because I know that your parents died protecting you from monsters.’

“I have a fear of monsters. What about you?”

“……”

“I want to live well for the rest of my life, since I was born. What about you?”

“…If you’ve said everything, then leave my house.”

“I believe I can make you happy.”

After hearing my words, Leon pushed me and Sir Walter out the door.

“Get out!”

I was thrown outside and spoke loudly toward the door.

“Thank you for inviting me, my favorite. I’ll come straight here next time to visit.”

“……”

I turned to the bodyguard, who was standing still.

“Sir Walter, I’ll need to come with you again next time.”

“Miss, are you alright?”

“I left my bag behind, so I’m fine. Let’s go, Sir Walter.”

“…Yes.”

I walked toward the carriage at the entrance of the slums, my steps empty.

‘Ha, is this the second rejection today?’

* * *
The lace blackout curtains were firmly closed.

A thin beam of light slipped through a tiny gap at the edge and brushed against my face.

‘Is it only the female lead who can do this?’

I escaped the blinding light into the darkness. My dark blue-black hair, scattered and disheveled, followed me.

Swish.

The mindset I had prepared for my first meeting with Leon wavered. The calm I had carefully hidden after the second rejection crumbled.

‘I must be this sincere.’

I tried to rise, but the feeling of despair made me collapse back down.

“…Life is really hard.”

I lifted my hips, like the cat pose in yoga, and buried my face into the blanket.

‘…I want something spicy. I want tteokbokki.’

I lay there for a while, when suddenly, I heard Meril’s lively voice from behind.

“Miss, Meril is here! Oh my!”

“…Hello, Meril.”

“Miss! What’s with this gloomy atmosphere?”

“…It’s something like that.”

“What happened when you went out yesterday?”

“Nothing.”

“Miss, I know everything. This won’t do! I’ll have to ask the knight escort!”

“No, don’t ask the knight, don’t!”

I was dazed for a moment, but Meril’s words brought me back to my senses.

“No! I can’t believe you let it come to this! I’ll have to teach him a lesson!”

In an instant, the air around Meril changed. Her orange eyes flashed with intensity.

‘No! She’s going to go off on a tangent!’

“Meril, it’s okay. I was just contemplating my life as a lady.”

“…Really?”

“Yeah, Sir Walter did a good job as my escort.”

I didn’t want to reveal anything about Leon just yet, so I quickly came up with an excuse.

‘Wait, didn’t I promise to go out with Meril?’

I was feeling down, so today was perfect for it.

“Meril, how about we go out to the city center?”

“Oh my! Miss, is it a date with Meril?”

“Yeah, Meril, let’s go to the boutique!”

‘What the heck, I’m a rich young lady with plenty of money. I’m going to blow off some steam with a shopping spree!’