CH 22

Chapter 22:

“Am I really going to make a mess there?”

I had fluff all over my body.

Oh, I feel empty.

Well, I didn’t wear it.

I opened the drawer and took out the well-placed box. I’m trying to pull out the ribbon satin strap I used to wear on my wrist…

“Oh, right”

Leon took it. Will he give it back to me after the banquet?

Blue ribbon would look good on me.

I felt sad inside. Somehow, it felt like a part of my body had been removed.

I was lost in thought, fiddling with my empty wrist.

What is Leon doing right now?

It felt strange to leave him alone for some reason.

” Shall we go and see him for a moment…?”

Probably training at this time.

Holding my dress, I carefully left the room.

I don’t know what kind of nagging I’ll get if I walk around before I go to the banquet hall.

I don’t know if that’s what happened when I heard the cat sound.

He crept outside without even making a sound of footsteps.

How do I know where Leon is?

How many years has it been, I still don’t know..

He will be training alone inside the garden, not in the training ground, but in a place where there’s no people.

I went inside the garden, enjoying the pleasant smell of grass to the fullest.

The flowers bloomed and the scent brushed the tip of the nose in the wind.

“That flower smells good. I’ll have to ask for more next time.”

I thought it would be pretty good to put it in a vase.

As I reached the inside of the garden with various thoughts in mind, I held my breath and poked my head out from behind a tree.

“There he is.”

The blue ribbon tied to his wrist caught my eye.

Is wearing it just in case he forgets?

‘He wasn’t wearing it yesterday.’

He must have been training for quite a while, and his face was covered with sweat.

A man who works out……. Imagine that. Solid chest muscles seen through the slightly open shirt.

The roar of the ridge that popped out of nowhere! Flesh drenched in sweat.

Pheromones were spontaneously spouting out.

I naturally remembered Leon yesterday.

Light clothes, silky pajamas…

Now, wait a minute. Didn’t I wear pajamas, too?!

Did I fall asleep in Leon’s arms in that outfit?

Suddenly, my face turned pale..

It’s okay. Nothing happened. So that’s it.

I shook my head vigorously to erase my thoughts in a hurry.

“You’re working really hard, by the way.”

As if to forget his thoughts, Leon focused only on training.

The slightly distorted eyes looked fascinating.

I must have forgotten that I was sneaking a peek, so I squatted next to the tree and peeked at Leon in earnest.

“You’re really all grown up now.”

I wonder if a mother who raised a child feels like this.

I’ve been proud to see Leon, who is full of masculinity.

“How long are you going to hide and watch like a rat?”

I’m startled.

On the first day I heard it, I curled up at the standing voice.

Did I get caught…? But I think you just called me a rat, a rat.

I blinked, unable to express my embarrassment.

Since when did I know that his head had turned toward me.

The gaze I faced was intertwined in the air.

The hair fluttering and blowing passed between the two.

“Uh……Leon?”

My legs were loosened and I couldn’t even stand up and hardened to the spot.

Leon’s eyes were wide open at the trembling voice.

* * *

Leone’s eyebrows seemed to be narrowing subtly, but he sighed briefly as if relieved.

“…… Elle. It’s you.”

Unlike before, a soft voice penetrated my ears.

A big smile at me was reflected in the sunlight, and my eyes were so blind.

“As I was training, the sun got higher without realizing it.”

He came up to me and pulled up his mouth as if nothing had happened.

Oh, as expected. I guess what happened yesterday was my misunderstanding. Leon couldn’t have recognized me at once.

I calmed down my slightly frightened heart and smiled lightly.

“But why are you wearing a ribbon?”

I pointed to Leon’s wrist and asked.

“I’m afraid I’ll forget. This is Elle’s.”

“Oh, yeah. I see.”

But if you forget, I can make something similar…….

I shrugged at Leon’s words.

Only then did Leon smile as if he were relieved.

“Ah……! That’s right. Did Leon take me to my room?”

“Maybe you were surprised, but you suddenly collapsed. Don’t worry, we didn’t get caught.”

Leon shrugged as he scanned the knights around him.

“Well…… I’m relieved if Leon says so.”

Indeed, it was too much for a banquet.

I felt like I was busy moving around and security was tight.

“I saw your face, so that’s enough! I should get going.”

“Already…… Are you going? Oh, I guess it’s time.”

“Yes, I really took a moment to come here. So stay and eat cookies until I come. I’ll be right back.”

I didn’t mean to stay at the banquet.

All you have to do is say hello to the emperor. The Belois family is still alive and well. Is this the purpose?

It was difficult to keep up with Edgar because I didn’t know what he was really thinking.

‘I’ll have to check it out later.’

“I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you. You’re the only one who’s this pretty in my eyes.”

What a sweet thing to say to this situation all of a sudden.

It’s very like Leon.

“Really”

I finally burst into laughter at Leon’s words.

“Pfft. What’s that?”

Don’t you say sly things with such an innocent face?

“I mean, I feel like you’re getting more and  more sly.”

Naturally, I took off his hand that grabbed my face and shook his shoulders.

“I’m telling you. You’re so pretty that I don’t want to send you anywhere.”

Leon’s eyes sank languidly.

He bent down to meet my squatting gaze.

He gave me a perfect smile, flipping my long hair back.

I wish I could only laugh like that in the future.

Leon’s future hardships came to mind, and his lips were bitter.

“You’re so pretty, Elle. I especially like this one.”

The one on my left chest was a red ruby brooch from Leon.

Whenever this happens, my conscience gets poked.

I couldn’t predict what expression Leon would look at.

I wish I had a mirror.

I stared at Leon with a blank look on my face.

He continued to look at me. The eyes that were entangled in his face tickled.

But soon after, I shrank at the touch that stretched out to me.

“Leon?”

I get anxious when Leon’s eyes sink like that sometimes.

And my prediction was right.

Because Leon took the brooch off my chest with a careful touch.

“Elle, I think it’s better to leave this out.”

“What?”

Blinking.

Again, my eyes, still embarrassed, blinked without doing anything.

“You never know. I may follow and find you.”

I stared quietly at the red brooch in my hand.

“Of course, that won’t happen.”

I nodded straight away. I feel like I should.

“But Leon, you’ve grown quite a bit.”

Leaning down to meet my gaze, he became in a crumpled position.

You’ve grown up a lot.

“Is that so? I want you to look like a child for the first time.”

A low voice sounded pleasantly.

It was even better with the rustling of leaves in the wind.

“Does Leon want to be a child?”

I’m not.

I wanted to grow up as soon as possible and gain strength in my hands.

I can’t stay under Edgar forever.

I felt like I could get away with it when I came of age.

I blinked slowly and reached out to wipe the sweat off Leon’s forehead.

“You still look like a child.”

Aren’t you not refusing my touch and just accepting it?

It felt like a gentle kitten.

“Wipe here, too.”

Leon took my hand and took it to his neck.

I suddenly felt strange as I ran down his jawline and wiped the sweat off his neck.