IMLM 09

Chapter : 09

Zen’s face twisted badly. Seeing the anger in his eyes, I couldn’t find anything to say. That was only natural.

“It’s not because someone said something, Zen.”

“Then?”

“It’s just that I think so myself, so I want to hide it.”

I murmured as I lifted the handkerchief a little higher, remembering how I’d looked earlier in the small mirror.

“Even I think it looks ugly.”

The moment those words ended, Zen strode toward the bed.

Wondering what he was doing, I watched silently as he stretched his arm toward my face.

The instant I realized he was trying to pull down the handkerchief I was holding, I quickly leaned back.

“W-What are you doing?”

“I want to see your face.”

…As if I wouldn’t know that. I was asking why.

As if he had sensed my thoughts, Zen quietly added,

“Show me.”

“…Why?”

“You said it yourself.”

After a brief pause, Zen spoke clearly. There was not a trace of hesitation on his face.

“That I like your face.”

“No, that’s…”

It was just because you were so cute that I wanted to tease you. I didn’t say it so you could use it on me like this.

“…That’s not what I meant when I said that…”

But my words never reached Zen.

The hesitation he’d shown earlier was nowhere to be found as he cut me off with a rather firm expression.

“You’re right.”

“……”

“I like it.”

At those subject-less words, my face felt inexplicably hot.

As I floundered, unable to find a reply, Zen grabbed the handkerchief covering my face and pulled it down.

Because of that, the lips stained blue by poison were exposed to the night air.

“It’s not ugly at all.”

“Th-That…”

“It’s pretty.”

At those words, I finally lost the ability to respond. Oh my god, what is this?

Since when did this kid become like this? I only hoped he’d grow up to be a good, upright child.

Save things like that for your future partner!

“Zen, I appreciate you saying that, but… aren’t you really scared?”

“Scared?”

“Well, earlier you ran away after seeing my face, didn’t you…?”

Zen seemed to think about something for a moment, then let out a small exclamation.

“Oh, that wasn’t because of your face. I thought I saw Gerald… hyung at the festival.”

“Really?”

So he hadn’t run away because of my face after all. I guess I’d been so conscious of it that I naturally assumed others would be too.

I suspected him for nothing. Sorry.

“That’s a relief. I almost would’ve been hurt.”

“What do you mean?”

“I thought you might say you wouldn’t look at my face anymore.”

Zen, who had been listening quietly, sat down on the left side of the bed where I was sitting.

The bed bounced slightly under his weight.

“I never thought that.”

“I know.”

“I’m serious. I really never did.”

At his stubborn, childlike tone, a soft laugh escaped me. This is more like someone his age.

Zen watched me with a suspicious look for a moment, then handed back the handkerchief he’d taken.

I looked at it briefly before neatly placing it back where it had been. I didn’t need it anymore.

Zen, who had been watching me the whole time, suddenly asked,

“Are you okay?”

“With what?”

“Um… your lips.”

“You said they were okay. And that they were pretty.”

At his worried gaze, I smiled brightly. Just moments ago, I’d felt like I might cry, but not anymore.

“So I’m okay too. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t upset at all, but if the people around me say it’s fine, then I don’t mind either. It’s not like I’ll be going out much anyway.”

The reason I felt this much better was probably all thanks to Zen.

Feeling a strange ticklish sensation, I raised my hand and gently patted Zen’s head.

The sight of his black hair slipping smoothly between my fingers was quite pleasant.

“So that means you have to play with me a lot from now on, right?”

“…Yeah.”

Feeling happy at his answer, I chatted idly with Zen for a bit before falling asleep.

The thought that Zen hadn’t yet returned to his own room briefly crossed my mind, but I didn’t have the energy to worry about it.

So many things had happened today—I was just too tired.

I think I vaguely heard someone whisper “sleep well” near my ear.

Loreina, who had been chattering away, fell asleep.

Leonard turned his head after confirming that the blue eyes that had been looking straight at him were now closed.

“Gerald.”

At the quiet call, a shadow appeared by the window. Judging by how he kept rubbing his legs, he must have been standing there for quite a while.

“You should practice hiding your presence better. At this rate, you’ll get caught.”

“If it weren’t you, Lord Leonard, no one would’ve noticed. Miss Amelio didn’t seem to sense anything at all.”

Gerald protested in his own way, but Leonard dismissed it cleanly, as always.

“How did the thing I told you to look into turn out?”

“…Well.”

After a brief pause, Gerald let out a sigh.

“After investigating, it turns out the one who attacked the crown prince was indeed one of our people. It seems he acted on impulse, wanting your approval, Lord Leonard.”

“Hardly something you could call impulsive, considering that poison isn’t easy to obtain.”

“…It looks like he got his hands on supplies from the secret base.”

At the absurd situation, Leonard clicked his tongue softly.

The moment Leonard saw the man who had shot an arrow at Enoch, he felt something was off and immediately went to find Gerald.

He didn’t want to leave his place, but he couldn’t identify people by appearance alone, so there was no other choice.

There was no need to worry that Loreina might notice.

From the site of the Krusia Festival to Baron Hentison’s estate, it only took a moment if he manifested his true form and flew.

Feeling uneasy, he had asked Gerald to look into the man, but he never imagined it would be one of his own.

Faced with the unimaginable, he could only sigh repeatedly.

“We disguised it as if he escaped alone and extracted him. What should we do now?”

Leonard’s gaze shifted briefly to Loreina, sleeping soundly. As he checked to see if she was sleeping well, his eyes drifted down to her lips.

If not for that man today, they would have remained a beautiful shade of red.

If Loreina weren’t a half-elf but an ordinary human, it wouldn’t have ended with just her lips.

As that thought crossed his mind, the red in his eyes darkened. When he looked back at Gerald, his gaze was icy.

“…Dispose of him.”

“Pardon?”

“I said, dispose of him.”

Loreina’s influence couldn’t be denied entirely, but even if she hadn’t been involved, Leonard would have made the same decision.

The things Leonard had to do from now on required utmost caution.

He had no need for subordinates who acted on their own without orders.

“Because of one idiot who did something he wasn’t told to do, the rest of us almost ended up in danger. If he’d been properly tortured and spilled information about the secret base, do you think things would’ve ended well?”

“…You’re right.”

Gerald nodded slowly. He knew the man had acted out of excessive loyalty, but if it caused this much harm, they couldn’t continue together.

Letting him go freely wasn’t an option either—he knew far too much.

“Then I’ll report back once it’s taken care of. I’ll include the details of our conversation just now as well—”

“No. There’s no need to include what we talked about here.”

Leonard gestured toward Loreina.

“Even if we don’t speak directly, it seems that just being in the same space prevents the memories of that moment from fading.”

“…So that’s why you suggested talking here. That’s incredible…”

That meant as long as Loreina was nearby, Leonard could live his daily life without issue.

He still wouldn’t recognize faces, but that was easily solved if someone told him who was who.

There would no longer be any need to write down conversations, have Leonard review them, and then burn the records.

Given the importance of secrecy, that process had been troublesome and risky—so this was a tremendous breakthrough.

Leonard must have realized that as well.

“Will you keep Miss Amelio by your side?”

Gerald had no doubt the answer would be yes. Leonard had always been fervent about breaking the curse.

But contrary to expectations, Leonard hesitated and didn’t answer right away.

When the answer finally came, it was ambiguous.

“…If she allows it.”

Considering Leonard’s usual demeanor, it was shocking, but Gerald summoned superhuman restraint and showed no reaction.

It was the composure of someone who had served Leonard from birth until now.

“Oh, right. Gerald, there’s something you should tell the baron.”

“What is it?”

“He’ll understand if you tell him there isn’t much time left.”

Leonard added, thinking of the slight throbbing he’d been feeling in his body lately,

“About half a year.”

At those words, Gerald’s face brightened noticeably.

There was only one thing that could mean—the day everyone, including Gerald, had been waiting for.

The day Leonard would reach full maturity.

“I understand. Then I’ll go deliver the message.”

After speaking, Gerald disappeared from sight.

Once Leonard confirmed that Gerald had safely left the estate, he turned around to return to his own room.

But just as he took a step toward the door, Loreina lying on the bed caught his eye again.

Along with the conversation they’d had earlier.

‘I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t upset, but if the people around me say it’s fine, then I don’t mind either.’

She’d said it with a bright smile, but Loreina might be far more hurt than she appeared—perhaps even more than she herself realized.

One look at the hand mirror beside her or the handkerchief she’d used to cover her lips made it obvious.

“There is a way, but…”

After a moment of deliberation, Leonard let out a quiet sigh. The method gave him some pause, but it couldn’t be helped.

Asking Loreina for permission would be far too risky.

To explain this ability, he’d first have to reveal that he was the son of Khalid, the last Dragon Emperor.

Leonard approached Loreina and hesitated briefly before slowly lowering his head.

“…I’m sorry.”

A moment later, a soft sensation touched his lips. He tried not to be conscious of the fact that it was Loreina’s lips, focusing instead on the healing.

Thankfully, he could feel the vital energy being properly transferred to her.

He’d never thought the bloodline of the God of Life could feel this much like a blessing. A powerful pleasure coursed through his entire body.

When Leonard finally pulled back, Loreina’s lips had regained their red hue.

Leonard looked at them with satisfaction and smiled.

I hope this helped you.

“Sleep well.”

Leonard whispered softly by her ear and left the room.

Click. The sound of the door closing echoed through the quiet night air.

It was a night filled with brilliant moonlight.