IMLM 19

Chapter : 19

“It was something that couldn’t be helped if we wanted to clear up the misunderstanding.”

Loreina said it with a look as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

That was why Leonard felt a little—no, very—strange.

Leonard knew how much Loreina hated the attic. Seeing someone like her come down from there had shocked him more than he cared to admit.

Naturally, he had assumed there must be an extremely important reason. One he himself would be able to understand right away.

But what he’d just heard was completely unexpected. He had never imagined a response like that.

“Hmm, you look like you don’t believe me.”

Loreina drooped her eyebrows awkwardly.

Was I really making that kind of face? Leonard raised a hand and briefly touched his own face.

After standing there for a moment, Leonard soon realized that it couldn’t be helped.

This young lady, who had suddenly appeared one day and seeped into his everyday life, had always felt unreal to him.

“Hm.”

Loreina, resting a hand on her chin and deep in thought, seemed to reach a conclusion and shook her head from side to side.

At that sight, Leonard let out a faint, unconscious smile.

“Well, even if you make that face, it can’t be helped! I know it’s hard to believe, but things related to you are actually pretty important to me, Leonard.”

This woman was really—

“Four years ago, and now too.”

Did she even realize what she was saying?

No, she probably didn’t. That was why she could say only the words she wanted, so freely.

“I’ll think a little more about going to the Imperial Palace.”

“…….”

“Just give me today. That’s okay, right? Going straight to the palace would be exhausting anyway.”

The blue eyes looking at him sparkled with goodwill and vitality.

Leonard met that color calmly, then lowered his gaze.

He was afraid she might notice the possessiveness and ugly obsession surely flickering in his eyes even now.

And he was afraid of what Loreina might think if she did.

“Haah……”

Having wrapped up the day well, I stepped out onto the balcony with a refreshed heart.

After washing up thoroughly and drying my hair, I truly felt light and unburdened.

It was still early spring, but with thick pajamas and a shawl draped over me, it was comfortable enough.

‘Thank goodness things worked out better than I expected.’

I’d been so nervous, worrying Leonard might kill me on the spot.

When I asked for just a little time to think, Leonard had readily agreed.

Even when I said I’d stay for a day, he’d simply gone into the room assigned to me without protest.

Considering how I’d flown straight to the Amelio estate and suggested going to the Imperial Palace, it was unexpected.

‘I thought he’d insist we go together right away.’

I didn’t know what had changed, but Leonard’s curse didn’t seem to work on me.

From Leonard’s perspective, there was no way he’d just let someone like that go. Even so, his current reaction was puzzling……

Well, honestly, whatever the reason, it didn’t really matter to me.

‘If he’s willing to take me along, I’m grateful!’

In fact, I’d been holding back a cheer for a while now.

If Leonard heard me from the guest room upstairs and things went wrong, it would be a disaster.

Seriously. The kid I’d been taking care of was the male lead?! What kind of golden coincidence was this?

Of course I had to follow him. How could I let an opportunity like this slip away?

At first I was too flustered to answer, but later I’d wanted to shout that I’d go with him immediately.

I’d held back because it would’ve seemed strange to agree so eagerly.

Considering how disappointed and despairing I’d been four years ago, it wasn’t easy.

I almost wanted to praise myself for it.

‘Now I can secure my own survival and watch the heroine and hero fall in love up close!’

I already had enough money. No—wait. If I stayed by Leonard’s side, wouldn’t I pick up some protagonist luck and become filthy rich?

My first and second dreams, ones I’d never even dared to imagine, felt like they were right in front of me.

And I’d even learned that Jen, whom I’d feared was dead, was alive. The more I thought about it, the better everything seemed.

I swayed my feet lightly in time with the hum that slipped out of me.

It wasn’t loud, so I figured it would be fine.

Of course, that was my mistake.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah—! You startled me.”

At the sudden voice, I looked up and saw black hair that suited the night sky perfectly.

Leonard was looking down at me from the balcony of the room diagonally across from mine.

How long had he been there?

“Oh, when did you come out?”

“Not long ago.”

“……From when did you see me?”

“From when you were singing and spun around once?”

……So he saw everything. Damn it.

He’s not going to retract his offer because I looked like a crazy person, right?

Rolling my eyes at the wave of embarrassment, I forced the most harmless smile I could manage.

I won’t run away. I won’t hurt you.

Thankfully, Leonard didn’t say anything else. After silently watching my beaming face, he suddenly asked,

“Can I come over there for a moment?”

Huh? All of a sudden?

I stared at Leonard with wide eyes, wondering if I’d misheard.

But no matter how much I replayed it in my head, the words didn’t change.

What was this about? Did he want to discuss something since we’d be together going forward?

Or was he trying to persuade me one last time, thinking I might refuse?

My thoughts multiplied, but I nodded anyway.

As I’d told Leonard earlier that day, he was someone quite important to me.

Whether because he was my last lifeline for survival, or because of the six months we’d spent together.

“Yes, that’s fine. Then I’ll go tell the maids outside first.”

Everyone would be startled if Leonard suddenly appeared in the hallway outside my room. I should warn them.

I turned to head inside, but Leonard tilted his head slightly and placed both hands on the railing.

“Is that really necessary?”

“Huh?”

His lightly teasing tone caught me off guard, and before I could respond—

Leonard put strength into his hands on the railing and leapt.

……Wait, hold on. This is the third floor!

And the floors are tall, too. What if he fell?

But my worry proved pointless as Leonard landed smoothly in front of me.

The way his feet touched the ground was so light it almost felt as if he were floating.

And only then did I realize something critically important.

Right. This guy is the male lead.

I shouldn’t have compared someone loaded with buffs to an ordinary person.

I cleared my throat awkwardly, feeling foolish, and Leonard shrugged, apparently misinterpreting it.

“There’s no need to make a big deal out of it. What would people think if a man entered your room at this hour?”

“……I don’t think the person saying that should be you.”

I muttered my protest quietly. It didn’t work, of course.

“I came because there’s something I want to hear.”

“Something you want to hear?”

Not something you want to say, but something you want to hear?

I tilted my head in confusion, but Leonard stayed silent for quite a while.

With his lips pressed tight, he seemed deep in thought.

He’d started this himself—what was he doing now? Still, I didn’t want to break the quiet.

Partly because it had been so long since I’d met an old connection, and partly because of the pleasantly cool breeze—

But mostly because the crimson eyes, more subdued than earlier in the day, caught my attention.

That was why I spoke up, drawing out an old memory I’d buried in my chest.

“This reminds me of the past.”

“The past?”

“Yes. You came to my room at night back then, too.”

Of course, that time he’d knocked properly and come in through the door.

When I mimed knocking, Leonard let out a small “Ah.”

So he remembered this too.

“That’s right. When my lip was hurt.”

Back then, I’d had so many thoughts. If I’d known earlier that Jen was Leonard, it might have been easier.

“I’ll admit it now—I was pretending to be fine back then. I was scared. A little—no, a lot.”

“Because you were worried your lip wouldn’t heal properly?”

“No.”

I slowly shook my head.

It wasn’t that it hadn’t mattered at all, but that wasn’t the real reason.

“I was afraid everyone would leave me behind, and I’d be alone.”

Afraid I’d live another lonely, painful life like in my previous world.

The sweetness I’d tasted for six years after possessing this body had been so intoxicating that I didn’t even want to look back at my former life.

Even if I’d only gained it by wearing the shell of “Loreina Amelio.”

I’d wondered, just briefly, whether this beauty would fade, whether the dreamlike happiness would end.

Of course, it was a foolish thought.

“Thank you for coming to my room that night.”

Thank you for not letting me spend that night alone.

“Thank you for telling me it was okay. That I was pretty.”

Even if my lip hadn’t healed, I wouldn’t have lost sleep over it.

It was all thanks to you.

“If we ever met again, I really wanted to say this.”

“…….”

“Thank you. Truly.”

As if to comfort me when my nose suddenly stung, a gentle breeze passed by.

The sound of grass rustling in the wind made the moment feel like a scene from a movie.

Sshhk—sshk—.

As the sound brushing past my ears gradually faded, Leonard spoke quietly.

His face looked oddly distorted.

“……You.”

“…….”

“Does it really not bother you that I suddenly showed up and asked you to come with me? Without explaining anything?”

“Ah……”

Hmm. I hadn’t even thought about that.

I already knew about Leonard’s curse, so I’d assumed he needed me as an exception.

‘But from Leonard’s point of view, it must look strange.’

How was I supposed to explain this?

I couldn’t exactly say I understood his situation because I’d read the original story.

‘If I didn’t know the original story, what would I have said?’

I pondered briefly, but the answer was obvious.

Even without knowing the story, I would have followed Leonard.

Because—

“There must have been an important reason. So it’s only natural to be that considerate.”

Smiling, I said exactly what I’d been thinking.

Hoping it would offer Leonard even a small measure of comfort.

“You’re a pretty special and important person to me, Leonard.”

Not knowing that these words might pierce him like a blade.