This time, even Caroline did not stop Sharon.
And listening to Sharon's complaints, Leon's heart grew even heavier.
'Why did it turn out this way?'
'Why did the once thriving Empire become like this in just a few short years?'
From his master roaming all over the Empire's grey zones of gambling, prostitution, and drugs to exert pressure on the Empire;
To deliberately smearing Leon, framing him as a traitor;
Then discovering that their real purpose in cooperating with the Dragon Race was none other than to exploit the people even more;
And now... those decaying claws had already reached the orphanage.
That rotten stench of power was like a plague, spreading through the Empire with no gaps left untouched.
"So we really had no choice but to make some paper lanterns and sell them in the upper district to make a bit of money."
Teacher Caroline said, "We can't possibly let the orphanage children eat dry, hard bread during a big festival, right?"
Leon forcefully suppressed the disappointment and anger in his heart, "When did this kind of situation begin?"
"Since... five yea—"
"Since Leon bro disappeared, life's been going downhill day by day."
Caroline shook her head and smiled bitterly, "Though this girl speaks a bit bluntly, it does seem to be the truth... Five years ago, when that child Leon disappeared without a trace, somehow, it felt like everyone's standard of living suddenly declined."
"I know why, teacher!"
Sharon said, "Back then Leon bro was the head of the Dragon-Slaying Corps, held military power, was upright, and hated evil with a passion. He definitely wouldn't tolerate the royals playing shady games, so—"
"You're saying too much, Sharon," Caroline reminded.
"...Tch!", The young nun pouted, still mumbling in dissatisfaction,
"Anyway... anyway I just think, if Leon bro were here, we'd definitely be living better than now."
"But he's not here, Sharon."
That sentence seemed to touch something soft inside Caroline. She lowered her gaze and softly repeated, "He... is not here."
The atmosphere turned a little heavy.
But fortunately, Caroline adjusted quickly, "Sorry about that. We're just ordinary folks chatting nonsense."
"Ah... oh, it's fine."
If Caroline and Sharon hadn't "mistaken" Leon as Leon, they wouldn't have talked about these things at all.
So Leon wasn't too worried that they'd be caught saying something by people with ill intent.
Ding~ Dong~
The orphanage bell rang. Dinner time had arrived.
"Would you two like to stay for a simple meal?", Caroline asked.
"Oh, no."
"Alright then, I wish you both a pleasant time in the Empire. We still have work to do, so we'll head back now."
"Mm."
Caroline and Sharon bowed slightly, then turned and prepared to leave.
But Leon suddenly called out to them, "Wait a moment, Teacher Caroline."
"Is there something else, sir?"
Leon took out his wallet and pulled out some gold coins,
"Paper lanterns, your orphanage's paper lanterns, I'll buy them all. I'll pick them up in two days."
Caroline looked at the coins but didn't rush to accept them. Instead, she said, "That's too much money, sir. We won't be able to make that many lanterns."
Leon's mind turned quickly, and he immediately replied, "Then treat the rest as a donation to the orphanage."
"This... alright then, thank you, sir. May I ask your name?"
"Constantine."
"Sounds like a... very promising name, Mr. Constantine."
Caroline accepted the coins, "We'll try to make as many lanterns as possible."
"Mm."
Caroline nodded and turned to leave.
After the two nuns left, Rossweise folded her arms and hummed, "Truly doing good deeds without leaving your name, Constastine~"
Leon grinned and hooked his arm around Rossweise's, "Didn't I leave a name just now?"
Rossweise let out a laugh in exasperation,
"Leaving the name 'Constantine', what the heck is that, you dummy!"
"Laying the groundwork early for the Crimson Flame Dragon King's support in three days," Leon explained seriously.
Rossweise rolled her eyes at him, "Let's go, let's go, time to head back."
She paused, then turned to look at Leon, a mischievous smile on her face, "Want me to fly you back, Constantine~?"
"You're no fun, you old dragon!"
———
Meanwhile, back in the orphanage cafeteria, Caroline and Sharon were handing out dinner to the children.
Once the meals were distributed, the two of them sat to the side and spoke softly.
"Mr. Constantine is such a good person," the young nun Sharon said wistfully.
But Caroline frowned slightly, "Still... I really feel like he looks like Leon... he's just, so similar."
Sharon scratched the side of her head and sighed, "I think so too, but Leon bro hasn't been heard from in so many years... who knows where he is now. I really wish he could come back and help us..."
'Help us...'
Caroline looked down at the few gold coins in her hand, the ones "Mr. Constantine" had just given them.
After a moment of contemplation, Caroline's eyes suddenly widened a bit, "Sharon..."
"What is it, Teacher Caroline?"
"I never once told that man my name just now, so why... why did he keep calling me 'Teacher Caroline'?"
As if struck by lightning, a boom echoed in Sharon's head.
She paused for a second, then gasped, exclaiming in disbelief,
"Le-Leon bro is bac-mmph!"
This time, Caroline quickly covered her mouth.
Just as Sharon tried to push Caroline's hand away, she noticed that this senior nun, who had served at the orphanage for decades, was now lightly resting on her shoulder, quietly sobbing.
"He's back... Sharon, he really came back."
———
After finishing the day's field work, Leon and Rossweise carried a shopping bag full of memory stones and headed toward the Lionheart Society's clocktower in the slums.
The slum residents all rested very early. It was just 8 PM, and while the middle district was still brightly lit, the slum streets were already nearly deserted.
Only the streetlamps remained, and a few stray cats occasionally darted across the road.
The couple strolled slowly down the middle of the street. Compared to the other more bustling districts, walking down the center of the road in the slums didn't mean worrying about getting hit by a carriage, because no one could afford a carriage.
Rossweise was still wearing high heels. After walking all day and now carrying the shopping bag by one of its handles, even with a dragon king's body, her ankles were sore.
Leon noticed something off about her steps and took the initiative, "Let me take it. I can carry it myself."
"Ah, it's okay—"
Before Rossweise could refuse, Leon had already taken the other handle of the bag from her.
The queen rubbed her sore shoulders and whispered, "Thanks."
Leon glanced at her profile, then looked forward again, speaking slowly, "You look quite content, you know."
"Hmm? Do I?"
"Yeah."
Leon said softly, "No matter how tired you usually are, you always keep a cold face. It's hard to read any emotion. But today we've been walking around all day, and we still have to carry this big bag of memory stones back to the clocktower... and yet you weren't cold-faced at all. On the way back just now, you even kept secretly smiling."
He shrugged, "So... that's why I said you seemed quite content today."
Rossweise didn't deny it and nodded, "You're right, today was very fulfilling."
"Because you fulfilled your little wish?"
"Little wish?"
"Yeah, walking the roads I walked, seeing the sights I've seen."
The beauty smiled softly and tucked a few strands of hair, "Not just that."
"What else?"
They rarely had heart-to-heart talks like this.
Most of the time, after finishing her daily work, Rossweise would be completely drained. Back in the room, all she wanted was a hot shower and to collapse into bed.
Leon would usually shower with her.
When both body and mind are exhausted, having someone close to do something intimate with helps ease everything quickly.
They'd hug and kiss in the shower, but never go further.
That kind of gentle, restrained relaxation was the most beautiful kind of feeling.
And once they had relaxed, there was no energy left for a heartfelt chat.
Or if they did have time to talk, they'd usually discuss "important matters."
Like whether Old Con had behaved lately, or the daughters' study plans for the next semester.
So they rarely talked about themselves.
Only when far from the chaos of work and the clutter of life would they open up to each other, and say those things they usually felt too proud to admit.
As it happened, this was the Empire's slum district, and they were just a pair of unknown young lovers.
And as it happened, it would take at least another half hour to return to the Lionheart Society, so they had plenty of time to talk freely face to face.
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