Leone, hugging Lancer, didn't know what kind of internal struggle Lancer was going through. The slightly stubborn girl intended to fight for her own 'happiness' in her own way. She unconsciously held Lancer tighter, and feeling the girl's soft yet firm body and smelling the fragrance of her hair, Lancer felt his reason crumbling. He almost hugged her back, but in the end, he pushed Leone away.
"I'm sorry, Leone, but I can't agree to this."
Lancer unexpected answer made Leone body, which was hugging him, completely stiffen, and a hint of tears began to appear in her originally firm eyes...
"Is it because you think I'm just a girl from the slums? Or do you think my body isn't good enough, and I can't compare to Sister Najenda or Esdeath? You don't have to marry me! I just want to be with you always! Even if it's just as a maid..."
What the heck? Esdeath makes sense, since she often comes over for dinner, but who the heck is Najenda? They've only met a few times, right? And Lancer hasn't seen her in months...
Leone voice went from high-pitched to gradually lower, and her body, which was pressed against Lancer, went from stiff to gradually trembling. But the hands that were hugging Lancer didn't loosen at all. It was clear that Lancer had underestimated Leone resolve this time.
The situation this time seemed to be no different from the one with Ryoko Fueguchi before, but in reality, the difference was huge.
The reason Ryoko Fueguchi voluntarily offered herself was similar to a 'feeding oneself to a tiger' situation. To her, he was the 'tiger,' and she did this solely to protect her daughter. If Lancer had truly accepted her, it would have been tantamount to him admitting his status as a 'villain.' But the current Leone was completely different.
With anticipation in her eyes, the trembling girl said these words not out of helplessness, but from a genuine choice she had made from the bottom of her heart. If he were to decisively refuse her again like he did before, it would be an act of blasphemy against a person's 'resolve,' even if this resolve seemed a bit strange to Lancer.
Feeling the hands on his shoulders and the force that pushed him away, the anticipation on Leone face turned into disappointment, and her head, which was originally held high, gradually drooped.
'Is it really not possible? I'm not good enough... Master, even just as a bedmate...'
"Leone."
At this moment, Lancer deep voice rang in her ears. When she looked up, she saw a serious-looking Lancer had already squatted down.
'Too close!'
A completely flushed Leone couldn't help but shout in her mind, but her body was too nervous to move. Unfortunately, Lancer didn't seem to notice this. He was only doing this to make himself look more serious, so that she could clearly see his expression.
"Leone, I'm sorry, I never noticed your feelings until today. Now I know..."
Why apologize? I'm just your former slave...
"But since I know, I won't avoid it. However, this time, I choose to refuse!"
As the resolute refusal rang out, Leone felt like she was about to lose control of her tears again, but Lancer voice gradually became gentle.
"Leone, the reason I'm refusing you isn't because of you, but because of me... You might not believe it, but I will be leaving the empire soon, and I don't know when I'll be back. I can't give you a promise that I don't even know when I can fulfill. This would be a blasphemy to your resolve, and it would make me look down on myself."
After saying these words that he had kept in his heart, Lancer couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Was Leone not attractive?
It was very clear that she was.
When he first brought her back, she may have just been a tomboy, but as time passed, her short hair had grown to shoulder length, and her way of speaking had become much gentler. Even the 'traces' she revealed when she was flustered were not annoying, and the brief contrast made her seem very cute.
And her body, which was originally flat due to malnutrition, had also become more full in just a few short months. This was enough to show the other person's 'talent.'
Sometimes, when he accidentally saw Leone bare body, he would also feel a stir in his heart, but as he said, he didn't want to become a stallion who succumbed to his carnal desires. The reason he bought the other person in the first place was that he didn't want the other person to suffer, not because he was lusting after her body. If he did that, he would even look down on himself.
Lancer explanation left Leone speechless for a moment. She hadn't expected Lancer to think so much. In her opinion, the other party had no need to consider so much for her.
Who was the other person?
One of the most trusted generals of the empire by the emperor!
A person who was privately called one of the new pillars of the empire by countless people!
The other person's future was limitless!
And what was she?
A former thief from the slums of the empire...
A slave who was bought home by the other person...
An ordinary girl who couldn't do anything but smile and say 'welcome back' every time the other person returned...
Tears flowed down again, but this time it was different from before. It wasn't sadness or despair, but rather joy and disbelief.
The respect in Lancer words left her feeling flustered.
Just as he said, if Leone were to walk out of Lancer villa now without makeup, people who saw her would not only not mock her, but they would also give her a wide berth. Why was that? Was it because of her? No, it was completely because of their fear of Lancer. She knew better than anyone what those people said about her in private. She had never received respect from anyone else.
But what about Lancer?
This unique attitude left her feeling flustered.
On the other side, Lancer spoke up again, looking at the softly sobbing Leone.
"I've said everything I wanted to say. I hope you can calm down and think about it carefully. If you still want to after that, then I'll still be here for you."
After saying that, Lancer held up a finger and placed it in front of Leone lips. At the same time, his voice became gentle.
"Think about it carefully. When I return to the Imperial Capital after annihilating the northern foreign tribes, tell me your answer. And I promise you that if you still want to, I won't push you away again. After all, a girl as cute as Leone... it took a lot of willpower for me to refuse you this time."
The final playful words almost made the sobbing Leone burst into laughter, but she still nodded with a face full of smiles.
The matter was temporarily concluded, and Leone, in her lace lingerie, finally started to feel a hint of shyness and discomfort from the tears on her face...
"Master, I..."
"What is it?"
"I want to go wash my face."
After hearing Leone words, Lancer couldn't help but laugh.
"Go ahead, wash your face. You look like a big crying cat~"
Lancer teasing made Leone blush and trot out of the room. Lancer, who had a face full of smiles, then sat directly on the floor.
"As expected... nothing is more difficult to accept than a beauty's favor. But can I fulfill this so-called 'promise'? What's going on with this system? Since I came to this world, it hasn't reacted at all. Not to mention 'issuing quests,' there have been no changes..."
Lancer was truly envious of those who could ignore everything and just act according to their feelings, but he couldn't. Once he made a decision, he had to pay the 'price' for his decision.
When he left 'Tokyo,' he was thinking about how to solve the problem of 'ghoul food,' and now he seemed to have one more thing to worry about: how to take Leone with him when he leaves this world?
At this time, his only consolation was that he knew he would be able to get a 'world entrance ticket,' so at least he could come back later. If he couldn't, he would probably be even more conflicted, right?
The night in the Imperial Capital was incredibly silent, and Lancer face under the moonlight was full of a wry smile, but there was a hint of tenderness in this wry smile...
So there was someone in this world who cared about and even loved him?