Translator: Sunnyshies
Editor: Ryuubii
Chapter 38 : Sprout (Beginning of Things)
A blast of cold air flowed through the living room.
Yugo’s eyes widened and his pupils narrowed as he sat on Amalia’s lap. For a moment, his eyes flashed like the eyes of an insect, but then his eyes moistened and he hugged Amalia’s neck.
“Don’t say that, Mom! It’s the people who are bullying you that are bad, so why should you leave?”
“Yugo is right… Amalia-san. You just want to live quietly without harming anyone. It is those who are trying to harm you that should perish. You can live your life proudly, making use of your special skills and counting on everyone else.”
Leonardo also spoke up, but those compassionate words were painful to Amalia right now.
“…even though Leonardo might hurt Yugo because of my presence? Even though Bruno and Eva and the others might be harmed because of me?”
“…Amalia-san. I hope you will greet everyone when you are feeling well again… Bruno and the others were worried about you the whole time. They all said they were willing to take up the sword for you.”
She gently squeezed the hand that had been around Yugo’s back.
Leonardo lifts Amalia’s hand to his eye level and his sincere gray eyes bore into Amalia.
“You are needed by everyone, with how you smile at everyone, help them with your white magic, and heal their hearts with your specialty tea… Bruno also said that he will officially accept you as a resident of Polk anytime you wish, and will even ask the men to increase security if you want.”
“…”
“Everyone offered to lend a hand if they could. Eva-san― The innkeeper’s daughter if I remember correctly? She told me that if I ever had any trouble, I could always run to the innkeeper.”
“…is that so?”
“Amalia-san, you are allowed to stay here. You can live here, you can live happily, and you can help us all.”
It’s okay to be here.
It’s okay to live.
It’s okay to rely on others.
Although she couldn’t immediately comprehend Leonardo’s words, slowly, over time, they seeped into Amalia’s stormy heart and unraveled her stubborn mind.
-Without making a sound, Yugo slid down from her lap to make room for her. Leonardo slipped into the gap and knelt down in front of Amalia who sat on the sofa, turning his hand over and dropping a light kiss.
She used to read a story about a princess and a knight to the girls at the orphanage.
He reverently kissed the back of Amalia’s hand respectfully, as if he were the knight who appeared in it.
“…I can’t protect you forever, and I’m not the strongest mercenary. Even this time, I let you have a painful experience… I’m aware that I’m still not good enough to protect you. But if you can keep smiling, I will spare no effort and protect you with all my might.”
Amalia couldn’t say anything.
Leonardo’s eyes were so serious that she couldn’t look away from him, so she just stared back at him with a slight trembling in her lips.
‘…Leonardo. Why do you look at me with such eyes―’
But soon Leonardo’s eyes softened, and with a small smile, he gently stroked the back of Amalia’s hand that he had just kissed.
“…Fufu, uh, it seems that annoying lines don’t suit me. But no matter what, me, Yugo, and everyone else in Polk love you and want to protect you… so please. Please don’t tell yourself that you shouldn’t be here!”
When he pleaded in such a sad way, Amalia was at a loss for words.
Amalia wished to disappear, and thought that she doesn’t deserve to live. To think so negatively would betray the feeling of those who care about her.
‘…no, no, I…’
“…yeah, Leonardo is right. I’m the one who needs to get a grip on myself and start wanting to live and be happy.”
“…yes. Do you feel a little better now?”
“Yes, thanks to you… I used to be the one who scolded and encouraged you, but now our positions are reversed.”
“Eh!? Oh, um, did you not like it? I’m sorry!”
“I didn’t say that… but thank you, Leonardo.”
After thanking him wholeheartedly, Amalia was a little lost, but she gathered her courage and lifted Leonardo’s hand and gently placed it on her cheek.
For a moment, his fingers trembled and twitched. But when she closed her eyes and pressed her cheek against the palm of his hand, he eventually stroked her cheek and gently brushed away her hair with his fingertips, as if he was trying to make her feel better.
‘I am…’
In the past, she was the one who took care of him.
But now Leonardo is so much taller, stronger, and more capable of supporting Amalia.
‘I am, about you…’
A small bud of love dwells in her heart right now.
It may never come out.
Still, as a woman, she still wanted to yearn for Leonardo.
☼☼☼