Episode 142. Leana’s Nightmare
“No, I have to wait until he reveals himself.”
“I know when he’ll show up!”
Mark, who was muttering in frustration, saw his gaze linger on the desk in the examination room.
“Could it be that day?”
“If you’re Maurice, wouldn’t that day be the perfect time?”
On the desk was a promotional flyer for the cathedral bazaar.
“Now I understand. The real reason the Empress tried to force the bazaar.”
Adele also muttered as if she had guessed everything.
Even though there had been a terrible tragedy in the city, Isabelle did not cancel the bazaar.
She thought that in difficult times, they should continue their daily lives.
She wanted to use the proceeds from the bazaar to help the victims.
She also asked Christine to attend the event and reassure the citizens.
But now that he looked at it, Isabelle had joined hands with the rebel priest.
She was trying to force the event so that things would go according to Maurice’s plan.
They are going to play a game that puts the lives of many people at stake for their own benefit.
“So now all that’s left is to fight?”
Christine smiled sharply as if he was looking forward to it.
“What happened anyway? Why haven’t you contacted me?”
Christine scolded Leana as she quietly left through the back door of the clinic.
He had even dispatched a search party after hearing that traces of Mana had disappeared along with it. But he had been so upset because he couldn’t find it.
Then Leana suddenly appeared. She looked calm, as if nothing had happened.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I didn’t use magic on purpose because I was worried that Maurice would notice my Mana and run away. But I still lost him. I’m so embarrassed.”
“I hope you came back safely.”
“Your Majesty was worried all this time. Are you hurt?”
Leana smiled brightly at Adele, who was worried.
“Of course. I'm the strongest magician in the world. Rebellious priests are no match for me.”
Then Adele carefully brought up the matter.
“So, can you heal Jade? He’s been unconscious for three days.”
In an instant, Leana’s once cheerful expression turned cold.
“I heard. Kenny already used healing magic. If he still can’t wake up, it’s the same for anyone else.”
“But you’re the best magician. Please, Leana.”
Adele clung to her, desperate for anything. She was afraid that Jade, who had been sleeping like he was dead for three days, would never wake up.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not a god. Well, that’s it.”
Leana flatly refused and rode away on a horse parked outside the clinic.
“She must be very tired from chasing Maurice. I’ll tell her later.”
Christine tried to comfort Adele, who was dispirited. However, his eyes were sharp as he watched Leana disappear into the darkness.
For some reason, Leana seemed to be avoiding eye contact.
It was clear that she was hiding something.
“I’m sorry. I was so worried about Jade that I didn’t think about Leana. Then I’ll go now.”
He quickly grabbed Adele as she was about to leave after saying goodbye.
“It’s late, so I’ll take you home.”
“Home?”
Adele’s eyes widened. Even though it was home, it was just across the street from the clinic.
“Yeah. Why not?”
Adele had been staying at the mansion for the past few days to take care of Jade. As a result, Christine couldn’t help but feel disappointed that she was leaving after only seeing him for a few days.
Realizing his feelings, Adele linked arms with him cutely.
“Instead, should we go for a walk together? The moonlight is nice.”
“It might be dangerous, but are you okay with that?”
"Leana, you've used too much strength so far. Doesn't anyone know that you're slowly dying?"
“Did you know?”
“Of course. Because I’m the one who understands you the best in this world.”
“Maurice...”
“This is a gift for you. It’s a consideration to control your power and save you. But if you go against it...”
Swish!
When the thick curtains opened, dazzling sunlight poured in.
“Ugh!”
Leana opened her eyes in surprise.
“Are you okay? Why are you sweating...”
When Adele worried, Leana quickly buried her face in the pillow and went back to sleep.
“It’s because it’s hot. I’ll sleep better, so leave.”
“You’re not sick, are you?”
“Of course.”
“Then get up. It looks like the sun will set soon.”
Leana muttered, covering her head with the pillow.
“Leave it. Wizards are nocturnal.”
“I baked an apple pie for you, but you’re really not going to get up?”
Leana’s shoulders flinched at the mention of apple pie. Adele saw through it and whispered seductively.
“The pie was baked really well today.”
The moment Leana slowly raised her head, Aaron suddenly stuck his face in.
“Hello, Sister, the world’s strongest magician.”
“Oh! Surprise!”
Leana couldn’t get angry when she saw the child’s face laughing brightly.
No, as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the child’s face as bright as sunlight, and her mood improved a little.
“Hi, Aaron. You look more handsome today.”
She smiled and gently grabbed Aaron’s cheek and shook it, and Aaron shook her cheek in return.
“Don’t worry. You’re so pretty, too.”
Leana looked back at Adele, dumbfounded.
“Adele, who does he take after?”
“He’s born with it. Our Aaron is quite smart.”
Adele pulled Leana’s arm and sat her up. Her hair, which had been all messy and tangled, flowed in the sunlight.
“Wow, Adele can’t help being a hedgehog mom.”
“Of course. But you didn’t forget, did you? We promised to eat apple pie together when we got back.”
“Yes...”
Leana smiled faintly as she saw Adele’s smiling face.
It was as if she had returned to the happy morning when her mom and dad were still alive.
Opening her eyes to someone’s smile, sitting at a table with people she liked.
However, Leana was not the innocent child she was back then.
“But you didn’t bring Aaron to eat pie, right?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, Aaron asked.
“But you can’t make Jade hurt, right? You’re a very strong magician.”
Leana glared at Adele with a cold expression.
“So you ended up mobilizing Aaron to pressure me to heal Jade.”
Adele smiled charmingly.
“It wasn’t pressure, but you can’t say there was no intention.”
Leana shook her head.
“No matter what, Jade can’t be done with my power.”
“I heard you even brought back His Majesty from the dead.”
“That’s why His Majesty paid a heavy price. If you use magic, Jade will pay a greater price than death.”
“But if you just see him once...”
“And you don’t mind waking up as a golem or an undead?”
“...!”
“I’m sorry, Adele.”
“No, it’s okay. But the apple pie was baked for you. Change your clothes quickly and come to the east terrace.”
“Tch, I might get sick from eating the pie.”
“My pie melts in your mouth, so it’s okay. Then come out quickly.”
After Adele and Aaron left, Leana sat there with a blank expression for a while.
The dream from earlier was too vivid.
In the dream, she was in Maurice’s arms. Not only that, but he kissed her affectionately...
“Ugh, I feel bad!”
Leana rubbed her lips with the back of her hand. Just thinking about it made her feel like vomiting.
However, it was also true that she was a little upset by Maurice’s words.
Leana was now getting weaker and weaker. She had been using more mana than she could handle, and even her life force was being drained.
He knew the secret that she couldn’t tell anyone.
And he comforted and understood her. So...
“Damn it! Maurice, you incubus!”
“No, I have to wait until he reveals himself.”
“I know when he’ll show up!”
Mark, who was muttering in frustration, saw his gaze linger on the desk in the examination room.
“Could it be that day?”
“If you’re Maurice, wouldn’t that day be the perfect time?”
On the desk was a promotional flyer for the cathedral bazaar.
“Now I understand. The real reason the Empress tried to force the bazaar.”
Adele also muttered as if she had guessed everything.
Even though there had been a terrible tragedy in the city, Isabelle did not cancel the bazaar.
She thought that in difficult times, they should continue their daily lives.
She wanted to use the proceeds from the bazaar to help the victims.
She also asked Christine to attend the event and reassure the citizens.
But now that he looked at it, Isabelle had joined hands with the rebel priest.
She was trying to force the event so that things would go according to Maurice’s plan.
They are going to play a game that puts the lives of many people at stake for their own benefit.
“So now all that’s left is to fight?”
Christine smiled sharply as if he was looking forward to it.
***
“What happened anyway? Why haven’t you contacted me?”
Christine scolded Leana as she quietly left through the back door of the clinic.
He had even dispatched a search party after hearing that traces of Mana had disappeared along with it. But he had been so upset because he couldn’t find it.
Then Leana suddenly appeared. She looked calm, as if nothing had happened.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I didn’t use magic on purpose because I was worried that Maurice would notice my Mana and run away. But I still lost him. I’m so embarrassed.”
“I hope you came back safely.”
“Your Majesty was worried all this time. Are you hurt?”
Leana smiled brightly at Adele, who was worried.
“Of course. I'm the strongest magician in the world. Rebellious priests are no match for me.”
Then Adele carefully brought up the matter.
“So, can you heal Jade? He’s been unconscious for three days.”
In an instant, Leana’s once cheerful expression turned cold.
“I heard. Kenny already used healing magic. If he still can’t wake up, it’s the same for anyone else.”
“But you’re the best magician. Please, Leana.”
Adele clung to her, desperate for anything. She was afraid that Jade, who had been sleeping like he was dead for three days, would never wake up.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not a god. Well, that’s it.”
Leana flatly refused and rode away on a horse parked outside the clinic.
“She must be very tired from chasing Maurice. I’ll tell her later.”
Christine tried to comfort Adele, who was dispirited. However, his eyes were sharp as he watched Leana disappear into the darkness.
For some reason, Leana seemed to be avoiding eye contact.
It was clear that she was hiding something.
“I’m sorry. I was so worried about Jade that I didn’t think about Leana. Then I’ll go now.”
He quickly grabbed Adele as she was about to leave after saying goodbye.
“It’s late, so I’ll take you home.”
“Home?”
Adele’s eyes widened. Even though it was home, it was just across the street from the clinic.
“Yeah. Why not?”
Adele had been staying at the mansion for the past few days to take care of Jade. As a result, Christine couldn’t help but feel disappointed that she was leaving after only seeing him for a few days.
Realizing his feelings, Adele linked arms with him cutely.
“Instead, should we go for a walk together? The moonlight is nice.”
“It might be dangerous, but are you okay with that?”
“What if you’re with me?”
“Wolves get excited easily by the moonlight.”
Adele soon smiled faintly.
“It’s okay. I’m a capable trainer.”
He laughed incredulously and walked side by side in the moonlight.
It was a deep night, and after the ominous incident, not a single ant could be seen on the street.
Thanks to that, the bright moonlight that illuminated the entire world seemed to belong entirely to the two of them.
As the wind blew, the cherry blossom petals fluttering and falling through the moonlight were enchanting and mysterious.
“Do you remember? I used to draw portraits by that river.”
Adele pointed to the river, which was surrounded by swaying moonlight.
It was the main walking path for citizens, but there was not a single person there either.
“Hmm, I remember everything now.”
“Sometimes, when I was feeling down, I would look at that portrait and laugh. Even on the day I heard that you had left me and marched to Russwolf. I cried, but I couldn’t help but laugh.”
Christine stopped walking and stared blankly at Adele.
The moonlight shone most mysteriously in her green eyes.
His throat shook as he stared at those eyes that seemed to suck him in.
“Thank you for smiling like that.”
“Don’t look so sorry. I didn’t spend every day crying without you.”
“It was because of Mark and the kids, right?”
“Yes. They are the most precious people to me. I hope Jade wakes up soon.”
“I’ll do my best to find a way to save him.”
“Thank you.”
“In return, there’s something I want you to do.”
“What?”
He rubbed his nose and made an embarrassed expression, then pointed to the arched bridge.
“We should walk together to the end of that bridge. Arm in arm.”
Adele, whose eyes had widened, soon smiled softly.
“What? They said it was all superstition.”
On the day they were painting the portrait, the two crossed the bridge.
They followed the superstition that if they kept their arms linked until they crossed, they would never break up.
But their arms had untied in the middle.
Adele had thought this hundreds of times in the past.
If they hadn’t untied their arms that day, wouldn’t they have broken up?
“Yeah. So let’s do it again for fun.”
For fun...
But Adele was afraid. If the same thing happened again this time, she thought she would never be able to be with him.
“Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I will never let you go.”
Adele hesitated, then reached out and linked arms with him.
She took a step toward the bridge, but for some reason, she felt nervous, and her hands were sweaty.
The two walked carefully in sync.
They were almost there.
“Ouch!”
A small gust of wind carrying flower petals flew toward the two. Adele's hat flew far away, and her hair, which was upturned, fluttered in the wind.
"...!"
Adele reached out to grab her hat in a panic, but she was suddenly sucked into his arms. He held her hat with one hand and pulled Adele's arm with the other, holding her in his arms.
He let her go only after they reached the end of the bridge.
"Yes, we're here."
"Chris..."
Pink petals were falling on Adele's head as she looked at him.
Christine murmured as he carefully removed the petals.
"It's soft. Just like your lips."
Adele laughed quietly. She lifted her toes slightly and cupped his cheeks, whispering,
"I guess the moonlight doesn't only work its magic on wolves."
He swallowed her enchanting red lips like a person possessed. No matter how much he had, he had, they were lovers who were never enough.
“Wolves get excited easily by the moonlight.”
Adele soon smiled faintly.
“It’s okay. I’m a capable trainer.”
He laughed incredulously and walked side by side in the moonlight.
***
It was a deep night, and after the ominous incident, not a single ant could be seen on the street.
Thanks to that, the bright moonlight that illuminated the entire world seemed to belong entirely to the two of them.
As the wind blew, the cherry blossom petals fluttering and falling through the moonlight were enchanting and mysterious.
“Do you remember? I used to draw portraits by that river.”
Adele pointed to the river, which was surrounded by swaying moonlight.
It was the main walking path for citizens, but there was not a single person there either.
“Hmm, I remember everything now.”
“Sometimes, when I was feeling down, I would look at that portrait and laugh. Even on the day I heard that you had left me and marched to Russwolf. I cried, but I couldn’t help but laugh.”
Christine stopped walking and stared blankly at Adele.
The moonlight shone most mysteriously in her green eyes.
His throat shook as he stared at those eyes that seemed to suck him in.
“Thank you for smiling like that.”
“Don’t look so sorry. I didn’t spend every day crying without you.”
“It was because of Mark and the kids, right?”
“Yes. They are the most precious people to me. I hope Jade wakes up soon.”
“I’ll do my best to find a way to save him.”
“Thank you.”
“In return, there’s something I want you to do.”
“What?”
He rubbed his nose and made an embarrassed expression, then pointed to the arched bridge.
“We should walk together to the end of that bridge. Arm in arm.”
Adele, whose eyes had widened, soon smiled softly.
“What? They said it was all superstition.”
On the day they were painting the portrait, the two crossed the bridge.
They followed the superstition that if they kept their arms linked until they crossed, they would never break up.
But their arms had untied in the middle.
Adele had thought this hundreds of times in the past.
If they hadn’t untied their arms that day, wouldn’t they have broken up?
“Yeah. So let’s do it again for fun.”
For fun...
But Adele was afraid. If the same thing happened again this time, she thought she would never be able to be with him.
“Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I will never let you go.”
Adele hesitated, then reached out and linked arms with him.
She took a step toward the bridge, but for some reason, she felt nervous, and her hands were sweaty.
The two walked carefully in sync.
They were almost there.
“Ouch!”
A small gust of wind carrying flower petals flew toward the two. Adele's hat flew far away, and her hair, which was upturned, fluttered in the wind.
"...!"
Adele reached out to grab her hat in a panic, but she was suddenly sucked into his arms. He held her hat with one hand and pulled Adele's arm with the other, holding her in his arms.
He let her go only after they reached the end of the bridge.
"Yes, we're here."
"Chris..."
Pink petals were falling on Adele's head as she looked at him.
Christine murmured as he carefully removed the petals.
"It's soft. Just like your lips."
Adele laughed quietly. She lifted her toes slightly and cupped his cheeks, whispering,
"I guess the moonlight doesn't only work its magic on wolves."
He swallowed her enchanting red lips like a person possessed. No matter how much he had, he had, they were lovers who were never enough.
***
"Leana, you've used too much strength so far. Doesn't anyone know that you're slowly dying?"
“Did you know?”
“Of course. Because I’m the one who understands you the best in this world.”
“Maurice...”
“This is a gift for you. It’s a consideration to control your power and save you. But if you go against it...”
Swish!
When the thick curtains opened, dazzling sunlight poured in.
“Ugh!”
Leana opened her eyes in surprise.
“Are you okay? Why are you sweating...”
When Adele worried, Leana quickly buried her face in the pillow and went back to sleep.
“It’s because it’s hot. I’ll sleep better, so leave.”
“You’re not sick, are you?”
“Of course.”
“Then get up. It looks like the sun will set soon.”
Leana muttered, covering her head with the pillow.
“Leave it. Wizards are nocturnal.”
“I baked an apple pie for you, but you’re really not going to get up?”
Leana’s shoulders flinched at the mention of apple pie. Adele saw through it and whispered seductively.
“The pie was baked really well today.”
The moment Leana slowly raised her head, Aaron suddenly stuck his face in.
“Hello, Sister, the world’s strongest magician.”
“Oh! Surprise!”
Leana couldn’t get angry when she saw the child’s face laughing brightly.
No, as soon as she opened her eyes, she saw the child’s face as bright as sunlight, and her mood improved a little.
“Hi, Aaron. You look more handsome today.”
She smiled and gently grabbed Aaron’s cheek and shook it, and Aaron shook her cheek in return.
“Don’t worry. You’re so pretty, too.”
Leana looked back at Adele, dumbfounded.
“Adele, who does he take after?”
“He’s born with it. Our Aaron is quite smart.”
Adele pulled Leana’s arm and sat her up. Her hair, which had been all messy and tangled, flowed in the sunlight.
“Wow, Adele can’t help being a hedgehog mom.”
“Of course. But you didn’t forget, did you? We promised to eat apple pie together when we got back.”
“Yes...”
Leana smiled faintly as she saw Adele’s smiling face.
It was as if she had returned to the happy morning when her mom and dad were still alive.
Opening her eyes to someone’s smile, sitting at a table with people she liked.
However, Leana was not the innocent child she was back then.
“But you didn’t bring Aaron to eat pie, right?”
“Yes.”
At that moment, Aaron asked.
“But you can’t make Jade hurt, right? You’re a very strong magician.”
Leana glared at Adele with a cold expression.
“So you ended up mobilizing Aaron to pressure me to heal Jade.”
Adele smiled charmingly.
“It wasn’t pressure, but you can’t say there was no intention.”
Leana shook her head.
“No matter what, Jade can’t be done with my power.”
“I heard you even brought back His Majesty from the dead.”
“That’s why His Majesty paid a heavy price. If you use magic, Jade will pay a greater price than death.”
“But if you just see him once...”
“And you don’t mind waking up as a golem or an undead?”
“...!”
“I’m sorry, Adele.”
“No, it’s okay. But the apple pie was baked for you. Change your clothes quickly and come to the east terrace.”
“Tch, I might get sick from eating the pie.”
“My pie melts in your mouth, so it’s okay. Then come out quickly.”
After Adele and Aaron left, Leana sat there with a blank expression for a while.
The dream from earlier was too vivid.
In the dream, she was in Maurice’s arms. Not only that, but he kissed her affectionately...
“Ugh, I feel bad!”
Leana rubbed her lips with the back of her hand. Just thinking about it made her feel like vomiting.
However, it was also true that she was a little upset by Maurice’s words.
Leana was now getting weaker and weaker. She had been using more mana than she could handle, and even her life force was being drained.
He knew the secret that she couldn’t tell anyone.
And he comforted and understood her. So...
“Damn it! Maurice, you incubus!”
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