Maintaining a composed posture while observing the visible wounds beneath the bandages. Her gaze was not just concern, there was real attention there, like someone who had been watching from afar and was now finally confirming the condition of the person before her. Leon took a brief moment before responding, organizing his reaction so as not to show the strangeness he felt upon hearing her speak.
'This is bad'
"I'm stable, no need to worry, Miss Everhart"
Elara took a step closer, analyzing the bandages more carefully, without crossing personal space, but making it clear she wasn't completely convinced.
"You always say that, even when you're not"
'She's too close'
Jirena remained at the side for a few seconds, observing the interaction before taking a small step back, leaving space between the two. This was a meeting her lord had undoubtedly been waiting for a long time.
"I've finished for now, but he still needs rest"
"I understand, thank you Jirena, as always you do a good job"
Elara replied politely, keeping a calm tone before looking back at Leon. Her hand moved toward the injured part of his arm, but to her and Jirena's surprise, he pulled back slightly.
"I'm sorry, I wouldn't want to dirty your hands"
"…you know I don't mind getting dirty when it comes to taking care of you, besides you're bandaged and completely clean"
"That's right, sir, don't worry, my bandages are completely clean"
This was bad. It seemed Jirena was trying to push the two into talking, and that couldn't happen, because he felt as if his body was about to forget how to breathe just by seeing Elara. He couldn't stay in that place for long, but it seemed Elara wouldn't let him leave so easily.
"I received the news yesterday, they said you faced someone at the same level as the five elementals"
"It was a brief confrontation"
"Even so, that's not something simple"
Leon didn't respond immediately, only slightly shifting his gaze toward the hall, as if he were more focused on the environment than the conversation. That didn't go unnoticed, but Elara didn't press further on that point. She noticed he was uncomfortable around her, and understood the reason, even so her eyes seemed to grow sad for a brief moment before returning to normal.
"Our father has also spoken a lot about you these past months, he is quite proud"
That made Leon look back at her, even if subtly. This body sought full approval from the Everhart family, just as it also wanted to elevate her status to the top. So knowing that his adoptive father was proud was a good feeling.
"He said you have been essential in these recent conflicts"
"I'm just fulfilling my role"
"Even so, you should be more careful, it's not something you can ignore"
"That depends on the situation"
The conversation didn't continue at that point, and for a few seconds the sound of the hall filled the space between them again. Trevon, still nearby, observed the scene discreetly while pretending to pay attention to his own table, clearly attentive to the interaction but without interfering. Elara breathed lightly before shifting the focus of the conversation.
"You know, I missed you at home, it's kind of lonely"
She stepped closer and held his hand, pulling him out of the banquet hall. As he felt her touch, it was as if his mind was about to explode with pain. This kind of scene had already happened between them in the past, so he had to restrain himself from pulling away and simply let himself be led. His eyes moved to her hand, and it felt so comfortable.
'These hands are so soft'
[En—]
'I think I can let myself go a little'
The headache suddenly disappeared and he felt an incredible sensation in his mind. His eyes moved upward, seeing the skin carefully maintained for years, especially near the neck. For some reason that part was more exposed than Elara usually allowed.
'She is beautiful'
Elara kept her grip steady as she led him out of the hall, crossing the corridor with controlled steps, without drawing unnecessary attention. The banquet atmosphere slowly faded behind them, the sound of conversations replaced by a quieter silence typical of the castle's inner areas. Leon didn't try to stop, even though his mind was still unstable, the sensation from the contact hadn't completely faded, but it was no longer as intense as before.
She only stopped when she found a more isolated space, near one of the side balconies. The lighting there was softer, partially coming from outside, and the movement of people was almost nonexistent. Elara released his hand carefully, as if not wanting to make the gesture abrupt, and then looked at him calmly.
"You know, you're different"
Leon took a moment before answering, organizing his thoughts. This was bad, very bad, he must be looking very suspicious to her right now. The worst part was that this body didn't want to lie about why it was different, so the only thing he could do was carefully choose his words.
"Different how?"
"More distant"
Her answer came without hesitation, but also without accusation. It was a simple observation. Leon looked away for a moment, lightly resting his hand against the nearby wall, maintaining a steady posture while the physical discomfort was still present.
"Just… I'm tired"
'Great, I managed to come up with an excuse even with this body trying to interfere with my thoughts'
Elara didn't respond immediately. Her eyes stayed on him for a few seconds, as if trying to confirm something. She had known Leon long enough to notice small changes, and that wasn't something she could easily ignore, at least the Elara from a year ago.
"But you know, it's kind of cute seeing you like this"
She gave a small smile and stepped closer, until she was only a centimeter from his face. Immediately, he noticed a pleasant scent. His mind seemed to fill with a confusing fog.
[ENRICO]
Hearing the system's voice, he opened his eyes and realized he now had Elara pressed against the wall while he held her chin. Their lips were almost touching. Immediately, he pulled away and covered his nose carefully, his hand gripping the wall beside him.
"I'm sorry, Miss Elara, I let my guard down a bit and my mind is a mess after the war, I need to rest in my room"
He began walking away without looking back. That cursed body of Leon had almost taken over his thoughts. If it weren't for the system, things would have gone very wrong, and he hoped Elara wouldn't feel uncomfortable after that day, something he doubted even if he wished otherwise. Behind him, Elara stood with her hair covering her eyes.
'Almost, but now I'm sure that finally…'
She lifted her face toward the moon, her cheeks flushed as her fingers touched her lips. Her eyes were filled with pure love along with a smile far too dark for an innocent protagonist she was supposed to be.
"It's so good to see you again, my dear little lion"