Chapter 58
That day was a very difficult one for Leila as well.
Leaving her family during mass, she slipped out of the main hall and walked through the garden as always. But unlike usual, her mind was extremely unsettled.
Her skin had not improved even at seventeen, her eyesight was still poor, her father’s contempt continued, her relationships with peers had not improved, and now even her irritating younger siblings existed. Every circumstance surrounding her tormented the sensitive self of an adolescent girl. For the first time in her life, she was thinking the terrible thought that the world was tiresome.
Until then, Leila had been closer to a good child who, though somewhat gloomy, rarely cried or whined, and did not throw tantrums or act spitefully.
Recently, however, she felt resistance toward everything, and sometimes even talked back to her parents’ baseless scolding. It was a troubling period in many ways.
‘These days I hardly even see him…’
The one thing unchanged from childhood was her attachment to the boy she had nurtured alone in her heart.
Leila now knew the boy’s name. Bjorn Schmidt. The boy her age was now closer to a young man, and for a long time had already stolen the hearts of not only girls but even certain noblewomen who recognized his beauty.
It felt strange that the boy she alone had watched had grown into a paladin admired by everyone.
Of course, not in a bad way. Since some time ago Leila’s dream had been for him to be loved by all and live happily, so she did not dislike the fact that many people liked him.
Yet for some reason, even now as he neared adulthood, Bjorn’s expression was always bleak.
Even if she wanted to make him smile, there was no method.
Watching from afar and occasionally using her allowance to send support supplies and snacks to the Knight Corps was all Leila could do. A paladin not yet publicly revealed due to being underage could not privately interact with devotees.
Her bad mood had eased as she became absorbed thinking about Bjorn. Yet still not wanting to return, Leila circled the wide garden and ended up entering an old chapel no one used. It was an impulsive act unlike her.
There was no one inside. Filled with traces of time, the place looked less like ruins and more like a well maintained relic. Nervously circling the small space once, Leila noticed a confessional booth set in one corner.
Should she confess this complicated and incomprehensible heart even to the Lord God? As impulsively as when she entered the chapel, she stepped into the confessional.
Entering the small space shaped like a large wardrobe oddly calmed her. It was silent as if dead, and only her breathing could be heard. After steadying her thoughts with a brief deep breath, Leila clasped her hands and began a confession similar to prayer. No, she intended to, until she heard the chapel entrance door open.
Creak— With the sound of the old wooden door opening and closing, heavy footsteps approached. The owner of the footsteps was coming straight toward the confessional as if having a clear destination.
‘Who is it? Did they see me come in?’
Even though she had done nothing wrong, her heart pounded. Was this perhaps a restricted area? But she had seen no such sign.
She did not know who it was, but if she ran out now and apologized it might be fine. However, while Leila hesitated in fear, someone opened the confessional door.
‘……?’
By chance it was the door opposite the side where Leila sat.
Only then did Leila realize. The space she had carelessly entered was meant for the priest, not the devotee.
“I have come at the appointed time. Shall we begin immediately?”
And the person sitting on the other side, not knowing who she was, was about to begin confession.
Leila was a conscientious person. She knew it was right to reveal her identity and leave even now.
But the moment she heard the other person’s voice, all her thoughts and actions stopped. Because she realized the owner of the voice was Bjorn.
She had only properly heard his voice two or three times, yet it was a voice she had repeated countless times and memorized with her soul.
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