A Practical Guide to Ending a One-Sided Love - Chapter 62

She justified her guilt by thinking that rather than the rosary, a family heirloom, lying buried in dust inside a safe, it would be better hanging around someone’s neck.

In the end, that incident led to Leila practically being driven out of the house. With her skin disease still not cured and her reputation thoroughly ruined, marriage was no longer possible. Thanks to her father giving up on his troublesome eldest daughter, Leila instead became free.

Using the money that her mother secretly gave her, she found a place to live and opened a bookstore, and ironically her life became far happier than before.

It was a life where she no longer had to face the father who treated her like a thorn in his eye every day. She could read as many books as she wished, and she felt no pressure to marry.

Some pitied her circumstances, but for Leila, it was truly a satisfying life. Perhaps because her mind was at ease, during the five years she lived alone her sensitivity to sunlight improved far more than before.

In the end, in a way all of that was thanks to Bjorn. Without him, she would never have dared steal the heirloom nor stand against her father. Without ever knowing the joy of harboring feelings for someone, she would have married some man at her father’s command and lived a lifeless existence without pleasure or will to live.

Now that Leila had become happily alone, the only thing she wished for was Bjorn’s safe return.

She did not know whether the legend was true, but she prayed her wish would protect him. If that alone happened, any humiliation or suffering would feel like joy to her.

* * *

The holy war finally ended after five long years. It was markedly short compared to the previous one, yet for those waiting, it felt terribly long.

The anxious days of checking whether Bjorn’s name might appear on the casualty lists sent to the capital were over. Seeing Bjorn alive in the procession of returning paladins, Leila offered a prayer of thanks to the Lord God.

But after a few days, a new worry arose. It concerned Bjorn’s popularity.

Unfortunately, during the five years of war, the young ladies who once cheered for Bjorn had all married or borne children and turned their attention elsewhere. Even at the victory parade where Bjorn marched splendidly, she could not find the same crowd of followers as before.

‘Wouldn’t he feel hurt that interest has faded so much…’

That was what worried Leila. As she knew, the standing of paladins within the temple was judged by the number of followers and the scale of sponsorship.

If he resumed public activities or actively joined temple campaigns he would quickly regain his former fame, but she feared he might be disappointed by the immediate visible drop in popularity.

Though she longed to see him, she had restrained herself in case she burdened him. But now she could not help going to him directly. Even if she was the last one, she had to let him know someone still supported him.

In the end, Leila visited him and left words of encouragement.

“I don’t know if it will be of any help, but my feelings for you are the same as they were five years ago. Anytime, in any situation, I will support you, sir. So… please stay strong, sir!”

While saying that, she also confirmed that the rosary she had given him hung neatly around his neck. She did not know if it was thanks to that, but he had returned alive, and that was enough. Yet judging by his eyes sunk into emptiness, his inner state did not seem much different from before.

Leila felt a slight sense of guilt. She had lived so happily, yet he remained the same, which somehow felt unfair.

Now that Bjorn had returned, perhaps she should once again search for a way to make him smile. As she returned home and thought about him in spare moments, she received an unbelievable letter.