Chapter 77
“Ahem, you must be the Miss Leila in question.”
The High Priest, who seemed to remember the name Bjorn had cried out unconsciously, addressed her, and Leila became slightly embarrassed.
“Good grief. I’ve managed paladins for nearly forty years, but this is the first time I’ve seen one suffer lovesickness to this extent.”
Muttering in disbelief, Callas had the medic examine Bjorn’s physical condition. The diagnosis was that he was somewhat weakened but otherwise normal.
“His divine power’s condition has improved absurdly well too. Release all restraints except the hands and feet.”
At the High Priest’s order, the heavy chains and locks wrapped around his neck, chest, waist, and thighs were all removed.
He was not completely free yet, but now able to sit up. Bjorn straightened his posture. Glancing at his arms that were still bound behind him and looking uncomfortable, Leila stepped closer.
But unlike before, Bjorn’s attitude was strange. Avoiding her gaze as if evading it, he would not meet her eyes, and her heart sank.
Now that the divine power had calmed, did he no longer need her? Had he clung to her so desperately only because his body suffered from divine power? Doubts not yet resolved instantly darkened her heart.
Even so, I already decided I won’t let you go.
Thinking bitterly, Leila tried to step aside for his sake.
“You look much better than before, sir. You must need to rest, so I’ll come again later…”
She was about to withdraw after the short farewell. Turning to walk away, Leila stopped when someone suddenly grabbed the hem of her dress.
When she looked back, she saw Bjorn desperately biting onto her skirt.
“…Sir Bjorn?”
Their eyes met. He looked deeply embarrassed but did not release the fabric in his mouth. The others tensed, afraid he might lose reason again, but Leila understood.
This was not a sign of rampage but…
“You said you wouldn’t leave my side.”
A prelude to sobbing.
“If you go like this and never return, then I truly… please don’t go. I know I look dreadful now, I’ll keep my head lowered. You don’t even have to hold my hand… just stay beside me. So I can at least feel your presence…”
When Leila stopped walking, he released the skirt and began to plead with tearful sobs.
At the miserable and desperate sight, tears welled again in Leila’s eyes.
“If you ask me not to go, I won’t go anywhere. I only thought you seemed uncomfortable…”
“Uncomfortable? Not at all. I’m only worried you might be repulsed because I’m so filthy right now.”
The others watching their conversation were starting to grow weary.
“…I should take my leave now. Sir Allen, Sir Todd. I’ll see you later. Even if things ended well, you won’t escape punishment.”
With a deliberately stern warning, the High Priest left, followed by the medic, Todd, and lastly Allen.
“I’ll step out for a moment, so please signal when you’re finished speaking, Miss Bailey.”
With his final consideration, only Leila and Bjorn remained in the small square room.
Leila stepped closer to Bjorn, who still would not meet her eyes. She crouched on the floor to meet his gaze level, and he rattled the shackles on his hands and feet as if he wanted to move immediately.
“It’s just the bare floor. I should at least put something down for you…”
“That doesn’t matter.”
When Leila replied simply and gazed at him steadily, Bjorn lowered his head even further, until the pretty face she loved so much was no longer visible.
“Please don’t look at me like that. I must look terribly unsightly. I haven’t washed for days so I might smell, please stay a little farther away…”
Leila looked at Bjorn with pity as he continued to mutter such foolish things. It was true she liked his appearance very much, but that was not the only reason she loved him.
To calm his anxiety, it was finally time to confess her feelings honestly. The true feelings she had not yet told him, her real heart that, like Bjorn, she had realized only very late.
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