IWMHWD 104

Chapter 104: Love
2024.02.12

Even with a fairly serious confession, no words came from Cordelia.

“Why no answer? Wait, why does your face look like that?”

He quickly grabbed her hand. It was far colder than he had expected. Her complexion was so pale there wasn’t a trace of color.

Cordelia murmured, clutching Leonard’s hand tightly. Her eyes seemed unfocused.

“Please… don’t… don’t.”

“Cordelia, Cordelia!”

Realizing her condition was serious, Leonard gripped both her shoulders firmly. She swayed under his touch like a scarecrow. Leonard urgently turned his head and shouted.

“Baron!”

“I’ll fetch the doctor again.”

Baron hurriedly ran outside. Cordelia blinked very slowly, her mind clouded, yet only Leonard’s eyes remained vividly imprinted in her vision.

It felt like she had slept for a very long time.

The rare comfort made Cordelia wish she would never wake, but at the same time, she felt a pressing urgency to get up.

Master…

Leonard’s face came to mind—the scent of warm blood, Nazabut’s long, glinting claws reflecting the light. Cordelia’s eyes snapped open like a fish pulled from the sea.

“Hah… haah…”

It was pitch dark around her.

Cordelia took a steadying breath and looked around. The ceiling was unfamiliar, and the room entirely new to her. Her mind had not fully returned, so it was only Leonard that filled her thoughts.

“Master… Master.”

It seemed that was the only word she could utter.

Though her entire body ached as if she had been beaten, she paid it no mind.

Barefoot, she left the room and wandered in search of Leonard, moving through the hallway like a sleepwalker. Where she was didn’t matter—only the compulsion to find Leonard drove her.

Without any lanterns, the darkness was thick; she felt along the walls as she walked.

Luckily, upon opening the third door, she finally found the person she had been searching for.

“Who’s there?”

“Master.”

Startled by the sudden presence, Leonard sprang up, then relaxed when he realized the intruder was Cordelia, stepping down from the bed.

“Cordelia? When did you wake?”

“Master… are you okay?”

“Who’s asking that? Do you even know how long it’s been since you opened your eyes?”

Leonard muttered as he lit a candlestick, casting a faint glow across the room.

Cordelia boldly approached him, letting her hands trace his back. Leonard flinched at her touch, and her expression darkened, thinking it was due to pain.

“Does it hurt much?”

“No, the pain’s fine…”

“I’m sorry, Master. It’s because of me… I shouldn’t have—”

“Why are you apologizing? What did you even do?”

He couldn’t understand the guilt in her eyes. The scar on his back had nothing to do with her.

“You got hurt protecting me.”

“I’ve told you many times—you’re my student. And… no, whatever. Anyway, it’s my responsibility to protect you. You don’t have to act like you’ve sinned.”

Despite his kind reassurance, tears still lingered in Cordelia’s eyes. Leonard noticed and let out a low laugh.

“Crying again right after waking up. Such a crybaby.”

“I-I’m not crying!”

Cordelia hurriedly wiped the lingering tears with her sleeve. Even after confirming he was relatively fine, a corner of her mind still harbored worry.

“But the wound was so big… the scar must be awful too, right?”

“Well…”

She was about to say it wouldn’t matter since it would be hidden under clothes, but a playful thought crossed her mind. Leonard, lowering the corners of his mouth, spoke deliberately.

“Yeah… now no one will marry me. Who would accept a man with such a huge scar on his back?”

“Eh? But Master, you’re the Duke of Atilei, and the Sirius of Acheron, and also… and…”

“Those are my only merits? Just titles? Nothing else? Think carefully.”

He narrowed his eyes immediately, pressing Cordelia.

“Ah, right. My face too! Though inside it’s rotten, hmm.”

“Rotten?”

Cordelia quickly thought on her feet, realizing she had to answer carefully. Calmly, without hesitation, she replied:

“And my heart is as beautifully pure as a pomegranate.”

“Pure pomegranate? What’s that? You mean the fruit?”

“Ah, you didn’t know? In the North, we call pomegranates ‘pure pomegranates.’”

“Hah… honestly, can’t even speak properly.”

Leonard seemed to understand what she meant but let it slide.

“Yeah, but what use is a heart as beautiful as a pomegranate if I have a hideous scar on my back? Don’t you think you should take some responsibility? Like, for example, marri—”

“I will.”

Before he could finish, Cordelia nodded quickly. She was willing to accept any responsibility he might demand. Leonard, surprised, stopped mid-sentence.

“What… what did you think I was going to say?”

“Master, you saved my life once already. How could I not do anything for you?”

She was sincere. She owed him so much that she didn’t know how to repay him. He had given her a second chance at life, even saving her real life; if he asked her life in return, she would gladly give it.

“Really? Whatever I ask?”

In the darkness, Leonard’s violet eyes were the only thing visible.

He lifted her chin. Though her face felt uncomfortably close, Cordelia didn’t look away. Leonard tilted his face slightly.

“Then close your eyes.”

Without hesitation, she obeyed, feeling his breath brush her nose.

But no matter how long she waited, nothing changed. Only Leonard’s sighs were audible.

“That’s enough. I see what I’m dealing with.”

“Why?”

Cordelia opened her eyes. Looking into her innocent gaze, Leonard felt his energy drain.

He had intended to return to his room since it was late, but Cordelia’s words froze him completely.

“You’re not going to kiss me, are you?”

“…You.”

Perhaps the most embarrassing moment of his life occurred right then. Leonard’s lips moved slightly, and even cold sweat broke out.

Unsure what to say, he clenched and unclenched his fists, finally managing a single word, stammering:

“Ah… you knew?”

“Of course. Do you take me for a fool?”

Cordelia shrugged lightly.

“I’ve already experienced marriage and loss. I’m not a child.”

“Ah… you knew. So… I wanted to say it, but it wasn’t the right time. I was going to choose an appropriate moment…”

Sweat dripped from his hands. He stammered his words awkwardly.

He had imagined confessing his love dozens of times, but never in such a ridiculous situation, never being caught by Cordelia like this.

A total disaster. He had planned to propose properly somewhere grand, presenting flowers.

“Sorry, I’m not prepared right now…”

“You want a… good relationship, right?”

“What?”

“The man I met at the restaurant… ah, what was his name? Anyway, he made a similar suggestion. Apparently it’s a trend among wizards?”

Cordelia smiled as if it were trivial.

“A… good relationship? Do you even know what that means?”

“I do. I’m an adult, Master.”

Realizing she was serious, Leonard’s expression instantly turned cold.

“You knew… and yet you closed your eyes?”

“You told me to close them, Master.”

“I told you to do that! You’d do it even if Rosenblur told you? This is just a game to you, isn’t it?”

“…Why are you angry?”

His voice, as well as his face, had turned cold. Cordelia was startled. She had only done what he asked, yet he brought up Rosenblur and got upset.

“Oh, it’s because you’re my Master. Rosenblur and my Master aren’t the same, right?”

Was he jealous of Rosenblur? Cordelia quickly tested the waters, but Leonard’s stern expression didn’t soften.

“You’d do it just because I asked? If I asked you to spend the night with me, you’d do it?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“…Because you asked, Master?”

Cordelia spoke cautiously, watching his reaction. Perhaps not the response he expected, Leonard’s expression didn’t change.

“Is it nothing to you? Just like fetching water? That easy?”

No—it wasn’t easy. Leonard was precious to her, and even if he demanded a ‘good relationship,’ she would willingly comply.

Before Cordelia could continue, Leonard spoke first, looking almost wounded.

“Am I really that insignificant to you?”

“Insignificant? Master, you’re so important to me.”

“What do you see me as? Someone who would demand such things… ah, forget it.”

He spoke each word with intensity, swallowing the rest. His gaze was so fierce that Cordelia felt slightly afraid.

Leonard pressed one hand to his forehead and pointed at the door with the other.

“Leave.”

“Master…”

“Leave. I’m tired and need to sleep.”

“Uh… ah. Yes.”

Cordelia hesitated at his sudden change in tone. Leonard took her hand and led her to the door, pushing her outside before closing it. It seemed to close a bit harder than usual.

She lingered in front of the door for a while, puzzled, but it didn’t open. Finally, she returned to her own room.