Edited by Iseul
Cautiously, the teenage girl approached from behind, seeming rather hesitant as she glanced between the unconscious man and the blue-eyed inquisitor.
Leonel knelt, masking his concern with annoyance when he touched the doctor’s brow. Julian’s skin was dewy and hot, his breath uneven. Though Leonel couldn’t quite understand what was wrong, or how Julian had so much energy despite the state that he was in, the inquisitor had a feeling it had to do with the blueiron wrapped around the lame leg.
The metal was so hot that steam rose and colored the chilling night air.
“U-um…” Leonel’s concentration was disrupted by a small voice. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
Leonel scoffed. He offered her no response and picked Julian up from the ground. It was only after he opened the door to the house that he glanced behind his shoulder. “Stay out of my way. You’ve caused enough trouble as is.”
And just like that, the door was slammed in her face.
The girl stood outside, utterly stupefied and frozen in shock. She had just traveled day and night with little to no rest. Her only protector now lay dead in the woods and she was on her lonesome; fifteen years old and nowhere to go.
Originally she had sought out the blue-eyed inquisitor, for it was only thanks to him that she managed to escape—
But even her savior was now forsaking her!
The girl bit her lip, her chest tight. She fought to hold back the tears, small hands muddied with filth curled into fists. But she was strong. She would find her way and—
Just when she was about to walk away, the door to the hut opened once more.
The blue-eyed inquisitor emerged.
Vaguely, she remembered her mother telling her his name was Leo— Leonard? Leon? She was too scared to get it wrong so she hesitantly went with, “Sir…?”
He scowled at her and placed a bucket at her feet. “Come with me. We’ll get some water.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“…Yt. Yxjs.” Gewyis, rtf qlmxfv eq jr tf mbwwjcvfv jcv obiibkfv tlw ab ktfgf j kfii kjr ibmjafv. Ktf akb ofamtfv akb qjlir bo kjafg, atflg kjix rlifca. Pc atf vjgx, atf lcdelrlabg’r ofjaegfr kfgf tjgv ab wjxf bea.
Ktf ulgi jkxkjgvis mifjgfv tfg atgbja, “Zs cjwf lr Piisrj—“
“Illysa of House Serrani, first daughter of the lord viscount,” the inquisitor pulled a grimace. “Did you think I would have saved you without even knowing your name?”
Illysa promptly shut up, her face red from embarrassment. She quietly followed Leonel back to the small house. Mindlessly, she dogged his heel and felt stupid when the door was shut in her face a second time.
“…” This time she stood there with a pail of water in her arms.
Again, the door opened. This time, Inquisitor Leonel emerged with what seemed like cloth and set of clothing? He then proceeded to glare at Illysa, displeased when he noticed that neither of her hands was free; both clasped around the water pail’s handle. “…What in the Seven Realms are you doing?”
“…Huh?” Was Illysa supposed to be doing something? She could only blink dumbly at him.
The inquisitor let out a long sigh, annoyance clear on his face. “The firewood is on the east side of the house, in case you didn’t notice. Go make a fire. Clean yourself. You’re a mess.”
“…!” Illysa was suddenly thankful for the darkness masking her horrified expression. “I-I! Of course I—! I was out, running from the dogs for the past several days so of course—! O-Of course!”
“Calm down,” Leonel scolded. “I know what happened, you don’t have to explain. Go start a fire, warm the water and clean yourself. I’m even giving you clothes. More importantly, don’t do anything stupid.”
“…Oh. Uh. Okay.” Illysa put down the water and took the clothes offered to her.
Things were…probably going to be alright…right?
Dazed, Illysa decided to simply follow orders. That way, at least she didn’t have to think about what she was doing and what was going on.
Inside the hut, Leonel had to rub his temple, trying to soothe the headache that was forming. He brought the water to the cot and paused. “You’re awake.”
Slowly, Julian’s lips quirked up, forming his signature smirk. With some effort his lashes peeled open, revealing hazy brown eyes. “And here I thought you sent that girl away.”
“…Where to? She has nowhere to go.” Leonel brought a chair to sit next to the cot. He first wet the cloth and placed it against Julian’s feverish brow.
The doctor shuddered, the wet cloth feeling icy cold against his skin. Distracted by fever and disorientation, Julian flinched when he felt pressure around his throbbing right leg. “Be gentle! My leg is about to fall off…!”
“I am!” Leonel retorted with a hiss. “Stop squirming. I’m getting this thing off of you.”
True to his words, Leonel’s touch was unexpectedly gentle. He carefully peeled away the top latch that secured the armor in place. But no matter how soft he kept those big paws on his, Julian was overwhelmed with a sharp jolt of pain. His back arched, brows furrowed. “Careful!”
“I am!”
After the blueiron armor overheated, the joints began to stiffen and leaked mana constantly, irritating Julian’s sensitive skin and mage circuits. He really needed to get better parts and reconfigure the whole damned thing.
Leonel paused before he slowly placed his large hands back around the armor, picking at the latch that hinged around the knee.
Julian needed a distraction. So he turned to his usual nonsense. “I believe that there is something you have woefully mistaken about me. I am no charity, my dear inquisitor. That girl might not have a place to stay but she cannot stay here either.”
“…I know that.”
“And yet you haven’t sent her away. Mr. Inquisitor sure has a heart of gold, doesn’t he? Helping the poor little mages that he’s supposed to kill, hm? Or perhaps you’re just earned that Inquisitor’s Emblem of yours, only to realize that you haven’t the stomach to slay a few pitiful mages.” This was untrue. Julian could tell at a glance that Leonel’s witch slayer had indeed slain mages. But still, he said this, curious about Leonel’s reaction.
Leonel made a complicated expression. Julian found it cute how intently he stared at the blueiron around the doctor’s right leg. His movements were ever so gentle, careful not to cause any more pain. It was almost endearing.
Leonel said with a hushed tone, “It’s not like that.”
“Oh?” Julian hummed, trying to appear casual and unaffected despite the sharp burn of pain shooting up and down his right leg. A part of him just wanted to cut the whole limb off. Instead, he said, “Then tell me, if not for your heart of gold, why else would that lost child come and seek you out specifically. Something tells me that she knows who you are, doesn’t she?”
“Only in passing.” Finally, Leonel managed to wretch the last of the blueiron off of Julian’s leg. He frowned, seeing how the doctor still seemed to tremble uncontrollably. “I saved her for a price. It was hardly compassion or kindness.”
“A price?” Julian was curious now, his eyes gleaming with mirth. Free from the contraption around his leg he sat up. Leonel glared at him but Julian ignored the sour expression on his face and continued to pry. “What manner of price could a young girl pay the mighty inquisitor for her pitiful life—“ Julian’s eyes grew wide, trying to play at being shocked and horrified when he was way too amused. “Don’t tell me you’ve such wretched interests!”
“I do not!” Leonel snapped.
Oh, his angered expression was very cute!
Leonel realized his blunder as soon as he noticed Julian’s pleased grin. He reeled himself back and looked away. Julian couldn’t resist poking at his cheek.
The inquisitor scowled and brushed him off before rising to his feet. “I— I will send that girl away as soon as she cleans herself.”
“Not so fast.” Despite his state and terribly weak limbs, Julian still found a way to stand. It wasn’t so graceful; with the way he had to side himself off the cot and grip nearby pieces of furnishing to lug himself upright. “I want to talk to her first.”
“…” Leonel pulled a weird face. He glared at the doctor, annoyed to see him standing despite being so frail and weak. A part of him wanted to grab the man, toss him down and tie him to bed, just so that he may rest. Another part of him wished to walk over and help Julian walk, to put his arm around that tiny waist again.
How stupid. None of this was Leonel’s business. He turned back around and shrugged. “If you insist. Do what you please.”
Julian lifted a brow. Why did the inquisitor sound so peeved? Surely he hadn’t yet gone that far with the bullying. Ah well, Julian didn’t ponder too deeply and followed Leonel out the door. His steps were slow and agonizing, even with a walking stick aiding his strides. But Julian ensured that his visage was immaculately calm when he left his house. Not a single piece of his true emotions could be glimpsed from his mask.
Outside, there was a fire going. The girl was startled and rose to her feet. Clean of grime and mud, she was a lot lovelier, easy on the eyes despite being donned in a set of Julian’s clothes. Her blond hair was shiny in its vibrancy and hung down to the small of her back. She was a slight girl, still in the middle of blooming into adulthood with a petite face and long lanky limbs.
“Sirs…! Hello. Um.” She quickly bowed, folding so far over that Julian thought she was going to touch her knees with her forehead. “Thank you for helping me out. My name is Illysa of House Serrani. I-I suppose I owe you my life.”
Julian lifted a brow, the corner of his lips upward, pleased with her manners. “Don’t thank me yet. So tell me, girl, why are you here?”
The girl gulped and straightened her back. She shot Leonel a few nervous glances before swallowing her apprehension and said, “I-I come here to ask Sir…Sir Leonard for aid!”
“…Oh!” Julian’s expression brightened further while Leonel’s grew dark. “Do say!” the doctor urged, “I’m sure Sir Leonard would be happy to help you, my dear lassie!”
Sir ‘Leonard’ wasn’t at all happy.
Author: Hello! I’m still on my semi-hiatus ; u ; and may or may not reply to comments sporadically. I just wanted to say that I’m super thankful for anyone still reading my work and supporting me along the way <3 It really means a lot to me. Please wait for my full return after Chinese New Years! <3
Thanks for the new chapter ❤️ Sir Leonard! Pfft!
Oh~ sir Leonard~ you’d like to touch his waist again, wouldn’t you~
Thank you for the chapter!! ❤️❤️
JHGSWJEIFDJAFSDFA THANK YOU AUTHOR FOR GIVING US THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY KOJSBKFDSJBPFJKP (gimme your drawing skills plz)
pfffftt Julian is such a clown, I love him
thanks for the chapter <3
Leonel ‘wretched interest’: Julian’s tiny waist and perky butt.
Thank for for for tender scene
Leonel is not… jealous is he…
I’m sure tossing and tying him to a bed isn’t all you want to do 😉😌