2.9

At the same time.

Ellen also visited the temple. Although she was actively pushing herself forward, her heart was uneasy.

Donna had said it was fine, but recklessly approaching Leon was not something she usually did, which made her feel guilty. She also wanted forgiveness for her indecent thoughts.

“Is it okay to desire? Is it all right to push myself further just for my own selfishness?”

Ellen prayed earnestly.

She wanted to ask if it was acceptable to push actions the other person didn’t want. To achieve what she desired, she would have to break the firm beliefs that the man held.

“I won’t ask for his heart. I just want his body, even if just for a moment. I want to give him my first… Is that okay?”

And then, she also offered the prayer she truly wanted to make.

From his constant unwillingness to open his heart, she already knew that becoming Leon’s lover was out of reach. So, at the very least, she wanted her first experience to be with someone she liked.

Initially, it had been Donna who encouraged her, but now Ellen herself desperately wanted it to happen. Before becoming a sacrificial lamb for her family, she wanted to act selfishly at least once.

Even someone who rarely conversed with her was at least willing to engage in physical communication. So, she wanted to indulge just a little more.

“If you pray with sincerity, your wishes will surely come true.”

As Ellen whispered her prayers and stepped out, a priest who didn’t know what she had prayed for gave her a warm smile and words of blessing.

“Will my wishes really come true?”

“Of course.”

“Thank you!”

Ellen bowed her head in gratitude.

“If they knew what I prayed for, they’d faint in shock.”

As she left the prayer room and murmured softly, Ellen felt a mix of guilt and embarrassment.

She felt pricked by her conscience for making such an absurd wish in a holy temple.

“Still, since I prayed sincerely, I hope it gets granted.”

Smiling to herself, she began walking toward the waiting carriage. At that moment, a familiar figure caught her eye—a tall frame, neatly arranged jet-black hair, and a face as refined as a sculpted statue.

“Huh? Sir Guilford?!”

Coming out of another prayer room was Leon, and Ellen, surprised, noticed that he seemed equally startled.

“Sir Guilford, did you come here to pray as well?”

Since it was their first accidental encounter, Ellen felt a flutter of excitement and smiled brightly.

“Ah, yes.”

As always, his response was brief. He also avoided meeting her gaze. The more they kissed, the farther he seemed to grow from her.

“What did you pray for?”

“Just personal matters.”

Leon answered briefly and said nothing more.

‘He still doesn’t ask me anything…. Since I wasn’t expecting much, I wasn’t disappointed.’

“What do you think I prayed for?”

Ellen smiled as if nothing was wrong.

“I’m not sure.”

“I prayed that we could get a little closer.”

“I see.”

Feeling encouraged by the priest’s blessing, Ellen vaguely shared her prayer’s content, but Leon seemed completely uninterested. She felt as though he had barely listened to her words.

Though she felt slightly disappointed, Ellen tried hard to suppress her feelings.

As she had expected, Leon was unable to focus on the conversation with Ellen. Since he had already resolved to bid her farewell, he hadn’t anticipated running into her so soon.

What kind of situation is this?

Since it wasn’t an easy thing to say, Leon decided to steel himself before revealing everything.

Thus, he had planned to avoid Ellen for the time being. Up until the moment they met, he had thought so.

No, is this the opportunity?

Leon swallowed slowly. This encounter must have a reason.

The longer he delayed speaking, the worse it would be. It felt like a divine revelation urging him to say it sooner rather than later.

“Miss Novary, may I speak with you in private somewhere quiet?”

And so, Leon suggested to Ellen that they talk in a quiet spot outside the temple, where others couldn’t overhear them.

* * *

Standing in a secluded alley outside the temple, where few eyes could reach them, Leon slowly swallowed as he looked down at Ellen, who was smiling brightly before him.

He needed to tell her they should part ways immediately, but seeing her sparkling eyes made him feel as though his throat was blocked.

Ahem. Because of this, he cleared his throat several times before speaking.

“What is it you wanted to say?”

As the silence between them stretched, Ellen asked impatiently.

“Well, that is….”

“I have something to say too. May I go first?”

As Leon hesitated, Ellen decided to speak her mind first.

“Go ahead.”

Thinking that whatever she said might give him an opening to break up with her, he willingly agreed to listen.

“Sir Guilford, we haven’t known each other for long, but we’re connected at heart, aren’t we?”  

“…That’s correct?”  

Leon slowly tilted his head, looking at Ellen.

“Connected at heart….”  

“In that case, how about spending the night with me today?”  

“What?”  

Although he intended to say that while their hearts had been connected, he no longer felt the same and planned to act like a bad man, Ellen’s unexpected words caught him off guard.  

Unlike Leon, who stared at her in shock with wide eyes, Ellen blinked her clear eyes and smiled innocently. Her face looked as if she hadn’t just suggested spending the night together.  

How could she suggest such a thing after knowing each other for so little time?!

“It’s too soon for that.”  

Thus, he firmly rejected her suggestion.  

“I don’t make such suggestions lightly either. Sir Guilford, you felt desire for me last time, didn’t you? I’m embarrassed, but I found courage recalling your reaction back then. So, please don’t reject me.”  

Her gentle blue eyes, filled with shyness, and her voice, tinged with embarrassment, were directed at Leon.

D*mn it.

Leon cursed his body for acting on instinct rather than willpower.

Why did I do that?!

Although he had apologized at the time, the mistake he had already made couldn’t be undone.  

“I think it’s best to maintain chastity until marriage. No matter how times have changed, we don’t need to follow others.”  

He calmly rejected her proposal in a composed voice.  

“Ah….

Her eyes filled with disappointment, as though she had been hurt.

Leon couldn’t understand why she was in such a rush to make such a proposal, but he realized that this was his chance. Since their thoughts didn’t align, it was best to part ways now.

Yes. If I don’t end this now, I’ll keep getting dragged along.

Although Leon wasn’t someone who was usually indecisive, he felt as though Ellen kept pulling him along. For both their sakes, he needed to end this relationship quickly.

“!”

Just as he resolved to act coldly toward her, no matter how hurt she might be, soft lips pressed against his.