6.11

“Regardless of marriage, he is my friend. I cannot stand by and watch my friend get hurt.”

Ellen pleaded desperately, but Leon still refused to lower his sword.  

She had always known he was prone to jealousy. Judging by the way he looked at Bernard, she had already suspected as much.  

But his jealousy was beyond anything she could have imagined.  

Looking at Leon now, it seemed impossible to resolve this situation through words.  

No matter how much she tried to persuade him, it felt like nothing was reaching Leon’s ears. His gaze had changed, and his mind seemed consumed by one thought—Ellen and Bernard’s supposed marriage.  

If this continued, Leon might actually swing his sword at Bernard.  

The biggest problem was Bernard’s cluelessness, which kept provoking Leon further.  

If Bernard accidentally said something implying he was using Ellen as a scapegoat for Emma, Leon would undoubtedly lose control and attack.  

This couldn’t go on.  

The most urgent task was to calm Leon down.  

Ellen stepped toward him decisively. Even as she approached, Leon showed no intention of lowering his sword.  

If that’s how it is, then so be it.  

She grabbed the front of his clothing and stood on her tiptoes. Their lips met.  

Clang.  

The sound of the sword falling to the ground echoed immediately. Fortunately, Leon’s grip on the weapon had weakened.  

Relieved, Ellen deepened the kiss, pulling Leon further into her embrace.  

“Ah!”  

Bernard let out a startled cry. It seemed he had finally realized the nature of Ellen and Leon’s relationship.  

The two ignored Bernard’s presence entirely as they continued to explore each other’s lips.  

Originally, Ellen had intended for just a brief kiss, but she couldn’t stop herself.  

The sweetness of the sensation intoxicated her, and she wanted to savor him a little longer. What started as a gentle kiss soon grew deeper.  

Leon, too, pulled her closer by the waist. As if pouring all the earlier tension into her, he devoured her lips passionately.  

The more he did, the more Ellen clung to him. The dizzying kiss made her feel as though her body was melting.  

“Excuse me, I’m still standing here….”  

As the kiss dragged on, Bernard, feeling increasingly awkward, tried to remind them of his presence. Reluctantly, the two separated, leaving a trace of longing in their eyes.  

“Have you calmed down now?”  

“….”  

Judging by the look in his eyes, it seemed Leon had come back to his senses. His earlier agitation appeared to have subsided.  

“Leon, let’s have a word. Bernard, we’ll continue our conversation later.”  

“Y-yes.”  

Bernard, his face flushed red, nodded awkwardly. He seemed to want to ask many questions but held back for now.  

At Ellen’s signal, Leon picked up his fallen sword and followed her. Ellen led him to a place where they could talk privately.  

“….”  

She had expected him to say something as they walked, but Leon remained silent. Though his anger had cooled, his mood was still clearly sour.  

Ellen stopped walking once they reached a spot far enough that Bernard couldn’t overhear their conversation. Leon stopped as well.  

“Did you reject me all this time because you planned to marry that man? Is that why you broke off the engagement with Baron Aran?”  

Leon finally spoke.  

Though his voice was calmer than before, it was clear he was still upset.  

“My decision to reject marriage and to turn you down are separate matters.”  

Ellen responded calmly, trying to avoid provoking him again.  

“No. The fact that you’re choosing another man over me, regardless of the circumstances, is all the same to me.”  

Leon, too, seemed to be trying to keep his composure, though his raised eyebrow betrayed his dissatisfaction with her answer.  

“Marriage isn’t something I decided. My father made that decision on his own. I didn’t reject you to marry Bernard, and breaking off the engagement with Baron Aran has nothing to do with either you or Bernard. It was purely for personal reasons.”  

“Then what about your feelings? Will you marry the heir of Viscount Goat just because your father decided so?”  

Leon’s eyes quivered with unease.  

“….”  

Ellen had no intention of marrying Bernard, but she hesitated to answer Leon’s question.  

Instead, she carefully considered what to say to reassure him without making him more anxious.  

“I asked if you’re going to marry him. Surely you don’t have feelings for that man. Did you even share a bed with him? Is that why you’re taking his side? Well, considering how you call each other by name, you must be quite close!”  

But as her response was delayed, Leon began to grow agitated again. His voice grew louder, and it seemed like all the resentment he had bottled up toward Bernard was about to explode.  

The mere thought of the man he disliked stealing the woman he loved drove Leon mad with jealousy.  

“What?”  

What nonsense is this? Ellen stared at Leon, her eyes wide with shock.  

His golden eyes, which had been filled with hostility toward Bernard earlier, now burned with jealousy and anger.  

She wanted to ask if he really thought of her as such a frivolous woman, but no words came out.  

After all, she had often told him herself that their relationship was merely physical, implying they were nothing more than casual partners.  

Why did I say that?  

The words she had used to protect her pride had now come back to haunt her. She wanted to clear up the misunderstanding, but she wasn’t sure if he would believe her.  

How should I explain this so he’ll trust me?  

Back then, she hadn’t cared about her image because she didn’t plan to see him again. But now, she wanted to leave a good impression.  

Should I brazenly admit it’s not true and ask what he’s going to do about it? Or should I get angry and ask how he could think so little of me? Maybe I should just deny it outright, as I usually would.  

While she was lost in thought, Leon blurted out something unexpected.  

“Take responsibility.”  

“What? For what?”  

“For me.”  

“What are you talking about?”  

The man standing before Ellen was no longer the composed figure she knew. Instead, he seemed desperate, spouting nonsensical demands.  

He looked like a child throwing a tantrum.  

“You may have said that you slept with me out of a fleeting, casual feeling, but that wasn’t the case for me. After you took my purity, no other woman has caught my eye. So take responsibility.”  

Leon didn’t actually believe she had slept with Bernard or that she had been casual in their relationship.  

But he was too angry and agitated to think clearly. He didn’t even realize what he was saying anymore. All he wanted was to hold onto Ellen, no matter what it took.  

“And if I don’t? Why should I take responsibility? After all, you’re the one who took my purity too. Doesn’t that make us even?”  

Ellen’s tone was sharp, almost accusatory.  

The man before her seemed unfamiliar, having revealed his emotions so openly several times today.  

It was the first time she’d seen this side of him, yet she didn’t dislike it.  

She should have told him she had no intention of marrying Bernard, but his jealousy was endearing, and she wanted to watch him squirm a little longer.  

His jealousy and possessiveness, his desperation—it was all strangely cute.  

Sorry, but I want to see more of it.  

So she decided to play coy, deliberately prolonging his frustration.  

“….”  

Leon seemed unprepared for her response and remained silent. Ellen, too, said nothing, waiting to see what he would say next.  

“Then give me a chance to take responsibility for you.”  

“….”  

“Please.”  

At that, Leon lowered himself slightly. His tone had softened into a plea.