Epilogue.3

“Aw, don’t make that face. I exaggerated for your sake. It seemed like the only way to break down Sir Guilford’s defenses. You wouldn’t move unless someone pushed you. If you’re upset, I’ll apologize now. Sorry.”  

Donna offered a casual apology, but it lacked any sincerity.  

“….”  

Ellen felt as though Donna had outmaneuvered her. Things had worked out well, but she could have been left with a frivolous image.  

She wasn’t sure how to describe her emotions at that moment. Should she feel happy or angry?  

Suddenly, Ellen burst into laughter.  

Donna was right. Why overthink it? If the outcome was good, wasn’t that all that mattered? Donna’s perspective seemed to have rubbed off on her in that brief moment.  

“Honestly, you’re grateful to me too, aren’t you? Then that’s all that matters, right?”  

Donna laughed heartily alongside her.  

After greeting the people at the Courtney household, Ellen boarded the carriage again. This time, she was heading to meet Leon.  

It had been three months since their last meeting. Since Leon had returned to Melchia, Ellen hadn’t seen him even once. Both had been so busy that three months had flown by in the blink of an eye.  

“Isn’t he here yet? Why are there so many people?”  

When Ellen arrived at the square and headed to the meeting spot, Leon was nowhere to be seen. Instead, the crowd was so dense that the cold air felt warmer.  

“Oh, right, it’s the festival period.”  

Ellen suddenly remembered that Leon had mentioned the upcoming festival in his letter. He had specifically asked her to come on that day, likely intending for them to enjoy the festival together.  

“Ugh… it’s cold.”  

Melchia was colder than Alber Village. Despite thinking she had dressed warmly, Ellen shivered. Waiting for Leon was enjoyable, but enduring the cold was not.  

At that moment, she heard a voice.  

“Ellen!”  

Amidst the bustling crowd, the sound was faint, but Ellen immediately recognized Leon’s voice.  

What had seemed like a distant gap closed in an instant. True to his nature as a knight, Leon dashed toward her and pulled her into his embrace.  

He hadn’t had time to change, still dressed in his black knight uniform. Yet to Ellen, Leon in his uniform looked dazzlingly handsome.  

“The commander kept adding more training sessions, so I ended up being a bit late. My apologies.”  

“I didn’t wait long. By the way, do you realize how long it’s been since we last saw each other? I’ve missed you so much during this time.”  

Ellen beamed brightly. Perhaps because they had exchanged letters frequently, seeing him again didn’t feel awkward.  

“I’ve missed you too. You have no idea how much I’ve wanted to visit Alber Village.”  

Leon tightened his embrace, savoring the scent of his beloved after such a long time.  

After exchanging greetings, they decided to head to a dessert café. Naturally, the menu included Ellen’s favorite fig tart.  

“This is the taste! Do you know how much I’ve missed this tart? You have to try it with me.”  

“Watching you enjoy it is more than enough for me.”  

Ellen’s blue eyes sparkled vividly as she relished the dessert. Leon, resting his chin on his hand, smiled as he watched her.  

“It’s really delicious… You should have some too.”  

“I plan to savor what I like later, so it’s fine.”  

“Aw, are you planning to eat something delicious without me? That’s disappointing. Don’t you think good food should be shared?”  

When Ellen pouted and grumbled, Leon’s lips curled into a smirk.  

“My favorite thing is right in front of me.”  

“What?”  

Ellen looked at him with a confused expression, glancing between herself and the dessert, before her face turned bright red.  

“You’re so mean. Really.”  

In a barely audible voice, she scolded Leon, who laughed heartily in response.  

Embarrassed, Ellen quickly finished her dessert and urged him to leave. She hoped the cold wind outside might help calm her racing heart.  

Once they left the dessert café, they strolled through the streets. The icy wind brushed against Ellen’s flushed cheeks.  

She had thought the cold air would settle her heart, but it didn’t. Her heart continued to pound wildly.  

Unlike their previous dates, where Leon walked ahead and Ellen followed, he immediately intertwined their fingers as soon as they left the café. Then, he tucked their joined hands into his uniform pocket.  

“The weather is quite chilly.”  

“Yes, it is.”  

Despite her rosy cheeks, warm cloak, and hands tucked into his pocket, Ellen felt as though all her senses were focused on the hand touching his inside the pocket.  

“Are you cold?”  

Leon asked, noticing the faint trembling of her hand against his. Though she was shaking from nervousness rather than the cold, he seemed to misunderstand.  

“Yes, it’s cold. Should we go somewhere warm again?”  

Not wanting to reveal her nervousness, Ellen pretended to be cold and looked around for a suitable place to go.  

“No, I don’t think that’s necessary. It seems like we just need to let the heat dissipate.”  

“What?”  

Before Ellen could respond, Leon took her hand and led her somewhere. They ended up in a quiet alley beside the temple—a place they had been before.  

It was the same spot where they had kissed and parted ways.  

Even during the festival, crowded areas were bustling, but secluded spots remained untouched.  

As soon as Leon let go of Ellen’s hand, he leaned in and kissed her. Though she had anticipated this when he brought her to the alley, she hadn’t expected him to act so quickly.  

Such a bold knight.  

Ellen’s lips curled into a subtle smile. She deepened the kiss, moving her lips gently against his. As their soft touches and scents mingled, it felt as though all her senses were completely filled.  

Wanting to savor the moment more deeply, she slid her tongue into his mouth and wrapped her arms around his neck.  

The warmth spread as they explored each other, their tongues intertwining. A soft moan escaped from Ellen’s throat but was quickly swallowed by Leon’s mouth.  

Their breathing grew ragged, and just as they felt short of breath, their lips parted—only to meet again moments later. After several rounds of deep and lingering kisses, they ended with gentle, brief pecks.  

“I thought this alley might hold unpleasant memories for you because of me. I wanted to create new ones to replace them.”  

As their lips parted, Leon’s curved into a smooth smile.  

“?!”  

Ellen felt overwhelmed with joy, her heart brimming with happiness. Such a thoughtful man.  

To Ellen, any place associated with Leon held no bad memories. Even this alley was a cherished spot for her.  

“Thank you for being so considerate.”  

However, she didn’t say this aloud, appreciating Leon’s thoughtfulness instead. She simply ran her fingers through his hair, gently pulling him closer, and softly nibbled on his lower lip.