The Beast Who Has Returned Obsesses Over Me - Chapter 15

Since morning, Leon insisted on going outside. Perhaps because he had woken up after a full day of sleep, his complexion looked much better.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

She couldn’t help but worry. His wounds had opened up quite a bit.

“It’s stuffy.”

Well, getting some fresh air in the garden might be good.

“You come too.”

She could feel a slight warmth in his gaze as he looked up at her innocently. It was as if he was asking her to rest with him. She had a lot to do…… She was conflicted, but Leon’s orders always came first.

As she was about to call a servant to move his chair, Leon stopped her.

“Yvonne. You do it.”

Of course. But she wasn’t upset. It was just moving a chair.

She hadn’t even been able to take a walk herself, busy overseeing the cleaning of the mansion.

A gentle breeze blew past, softly rustling her golden hair. The fresh, clean air that filled her lungs was incredibly refreshing. The warm sunlight that bathed her face seemed to warm her heart as well.

Ah…… This felt much better.

She pushed the chair towards her favorite spot. Not towards the empty garden, but towards a slightly elevated area. She liked the view from there the most. It offered a panoramic view of the lush mountains.

Leon also seemed to be enjoying this natural scenery. He had never been interested in such views before. His interests had always lied elsewhere. His desire for what he couldn’t have had always been his priority.

But even he, having experienced war and a long period of bed rest, seemed to appreciate the beauty of nature this time. Seeing him breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the scenery before him.

After positioning the chair, Yvonne took a short walk. If there was no one watching, she would have loved to run. To lie down on the endless expanse of grass. But this was better than nothing.

A smile began to bloom on Yvonne’s face as she moved further away from Leon.

“Don’t go too far.”

Her steps halted. For a brief moment, she had forgotten about his presence.

But he couldn’t ruin her good mood now. She let his voice be carried away by the pleasant breeze.

Yvonne loved nature enough to spend all day in the garden. The Count’s garden, however, was hardly ever tended to and could never be described as beautiful. It was currently in the process of being cleared out and becoming barren.

She could see a mountain, not too high, in the distance across the plains. That mountain served as the boundary between the Count’s and the Duke’s territories. If she walked along the mountain path for two to three hours, she would arrive at the Duke’s mansion. If he just said he was going back, she could send him off right away. She chuckled to herself, thinking such thoughts. But as she continued to stare at the mountain, the nightmare she had last night came to mind. It resembled that mountain. A shiver involuntarily ran down her spine. She quickly shook her head, trying to rid herself of the thought. Let’s only think happy thoughts now.

Emil should be here by now. For her, happy thoughts always involved Emil.

In truth, she missed Emil, who was adorable and had a way of purifying her heart. She also wanted to see the drawings he had made. Emil had a hobby of carrying around a small sketchbook and drawing wildflowers, small animals, and people. Everyone was always surprised when they saw Emil’s drawings. He captured their features quite well, drawing much better than they expected. It was as if he had a special eye for observing his subjects. Seeing everything as beautiful and good. Emil was a living angel. He was worlds apart from the people at the Duke’s mansion. That’s why she had to protect him.

She spent a long time wandering around, enjoying the breeze to her heart’s content. Her cheeks were flushed like ripe peaches from all the enjoyment. She was starting to feel hungry too. It was a good thing she came out.

It was fortunate that Leon had wanted to get some fresh air with her. Of course, he had done it for himself, but in the end, she was the one who enjoyed it more.

Leon, who had been solely focused on cleaning inside and outside the mansion, now watched Yvonne with a pleased smile as she darted about like a fish in water.

It still felt like a dream to be here like this. With Yvonne in his sight.

It was unbelievable that he had nearly died on the battlefield, but this was even more unbelievable.

Even as he lay there, bleeding and dying, Yvonne’s face was the last thing that flashed before his eyes. And when he regained consciousness, it was Yvonne again.

Yvonne.

It was as if Yvonne had brought him back to life.

He had come here full of anticipation, rushing to her side, but now he was concerned about the distance between them. But he believed that time would heal that too. He had faith in it.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Leon snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of approaching footsteps.

He saw the maids approaching from afar, carrying the things he had requested earlier.

As Yvonne approached Leon, she noticed a picnic blanket spread out beside him, with simple refreshments arranged on top. The maids must have just been here……

Good timing. She was starting to feel a little hungry.

Yvonne began to eat the well-prepared sandwiches and refreshing juice.

“Feeling a bit better?”

Leon didn’t take his eyes off her, as if monitoring her every move. She felt a little self-conscious, but simply nodded, wanting to enjoy her outdoor meal after so long. It was becoming clearer that he had come out for a walk for her sake. Still, he shouldn’t overexert himself in his condition…… She didn’t understand why he was bothering with her when he was unwell. It was probably a gesture of gratitude for her nursing him through the night. Leon expressing gratitude? It was more likely that the sun would rise from the west today.

Strangely, the sandwiches and juice tasted even better today. There wasn’t much to see in the barren garden, but the outdoor picnic was still quite enjoyable.

Time seemed to pass by at a snail’s pace. As if in sync, the warm sunlight enveloped them both. A gentle breeze blew past, caressing them peacefully.

It was quite alright to have a day like this. No, it was good.

A faint smile graced her lips. As expected, his gaze remained fixed on that smile.

***

The amount of time Leon spent outside gradually increased.

Today, he was sprawled out in a spot in the garden where the sunlight poured in. He lay there, rolling around on a thick blanket. It was probably more comfortable for him to lie like that. But it was an unfamiliar sight to see him in such a state. He was always moving around like an enraged lion, pacing back and forth. Like a lion in a cage. Especially at the Count’s mansion, he seemed unable to sit still, as if he felt confined. It seemed he was acting like an idle loafer, rolling around for the sake of his recovery.

To anyone watching, it would appear as if he had never basked in the sunlight before in his life. He was spending the entire day outside, leisurely passing the time, basking in the sun.

“Sir Leon is currently greeting the wind.”

Emil’s words came to mind. He must have seen it that way because of his angelic heart. Leon would never describe it that way himself.

He really wasn’t doing anything.

Nothing had changed. Even before the war, Leon never lifted a finger when it came to work. He was always preoccupied with being aloof and maintaining his dignity. It was still the same now. Yes, people don’t change. Even if they pretend to, they can’t change who they truly are.

In the past, he was always out and about, neglecting her, his fiancée, and only seeking her out when he needed something. So whenever she saw his carriage entering the Count’s mansion, her entire body would react instinctively. She would feel tormented even before meeting him.

She shook her head, erasing those thoughts.

With the removal of the hideous chandelier, the major tasks were more or less complete. The increasingly clean interior of the mansion provided her with some comfort.

Even after dark, with more lanterns lit than usual, the interior was bright and warm. She wondered if she too could become as pleasant as this place. If only Leon would continue to behave himself like this…… But the fear of when he would return to his old self still made her nervous whenever she was around him.

***