Chapter 215: I’ll Give You a Name—Stella – Part 1
“Would you like to come with me?”
Upon hearing Leon’s words, the little girl was naturally startled and looked at him with an incredulous expression.
“Sir, what did you just say? Come with you? I didn’t hear wrong, did I?” She asked nervously, unable to believe what Leon had just said.
Leon smiled gently, nodding slightly as he leaned back and replied in a calm tone, “You heard me correctly. I will bring you to live with me and ensure all your needs are taken care of. How does that sound? Would you like that?”
If he had previously hesitated about taking the little girl with him, he was now firm in his decision. Not only did he feel sorry for her, but Miranda’s previous statement still made him uncomfortable.
Hence, rather than leaving her behind, he decided it was better to bring her with him. That way, he could both protect and observe her directly.
Of course, he realized that this decision would likely make Liliana somewhat dissatisfied with him, perhaps even angry.
However, he had already prepared a convincing rationale, leaving him confident that Liliana would come to understand.
The shock on the little girl’s face grew even greater as she heard Leon’s clear statement. Her body trembled violently, causing the fork she was holding to fall from her hand.
“Sir, I… I can’t possibly accept this offer,” the little girl replied, tears suddenly streaming down her cheeks. In a hoarse voice, she continued, “You’ve helped me too much already. You saved me from the two evil demons chasing me in the alley, forgave me for stealing your pouch, and healed my wounds.”
She paused for a moment to wipe away her tears before continuing, “You’ve also given me the chance to enjoy these delicacies, something I could never have imagined experiencing in my entire life. So, I really don’t think I can accept any more of your kindness.”
To be honest, after hearing his offer, she was filled with a profound joy that felt surreal. Yet, deep down, she knew she couldn’t accept it.
It wasn’t because she was wary of him or afraid of being deceived, but because she truly felt she did not deserve any more of his kindness.
As a young girl who had lived alone for two years since her parents abandoned her at the age of four, she had witnessed much wickedness and oppression in the capital, often experiencing these hardships herself.
Thus, she understood how fortunate she was to have met someone like Leon and recognized the preciousness of his kindness.
Listening to her, Leon could only sigh softly, looking at her with a sympathetic gaze.
‘What an extraordinary girl…’ Leon murmured to himself, shaking his head slightly.
No matter how often he observed her, the little girl’s demeanor and nature never failed to astonish him, deepening his affection for her.
Taking a sip of water, Leon looked at her with a gentle gaze and asked softly, “Are you certain about refusing my offer? Take some time to reconsider. If you come with me, I can ensure your quality of life; you won’t have to go hungry again.”
“I’ll take care of you so you won’t have to feel the anxiety and fear you’ve experienced before. Please take some more time to consider it.”
Despite the little girl’s initial refusal, Leon was determined not to give up. He wanted to continue persuading her to stay with him because he understood her refusal stemmed not from fear or distrust but from her sense of unworthiness.
Upon hearing Leon’s tempting offer, the little girl was slightly stunned, tears still welling up in the corners of her eyes.
“I…” She bit her lower lip, her face showing a mix of hesitation and longing.
Leon’s offers were the dreams she had cherished every day: to eat well, to have a comfortable place to sleep, to play freely like other children her age, and, most importantly, to feel protected. These were the deepest desires of her heart, which she longed for despite her awareness that they were impossible to attain at the time.
Now, with this sudden offer, how could she not feel a twinge of uncertainty?
However, her doubts were quickly dispelled as she remembered her true identity—an abandoned child left behind by her parents and the strange girl with cursed eyes, who appeared to bring misfortune to those around her.
As this realization hit her, the little girl’s eyes widened slightly, her face growing noticeably pale.
“I’m sorry, sir. I…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Fiona, who had been silent all this time, suddenly exclaimed loudly,
“Big sister! Don’t turn down Daddy’s offer!”
Her exclamation startled not only Leon and the little girl but also drew the attention of all the demons in the tavern, causing them to glance involuntarily toward Leon’s table.
However, the memory of Leon’s earlier intimidating gaze and aura swiftly resurfaced in their minds, prompting them to quickly avert their eyes as though they hadn’t heard a thing.
“Big sister! You can’t refuse Daddy’s offer again!” Fiona exclaimed once again, her face pouting and her round cheeks slightly puffing up.
Witnessing this, Leon, still surprised, couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
‘Fiona is really such a smart girl…’ Leon thought, smiling without saying a word.
In fact, he had considered enlisting Fiona’s help to persuade the little girl in case she refused his offer again. After all, persuasion between girls of similar age might be more effective than him directly convincing her.
However, he hadn’t expected Fiona to intervene so suddenly, leaving him amused and content to let her take charge.
Meanwhile, the little girl was taken aback by Fiona’s sudden outburst, causing her to subconsciously look over at her.
“Fiona, you…” The little girl began to speak but was abruptly interrupted by Fiona.
“There’s no room for refusal! Big sister, you must accept Daddy’s offer! Otherwise, I’ll ignore you, hmph!” Folding her chubby arms across her chest, Fiona turned her gaze defiantly aside, as if already ignoring her.
Beside her, Leon, who had been curious to see how Fiona would persuade her, couldn’t help but feel a slight twitch at the corners of his mouth.
‘Is this how persuasion works? Perhaps I’m expecting too much from this little three-year-old,’ Leon mused silently, the corner of his mouth still twitching before he let out a small sigh.
Turning his attention back to the little girl, Leon noticed tears welling up in her eyes again after hearing Fiona’s words, prompting him to sigh once more.
“It seems there’s no other option but the straightforward approach…”
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