Chapter 279: Liliana’s Difficulties and Stalemate
Looking at Leon, who remained silent, Liliana raised an eyebrow, dissatisfaction clearly etched on her beautiful face.
With a playful pout, she pressed a forkful of cake to his lips and teased, “Come on, open your mouth, Master. This cake is delicious, and you have to try it. Otherwise, there’s a punishment waiting for you!”
Leon felt the corners of his mouth twitch at her flirtatious, uncharacteristic behavior. However, he held back his thoughts and let out a small sigh instead.
“Alright, I’ll eat,” Leon said helplessly as he took a bite of the cake.
Liliana smiled sweetly, picking up another piece with her fork and bringing it to his lips once more.
“Come on again,” she said playfully.
Leon nodded and took another bite from her. They repeated the scene several times until the plate was empty.
Setting the empty plate aside, Liliana picked up the cup of tea she had prepared earlier and held it to his lips.
“Come on, open your mouth,” she said gently.
“Okay,” Leon replied, opening his mouth and taking a few sips to soothe his slightly dry throat.
Once finished, Liliana set the cup back on the table and turned to Leon, a satisfied smile blooming on her lips.
“Are you pleased with my service?” she asked expectantly, wrapping her beautiful arms around his neck.
In response, Leon smiled gently, wrapping his arms around her slender waist.
“If you’re asking whether I’m satisfied, then yes, absolutely!” Leon replied honestly, without exaggeration or understatement.
He gazed into Liliana’s beautiful red eyes and continued with a soft sigh, “However, I’m genuinely confused and curious about your motives for this, Liliana. My heart feels restless, and I really want to know. But given your earlier advice not to overthink or ask too many questions, I’m trying to hold back my curiosity. So, I was hoping you could share your reasons now, so I can feel at ease.”
Liliana chuckled at his words, her gaze softening as she looked at Leon.
“The reason I’m doing this is to help you feel comfortable and relieve your anxiety, Leon,” she said lightly.
Leon’s eyebrows raised slightly as he regarded her with curiosity.
“Help me feel comfortable and relieve my anxiety? What do you mean?” He asked, tightening his embrace around Liliana.
Liliana smiled as she buried her face in Leon’s neck and explained, “When you came back earlier, I noticed your face was a bit pale and you looked anxious, as if you were grappling with a major problem. Although you hid it well, I could see and feel it. So, I decided to offer this kind of service to help you feel better and alleviate the anxiety that’s been weighing on you, Leon.”
Once she finished explaining, a faint blush spread across her beautiful face.
It was undeniably embarrassing for her—a Demon Emperor known for her coldness and aloofness—to act like a maid and dress the part.
Even though she was doing this for the person she loved, the shame she felt didn’t diminish at all.
However, she was determined to see it through, choosing to endure the embarrassment and complete the service to the end.
Fortunately, she completed the task flawlessly, filling her with happiness and pride.
As he listened to her explanation, Leon felt a blend of surprise and embarrassment, particularly at her last sentence, which brought him happiness as well.
Since the age of five, he had lived in the Holy Orthodox Hall, surrounded by people who loved him, such as Arshley, Luna, the previous Holy Orthodox Saint, and others.
However, the care and affection they offered were markedly different from what Liliana gave, and it was this contrast that touched him the deepest.
Moreover, knowing that her actions reflected a lowering of her pride as a Demon Emperor deeply moved him, intensifying his love for her even more.
With a smile he couldn’t hide, Leon leaned down, inhaling the scent of Liliana’s hair while tightening his embrace around her.
“Liliana, I’m truly grateful for the care you’ve given me,” Leon whispered affectionately into her ear. “This happiness is greater than anything I’ve ever felt. So, once again, thank you.”
At his words, Liliana couldn’t help but smile and nod slightly.
“You’re welcome, Leon,” she replied softly.
They embraced, losing themselves in the comfort they provided each other. This warmth even made Leon forget the earlier incident with Athena and the purpose of his visit to Liliana’s room.
After a while, they released their embrace and exchanged smiles, their lips curling up in contentment.
“By the way, Liliana,” Leon said suddenly, “Is there any recent news from the battlefield?”
In response, Liliana shook her head, her expression shifting to a more serious tone.
“At this moment, there hasn’t been any significant news from the battlefield. The demon forces remain trapped and are hesitant to invade the retreating human forces,” she explained with a soft sigh.
Her beautiful face showed a hint of frustration, as if the matter had been weighing heavily on her in recent days.
Yet, it was clear that this matter weighed heavily on her; every decision she made could determine the fate of hundreds of thousands of demon troops and the future of their race in the war.
Consequently, she had to think long and hard about the next move for the demon forces in the Desert of Chaos, ensuring her choices wouldn’t lead to disaster.
Seeing her concern, Leon smiled softly, gently patting her head.
“I know this weighs heavily on you, but there’s no need to worry—I’m here,” Leon reassured her in a calm tone. He paused before continuing, “Tomorrow, I’ll go to the battlefield as planned and put an end to this war, so humanity and the Demon race won’t have to fight anymore. While I’m away, I need you to take care of our three daughters and Stella. That way, you won’t have to worry anymore, alright?”
Liliana let out a sigh of relief and gave a small nod, though a trace of discomfort and unease was evident on her face.
Her lips parted as if she wanted to speak, but in the end, not a single word left her mouth.
Noticing this, Leon raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, “Is something on your mind? If so, don’t hold back—tell me.”
As Demon Empress, Liliana was known for her unwavering resolve and her tendency to speak her mind without hesitation.
These qualities had become her hallmark, and they were among the traits Leon admired most about her.
That’s why her hesitation both confused and surprised him.
Liliana fell silent for a moment before sighing softly and admitting, “I’m worried you might get hurt on the battlefield. If that happens, I won’t know how to explain it to our daughters. Furthermore, the Holy Empire of Elysium has already declared you dead, and I can’t anticipate how they’ll react if they discover you’re not only alive but also fighting alongside the Demon race.”
These concerns prompted her to reconsider Leon’s participation in the ongoing war in the desert of chaos.
While she appreciated his willingness to help, the fear of his identity being exposed to the Holy Empire weighed heavily on her.
If that occurred, Leon could be branded a traitor to humanity—a thought she couldn’t bear.
Hearing the worry in her voice, Leon remained quiet for a moment before offering her a gentle smile.
“As I mentioned before, you don’t need to worry about this, Liliana,” he said in a calm tone. “The Holy Empire of Elysium and I have a longstanding grudge, and no matter how they react, that grudge won’t be erased as long as we both exist in this world. Moreover, it is my duty as the Fated One to end the 7,000-year war between humanity and the Demon race and unite both to confront the Evil God in the future. So, I need you to trust me. Can you do that?”
Liliana gazed into Leon’s golden eyes, filled with unwavering determination, and let out a soft sigh.
“Alright, I’ll trust you, but you need to promise me that you won’t get hurt. Is that clear?” Liliana asked earnestly.
“Of course, I’ll return safely. After all, you know how powerful this handsome sword hero is, right?” Leon replied playfully, causing Liliana to smile in satisfaction.
“Then I can relax,” she said, her tone easing.
They then continued their conversation, focusing on tomorrow’s battle while exchanging jokes to lighten the mood.
At one point, Liliana rubbed her chin thoughtfully and asked, “By the way, Leon, I forgot to ask about this afternoon. What exactly happened, and how did Athena manage to kidnap you?”
———–
A/N: As the end of the month approaches, I can hardly believe how quickly it has come!
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your support this month, especially to my loyal readers!
With the new month on the horizon, the mass release I’ve prepared will be arriving soon. So, be sure to continue your support next month!
Thank you, and stay tuned!
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