Chapter 285: This Is the Time
Leon gasped in shock at her words, staring at Liliana in disbelief.
“Do you already know what I want to ask?” Leon inquired, raising an eyebrow in skepticism.
Liliana nodded, gently stroking Leon’s handsome face as she replied, “Is your question about my reaction to the situation between you and Athena?”
Leon’s eyes widened in surprise, and he felt his body tense slightly at her words.
After a moment, he took a deep breath to steady himself and stared at Liliana in amazement.
“Yes, that’s correct, but how did you know? Can you read my mind?” Leon asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
While this world was filled with magic, swords, and mythical creatures like dragons, he had never encountered any magic capable of mind-reading.
Even if such magic existed, it should have been recorded in the magical catalogs of humanity or the Demon race; however, he had never encountered any mention of it in those records.
So, how was Liliana able to read his thoughts?
Upon hearing Leon’s ridiculous question, Liliana rolled her eyes and playfully pinched her cheeks.
“What are you talking about? How could there be mind-reading magic?” She asked, her tone light and playful.
Leon felt a bit embarrassed but quickly cleared his throat to mask it.
“Ahem! If mind-reading magic doesn’t exist, then how do you know about it?” He inquired, his brows knitting together in skepticism.
Liliana sighed softly, smiling as she replied, “Actually, it’s quite simple—I just guessed.”
“Guessed?” Leon blinked in confusion.
Nodding, Liliana quickly clarified, “When you shared the incident with Athena last night, I noticed you seemed quite nervous and anxious, even if you tried to conceal it. Later, when I forgave you, your expression shifted to surprise, confusion, and astonishment. Since I hadn’t explained my reasoning for forgiving you, I concluded that your question was likely related to that.”
Absorbing her explanation, Leon fell silent for a moment before finally taking a deep breath.
He often became lost in Liliana’s gentle demeanor, at times forgetting her true identity as the formidable Demon Emperor and the extraordinary powers she possessed.
Staring admiringly at Liliana in his embrace, Leon smiled slightly and joked, “I was truly surprised to hear this, but it quickly dawned on me that the woman before me is none other than the majestic Demon Emperor. So, I apologize to you, Your Majesty.”
Liliana couldn’t help but laugh at Leon’s playful act, quickly adopting the indifferent and cold demeanor she usually displayed to others.
“Since you’ve acknowledged your mistake, I’ll graciously grant you forgiveness,” she replied in a cool tone.
The two exchanged glances before breaking into smiles and laughter.
“Pfft! I had no idea you could crack a joke like that, Liliana,” Leon said with a chuckle.
He had always perceived Liliana as someone difficult to joke with, given her cold and serious demeanor. However, he never expected her to have such a knack for humor.
“Well, isn’t that due to you?” Liliana responded with a warm smile.
In her past, she would never have been able to crack a joke like that. However, since Leon entered her life, her cold and indifferent demeanor had gradually begun to change, and her once dull life started to blossom with vibrant color.
As a result, she found herself smiling and laughing more easily than before—a change for which she was truly grateful.
Leon simply smiled, saying nothing as he gently rubbed her head.
Then he swiftly changed the subject. “So, could you explain your reasons for forgiving me? To be honest, I was prepared to face your anger and resentment, but your reaction took me completely by surprise.”
He felt no need to hide his thoughts from her, confident that openness was the way forward.
As soon as Liliana heard his question, her gentle expression hardened, and her red eyes flashed with a slightly terrifying intensity.
“Actually, you’ve misunderstood me, Leon,” she said sharply. “The moment you mentioned your encounter with Athena, a wave of anger and betrayal surged through me. Honestly, if I hadn’t held myself back, I might have tied you up and imprisoned you in the underground chamber while I went to the Dragon Empire to confront that bitch who dared to take you from me.”
At her words, a chill coursed through Leon, goosebumps prickling his skin as he regarded Liliana with a mixture of fear and dread.
“Damn! Liliana really is a yandere!” Leon exclaimed inwardly.
The words Liliana had just uttered echoed the traits of yandere women he often encountered in the light novels he read.
Although her yandere tendencies weren’t as extreme as those of the heroines in those stories, they still sent a shiver down his spine.
However, a question soon emerged in his mind, gradually replacing his fear with curiosity.
“What’s holding you back from acting on those feelings?” Leon asked impulsively.
Liliana gradually composed herself and replied nonchalantly, “It’s because of one person—a mysterious white-haired middle-aged man.”
“A white-haired middle-aged man, you say?” Leon inquired, taken aback.
“Yes, it’s because of him,” Liliana confirmed with a slight nod, then added, “Actually, while you were kidnapped…”
She then began to recount the details of the white-haired man’s unexpected visit to her palace and the conversation they had.
Leon listened intently to her every word, his expression growing more serious with each detail, leaving him increasingly dumbfounded.
“So, that middle-aged man said I have a destiny with many women?” he asked in disbelief.
Liliana nodded slightly, her expression reflecting her frustration as she replied, “Yes, he did say that.”
Leon was left utterly speechless, unsure of how to respond.
He never expected that the middle-aged man would visit Liliana and say such things to her.
While it was difficult for him to accept the idea of having such a destiny, the man was undeniably mysterious, leaving Leon unsure whether he could entirely dismiss his claims.
Taking a deep breath, Leon glanced at Liliana in his arms and noticed that her expression was troubled, prompting him to let out a small sigh.
“Well, you don’t need to dwell on this anymore. While the middle-aged man’s words may seem reassuring, the truth is that I alone control my destiny, not anyone else. So there’s no need for you to worry,” Leon said soothingly, affectionately rubbing Liliana’s head.
Liliana paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement with Leon’s words.
“Yes, you’re right,” she replied, her expression gradually softening.
Leon smiled with satisfaction at the sight of Liliana calming down, but just as she was about to say something, a crow suddenly flew in from the balcony.
*Caw! Caw!*
The crow cawed loudly before finally landing on top of the bedside cupboard.
Leon and Liliana exchanged surprised glances, both intrigued by the sudden arrival.
“It seems there’s news from the battlefield,” Liliana said, gently touching the crow’s head.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, a black magic circle materialized above the crow, and a letter emerged from it.
Liliana took the letter and read it intently for a few moments before closing it.
With a serious expression, she turned to Leon and said, “Leon, it seems that humanity’s forces have begun to take action.”
At her words, Leon felt a jolt of surprise, his eyes narrowing slowly.
“In that case, I must be on my way.”
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