hapter 102
That day at the guest manor, Jessica had seen with her own eyes that Malik and Leon knew each other from before. The way they spoke freely, without any pretense, made it obvious they were longtime hieruls.
But now, Leon couldn’t bring himself to smile. She was cleaning his wound with strong liquor.
The alcohol soaked into a clean cloth and pressed against the open wound, felt like a knife continuing to slice deeper.
“Your Highness, you do feel pain after all” Jessica glanced at him. Though she sounded like she was mocking him, her hands moved with increasing gentleness.
“I’m not a corpse. Of course, Heel pain.” Leon frowned, but didn’t let out a single groan. “Jessica, are you feeling sorry for me?”
Jessica was, in fact, a little heartbroken.
Because that one wound was not the only one on his body.
Scars of all sizes and depths covered him, blade cuts, sword wounds, arrow piercings.
“Was the battlefield in the northern frontier truly so brutal?” It was the first time Jessica faced the war at the northern frontier
She had only ever heard of the infamous bloodthirsty god of war in the North, Leon. But even a war god was still flesh and blood.
Lean lowered his gaze, catching a flash of pity in her eyes that quickly vanished. It warmed something in his heart. “There were several times I almost died on the battlefield,” he said.
Jessica apologized, “I’m sorry…”
Leon asked. “Why are you apologizing?
Jessica looked up at him, then silently continued treating his wounds.
She said, “If not for my scheme, you probably wouldn’t have been stuck in the north for five years.”
“Jessica, have you ever been to the northern frontier!” he suddenly asked.
Jessica shook her head.
Leon sighed. “you had, you’d understand. Even without your scheme, I would’ve gone.”
She looked up at him, ad
a bit surprised.
every year
His expression was solemn, and his voice carried a rare note of compassion. “The north is a chaotic convergence of power, War bre People live in constant fear. Men are dragged away as laborers. The elderly and children are slaughtered. Women and girls are abused without mercy.
He added, “Before arrived, the people had been fleeing for years, never knowing peace. Starvation was rampant. People died in the streets. There were even instances of cannibalism.”
Jessica’s heart clenched, and her fingers began to tremble.
Leon gently took hold of her wrist and smiled. “It’s in the past now. Though the north is still poor and struggling, at least after stabilizing the region, people have started farming again, women weaving, and men tilling the land. I believe things will get better.”
Jessica was momentarily dazed.
To hear such warm words from Leon felt unexpectedly natural.
Mon, 2’Jun
Chapter 102
If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, heard it with her ears, she wouldn’t have believed it.
For the first time, she felt that this “demon” was, in fact, deeply grounded.
Just as Jessica was about to apply medicine to Leon’s wound, she realized her hand was still in his.
Startled, she quickly pulled back.
Leon didn’t stop her. The moment she pulled, he loosened his fingres
She finished cleaning the wound and began applying salve when Lean suddenly said, “He wants to marry you, so I beat him up.”
His thought process jumped so fast that Jessica almost couldn’t follow
He added, “if he weren’t Malik, I might’ve just killed him. That way, you wouldn’t be caught in the middle.”
“Your Highness… Jessica hesitated.
Leon continued, “But he is Malik, And he’s also the third prince of Askar. First, I don’t kill friends. Second, if he died in Novigrad’s capital, it would trigger war between the two nations. And the people would suffer most.”
So, he only gave Malik a beating. He didn’t kill him.
Jessica looked into his deep eyes. “Your Highness, you don’t need to explain to me.
Lean interrupted. “You’re my future wife. Of course, I should explain.”
Leon spoke with utter seriousness. “You promised me once that you’d marry me one day. Jessica, you’re even more heartless than Waldo. You gave me your word…and then forgot it just like that.”
