When The Moon Tilts West

Chapter 10 – Part 5

Leon, who had remained in the audience room, was now staring openly at her. Olivia also stared at him.

So, the two faced each other.

“Hey Jane, should we leave now?”

When Eric asked Jane carefully, she nodded her head.

“It seems to be the mood right now.”

“This is my audience room. Isn’t this where I conduct government affairs…?”

Eric then spoke in a slightly embarrassed voice.

“Go away first. It’s been a long time since they met their lover, but let’s not start talking.”

At Jane’s words, he descended from the throne. Thus, the Emperor was kicked out of the Emperor’s audience room by semi-forced force. The two remained alone in the audience room, still staring at each other.

Leon gazed blankly at her before unknowingly taking a step forward with his foot. Then, he stopped, thinking that Olivia might run away if he approached her like this.

Though this time, she took a step closer to him.

“Why are you here…”

“His Majesty told me to stay here.”

At that, Leon clenched his fists and grinded his teeth.

For the first time, he felt serious about killing Eric. When he thought that everything he had shown to her, he became very ashamed.

Standing with a puzzled expression on his face, Leon felt afraid of Olivia for the first time. What will she say…?

Olivia moved her steps and walked up to him. It was a lighter step than ever before, but there was no such thing in his eyes.

Leon said with a cold expression on his face.

“I know you came out like that because you wanted Kevin to be saved.”

“….”

“I will tell you in advance. Kevin won’t be saved. I won’t even let him die a comfortable death. I have no intention of even granting your request.”

He struggled not to stare into Olivia’s face, waiting for the words to come out of her mouth.

Words of criticism and resentment that would pour out on him… No, she could have just cried sadly because she had a soft personality that couldn’t blame anyone. He didn’t know how much that crying drove him crazy.

Leon, who had expected the worst, realized that she was not saying anything. As expected, he wondered if she was crying, and when he turned his gaze to glance at her face, as expected, tears were flowing down her eyes. It would be better if she spit out words of resentment.

Their eyes met, and she finally opened her mouth.

“I know. Do whatever you want to do.”

“….”

At those words, he became even more anxious. To do whatever he wants, so she doesn’t feel any feelings for him anymore…?

He rolled his body on the battlefield. It was fierce, and he had to fight the enemy again and again. He sometimes even fought assassins. After returning, he secretly moved to follow the Duke’s back, just for today.

During that time he had no fear, Leon declared proudly.

However, in front of Olivia, it was different. He gazed at her anxiously, like a domesticated beast, afraid of being abandoned by her.

“He was the one who killed your father, and he was also the one who aimed at you.”

“…Miss Claudel.”

Those words were just an answer that he could never have expected.

Leon tightened his expression on her curiosity, wondering. He didn’t want to collapse.

Olivia’s heart pounded when she saw it. He still looked cold in her eyes. The feelings Jane had told her, and the words she had heard before seemed like they were all lies when she looked at this expression on his face.

The fear began to rise again.

But, for the first time in her life, Olivia did what she felt, not in a wrong or twisted way. The name, Leon, was so important to her, because she was sure she wouldn’t break with his refusal.

Slowly raising her arms, she reached for his face. She wanted her white fingers to touch his cheek one by one, and she wrapped around Leon’s cheeks.

Leon put on a bewildered expression. It was the most recognizable expression on his face she had ever seen.

“…Miss Claudel.”

Seeing that bewildered expression on his face, a warm sense of relief spread through her heart. When his fingers touched it, she was moved to tears at the sight of being stiff without even the slightest movement.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“….”

“And, I’m sorry.”

She tried to hold back, though again, the tears flowed down. Olivia bit her lip but to no avail. Her hand that had been stroking Leon’s cheek slipped.

She cried as she covered her face with her hands.

“Your Excellency, I’m so sorry… I’m sorry, I know you hate me for saying things like this, but I’m really sorry!”

When Leon saw it, he was really bewildered.

He didn’t know exactly why Olivia was crying. Therefore, he had to be cautious of his actions. Should he stroke her hair or put a hand on her shoulder, his thick fingers seemed to touch her hair and fell, touching her shoulder and back.

He was panicking now.

“Why are you sorry Miss Claudel, I am sorry. Sorry. It was my fault. Though leaving the mansion…”

“Because of me, Your Excellency went to war, I…I don’t even know—!”

Again, their words contradict each other. However, unlike Olivia, who couldn’t hear him because she was crying, Leon understood her words.

Went to war…? Now, was she crying over that?

When she saw the blank expression on his face, she spoke as if confirming.

“Because of me, you suffered so much, what should I do?”

Tears welled up in Olivia’s viridescent eyes.

“You were hurt so badly…”

She ultimately started crying profusely.

When Leon found out that she was weeping for him, he was relieved, and he felt a twisted joy, although a little mean. After hesitating, he was finally able to place his hand on her back.

His hand, which seemed to move awkwardly, gently stroked her back.

“Your Excellency, I’m sorry. I’m sorry, because of me, because of me… in such a difficult place…”

“It’s okay, because it wasn’t hard.”

“Don’t lie. You almost died, how could I…”

“It’s really okay. You don’t have to feel sorry for me. It really is.”

Still, Olivia wept bitterly. She seemed to be grieving instead of the devastating five years he spent on the battlefield at a young age.

Leon didn’t know what to do with her crying, though the more she cried, the more warmth he felt in his heart.

It was not that he wasn’t physically exhausted. However, he had a future with her, so he could stand it. He looked forward to the moment when he would go back and meet her again. And, he thought as he gazed at her crying in his arms now…

Those years, the five years he had spent were worth it.

“It’s really okay. It was a process to be with you.”

He smiled as Olivia lifted her tear-stained face to his face. Leon seemed to be embarrassed. It was as vivid as a boy, and Olivia was a little surprised.

“I’m sorry for leaving like that without saying anything. In fact, it was a little difficult.”

“….”

“I’m afraid that you won’t be able to wait for me and keep someone else in your heart, maybe you’re already engaged to someone and left.”

“….”

“But, I’m glad you didn’t marry anyone, so I thought you waited for me.”

Nonetheless, Olivia wasn’t waiting for Leon. That was just how things happened. Besides, she was having an affair with Kevin. What did Leon, who returned to her, think of her as he looked at her? She couldn’t even imagine how he felt.

“Before you leave… I wish you could have said it. You should have spoken.”

“How can I tell you to wait indefinitely? It was an unofficial engagement relationship. I wasn’t sure if I would ever come back alive.”

“….”

“Besides, you were young, and you were so afraid of me back then.”

She burst into tears and hugged his waist. Then, he gently stroked her hair. Olivia cried as she stared at him.

“If you had told me, I would have been waiting for you!”

“….”

“If five years pass, ten years pass, even if I become a grandmother… I would have waited for you.”

At those words, Leon put on a confused expression. As if to ask why, she became really frustrated.

“I really like you.”

Tears streamed down the green eyes. Although it was too ugly for her to cry, she conveyed her own sincerity.

“I like you. Duke.”

“….”

“From the first time we met, I liked you. I’ve been watching you every day. I tried to forget, but I never forgot a single day.”

“…Don’t lie, I know you love Kevin.”

Leon spoke to Olivia as if confused, she uttered as she shook her head.

“I love you, Leon.”

At that moment, she noticed that his hand was shaking. He, who was such a strong man, was shaking…

“Nonsense.”

Leon muttered in disbelief before glancing into her face for a while. Eventually, he realized it was the truth, and he looked overwhelmed. Olivia gathered her courage and hugged him by the waist, and he embraced her as well.

“Do you love me…?”

Her eyes widened at the question and began to nod softly. The man’s face full of joy made her heart flutter.

“Of course.”

Olivia smiled and she buried her face in his arms.

Even though her tears flowed, these were tears of happiness.

She would shed many tears like this in the future…

Olivia raised her head and looked at her beloved. He bowed his back and laid his head on her. Knowing what he was doing, she closed her eyes and smiled. Leon rubbed her lips very carefully. Her lips moistened with tears, and it touched his.

Carefully sucking their lips together, they opened their mouths and began to share their breath. Although it was a very careful and gentle act, it was indescribably happy and good.

Like the first kiss, they kissed sweetly and smiled brightly.