167 – Persuasion (7)
After starting to think about something, Leonhard became more curious.
Before Lilian opened her mouth, she was quite different from her previous self when she did not ask for information about the setting.
“You said it was a library where information is recorded, right?”
“Yes. There was something like that. But it was an abandoned setting, so I’m not sure if it exists in this world now.”
“That’s useful information. Thank you. However, that alone is not enough.”
“Okay, then! “I can tell you other things too.”
With those words, Lilian gathered all the background information she knew in her head and told it to Leonhardt.
It was because he wanted to and wanted to give him what he wanted, but there was also a slightly selfish reason.
She thought that if she did that, she would be able to receive love from Leonhard.
Just as she was able to be loved by her parents. But it wasn’t just because he was craving affection.
‘If you don’t have any more information to tell me….’
At that time, he will no longer be needed by Leonhard.
Lilian knew Leonhard well.
Although he was basically a good person, he was not an infinitely good person.
If it were Leonhard, he would not abandon himself.
However, if the kindness he shows to himself disappears….
I won’t be able to bear it.
‘I need to be more helpful, more than I am now!’
Lilian racked her brain to tell Leonhard what little she knew.
Her nervousness became noticeable when she started squirming due to anxiety even when Leonhard hugged her tightly.
“What’s wrong?”
In response to Leonhardt’s question, Lilian closed her mouth.
The reason she struggled was because she was too embarrassed. She works hard on herself because she doesn’t want to be abandoned. Because she felt like a really insignificant person.
“Is this why you can’t tell me?”
When Lilian did not open her mouth, Leonhardt’s golden eyes felt a little dark.
Her eyes, which were shaking sadly as if to hide her emotions, drew a soft line.
“Okay. “You can talk when you want to.”
When she saw those eyes, her heart throbbed as if his emotions were contagious.
When he saw Leonhard with that expression on his face, he couldn’t keep still.
Lilian did not want Leonhard to be sad. She just wanted to be loved by him.
‘Would you rather lie? If you make even a flimsy excuse….’
Her lying was something she was good at.
No matter how clumsy a lie it is.
But Leonhard was the person who saved him.
He is someone he cannot live without.
“Well, that’s not it….”
In the end, Lilian lowered her head and buried her heated face in his arms.
It was because she was embarrassed to speak.
She was fortunate that she was still young. Thanks to this, foolish behavior like this is allowed.
“No. There has to be a secret too. “She, Lilian, will grow up and become her own lady someday.”
Leonhardt, not knowing Lilian’s feelings, slowly comforted her back with his large hand.
Lilian could no longer keep her silence.
“Actually….”
Leonhardt burst into laughter after hearing Lilian’s confession.
He said as he kissed Lilian’s young cheek, which was soft and white as if she had sprinkled milk on it.
“You don’t have to try so hard. “There’s no need to keep trying to tell me something.”
“But then…” . Leonhard might end up hating me. “I have no value other than what I know.”
Leonhardt’s amber eyes were half hidden between gently curved eyes.
“Lilian. It’s you I’m protecting. Not your knowledge. You’re mistaken about that. “You’re surprisingly a bit foolish.”
“…No.”
Lilian muttered absentmindedly, mesmerized by Leonhard’s eye smile that was like the spring sunshine.
“That’s right. Otherwise, you wouldn’t think like that. “How much I like you.”
“Then…” “I guess so.”
In the end, Lilian slowly agreed to Leonhard’s words.
His warm and fluffy words were so sweet as sugar that she could not come to her senses.
Suddenly, I remembered Leonhard’s lips touching my cheek earlier.
When I tried to feel it, I could feel the warmth as if the sun had touched it.
‘I should kiss you too.’
She thought about it, but was embarrassed. She wanted to be loved, but she didn’t often show such cuteness.
Lilian glanced at Leonhard with her big eyes. Her little heart was pounding.
Leonhardt was watching Lilian’s cute movements with a small smile.
“Good.”
Lilian closed her eyes tightly and kissed Leonhard’s cheek.
Pudgy-soft lips fell from his cheek after a moment.
Leonhard tried to rub his cheek but stopped his hand just before he reached it.
“…What?”
“I like Leonhard too.”
As soon as Lilian said those words, he quickly averted his gaze from her.
Leonhardt laughed happily at those words.
He smoothed Lilian’s thin hair with the tips of her fingers, exposing her ears.
Leonhardt’s lips came close to touching her, with a picturesque smile reaching her ear.
“That’s the same for me too.”
Lilian’s heart immediately sank at the sound of her low voice.
*
Leonhardt, who took Lilian’s information seriously, kept a certain distance from the heroines of the original work.
It was because they judged it to be dangerous.
Instead, Leonhard devoted himself to keeping her Lilian safe.
Thanks to this, the two were almost together. Lillian was good.
It was because he felt like he had Leonhard all to himself.
It was a happy time.
However, even in the midst of happiness, there were times when the painful past suddenly came to mind.
She was sleeping, eating, and smiling.
In the middle of a routine day, a nightmare from the past suddenly attacked Lilirian.
From Noble mtl dot com
So when Lilian shed her tears, Leonhard hugged her tightly.
Perhaps it was because she had never thought that she could rely on people.
Her arms were so warm that Lilian felt pitiful. She snuggled into his arms.
At times like that, she felt like ice, melting miserably at the slightest heat.
‘I guess this is where I should be.’
Leonhardt’s arms smelled cold compared to the warmth.
Lilian thought that the ‘place’ that Leonhard was talking about was not some other place, but was by Leonhard’s side.
‘But Leonhard can live without me.’
I wouldn’t be able to do it without Leonhard.
‘If only I were a little bigger….’
That was the only thing Lilian couldn’t bear to regret.
She says that since Leonhard is a child, she does not see herself as a woman.
It would be nice if he showed his sincerity towards himself.
Then he would be able to hold on to Leonhard longer.
If I couldn’t hold him back, I couldn’t prevent destruction, and this moment would become ‘something that never happened’, and even if I disappeared, it would be fine.
I thought it would be okay if Leonhard could face the end in peace before he leaves.
But right now, the only person who was satisfied with this moment was Lilian.
I learned that fact after some time had passed.
It was about the time when the painful memories of her past were gradually being diluted within Lilian.
“Do you like it now, Lilian?”
Leonhardt, who was engrossed in a certain concern, suddenly asked.
With a calm and warm smile.
When Lilian saw that smile, a part of her heart tickled.
“It wouldn’t be fun if I answered first. What about Leonhard? How is it? “Do you like it now?”
Leonhardt’s expression frowned slightly at Lilian’s question.
“Honestly, I’m a little dissatisfied.”
Lilian was scared for a moment.
She thought that Leonhard didn’t like something about her.
“Why? If….”
Lilian’s eyes became cloudy as if there were clouds.
“I feel anxious again. “There’s no need for that.”
Leonhardt stroked her blushing, delicate cheek as if he thought it was cute.
Lilian was reassured by her warm touch, which was no different from her usual.
Leonhard turned his head and looked somewhere inside him.
“I feel like I couldn’t create a place for you.”
“I made it for you.”
Lilian said, her face blushing.
I already feel so good now.
I received so much.
Memories of him were already piled up inside Lilian.
It was only about three years. That short time shined like a jewel more than any other moment.
More than this.
What do you need?
“I want Lilian to be alive even when I am gone.”
That was why he created her system using the settings in her library that her Lilian had taught her.
Leonhardt wanted a place that would not change even if destruction occurred and the world returned to the past.
“This place really existed… ?”
That place was an infinite and eternal library.
The reason Leonhard asked Lilian about this and that was to find this infinite and eternal library.
It was clear what he wanted.
‘Even if a regression occurs, Lilian will be able to avoid the aftermath of her regression.’
Leonhardt found this library just for that purpose.
Even if a regression occurs in this library, it will only destroy the records of the books it contains.
The library itself does not disappear, so if Lilian is inside it, she will be safe.
“This…” Really… “It’s amazing.”
Lilian could not hide his surprise.
The infinite and eternal library was a setting that suddenly came to mind and I wrote it down, but then deleted it because it didn’t seem right.
But how does it exist?
‘…Maybe this world existed before I created it?’
I didn’t even know it was possible.
He may have unconsciously glimpsed the existence of another dimension, not the world he created.
“But this alone makes me uneasy.”
Even after the great discovery, Leonhard was struggling.
“I need the power to protect Lilian. Also, I hope that after returning, I can tell the story more easily. I wish I could use the power of this library….”
Recalling that moment, Lilian returned to her reality as if swimming in the memories of her past.
This was because Leonhard, who had been silent all along in front of her, opened his mouth.
“Are you still thinking?”
Lilian didn’t know what to say, so she closed her mouth and looked at him.
If you think rationally, the answer Lilian should give here and now was clear.
However, Lilian was unable to make a hasty decision and had a stiff expression on his face.
“Don’t look down on me. Of course….”
Lilian’s lips barely moved as she tried to open her mouth to respond.
Why? Lillian herself was also suspicious.
She was not an indecisive woman who could not make decisions.
Ever since I was taken from his arms, how hard had he tried to become independent?
This man seemed like he wanted to make it all go to waste.
No, that was actually the case.
Leonhardt watched Lilian’s hesitant face motionlessly.
Her face showed no signs of emotional turmoil.
Does he really intend to wait?
If he doesn’t answer, will he be able to postpone this decision forever?
Thinking like that, Lilian seemed to feel a little relieved.
Anyway, this moment will end someday.
‘…It will come soon.’
A Shinigami that exists in the library.
It will appear without fail even in this space.
At that time, I was able to feel comfortable without having to choose.
So, just a little more.
Lilian shuddered, horrified by his own thoughts.
In the end, was he thinking of getting caught up in the past and falling for this man?
“I said I would wait.”
Leonhard narrowed his eyebrows slightly.
That alone changed the atmosphere so much that a cold chill appeared on his neat face.
“Is it okay to view this silence as rejection?”
The friendly atmosphere from just a moment ago disappeared here and there, as if pushed by the cold north wind.
On the other hand, Lilian’s body temperature rose much higher than usual. It was because I was nervous.
Even in the hands that were held for a long time and sharing each other’s body heat, the stark difference was revealed.
Leonhardt was getting colder and Lilian was getting hotter.
