Meanwhile, in the middle of the forest, there was Leon, who was waiting for one of his assassins to report to him.
"Why are you doing all of these things for her? She doesn't even know who you are or even know that you are a threader?" Ricka suddenly asked as she appeared out of the blue, being confident like she knew him so well.
"Are you perhaps a spy?" Leon asked her, having his suspicion. "Are you a sacred gift holder?" he asked again.
"I won't tell you," she said.
'So she is aware of the things she can do yet still acts ignorant in my face.' Leon thought.
He smirked. "Why not? So I may come to you out of curiosity?" he said meanly. Aren't you afraid that I might only use you for my gain?"He said, changing his approach.
"I will make you choose me," she insisted with determination.
"Young woman, you should know that emotions without knowledge are misleading and destructive," he said. He came closer and held her chin, muttering, "Don't waste your time," he said.
"I won't leave you. I know you'll need me. I will go with you until you choose me," she exclaimed.
"Then don't hate me if I use you and you won't receive anything from me in return; you might have a master than a lover," he said.
"Then we are all set," she agreed and finalized.
The emperor was surprised by her reactions.
'So she's that desperate? Why are all girls this desperate to get his affection? It's not worth this time,' he thought, thinking if his diplomatic wives tried to allure him for power, wealth, and position, but now he got nothing but himself, so why bother? This girl is investing for a better life.
The next morning, which is before the rehearsal of the play 'The Love of Hades and Persephone'.
Leon placed a note on the table and left earlier that morning.
She thought that it would be a big ease because she wouldn't need to take care of someone anymore, which would lessen her tasks but she could not help but find herself alone even when she was around the people she was usually with.
After her work, she went home yet still wanted to leave that empty house. So she went outside and ran at the sight of the setting sun until she felt tired. Panting from tiredness and overwhelming emotions, Hidelga sat down to catch her breath. She closes her eyes and raises her head as she takes a deep breath.
"Hey, are you okay?" She was surprised to see Peach.
"Yes, I am okay," she answered as she sighed and put herself together.
Peach has a worried expression but knowing Hidelga, she wouldn't tell her if she insisted but can't handle if it is bothering her too much. So, confidently, she took her leave and let Hidelga decide.
Hidelga stood up and followed her and asked, "Can I stay at your house tonight?"
With both eyebrows meeting each other, she answered Hidelga. "Why? Did the two of you fight? Is it because of the girl he brought last time?" she hunched.
"No, it's something else," she was unable to tell her.
"Well, that girl is not a threat; just have confidence in yourself," Peach said.
Hidelga was curious. "Really? How did you come to that conclusion?" she asked.
"Obviously, he chose you," Peach said. "However, that gril is very straightforward and eager; it will be hard to win against her. Leon is still a man, so you should at least secure your relationship with him. I'm sure Leon will be so into you to look away," and the words got indistinctive in her perspective.
"Wait, why are you blushing?" Peach stopped walking to stare at Hidelga's face. Mixed emotions was riling up her mind.
That night she stayed at Peach's house and then she told her her problem.
"He kisses you and leaves? Am I right?" she asked, confused.
"So, what if he kisses you? If he is your lover, there are no problems, right?" Hidelga froze when she heard Peach reactions and remembered that in her eyes they were really lovers.
"I-I," she stuttered.
"You cast him away, didn't you?" she asked, guessing.
An 'I am right' expression came from her face.
Releasing a sigh, Peach spoke, "Actually, I get it. I know that you are not real lovers and I always doubt that you're lovers anyway. Maybe he is someone unusual that might be the reason you keep it from me, right? I can't believe you keep it from me, though," she confirmed.
Hidelga ends up apologizing. Peach is way younger than her yet she's always been mature in handling things.
"And you definitely should go with him if you're his real lover," she said.
"Wait, I should?" Hidelga asked.
Peach interrupted, "IF YOU ARE HIS REAL LOVER." She emphasized, then explained.
"I may not be good at this but let's see it this way and let's put aside the trust issue and traumatic experience, which is playing a major role in your reason, my friend. You are already free and yet still staying in your comfort zone and you know nothing grows in that place. You will be in a much better place with him. You are not going anywhere in choosing what you are doing right now. Not everyone is like your ex-husband so why don't you give it a try?"
She was silent; she was caught guilty because her friend hit the bullseye. "You're wrong, the management is giving me a major role this time. I have a sponsor supporting me and they gave me gifts and encouragement before my performance," she muttered in a sad tone, trying hard to be hopeful.
Peach sighed again and released a mild joke yet she was still holding on to her statement. "Is that what you really wanted?" she asked.
The conversation turns dead serious and Peach tries to keep it mild: "My mom always tells me that women have expiry dates." She looked away, hiding her disappointment because of her friend's stubbornness.
Hidelga doesn't have a family anymore so she had been like a sister to her, which explains why she was so overprotective when she met Leon for the first time.
The atmosphere turned a little sulky, so Peach tried to clear the clouds. "Remember when I told you how I hate guys and then we hate them together?" she said with a chuckle. "My mom told me that someday I have to choose an imperfect man that will stay with me forever." She put a distress facial expression. "It's because she doesn't want me to be alone and when I get sick, she wants someone who will take care of me, someone who is a companion when I turn damn old," she explained.
"You don't have any family, Hidelga. You are a sister to me, but we cannot stay together forever. This is the thing you wanted for now because it gives you total ease, peace, and healing, but you cannot stay here," she said.
She leans on her arms as she continues to speak. "You were once the daughter of a chief and who knows you might outgrow this place?" she said.
"That guy is not just an ordinary civilian. I've been observing him ever since. I am investigating," she said.
"By the way he moves, he reacts, he walks, he speaks and even the things he once owned and even his injury. I knew it all along. He is from a much higher ranking" Peach said, "It is so obvious that you cannot keep it from everyone in this village. He doesn't look like a commoner and since you return to work and he is finally recovering he might get more exposure. We are in the midst of a chaotic situation from the empire and it will be dangerous to keep him. He really must go but... I don't want you to lose this opportunity. I suggest to use your damn head and became his lover and go leave this place! Since he offered you to do so. Who knows when will you will have this opportunity again? You can escape this rotten forgotten stinky place for real and live in a big mansion or whatever." she explained.
"Hidelga, reconsider. Leave!" she said.
"But that's too late for that. Leon already left," she said.
"Did he say that he will never return?" she asked.
Hidelga was thinking, 'Actually, I think he will, I think? but I don't know when. However, he might forget me as well.