Leonar stood at the foot of the bed, staring at Mary. Still lying down, she seemed tired but visibly frustrated by his gaze.
It wasn't that Leonar wasn't physically attracted to Mary—he certainly was. To him, she had an alluring figure: smooth skin, straight blonde hair, and those blue eyes he could never forget, even though they now seemed dimmed.
Everything that had happened between them still lingered in his mind.
Mary's innocent approach to life, paired with her determination to chase her dreams, had drawn Leonar to her from the start. She had plans—soon, she wanted to buy her own home and move far from her uncle's casino.
But what Leonar couldn't understand was why Mary remained so attached to him, despite how many times he'd let her down, especially in recent months.
They weren't a couple, but they were clearly more than mere acquaintances.
She knew a lot about his life, just as he knew quite a bit about hers.
And just when Leonar had been ready to take the next step, offering her a grand house in the nation's capital to solidify and advance their relationship...
"I'm sorry."
"Are you?"
"Yes, I am."
Silence.
For several long seconds, silence was all there was.
What Leonar couldn't face were the words Barret had said to him.
'I'm not an addict,' Leonar thought angrily, just imagining Barret comparing him to those who lived on the streets, using substances, scraping together money for…
'I'm different,' he repeated to himself, starting to sweat.
And to his surprise...
A hug.
Mary had thrown her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
In that moment, he could feel her warmth… her scent… but most of all, the steady thump of her heart and her breathing near his ear as she whispered:
"Stay with me."
Leonar wanted to.
Who wouldn't want to stay with someone like her?
She was beautiful, kind to everyone, honest, organized, a little scatterbrained, but above all else…
A good person.
And for a long time now—though he hadn't admitted it to anyone—Leonar didn't see himself as a good person anymore. He didn't want to admit it because…
It hurt.
The shame he felt each time he sank deeper into that endless pit…
"Leonar, say something," Mary whispered into his ear, still holding him.
"You overthink too much," Eleonora's detached voice cut in, as if sensing everything Leonar was feeling. "How much longer are you going to waste on this human?"
Eleonora was there.
Whether he liked it or not, that was a fact.
But another fact was that her ability to bet with absolute certainty was also still there.
So… he had another chance!
Why couldn't Barret understand that?
Leonar was different.
Leonar had to train to save the world now.
Leonar…
Grabbing Mary by the shoulders, despite her resistance—she clung to him as though letting go meant losing him forever—he tried to tell her he needed to leave. To find a way to earn more money, buy better equipment, and venture into the portals to grow stronger…
But his voice caught in his throat when he saw her sobbing again, heartbroken.
Then, like a jolt to his head, Leonar felt himself snap out of his spiraling thoughts. He could almost hear Eleonora grinding her teeth in frustration.
Without thinking twice...
He kissed her.
Though the kiss began on Mary's lips, it didn't take long for her to respond, deepening it until their tongues entwined.
Their breathing grew erratic, especially Mary's.
But as Leonar took more initiative, his hands moving over her body with increasing confidence, Mary's sadness began to melt away, replaced by passion.
The growing tension in Leonar's body was undeniable. The way she looked at him, as though he was the only thing that mattered…
'Can you close your eyes for thirty minutes?' Leonar asked plainly in his mind.
Eleonora's response was instant, clear, and baffled.
"What on earth are you asking that for?"
Leonar exhaled deeply, trying to contain his frustration.
He couldn't understand why it was so hard to get a moment of privacy—even for something like this.
'Because I want privacy.'
Silence followed, and Leonar could tell Eleonora was considering his unusual request. Finally, her voice returned to his mind, tinged with reluctance.
"Fine. I'll do it… but I don't get why this is so important to you."
Leonar felt a sense of relief as he grabbed Mary's waist firmly with both hands.
At least now he had thirty uninterrupted minutes to focus on what was unfolding in front of him.
Slowly, he began undressing her, his hands steady yet gentle. The black jacket of her uniform, with its gold trim that accented her figure, slid off her shoulders and fell softly to the floor.
Her straight skirt, which stopped just above her knees, followed suit, leaving her in her underwear.
Mary said nothing, but it was clear to Leonar that she was nervous yet excited. For a moment, he froze, taking in how her pale skin and slender figure were now exposed before him.