"I was born into a noble family," she began, her tone carefully controlled, though the tremor beneath it betrayed her emotions.
"But not as an heir, not as someone anyone wanted. My father was a powerful lord, but my mother… she wasn't his wife. She was just a maid who caught his eye."
Leon stayed quiet, letting her continue at her own pace.
"My existence was a stain on their house," Elys said bitterly. "An illegitimate daughter. A mistake.
My father barely acknowledged me, and his wife made sure everyone in the estate knew exactly what I was. A bastard. Unwanted. Worthless."
She paused, taking a shaky breath. "I was allowed to stay in the estate, but only because of my father's pity… or guilt.
But the other nobles? The servants? They all looked at me like I was filth. No friends, no allies. Just whispers and sneers wherever I went."
Leon's hand gently rubbed her arm, grounding her as she spoke. "That sounds… cruel," he murmured.
Elys gave a humorless laugh. "Cruel is putting it lightly. But I learned to endure it. To stay quiet, keep my head down, and survive.
My mother… she tried to protect me as much as she could, but she was just a servant. There was only so much she could do."
Her voice softened, tinged with sadness. "She used to tell me that I had to be strong. That one day, I'd leave that place and find a life of my own. But that life never came. Not how she hoped, at least."
Leon stayed quiet, sensing she wasn't done.
"When I was thirteen, everything fell apart. My father died suddenly—illness or poison, I never knew for sure. Without him, his wife finally had the power to get rid of me.
She accused me of stealing from the family, of scheming to take what wasn't mine. Lies, all of it, but no one cared. I was dragged before the court, humiliated, and disowned."
Elys's voice wavered, and Leon could feel her trembling slightly. "They didn't stop there. They wanted to punish me, to make an example of me.
I was barely a child, and they were already planning to send me to prison or worse. My mother… she begged for my life, pleaded with them to let me go."
Elys turned slightly, glancing at Leon over her shoulder. Her eyes were glassy, a mix of anger and pain.
"Do you know what they did to her, Leon? For daring to speak out against them? They dragged her away. I never saw her again."
Leon's jaw tightened, a flicker of anger sparking in his chest. "Elys…"
"She managed to slip me a small vial of poison before they took her," Elys continued, her voice hollow. "She told me to keep it, to use it if I ever found myself in a place where I had no escape. 'Better to die on your own terms,' she said."
Leon felt his throat tighten, but he didn't interrupt.
"I ran that night," Elys whispered. "I escaped the estate and fled the empire. I spent years on the run, always looking over my shoulder, always waiting for the day they'd catch me. I survived in the shadows, stealing, hiding, doing whatever it took. But… I guess I wasn't good enough."
She let out a shaky laugh. "I was caught and sold as a slave. All those years running, and that's how it ended. When they put me up for auction, I thought… this is it. This is the end."
Elys turned fully now, her eyes locking onto Leon's. "When you bought me, I was ready to use that poison, Leon. I thought you'd be just another monster, someone who'd… who'd take everything from me." Her voice cracked, and she looked away. "But you weren't."
Leon reached up, gently cupping her cheek and guiding her gaze back to his. "You're safe now," he said quietly. "No one's going to hurt you like that again."
Elys stared at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "You don't hate me?" she asked, her voice small, almost fragile.
Leon's thumb brushed her cheek, wiping away a tear. "Elys, I don't care where you came from or what people say about you. You're strong, brave, and you've endured more than anyone should. I could never hate you."
Her lips trembled, and for a moment, she looked like she might break. But then she leaned forward, burying her face against his chest. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice muffled.
Leon held her tightly, his arms wrapping around her protectively. He didn't say anything more, letting his presence speak for him. For the first time, Elys felt like she wasn't alone, like she had someone who saw her for who she truly was.
Leon gently stroked her hair as she rested against his chest, her trembling breaths slowly evening out. For a while, neither of them spoke.
After a moment, Leon broke the silence, his voice soft yet steady. "Elys… do you want revenge?"
She froze against him, lifting her head slightly to look at him, confusion flickering in her tear-filled eyes. "Revenge?" she echoed.
Leon nodded, his expression unreadable. "For everything they did to you. For your mother. For the life they stole from you. If you want revenge, say the word, and I'll make it happen. I'll make them pay for what they did to you."
Elys stared at him, her breath catching in her throat. She searched his face, looking for any hint of hesitation or pity, but there was none. Only resolve.
"You… you'd do that for me?" she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief.
Leon reached out, his fingers gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Of course I would," he said simply. "You deserve justice, Elys. And if you want it, I'll make sure you get it. You don't have to carry that burden alone anymore."
Her lips parted, but no words came out. She was overwhelmed, a storm of emotions swirling in her chest—relief, disbelief, anger, and something else she couldn't quite name.
"But… what if I don't want to go back?" she asked hesitantly, her voice barely audible. "What if I just want to leave it all behind and start over?"
Leon's hand cupped her cheek again, his touch gentle yet grounding. "Then that's what we'll do," he said softly. "It's your choice, Elys. Whatever you want—revenge or freedom—I'll stand by you."
Tears welled up in her eyes again, but this time they weren't born of pain or sorrow. She leaned into his touch, her heart aching in a way that felt almost foreign. "I… I don't know what to say," she whispered.
"You don't have to say anything," Leon murmured. He leaned in, pressing his forehead gently against hers. "Just know you're not alone anymore. Not as long as I'm here."
Elys closed her eyes, a single tear slipping down her cheek. For the first time in years, she felt a glimmer of hope—a fragile, precious thing she was almost afraid to believe in.
Leon tilted her chin slightly, his thumb brushing away the tear. Their faces were close, his breath warm against her skin. "You're not worthless, Elys," he said quietly. "You never were. And I'll spend the rest of my life proving it to you, if that's what it takes."
Before she could respond, Leon closed the small distance between them, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that was soft, tender.
For a moment, Elys was still, her mind blank as the warmth of his lips enveloped her. Then, slowly, she melted into him, her hands clutching at his shirt as if afraid he might disappear.
When they finally pulled apart, her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing was uneven. She stared at him, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Leon," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled softly, his hand still cradling her cheek. "I'm here," he said, his voice steady and reassuring.
Elys rested her forehead against his again, closing her eyes as she let the moment wash over her. For the first time in years, she didn't feel like a survivor clawing her way through the dark. She felt like she could finally breathe.
And in Leon's arms, she felt something she thought she'd never feel again.
Safe.