Chapter 94

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Chapter 94: The Northern Princess’s Confession

"Huh? Who are you! Why are you in Leo’s room?"

The moment Kalian saw Skuld, she quickly jumped up, pulled out her pistol from her thigh, and stood protectively in front of Leo like a mother eagle.

"Uh…" Leo covered his forehead in silence.

"Who am I? Hmph!" Miss Skuld placed her hands on her hips and softly huffed, "Ask the man behind you who I am!"

"Leo?" Kalian kept her gas gun aimed at Skuld, tilting her head slightly, "Who is she?"

"Oh." Leo sighed helplessly, "She is Luna."

"Luna? What are you talking about? Knight Luna is blonde with blue eyes, strong and impressive. This woman… with silver hair, red and blue eyes, looking like a succubus, how could she be Luna!"

Kalian’s confusion deepened, and her hand tightened around the gas gun.

She had long heard that succubi could deceive people’s minds, and now she was very worried that Leo had fallen for this woman’s tricks.

"Ah, this is really unfair."

Leo was equally speechless; it was clear that Skuld had intentionally come out this time.

This jealous temper…

Is this a claim of territory?

"Kalian, she really is the Luna you know, but her true name is Skuld."

Shaking his head, Leo instructed Miss Mucus, "Transform into Luna’s appearance to show Kalian."

"Hmph, little princess, don’t get scared now, hmph." Skuld snorted a couple of times, her body turning into a puddle of mucus, and then slowly transforming into the appearance of the lady knight, performing a noble bow. "So, what do you think? Am I the Luna you know now?"

"…It’s hard to believe." A few seconds later, Kalian snapped back to reality and suddenly raised her gun. "Leo, hurry! This guy is a monster!"

"Hey, hey, hey, who do you think is a monster? Your heart is filled with the same stuff as mine!" Skuld glared at Kalian, and if Leo hadn’t been there, she would have already started fighting.

"The same stuff flows in my body as yours? What are you talking about?" Kalian’s gaze sharpened, and her finger tightened on the trigger.

But she still didn’t pull the trigger.

Because she could definitely feel a strange sense of familiarity coming from Skuld.

"Kalian, don’t worry." Leo quickly grabbed the gas gun and took a deep breath. "She is one of us. I don’t want to hide it from you. She, Scarlett, also known as Luna, is my woman."

"Hmph." Upon hearing this, Skuld let out a satisfied huff and gave Leo a pleased look.

"Your woman…" Kalian looked at Skuld, then back at Leo, her face still filled with astonishment. "Leo, are you also… that kind of person?"

"I’ll explain everything to you slowly; it’s not too complicated, really…"

……

"I think it’s very complicated," Kalian said, crossing her arms. After hearing Leo and Skuld’s story, she did not know what expression to show him.

Just now, Leo nearly told Kalian everything about Skuld and himself—except for the fact that he was from another world.

This included how Skuld had dealt with many bad women along the way and how Leo had gradually changed his identity to become the leader of this small group.

Leo did not hide anything; he told Kalian his true self.

On one hand, Kalian, who is somewhat of a Mucus Avatar, might feel disgust towards him, but she would never betray him or want to harm him; on the other hand, Leo could not bear to deceive such a lady who cared for him.

Without her, he would have probably died by the Winter River several days ago.

Leo owed her a life.

But clearly, such a massive amount of information left Miss Kalian feeling confused.

She was not only confused about Skuld and Leo’s identities but also about her own self now.

"So, I am… not really human anymore, right…?"

"Well… strictly speaking, yes, but…" Leo struggled to find the right words, "I believe whether someone is human depends on whether they have a human heart."

"To me, even if the thing flowing in your heart is not blood but dark mucus, you are still more human than those Joyful Believers who only know how to slaughter civilians."

"Thank you, Leo." Kalian clenched her fist and gave a bitter smile, "Dad is gone, Brother is nowhere to be found, and here I am, looking like this. Our family is really interesting."

"Hmph, you are so dramatic." Skuld transformed back into her pure, silver-haired form with mismatched eyes, "If I had known you would be this dramatic now, I shouldn’t have saved you back then."

"…" After two seconds of silence, Kalian stood up and performed a noble bow, "Thank you, Miss Skuld. Regardless, if it weren’t for you… I might have already left this world, right?"

"Ah? No… it’s nothing…" Skuld was surprised that Kalian thanked her, feeling shy as she scratched her cheek, "I did it for the Master, you… you should thank the Master instead!"

"No, but I want to be clear that even though I saved you, I don’t intend to give the Master to you!"

"Hmm… I know, I know, Miss Skuld…" Kalian paused for a moment, then clenched her thigh, her nails almost digging into her skin, "I understand everything…"

"You and Leo… have been through so much, living and dying together, coming this far…"

"How could I possibly compete with you for him? Am I worthy? I am not worthy at all…"

"Kalian?" Leo became more concerned and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"No, Mr. Leo…"

Kalian blocked his hand, stubbornly biting her lip, looking calm, "You already have Miss Skuld; you should care about her feelings."

Kalian had thought that Leo and Luna only had a simple lover’s relationship, which is why she felt the urge to compete.

She believed she was no less than any other woman and that she could definitely take Leo away from Luna.

But now it seemed that this was completely impossible.

Luna, no, the experiences between Skuld and Leo have completely tied them together, and there is no chance for a third person to come in.

Unless… Kalian is willing to share Leo with Skuld.

But that would be an insult to the Northern Princess.

Her self-respect would never allow her to share a man with another woman.

"Kalian…"

"Alright, let’s leave it at that…" The Northern Princess’s tone grew cold as she stood up. "I saved your life, and your… Miss Skuld also saved my life. We are even now."

"Mr. Leo, don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about your situation. The Order Church will also keep it a secret. If you want to stay here, you can stay, and if you want to leave, then leave. The fate of North Land is not your concern."

"Kalian…" Leo had never been through such a thing and felt lost. "What about you? What are you planning to do…?"

"Me? Of course, I will share the fate of North Land with my people." Kalian sighed with a bitter smile as she walked towards the entrance of the tent.

"Kalian!" Leo hurried to catch up, holding her hand, "I’ll help you, we can take back North Land."

"Mr. Leo, it’s not necessary. Really, please leave here, you are not like me, you can still have another life…"

"…" Leo only felt an emptiness in his heart, unable to process what was happening since he had never experienced love before; it just instinctively felt wrong, "Kalian, weren’t we fine just now? You even made me breakfast, and—"

"Just now was just now, now is now!" Kalian took a deep breath, "Leo, let’s pretend everything between us was just a sweet dream, okay?"

"Now the dream is over, nothing happened, okay?"

"A dream?" Leo held Kalian’s hand tightly, "You almost died for me, and you want me to see this as a dream?"

"I said we are even now." Kalian did not resist, allowing Leo to hold her hand, "We are really even now."

"I… but I…"

"Mr. Leo, I ask you, can you give up Miss Skuld?"

"I…"

"Look, how could you possibly give her up? After all, she is the one who has been with you through life and death so many times. What do you want me to do? Share a man with her?" Kalian lifted her head, her cold eyes filled with sorrow and reluctance.

"Share our North Land hero, Mr. Leo, with Miss Skuld? To become part of your harem, is that what you mean? In your eyes, am I Kalian Tersk, such a lewd and lowly woman? Am I just a dog in your eyes, coming and going at your command?"

"I… I didn’t mean that…"

"Then what do you mean? How do you want to deal with me? If I don’t stay with you, will you kill me to keep me quiet? Will you let Miss Skuld devour me? Is that it, Mr. Leo?"

"Stop it, Kalian, please stop. You know I didn’t mean it that way."

"Didn’t mean it that way? Ha… I… huff… huff… Leo, then let me ask you, why do you come near me?" Kalian’s voice choked up a little, and she took a few deep breaths, digging her nails into her palm to stop the tears in her eyes.

"Do you really want me to say everything so clearly? Do you really not want to leave me with these beautiful memories?"

"Leo, I ask you, why do you come near me? Why do you want to be close to me, why do you want to protect me? Is it because you love me, or because my status can bring you convenience and a place to find shelter? Do you truly like me, or are you just using me?"

"Leo, I am so foolish… I am the most foolish woman in North Land… I actually… Huh…"

She turned her back, pressed her fingers to her forehead, so Leo wouldn’t see her sad face.

She was afraid that if she looked at Leo’s face again, she would not be able to control her tears.

Kalian’s words were like the sharpest blades, cutting into Leo’s heart one by one.

At that moment, Leo finally realized that Kalian refused him not only because of Skuld, but also because she thought he had deceived her, that he was only getting close to her for another reason.

And that other reason, in Kalian’s eyes, was no different from betrayal.

During his time in Joyful Churchprison, although it was humiliating, he never felt heartbroken.

When the Order Church attacked, even though it was extremely dangerous, he still did not feel heartbroken.

At the moment Winter Fortress City fell, despite the despair, he still did not feel any heartbreak.

But at that moment, he felt as if his heart had been taken away.

Most importantly, Kalian was right; he approached her for those things.

He came closer to her for a place to stay, for status, for those things.

It was exactly because she was right that Leo felt such pain in his heart.

Because Miss Kalian never wanted anything from him; her love was as pure as the petals of a lily.

This made Leo’s guilt even stronger.

He felt so much pain that he didn’t know how to face this strong, noble, and stubborn girl.

But there was one thing Leo was sure of.

He almost lost Kalia.

Lian felt that way, and he didn’t want to experience it again.

"Leo, sigh… I’m so foolish, I am really so foolish…" Kalian’s voice trembled with sadness, making Skuld turn away unconsciously, "I don’t even know your last name… I’m so silly to fall in love with you, to love a man full of lies…"

"Hehe, just go, Leo… please leave, I beg you, hurry and leave, just let me stay here alone."

She gently pushed Leo away, turned around, and like a withered rose, was blown by the wind to the other side.

Her figure was so close, so very close, but in Leo’s eyes, it seemed so far, so very far.

From her feet to the tent door was only a few steps, but in Leo’s eyes, it felt like several light-years away.

Did it end like this?

Just like Kalian said?

All beautiful dreams eventually burst like bubbles?

"No, no way." Leo hurried forward and once again held Kalian’s small hand tightly. "Kalian, no way."

"I… my words are clumsy, I have not learned how to love someone, and I don’t have much experience with feelings, but… but I want to tell you what I want to say."

"Kalian, at first… I did come close to you for some impure reasons, I’m sorry, I apologize to you."

"But now I stand here, not because of those strange things."

"You are the noblest and kindest girl I have ever seen in this world. Your kindness, your pride, your love for everyone is like the bright morning sun in winter, dazzling and enchanting."

"That light attracted me, I want to protect that light, and I do not want that light to go out."

"So, I chose to stay by your side."

Leo didn’t even know what he was saying; his words were completely illogical, simply whatever came to his mind.

But he still said it.

He was afraid that if he didn’t speak, he would never have the chance to speak again.

"Kalian, I don’t know when I fell in love with you, perhaps it was when you told those warriors at Winter Fortress you would die with them,

Or maybe it was along the way when you never gave up on anyone,

Or when you stood up for me and blocked the spear that was meant to pierce my heart…

I truly don’t know when I fell in love with you."

"But I am sure that when you said you wanted to leave me, my heart hurt so much, like it was hollowed out, and that is more true than any words or analysis can describe."

"Kalian, I love you, I really love you, not because you are Kalian Tersk, not because you are a princess of North Land, and definitely not because you are a believer of the Mechanical Sect, but simply because you are Kalian. I love only you, Kalian."

"If North Land truly cannot be saved, then… come with me, will you? I will take you away from here… Trust me, I have not lied to you. If I ever do, then… let all the gods in this world, oh no, let truth forever close its door to me."

Leo shared stories of their journey, and tears began to spill from the corners of the red-haired girl’s eyes, filled with sadness.

She turned her back to Leo, trembling and swallowing repeatedly.

She was afraid, afraid that if she turned her head, she would start to cry loudly.

She really wanted to curl up in Leo’s arms and tell him that she had fallen in love with him.

But, she couldn’t.

As a princess, her pride and the education she received since childhood, along with her identity as the heir of North Land, limited Kalian, preventing her from sharing her lover with other women.

Could it be that the next king of North Land had to be someone’s mistress?

If this became known to the outside world, what would happen to the Tersk family’s reputation, and how would she face her brother and father?

How would her people see her?

So, she could never allow such a thing to happen, no matter how much she loved Leo.

Shiny tears rolled down Kalian’s cheeks as she took a deep breath, her voice shaky.

"Mr. Leo, thank you for being here, and thank you for your honesty. I understand your feelings, but… I cannot accept sharing you with another woman."

"From what I know of you, you cannot let go of Miss Skuld, right?"

"I won’t force you to choose; that would be too painful."

"I also won’t demand that you help me reclaim what I lost just because I saved you. That was my responsibility, not yours. Besides, my father is gone, and my brother has vanished; I think I have no chance of restoring my country. Please go, let me be."

"So, Leo, thank you."

Kalian stepped out of the tent.