"Umm... Did we do sothing wrong?" Olivia suddenly asked, looking at Leon's back.
Her worry was sparked by the strange look Barkus had thrown their way. He had glanced at her and Angelica with clear disapproval before abruptly turning away and storming over to Lus, engaging in a heated, almost yelling conversation.
Leon, hearing the argunt begin, didn't turn around. He simply spoke in a cold tone, still staring straight ahead:
"No, don't worry. You did everything right."
He said it with a bitter smirk — a smile aid at his father, one the girls couldn't see.
Angelica and Olivia exchanged puzzled glances, then just shrugged. As they did, Leon was already walking toward his father. As he approached, he noticed a fresh red mark on Barkus's cheek — likely from his mother's hand.
"You little bastard," Barkus growled, locking eyes with his son. "First, you stir up trouble at the academy, and now you show up here with two floozies whose busts are bigger than their heads. What exactly are you trying to prove, huh?"
Leon simply grinned in response.
"Why, naturally — I wanted to show that boobs beat butts. And judging by your reaction, I think I succeeded."
Barkus opened his mouth to fire back, but Lus stepped in, pulling him aside while whispering in his ear:
"Stop acting like a child, Barkus. Grow up already. Co on — let's step away from the kids for a bit."
She dragged him off before he could say another word.
Just then, Colin ca running up to Leon with a bright, joyful smile and threw his arms around him.
"Brother Leon!"
"Oh, Colin! What's going on? Is soone picking on you? Or maybe no one wants to play with you?" Leon asked, gently stroking his little brother's head, his voice filled with care.
"Huh? No, of course not! Yuria plays with all the ti!"
As if on cue, Yuria appeared beside them — the elven maid and loyal attendant to Leon. She bowed politely, her expression warm and serene.
"It's a pleasure to see you again, Master Leon," Yuria said with respect, dipping her head slightly.
"Hi, Yuria. You don't have to call 'Master,' you know," Leon replied with a soft smile. His voice was gentle, almost friendly, making the elven girl lower her head again in agreent — though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
At that mont, Olivia and Angelica, who had been standing a bit behind, walked over to join the group.
Olivia, her eyes sparkling with admiration, stared at Yuria and burst out:
"Wow! You're so beautiful!"
Yuria looked at her in surprise. She hadn't expected such words — especially said with such sincerity. The elf was montarily taken aback.
Angelica, joining in with a slight smirk, added:
"Well, that's only natural. Elves have always been known for their natural beauty. It's part of their race."
Yuria wanted to humbly deny the complint — after all, back in her holand, she was more often mocked and criticized than praised. Her appearance was never seen as anything special among the other elf girls. But before she could say anything, Olivia, still brimming with excitent, pressed on:
"What's your na? Tell us about yourself! You look so noble — even though you're a maid!"
And so began a lively and friendly conversation between the girls. At first reserved, Yuria soon started to feel comfortable — for the first ti in a long while. The girls laughed, shared stories, and asked her all about life in the Bartfort household.
Realizing these were Leon's guests and rembering her role in the ho, Yuria suddenly offered:
"If you'd like, I can take you to the hot springs. It's a place ant for rest and recovery — especially after a long journey."
Olivia and Angelica eagerly agreed, exchanging delighted glances. The rare chance to soak in natural hot springs felt like a dream co true.
Leon wouldn't have minded relaxing in the warm water himself, but just then, his father approached him again — Barkus, with that stern look on his face.
"Co on. Ti to work the field," he ordered. "You haven't plowed the land in a while — it's about ti you got back to it."
Despite their noble blood, the Bartfort family had a reputation for their strong work ethic. They never shied away from hard labor, even when it was the kind of work usually left to commoners. Leon tried to protest, but gave in under his father's heavy gaze. Taking Colin with him, he headed to the fields.
So ti later...
"Ugh, the heat is killing ," Leon sighed, wiping sweat from his brow. His shirt clung to him, soaked with sweat, and his hair dripped with moisture. He dug into the soil with a shovel, while Colin worked beside him, cheerfully swinging a hoe.
Suddenly, his younger brother turned to him and asked, curiosity lighting up his face:
"So, big bro... Which one of them are you gonna marry?"
Without missing a beat, Leon grinned widely and replied:
"I want to marry both."
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