Before he realized it, Leon had already spent over six hours at the First Elder's place.
When he stepped out of the wooden house, night had already fallen, and two bright moons glowed in the sky.
"Oops... I must've talked with the First Elder for too long," he muttered with a small sigh, tapping his forehead with a wry smile.
His conversation with the First Elder and Miranda had been so rich with information that he'd completely lost track of ti.
Still, it wasn't a big deal. Even if he returned to the palace at dawn, no one would stop him. He was free to co and go as he pleased.
Leon walked through the dark, quiet forest.
*Srk! Srk!*
Suddenly, a rustling sound ca from the bushes to his right, causing him to stop.
He turned toward the voice with curiosity, only to be surprised by the sight of soone unexpected—Zelda.
"Zelda?" Leon raised his eyebrows slightly in surprise. "What are you doing here? Were you waiting for ?"
Zelda smiled shyly and turned her face to the side, as if too embarrassed to et his gaze.
"Yes, I was waiting for you," she admitted softly as she stepped closer. Trying to shake off her awkwardness, she quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, why did you stay so long at the First Elder's place? Did sothing happen?"
Leon smiled and shook his head. "No, nothing happened. We just got caught up in conversation and lost track of ti."
"I see..." Zelda gave a small nod, lightly biting her lip.
Then, with a spark of eagerness in her eyes, she asked, "By the way, Leon, are you busy? Or feeling sleepy?"
Leon blinked, a bit surprised by the sudden question.
"No, I'm not busy or sleepy. Why? Do you need sothing?"
Zelda's face lit up with delight. She grabbed his right hand and tugged at it with excitent.
"Then co with . I want to show you sothing—I'm sure you'll love it," she said eagerly.
Before Leon could respond, Zelda pulled him along, leaving the quiet forest behind.
What neither of them noticed was the figure watching from the window of the wooden house nearby.
The First Elder stood behind the glass, a faintly amused smile on her lips.
"Zelda, you'd better try your best to win his heart," she murmured, glancing toward the portrait of Amon Crimson hanging on the wall. "Or you'll regret it for the rest of your life."
***
About five hundred ters from the Erald Palace lay a beautiful river, its clear waters flowing gently and peacefully.
Trees grew roughly fifty ters from the riverbank, leaving a wide open space—perfect for relaxing or even hosting a barbecue or small gathering.
The river wasn't particularly deep—only about a ter—with smooth rocks of various sizes scattered along the bottom.
At that mont, a man and a woman were walking slowly toward the water.
The man looked enchanted by the view, while the woman beside him wore a bright, happy smile.
They were Leon and Zelda.
"Wow! This river is amazing. How did I not know a place like this existed?" Leon said, clearly in awe.
"Pfft!" Zelda giggled before replying, "This river is actually connected to the one near the World Tree. You've probably seen it before. What we're looking at now is the upstream part—very remote. Even Elina doesn't know about it."
"Oh? Elina doesn't know? That's surprising," Leon said with wide eyes.
It was hard to believe that such a stunning place could be hidden from soone who had lived for over a hundred years.
"Yep! Elina doesn't know. In fact, none of the elves do. This place is special—only I know about it."
Zelda stopped at the riverbank, clasping her hands behind her back as she gazed out at the gently flowing water.
Her long green hair fluttered gracefully in the breeze, shifting to the left side of her face.
Leon couldn't take his eyes off her—montarily dazed, srized by a feeling he couldn't quite explain.
For so reason, the Zelda standing before him seed to radiate a mysterious, almost otherworldly aura—sothing that made it hard for him to look away.
But he quickly shook his head to clear his thoughts, then stepped forward and stopped beside her.
"So… Since only you know about this place, is it really okay to bring here?" he asked with a playful smile. "Doesn't that an it's not just your secret anymore, but mine too?"
Zelda smiled back. "It's okay. If it's you, I don't mind."
Her words were vague enough to be easily misunderstood—even by Leon.
Before he could respond, Zelda went on, "I actually discovered this place by accident when I was a hundred years old. At the ti, I was angry and frustrated with my mother—the Elf Queen before . She told I was destined to take her place one day."
She gazed up at the star-filled sky and continued, "Back then, I was a restless child who longed for freedom—just like Elina. Becoming queen didn't feel like the right path for . But deep down, I knew it was a fate I couldn't outrun, no matter how much I wished otherwise."
She paused for a mont, then added, "Still, I was rebellious. I ran away from the Erald Palace without any destination in mind. I just kept walking... and before I knew it, I'd gone too far to turn back."
Her voice grew softer as she shifted her gaze to the river in front of her, eyes reflecting a distant mory. "That's when I found this place. I sat by the water, watching the gentle current, and slowly... my anger faded. My mind grew calm. It was then I realized—being queen wasn't a choice I could run from. It was a responsibility I had to face."
She let out a quiet breath and gave a wistful smile. "So I returned to the palace... and began preparing myself to be a good and wise queen. But..."
Her voice trailed off, then returned—lower, tinged with sorrow. "My mother passed away fifteen years later, and I had to take her place imdiately. I was still too young, so the three elders took over temporarily... until I was considered ready."
Her voice trembled, thick with emotion.
Leon turned to look at her—just in ti to see tears welling in her eyes, slipping silently down her cheeks.
Zelda, who had always seed so strong, was crying. And in that quiet, vulnerable mont, Leon could sense the sincerity... and the heavy burden she had carried alone all this ti.
"Ah... sorry, Leon. I must look so pathetic," she said quickly, wiping away her tears and turning her face away, trying to hide her vulnerable side.
But then...
"You don't have to hide, Zelda. There's nothing to be ashad of."
Zelda blinked in surprise at his words. Before she could respond, Leon gently turned her toward him—and pulled her into a hug.
"Eh!?"
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