After hearing Kayden's question and seeing his mocking expression, Leon's face became extremely dark.
Instead of answering Kayden's question, he stood up coldy and walked towards the door, "It's getting late, I'll go upstairs."
Just like that Leon walked out the lounge with an extremely frigid look plastered on his face. He didn't even bother to wait for his friend's reply.
Kayden couldn't help but let out an amused chuckle, his dear friend was throwing tantrums in his very own villa.
Going upstairs, Leon's feet led him to absentmindedly enter a familiar room. Although it was kept clean and proper, nothing changed in the room's overall appearance.
That familiar white quilt which was stained in red from Elise's innocence, was still there.
There was also the familiar bed where she weakly laid down, not knowing that in order for her to live, both her and Leon had to give up something precious.
After Elise ran away, Leon was ridden with guilt and uneasiness. He promised to himself to never step in this room again. Kayden also followed suit, equally guilty and shameful.
Because this room was the place containing the guilt and memories Kayden and Leon wanted to seal.
Although they completely respect Elise's decision, they still both felt remorse and guilt from stepping beyond their bottomline.
Leon never thought that he would willingly come back to this room after more than a year.
He thought that the overwhelming waves of guilt and shame would welcome him whenever he takes a step inside.
But then mysteriously, he didn't. Instead there were mixed waves of helplessness, nostalgia and even a mystical feeling of being freed.
He stood on the same spot where he helplessly looked at the weak Elise being infected by the curse. It was as if he saw Elise's image peacefully sleeping in the wide bed as he stared at it blankly.
He stood stiffly at the empty bed and muttered words as if he was sincerely conversing with someone, letting his heart out of his sleeves.
"Elise…are you alright up there?"
"Your son, our son.. He is growing well and healthy."
"Elise… did you have a hard time struggling alone?"
"How afraid were you when you first knew that you were pregnant?"
"How much have you suffered under the hands of your killer?"
"If you could hear me from heaven, guide all of us."
"Although you are no longer around, we didn't forget about you."
"Wherever you are, I pray that you will finally be happy and forever see beauty."
"No more pain, no more suffering."
"No more anguish, no more tears."
"Eli and I, we will do our best for Little Han. You do not have to worry."
"Elise, I… want to thank you."
"For letting me save you two times."
"For being firm towards your decision to keep Little Han."
"Because of it, I was able to meet him. I was able to become a father."
"Because of it, I was able to meet Eli too."
"But I also want to say sorry one last time."
"Because I was not there when you struggled."
"Because I…"
By this time Leon's valiant body trembled uncontrollably. Drops of shiny tears rolled on his usually expressionless face.
"Failed to save you the third time…"
"Because I was not there when you were killed."
"And because I found that I am not as righteous as I think I'd be."
"I have to let go of my guilt towards you and move forward."
"I will be a good father for Little Han."
"I will seek justice for you."
"Watch us from heaven."
Kayden was silently leaning on his back outside the bedroom.
His eyes were also moist in tears. He was listening to his friend's mumbles and couldn't help but die inside too, as Leon's words echoed the deepest thoughts haunting his heart.
Elise died just like a bubble, without any trace.
It was terrible that they couldn't even mourn for her properly because Eli continued her life for Little Han to be given birth.
After that, there were many things they had to do, because Little Han had to have a safe place to grow. As such, not only did they feel grief, but also they felt like a failure as Elise's closest persons.
It was only tonight, that they again had the time to confront these unsettling emotions.
For once, the two men let go of their bottled up feelings and mourned for Elise who had lived a pitiful short life.
As tomorrow arrives, they have to work on moving forward, to take care of the only thing that proves Elise's existence - Little Han.
Leon woke up kneeling on the cold bed as the warmth of the sun gently kissed his cheeks. He carefully stood up and staggered from his feet being dead from his unusual sleeping position.
He stood up and opened the window.
The winter was already here, the snow was already falling gently around the villa and clumps of pure white snow had already covered the greenery around.
However, there was a colorful butterfly fluttering around the garden in a carefree manner.
It caught Leon's attention.
As if sensing Leon's stare, the butterfly started to flutter its rainbow colored wings towards his desolate face. It gently hovered in front of him and landed on his nose in a second before flying away.
Startled, Leon's crystal blue eyes stared blankly on the butterfly which was already fluttering away to who knows where.
He knew well that he was not hallucinating when he heard a familiar voice as the butterfly landed on the tip of his nose."
"Thank you for everything Leon. I leave Eli and Johann to you."
His eyes became red again as he flashed a smile that contained so many complex emotions.
"Thank you too... Elise. Be happy out there..."
Kayden was also woken up by something ticklish. Sluggishly fluttering his sleepy eyelids, he found out that there was a rainbow colored butterfly resting on his arms.
"Big bro.. Be happy." There was a still small voice gently reaching to the depths of his aching heart. It was very familiar to him.
However, when he was fully awakened, he didn't see anyone and only realized that he spent the night sleeping outside that particular bedroom in a squatting position.
Sighing helplessly he stood up and patted away his clothes. He glanced at the open window at the end of the hallway, where his eyes caught the butterfly already flying away.
"You too.. Little Sister." Kayden trembled as he bit his lip in an attempt to control his raging emotions.
After calming down for a while, the two men started to proceed to the things they have decided to do.
Wearing both the disguise of Eins and the Silver haired man, they went towards the Riverfort Hospital, the place where Elise spent her brightest years.
While in the identity of Eins, Kayden was a gentle looking yet handsome man.
His hair was shining copper brown that was long and straight with charming side bangs. His reddish brown eyes are captivating yet his entire face speaks of nothing but gentleness and wisdom.
The aura he exudes is scholarly and magnanimous, perfect for the identity of a humble doctor from a remote village.
When he was in his original appearance as Kayden, his eyes were as green as the forest and his long pointed ears signified his elven blood. He also had long hair but it was golden yellow, almost as if one would be looking at the child of the sun.
The aura he exuded is otherworldly, with an unfathomable sense of intelligence of an elf and cunningness of a human.
Leon, on the other hand, was dangerously alluring with his fine silver hair.
With the exception of Elise and Eli who could see through his crystal blue eyes, to others his eyes were deep brown. The aura he exudes was of the purest nobility, unparalleled and revered!
The two men, may it be their original or disguise personas, couldn't mask the beauty they innately possessed. That was why their appearance would always have people turn their heads towards their direction.
Even so, the two went off a humble carriage and silently walked inside a simple two story building.
Although the building was simple looking, the surrounding area around it was vast and full of precious looking plants and herbs.
The building had a simple gate that could allow the carriages and wagons to enter easily and immediately.
As this was a small town, the security was not that tight, however one would definitely conclude that this building would not attract people with bad intentions because of its humble facade.
Entering the lobby of the building the two were welcomed by seven people with excited expressions on their faces.
Two of them were wearing white ropes, and four of them were wearing neat white nursing suits. There was also an old man who wore a humble gardening outfit.
As they saw the one who entered the door, they stopped whatever tasks they were doing and went forward with a wide grin on their faces.
They lined up orderly and rushed to welcome the men, especially the one in front, Kayden.
"Doctor Eins! Finally you are here!!!" They all exclaimed in relief.
"Welcome back to Riverfort Hospital!!!" They shouted with emotions.
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