♔亞緣腐宅窩♔

【Ever After Route Garden Gacha】

Leo

◆Love Forever◆
《An Engaging Situation》

They were having a wonderful time, but it seemed to go by all too fast.
Before Leo knew it, they'd finished their meal.
Jily "Thank you for today, Leo."
Jily was smiling at him, and he could see in her eyes just how happy she was.
He'd thought he couldn't feel any happier, but her expression changed his mind.
Leo "Not at all. Did you enjoy the food?"
Jily "I did! It was delicious."
Outside he could faintly hear the sound of the town clock chiming the hour.
The deep sound seemed to weigh heavily on his heart.

（The alcohol helped distract me for a while, but—
（In the end, I'm as nervous as ever.）

Jily "We should probably get back to the palace, right?"
Jily looked a little disappointed as she glanced out the window.
Leo smiled at her, reaching out to place his hand over hers.
Leo "We should, but before we do—"

（The most important part of today is yet to come.）

Leo "Will you come to one last place with me, and not ask me anything till we get there?"
Leo continued to smile at Jily, trying in vain to ignore the frantic beating of his heart.

＊＊＊

Leo took Jily to a place where they could look out over the whole town.
Jily "Oh wow, it's so beautiful from up here!"
Jily's eyes shone as she gazed out at the view in wonder.
Leo stepped up beside her, sliding an arm around her shoulder.
She leaned into the embrace, looking up at him with a smile as she brushed back her hair.

（I'd already decided what I wanted to say to you, and yet now—）

She was looking at him expectantly, and the words wouldn't come.
His heart was pounding so loud he thought for sure she could hear it.
Leo "Dammit."
He could feel his cheeks reddening, yet still the words wouldn't come.
He dropped his gaze away, feeling like an idiot.

（You've probably already figured out what I'm trying to say by now, too.）

As he looked out over the town again, he couldn't help smiling to himself.

（I wanted to keep my cool right to the end, but—）

He laughed wryly at how much of a fool he must look.

（But I know you accept me just the way I am, even when I'm like this.
（And I feel the same way about you. That's why I want to do this.）

Leo "Jily."
Her name was like a soft sigh on his lips as he turned to face her.
Leo "I guess you already figured this out, but—"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box.
Jily "Is that—"
Leo "I wanted to check first.
Leo "So I made sure we walked past a shop I already liked."
He gave her an abashed smile as he remembered his hurried trip back to the store to buy the ring.
Leo "And I know the whole handkerchief thing was an awful excuse, but—"
He held out the small box hopefully.
Leo "Go on, open it."
Jily's hands were trembling slightly as she took the box and opened it.
A bright, wondrous smile crossed her face as she stared at the ring.
The pearl ring shone with all the colors of the rainbow, and he thought he could see them reflected in her eyes.
Leo "I wanted to get you a ring that you really liked."
He reached out to cup her cheek as she looked up at him finally, her smile bright.
He wanted to etch that moment into his memory, wanted to remember forever how she was looking at him.
Leo "I want with all my heart to make you happy, the way you are now—the way you have been today.
Leo "I never felt that way about anyone, until I met you."
As he spoke, all the moments they'd shared seemed to flash through his mind.
Each one made him smile a little more, his heart filled to bursting.

（I've adored you since the moment we first met.
（Particularly that day—）

*****
Jily "Leo, I'm right here with you—you can sleep if you want."
Leo "..."
*****

（No matter what happened, you were always there for me. Loving me just as I am.）

He seemed to be burning up with his love for her, and he smiled at her again.
Leo "I want to keep making you happy, now and forever more.
Leo "You're the only one who makes me feel this way, Jily."

（I don't care how many years go by. I know my feelings for you won't ever fade.）

His heart began to pound even louder as he spoke the final words he wanted to say.
Leo "Will you marry me?"
He stared down at her, letting the silence envelop them again.

（I was ready for this, but—）

The wait for her answer felt like an eternity.
He was beginning to tremble by the time she finally spoke.
Jily "I'd love to!"
She was smiling sweetly up at him, her eyes alive with joy.
She lifted the skirts of her dress, curtseying elegantly.
Happiness and relief flooded through him, and he closed his eyes, just for a moment.
Leo "I'm glad to hear it."
They stared at each other, and it felt like nothing mattered then but the two of them and their joy.
Leo "Jily..."
Leo pulled Jily into his arms, and she leaned into his embrace.
Leo "Geez, I've been so nervous the whole day long."
He'd been planning the proposal for days, had been ready to do it all day long, and now at last it had happened.
All the tension drained out of him in a rush, and he sighed softly.
She smiled brightly at him, reaching up to wrap her arms around him.
His longing and need for her only grew stronger, and he tightened his grip on her.
Leo "I think I'm the happiest man in the world right now."
Jily "I think you're exaggerating."
She giggled at him, and he grinned back at her.

（You always make me so happy, with everything you do.
（I want to do the same for you. I want to make you happy.）

Leo "You think so? I don't."
Jily "Well—"
He kissed her before she could finish speaking, a long, lingering kiss.
Leo "See? I was right. I'm so happy."
Jily "So am I."
Her cheeks were flushed, her smile was joyful, and her eyes were focused on him and him alone.

（And so I swear with all my heart—
（I will always love you, Jily.）

She stood up straighter, initiating the next kiss, and he closed his eyes.
Time seemed to stand still as they stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace...

◆Shape of Love - Classic◆
《The Start of Happiness》

Jily and Leo climbed aboard the carriage together.
The people of Steissia watched as they left, waving cheerfully.
Leo couldn't stop smiling as he studied their proud, happy faces.
Jily "Steissia really has changed, hasn't it?"
Leo "It has. And I feel like I learned something."

（A country isn't like individual people—it isn't enough to just protect it.）

The people of Steissia looked more alive than he'd ever seen them.
As he watched them start to work, he felt in his heart that this time, things would be okay for them.
Leo "I thought rebuilding a country was just about making it more affluent.
Leo "But if the people don't change, you can't rebuild anything.
Leo "I finally understand that you can't do anything alone."
He turned to look at Jily, smiling a little as he remembered something.
Leo "It's all thanks to you, giving me that little extra push I needed."

（When you said those words—）

*****
Jily "It's not like you to ignore a country when they're asking for your help like that.
Jily "Leave Wysteria up to me, please."
*****

（It was exactly what I needed to hear.）

He reached out to cup her cheek, his heart full of happiness and love.

（You're the one who taught me this.）

Determination welled up inside him, and he said softly,
Leo "I want to utilize the things I've learned from this in Wysteria as well.
Leo "Will you follow along with me on that?"

（You protected Wysteria while I did this, and now I want to change Wysteria for the better, too.
（And I want you to help me make that happen.）

She smiled immediately, no hesitation in her voice as she said,
Jily "Of course. No matter what happens, I'll always follow you anywhere."
Her sure words filled Leo with desire, not just for her, but for the future he could clearly see in his mind.

（When you say things like that to me—
（It gives me more hope than anything else ever could.）

They stared into each other's eyes, and he leaned forward to kiss her.
Leo "Guh—"
A stabbing pain in his shoulder stopped him in his tracks.

（Dammit, not now!）

Jily "Leo?"
Leo "I'm fine."

（I thought that doctor fixed this up for me.）

The pain seemed to be spreading, and Leo reached up, pressing his hand against the wound.
Jily "How badly does it hurt?"
There was worry in his eyes, and he gave an embarrassed laugh.

（I can't stand making you look so distressed.）

Leo "I think I just overdid it a little, really."
He tried to sound light-hearted, but he could tell it fell flat.
He felt hot and cold all at once, and a shiver ran down his spine.
He barely noticed Jily reach out towards him, but her hand against his forehead felt surprisingly cool.

（You're fading, Jily—I can't see you clearly—）

He tried to stare directly at her, but she was growing dim in his vision.
All the strength seemed to drain out of his body in that moment.

（This isn't good.）

He felt himself slumping forward, unable to hold himself up any longer.
He could dimly feel the warmth of Jily's arms as she held him.
Jily "Leo?! Leo!!"
Her voice was filled with such fear and desperation that it pierced his heart.
Yet it seemed to come from a long way away as he sank into darkness.

＊＊＊

Leo's mind felt foggy and confused, but a familiar voice seemed to cut through all that.
Jily "Please, Leo. Please wake up."

（Jily?）

Jily "I miss you."
He could hear the sorrow in her words, and his heart seemed to clench in his chest.

（I'm right here, Jily.）

He tried to reach out towards her.
But his arms felt impossibly heavy, and they refused to do as they were told.
Jily "I'll come see you again when my work's done, okay?"
Frustration welled up inside him as his body ignored every command he gave it.
He faintly heard the sound of a chair scraping across the floor.
Her footsteps were moving away, and he forced his lips to move.
Leo "Jily..."
As he spoke her name, everything suddenly came flooding back to him.
His heavy eyelids cracked open at last.
All he could see was a familiar ceiling above him.

（Jily, where are you?）

His eyes moved slower than he wanted as he searched the room for Jily.
At last he saw her, standing near the door, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Jily "Leo?"
He watched in confusion as tears welled up in her eyes.
Leo "I..."

（What's going on?）

He tried to sit up, wanting to move towards her, but his body just lay there, mocking him.
Then she was rushing across the room to where he lay.
Jily "You've been sleeping—for ages, and—"
The words seemed to catch in her throat, and she swallowed hard.
She flung her arms around him, the relief apparent in her voice as she said,
Jily "You're awake! You're really awake!"
She sounded like she was crying, and his heart ached to know that he'd caused it.
Leo "I guess I made you wait again."

（Sometimes I think all I ever do is make you cry.）

*****
Leo "Jily, wake up.
Leo "I'm here to escort you."
*****

He remembered the day when he'd kissed those tears away as they rolled down her cheeks.
He laughed ruefully, the sound hoarse and raspy.

（But I'm never gonna make you cry again.）

His hand finally did as it was told this time, and he reached up to cup her cheek.
Leo "This time, I won't let you go again."
Jily "I know."
Leo "I'm always happy, so long as I'm with you, Jily."

（And that's why I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy.）

He met her gaze directly, sure of nothing beyond the emotions he was feeling for her.
Leo "Let me say this to you again.
Leo "Marry me."
Her face brightened with that sweet, happy smile that he loved so much.
Jily "I'd be delighted."
Happiness flooded through him, giving him a burst of strength.
He cupped her cheeks with both his hands, bringing her face down towards his.
Their lips met in a gentle kiss, a kiss that seemed to thrum through him with warmth.

（I know we've taken a very long time to get here.
（But this time I intend to stay with you forever.）

Leo hugged Jily tightly against him, his love for her filling him with warmth.
He closed his eyes and let the pounding of his heart reassured him that this was real...

◆Shape of Love - Royal◆
《You May Now Kiss the Bride》

Leo stood quietly outside Jily's closed door.
He pointlessly adjusted the cuffs of his tuxedo jacket a dozen times.

（It's gotta be soon, right?）

He knew that Jily was on the far side of the door, wearing her wedding dress.
Just imagining it was enough to set his heart racing.

（I never thought I'd be this nervous.）

He laughed at himself just as he heard a voice speak from inside Jily's room.
Nico "You can come in now, Leo."
He reached for the doorknob, hesitantly opening the door.
Leo "Can I—"
He forgot the rest of his words as he spotted Jily.

（I don't believe it.）

Her pure white dress had layers of frills, the skirts elegant and full.
But what stunned him most was just how radiant and gorgeous she looked in it.

（You're too beautiful for words.）

He thought for a moment his heart might burst with all the love and adoration he felt for her.

（I can't believe this day has finally come.
（I really am the happiest man in the world.）

Nico "Maybe you should say something, Leo?"
Nico cleared his throat pointedly, and Leo came back to himself with a start.
Leo "Oh, right!"
He grinned bashfully as he realized he'd just been standing there, gawking.
He walked across to where Jily stood, reaching up to touch her cheek.
Leo "For a moment, I thought I was going to cry."
Jily "You did?"
She gazed at him, her eyes wide but bright with joy.
Leo "You really do look that beautiful."
Jily "Leo—
Jily "I'm so happy to finally share this day with you—I feel like crying too."
Her eyes trembled with tears, but that didn't dampen the radiance of her smile.
His heart ached with fierce joy as they gazed into each other's eyes.
Then Nico opened the door behind them, the sound distracting them both.
Nico "I'm afraid that's enough of getting emotional for now.
Nico "Jily, Leo—it's time to go."

＊＊＊

The grand doors of the audience room opened wide before Leo's eyes.
He began to walk slowly down the red carpet that ran down the center of the room.
Around him he could see the faces of the people of Wysteria, as well as their visitors from Steissia.
Everyone was smiling brightly as they watched him.

（There are so many people supporting us.）

The knowledge reassured him, filling him with warmth.
As he continued to walk forward, he spotted Sid and Robert, both smiling at him.
Next to them sat Alyn, a faint frown on his face.

（If you're happy for me, you could at least smile.）

Leo laughed wryly to himself as he reached the dais and turned towards the door.
He watched as Jily walked towards him, looking so beautiful it took his breath away.

（I'm grateful with all my heart to everyone in this room.
（But the one I want to thank most of all... is you.）

At last Jily reached the dais as well, and she stepped up to stand beside him.

（If I didn't have you, I wouldn't be standing here today.）

They gazed into each other's eyes, both of them smiling brightly.
Giles stood before them on the dais, and Leo heard him take a deep breath.
Giles "Leo Crawford, Prince Consort of Wysteria.
Giles "Do you take Jily to be your wife, to cherish and to hold,
Giles "and do you swear to rule over Wysteria together with her?"
Leo "I do."
Giles "Jily, Princess of Wysteria.
Giles "Do you take Leo to be your husband, to cherish and to hold, and do you swear to rule over Wysteria together with him?"
Jily "I do."
Giles "Then I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
They turned to face each other, and he could feel his heart pounding.
Jily looked up at him, her smile sweet and hopeful.

（I'm so glad this day is finally here.）

Leo reached out, lifting her veil reverently away from her face.
He realized then that her eyes were filled with tears.

（Don't tell me—）

Leo "Are you about to cry?"
Jily "I am. But I can hold on a little longer."
The tears in her eyes seemed to sparkle as she smiled at him.
But as she spoke, a single tear rolled down her cheek.

（I've made you wait for so long, but—）

Leo smiled gently as he reached up and brushed away her tear with his finger.
Her cheeks flushed faintly as she blinked back more tears.
He could hear calls and cheers of delight from the watching crowd.
Leo "Don't worry. We can start again."
Leo grinned at Jily as he glanced pointedly at Giles.
Giles "Once again, you may kiss the bride."
Giles's smile was faintly strained, but Leo ignored it, reaching out to wrap his arms around Jily.
Leo "I swear that I will spend the rest of my life making you happy.
Leo "I love you."
Jily "I love you too."
He leaned towards her, and their lips met in a gentle kiss.

（Now, more than ever—
（I want to make sure that you can smile with true happiness every single day.）

Joy suffused every part of him, and he kissed her even deeper.
The sound of applause and cheers rose up again, but they were both too lost in the kiss to care...