My Love Debts Are Everywhere!
Chapter 648 - 648: A Love Confession

Zelda's body stiffened, her eyes widening in shock.

"Leon... is hugging me!?" She exclaimed inwardly, a wave of panic and embarrassment washing over her.

She hadn't expected Leon to do something like this—and now that he had, she didn't know how to respond.

Even though she had often fantasized about being in his arms, the reality was far more overwhelming than she'd imagined.

Her head grew heavy, and the world around her blurred.

But as a gentle hand stroked her head and back, her rigid body began to ease.

This moment had only lived in her dreams until now, and she didn't want to let it slip away.

Gently, Zelda wrapped her arms around Leon's waist and nestled her face against his broad chest.

"It's so warm," she whispered, eyes closing as she breathed in his calming, masculine scent.

With the gentle murmur of the river nearby, the two of them were lost in their own little world.

Of course, nothing inappropriate happened—Leon simply held her close, and nothing more.

He gently rubbed her head and whispered, "You must have come a long, hard way, Zelda. You're truly a strong woman. I'm proud of you."

His sudden words made her flinch slightly. Her eyes opened, dazed.

"Do you really think… I'm a strong woman?" She asked in a trembling voice.

"Of course." Leon nodded firmly. "You faced every obstacle head-on and embraced the responsibility of becoming a queen. That's an incredible achievement—not something everyone can do. So be proud, and allow yourself to be happy, Zelda. If you ever feel burdened, tell me. I'll be your listening ear, and if I can, I'll offer you advice."

Mist welled up in Zelda's eyes as she buried her face in Leon's chest again, quietly sobbing.

"Hiks... hiks... Thank you, Leon…"

Her voice was so soft that Leon barely heard her. He simply smiled and gently patted her back, offering silent comfort.

Eventually, her sobs began to fade, and Leon slowly let go of the embrace.

"I feel embarrassed… and a little guilty for crying in front of you," she said awkwardly, her voice hoarse.

This time, though, she didn't look away. Instead, she held his gaze, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Didn't I tell you it's okay?" Leon said warmly, brushing away the tears on her cheeks. "Crying doesn't make you weak. It's just a way to release what you've been carrying inside."

Zelda closed her eyes, savoring the gentle touch of his hand.

Ever since she ascended the throne, she had buried her emotions deep within her.

The weight of her duty to the people left her no room to dwell on personal pain or grievances.

Unfortunately, after years of constant restraint, her negative emotions had built up over more than a century.

And during all that time, she had neither an outlet nor anyone she could turn to for comfort.

But just now, for reasons she couldn't fully explain, she felt an urge to open up—to share the story and emotions she had kept buried for so long.

And as she'd hoped, Leon turned out to be the right person—the one she had been waiting for.

He was the only one who truly understood her, and that made her feel deeply happy.

After a brief silence, Zelda opened her eyes and looked at Leon's handsome face.

"By the way, Leon," she said softly, "when do you plan to return?"

Leon withdrew his hand from her cheek and turned his gaze toward the river beside them.

"I'm not sure yet," he replied calmly. "I still have a few things to take care of with Astra and the Fairy Queen. But I think everything will be settled within three days, so I'll probably leave in five."

He had already thought it through. His main task among the elves was complete—meeting Zelda and saving Astra from the dark power.

Although the appearance of the Evil God's consciousness and the destruction of the Forest of Eternal Silence were unforeseen, they hadn't changed much for him.

He had already prepared for his next destination—the land of the Dwarves.

Of course, that decision had come as a result of his earlier negotiations with Miranda.

Originally, their plan had been to head to the territory of the Spirit Race, located in the distant Valley of the Thousand Whispers Mist.

It was an incredibly far-off place—one that would likely take months to reach from their current location.

However, after hearing from the First Elder that the Crystal of Happiness was most likely in the Dwarven territory, Leon and Miranda had agreed to change their route. They would visit the Dwarves first and then continue on to the Spirit Race afterward.

Besides, Leon's curiosity was piqued by the ancient legends surrounding the fabled City of Gold.

It was too tempting not to see it with his own eyes.

"Five more days, huh?" Zelda echoed softly, a hint of surprise in her voice as sadness began to cloud her expression.

She had known that Leon would leave eventually, but hearing the exact number of days brought the reality crashing down on her. Five days felt too short.

The thought of parting—and the possibility that they might never meet again—tightened her chest, as if her heart were being squeezed by an invisible hand.

Leon immediately noticed the sadness on her face, but he misunderstood the reason. He didn't think it was because he'd be leaving soon.

Instead, he assumed Zelda was still carrying unspoken pain or burdens she hadn't yet shared.

"If there's anything weighing on you, you can tell me, Zelda," Leon said gently, his voice sincere.

Zelda didn't answer right away. She lifted her head and looked at him with deep, steady eyes.

"Leon, there's something I need to say to you," she said firmly.

Leon was slightly taken aback but said nothing. He simply gave a small nod.

"Go ahead," he said calmly, folding his arms across his chest. "I'm listening."

"Huft..." Zelda let out a deep breath, and her expression gradually turned serious.

The wind stirred gently, brushing against her hair and face as she laced her fingers together and spoke softly.

"Leon, I'm in love with you. Will you be my husband?"

Leon: "..."

His mouth fell open, eyes widening in disbelief.

He had expected Zelda to speak of some lingering sorrow or unresolved burden—but instead, she confessed her love.

And not only that—she asked him to be her husband. Wasn't this all too sudden?

Before Leon could gather his thoughts or respond, Zelda lowered her gaze and spoke softly.

"I know this is sudden, but I don't want to keep hiding or running from my feelings. You told me to be honest with myself, didn't you? Well… this is me being honest. This is the choice I've made."

Leon remained silent. He genuinely appreciated her feelings—and he'd be lying if he said her confession didn't make him happy.

After all, Zelda was an extraordinary woman: beautiful, intelligent, and strong.

She stood on equal footing with Liliana, Athena, and Arshley in every way.

And yet… he couldn't accept her feelings. It wasn't a lack of feelings—it was the promise he had made to Athena that held him back.

"Zelda, I—"

Before he could finish, Zelda gently pressed a finger to his lips.

"Don't answer now," she whispered. "Tell me the night before you leave."

Then, with her cheeks flushed as red as a ripe tomato, she turned quickly and called out over her shoulder, "Let's go back to the palace."