274 It Was A Mistake (2/2)
Heinrich's slouched body suddenly sat upright with all his hair standing on end as he was assaulted by the chilly wind. Such sudden movements caused the king to thump the desk with his knee and exclaim with fright.
”Is something wrong, father?” Leon did his best to ask with a straight face, but his cheeks trembled from time to time. He could not believe that his father was really afraid of ghosts!
”Ah? Uh, no, it is nothing.” Heinrich forced a laugh and commented, ”The wind is a chilly, huh?”
”Pftt—Ahem, maybe?”
Heinrich looked Leon with doubt. ”You did something just now, didn't you?”
”No, if there's nothing else. I'll be heading back first, father.” Leon made an excuse to leave but failed to hold his laugh again. ”Pft.”
Heinrich widened his eyes and barked, ”You dare prank me? You little rascal, come back here!”
Leon escaped in a fit of laughter. Heinrich shook his head and smiled after Leon was gone. Suddenly, the opened slammed shut with a bang and made him jumped again.
”Arghh!!”
…
Leon did not escape far, just around the corner outside the study room as he leaned against the wall. He was no longer jovially but rather depressive instead. A single teardrop had suddenly dripped from the corner of his eyes with a trail.
'Father, your son really misses you!'
He sighed at the sudden rush of sadness as he thought of his previous life's father. Sometime later, subtle footsteps could be heard, but Leon did not seem to have heard it.
”Your Highness?” Lily softly called out to him in a half-dosed and curious manner, while carrying the box of pens and papers. Seeing Leon like this, she was not sure why, but it invoked a strong feeling of sympathy from her. ”Is everything alright?”
Leon wiped the faint trail on his face and glanced at the bewildered Lily, secretly embarrassed that someone saw him like this. Was it his time of the month?
”Yes, it's nothing. Thanks for fetching the stuff for me.” Leon grabbed the box from Lilly's arms and said, ”You should really get some sleep. You look like you are about to pass out.”
”Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, but I will be fine,” Lily said despite her baggy, sloppy, and red eyes.
”You do you.” Leon shrugged. He had already advised her. He pocketed the box in his Worldspace and did not even take more than a dozen steps when he heard a soft thud.
He turned around and lo and behold, the palace maid, Lily had fallen asleep while standing with her head rested against the wall.
Leon was speechless. It takes some made serious skills or determination to be able to sleep while standing.
”Oi.”
”Zzzz...”
Leon went back to shake her awake, but her body started tilting instead. It was no good. She had already entered deep sleep.
'Guess I'll take this chance to go check on her mother's condition on the way.' Leon mused.
Lily had a cute sleeping expression as she seems to mumble some incomprehensible food terms, but her drool made him frown. He decided to pick her up and place her over one of his shoulders like a dead log.
'I think Violet Plum Courtyard was in this direction.' Leon chose his direction.
”What are you doing with Lily?” Heinrich came out to check who banged on the wall and saw his son with a 'dead' Lily.
”Hm?”
Due to Lily being placed o Leon's left shoulder as he rotated his body back anti-clockwise, her head slapped the wall with another thud. Heinrich's eye twitched, while the corner of Leon's lips did.
”I'm taking her back to the maid's courtyard since she fell asleep as you can see.”
Lily: ”Zzz.”
”I can see that, but why are you carrying her like that?”
”It's more convenient this, I think?” Leon said as he waved his spare right arm.
”Alright then... Be more careful on your way. Lily is still a delicate young girl.”
”Yes, father.”
Thud…
Lily's head slapped the wall again when Leon turned back.
”…”
”Ahem, that was a mistake, a mistake. I will be careful now.” Leon coughed.
Heinrich was seen heaving up and down as he tried to calm his nerves and vexed mind. If Lily were awake, she would have been in tears.