Chronicles of the Selphia Plains [Rune Factory 4]

To Have and to Hold Part II

Leon sat at the base of the tower of Leon Karnak, leaning against the cool stone wall. He often came here when he needed to think or to just get away for a while. The upper levels were populated with a variety of dangerous monsters, but the terrain around the base of the tower was barren and deserted. Still, rumors of the tower’s monsters kept most from even approaching the tower, so it was an ideal place to go when he needed solitude. Besides, it was a significant place to him—a place of so many beginnings and endings in his life.

He often talked to Maria here, sometimes thinking he could almost feel her presence there. He did so now, trying to make sense of what was happening with him and Avani. “I don’t know what to do,” he mused aloud. “I love her, Maria, more than I ever thought possible. And I couldn’t bear to lose her. We’ve been through so much together, she’s become integral to my life. Yet I feel as though she is suddenly fading away, slipping through my fingers. And I don’t know how to stop her.”

As he spoke, he suddenly realized what he needed to do. He needed to see Avani, to talk with her face-to-face. It all came down to communication—he had no idea what was going on, and only Avani could change that. With renewed resolution, he stood up and cast Escape until he returned to their rooms. He changed into his pyjamas and made a pot of coffee. He was determined to wait up this time, no matter how long it took for Avani to return home. And he was determined to talk with her and not let her put him off again. He sat in a chair by the cold fireplace, lit a lamp, and settled down to read and drink coffee until she arrived.

A couple of hours past midnight, he finally heard the key in the door. Avani never cast escape directly into their bedroom late at night except in an emergency—she knew the flash of bright light would wake him, and she was innately considerate of others. Setting his book down, he stood and faced the door. A moment later, it quietly opened, and in stepped Avani, Dylas close behind her. They stopped and froze when they saw him standing there, waiting, watching them.

After a moment of silence, he cleared his throat and looked at Dylas. “I’d like to talk to my wife. Alone.” The younger man flushed, but nodded and turned to leave. Before he could step back outside, though, Avani grabbed his arm.

“Wait, Dylas,” she said, then turned to Leon. “Please wait just a little longer, Leo. I promised to feed him. He’s been out with me all day, and I’ve been keeping him too busy to eat.” Leon wordlessly raised an eyebrow at her, then nodded curtly, sitting back down and picking up his book again as they passed through the chamber and into the kitchen.

A short while later, they returned. Dylas nodded to Leon, saying good night to them both as he left through the back door to take the shortcut through the castle gardens to his room. Leon watched Avani as she placed a plate of grilled shrimp on the low table before him. “I made something for you, too,” she said, avoiding his eyes. Then she changed into her nightgown before sinking down with a tired sigh on the sofa near him, absently rubbing her distended belly.

Ignoring the shrimp—though they smelled enticing, more so than usual since he hadn’t eaten all day, either—he came over and sat next to her. He held her hands and looked at her, saying, “My Lady. What exactly is going on? I don’t understand why you’re acting this way. You’ve got me worried, and people are starting to talk.”

She looked at him in surprise, saying, “Talk? About what? I don’t understand what you mean.”

Leon sighed and looked away, saying, “There have been… rumors. That things aren’t going well with us, that you regret your choice, that… that you’re leaving me. For Dylas.”

Her shocked eyes filled with tears as the blood drained from her face, and her mouth opened, but no words came out. Finally after a few minutes, she managed to say, “Leo, I… I had no idea. Why would anyone say things like that? It isn’t true! None of it!” She looked up at him, her eyes imploring him to believe her. “I have never regretted my choice, not for a single second. And Dylas is no more than a friend to me. I… I know he’s still attracted to me, but it’s all one-sided, I swear. I’m sure someday he’ll meet someone else and get over me. And I most certainly am not leaving you—not for him or for anyone or anything. Dylas has just been helping me with… something. That’s all. I had no idea anyone would misinterpret something so harmless as that. I guess it must have looked worse to others than it really was.”