Chapter 198: Unfulfilled Wishes

Luca went very still.

Forty years.

No, more than forty years she had been doing this—sneaking through the village at dawn and dusk, leaving water at elders’ doors, tending gardens, fixing bridges, cooking meals, leaving flowers.

While everyone whispered behind her back.

While they scorned her for siding with Julius, for letting the males take control, for betraying the sisterhood she had once led.

While her own daughters grew up thinking their mother was cold, distant, incapable of love.

And through all of it, she had borne the loneliness. Carried the burden alone. Never once stopping her secret acts of kindness, even when the people she helped looked at her with disdain in the daylight.

Realising this—Luca’s heart cracked open.

What kind of spirit did it take to endure that? To be hated by everyone you loved, and still love them back so fiercely that you spent forty years sneaking around just to make their lives a little easier?

To be so desperate to show your love that you invented an entire forest spirit just to have a vessel for it?

This woman—this impossible, incredible woman—had been braver than anyone he had ever known.

Without thinking, he reached out and placed his hand on top of her head. His fingers found her hair, tangled and messy from a day of hard work, and he began to pet her gently. Softly. The way one might soothe a creature that had been hurt for too long.

Leona’s eyes widened slightly. Her breath caught. But she didn’t pull away. If anything, she leaned into his touch, just a little.

“What are you doing? You’re messing up my hair.” She complained cutely.

Luca smiled down at her.

“Your hair is already a disaster. You’ve been running around the village all day helping everyone. Did you think you’d come out of that looking pristine?”

She opened her mouth to argue, but he smiled down at her, and the words died in her throat.

“And I felt like giving you a head pat.” He shrugged. “Is there something wrong with that?”

Leona looked up at him for a long moment. Then, almost shyly, she shook her head.

“No.” She murmured. “There’s…nothing wrong.”

She leaned into his hand, her eyes fluttering half-closed. The warmth of his palm seeped into her scalp, into her temples, down into her chest.

It felt like yesterday, when he had stroked her hair while she shot the sniper rifle

It felt like being cared for. Like being safe.

She wanted to stay like this forever.

Luca watched her, watched the tension drain from her shoulders, watched the years of loneliness soften from her face.

She looked younger like this. Softer. Beautiful in a way that had nothing to do with her sharp features or her graceful bearing.

He wanted to cup her face, to kiss her forehead, to kiss her everywhere. The urge was almost overwhelming.

But just as he was about to give in, something occurred to him. He pulled back, his hand dropping reluctantly to his side.

“Leona…”

She blinked up at him, confused by the sudden change.

“Your journal.” He said contemplatively. “I saw one page that was different from the others. A list, I think. And you drew sad faces all over it.”

Leona’s face immediately went red. She had forgotten about that page.

“What is that about?” He asked gently. “What’s been worrying you so much that it made it into a journal full of nothing but happy things?”

Leona sighed, long and heavy. She looked at the ground for a moment, gathering her thoughts, then began to speak.

“Over the years, I’ve helped a lot of people. Most of the time, I know what to do. I listen to them talk from the side, to their gossip, to their complaints. I find out what they need, and then I find a way to provide it.”

She shrugged, a hint of pride creeping into her voice despite herself.

“Ninety percent of the problems in this village, I can solve on my own. Maybe more. I’m the Matriarch after all!”

She patted her chest with her fist, a surprisingly childish gesture that made Luca smile.

“I have unlimited skills. So many talents and I can fix almost anything through sheer determination and willpower!”

Luca nodded. He had seen that today. The way she attacked every task with fierce resolve, the way she refused to give up,

But then her face fell. The pride dimmed, replaced by something quieter, sadder.

“But some things…” She looked down at her hands. “Some things I can’t do. Not because I lack determination. Because I simply don’t have the abilities. No matter how much I want to help, no matter how much it would make them happy, I can’t do it.”

She touched her pouch, where her journal was tucked away.

“So I wrote them down. All the things I couldn’t fix. All the problems I couldn’t solve. Just in case…one day…I might find a way.”

Luca’s voice was soft. “Have you found a way? Have you solved any of them?”

Leona shook her head, a deep sadness in her eyes.

“Not one.”

She looked so disappointed. So defeated by her own limitations.

Luca watched her for a moment, and then a thought began to form.

“…You know.” He said suddenly.

Leona blinked, looking up at him.

“I think I can help you.”

She froze.

“…What?”

“All those things you couldn’t do.” He continued casually, as if it were the simplest thing in the world. “The ones on that list…”

He shrugged.

“…I’ll help you with them.”

Leona was surprised for a moment before she shook her head immediately, a sad smile on her face.

“You don’t understand, Luca. These tasks—they’re really, really hard. Even with two people. Even with the whole village helping. Some things just can’t be done. I’ve accepted that.”

“Maybe not for you alone.” Luca said. “But you’re not alone anymore.”

He stepped closer, looking down at her with an intensity that made her breath catch.

“I read some of those things on your list. Not all of them, but enough. And I can tell you right now—I can help with them. I can help with all of them.”

Leona stared at him, her mouth slightly open.

“So here’s the question.” His voice was soft, but there was steel underneath. “Do you want me to join you? Or do you want to keep carrying this alone?”

Leona stared at him in wonder as for so long, she had been alone. So terribly, terribly alone.

Even when she was surrounded by people, even when she was helping them, she had been invisible. A ghost. A spirit that didn’t exist.

And now Luca was standing here, offering to join her. To see her. To help her and she couldn’t help but feel an unbelievable amount of joy at the thought of him aiding her.

But still, she tried to answer casually, tried to keep her voice light, but it came out thick with emotion.

“Well…if you’re really that eager to come along, I suppose I can take you.”

She shrugged, aiming for haughty but landing somewhere closer to adorably flustered.

“But I doubt you’ll be able to handle it. Most people can’t. But it’s fine—I’ll show you around. Let you see how I’ve been doing things all these years.”

Luca looked at her—at the way she tried to be proud and dismissive while her face was still warm and her eyes were bright—and something in him snapped.

He reached out and grabbed her cheeks to her surprise—pulling them gently between his fingers like she was a child.

“You’re so cute, Leona.” He said, grinning. “How could anyone think you’re some cold matriarch without a heart? They really don’t have eyes, do they?”

“Luca—!” She laughed, her protests weak as she swatted at his hands. “Stop that—”

He let go before she could retaliate, already stepping back with an easy grin.

“Alright then. I’ll see you tomorrow, Leona. Early morning, same place. I’ll be right here.”

And then he was gone—quick, sudden, almost as if he’d never been there at all.

Leona stood frozen for a moment, her cheeks still tingling where his fingers had been.

’He promised. He said he’d be here tomorrow.’

The thought filled her with so much happiness and excitement that she could barely contain it.

When was the last time she had felt like this?

Eager for something? Waiting for something with her whole heart?

She thought back—decades ago—to when she was pregnant with Lulu and Luna. The anticipation of their arrival. The hope.

It was the same now. Bright and full and warm.

Thinking of this, she smiled—the most beautiful, unguarded smile she had worn in years.

But then—

Reality returned.

Her expression shifted slightly.

Because suddenly—

She remembered.

Nyx had seen everything…

And if she told anyone…

If Luna and Lulu found out—

Leona’s face paled.

Without another thought, she turned sharply—

And rushed in that direction.

Praying.

Desperately.

That it wasn’t already too late.

—

The early morning light filtered through the canopy, painting the clearing in shades of gold and green.

Leona stood exactly where she and Luca had parted the night before, her hands clasped in front of her, her heart beating a little faster than it should.

She had arrived early.

Much earlier than necessary.

And she knew exactly why.

After so many years of doing everything alone…today would be different.

Today, she wouldn’t be moving through the village in silence, unseen, unnoticed.

Today, someone would be with her.

The thought alone made her chest feel lighter.

A small, almost embarrassed smile touched her lips.

And when she thought about who that person was—

Her heartbeat quickened.

Luca.

The name alone sent a strange, unfamiliar sensation through her body, like a soft current of energy running beneath her skin.

It made her feel restless…expectant…almost nervous in a way she had never experienced before.

Which explained why she had spent an extra hour this morning on her appearance.

A touch of color on her lips—the deep berry stain that had been her mother’s favorite.

A careful arrangement of her hair, pinned just so.

A soft dusting of powder to highlight her cheekbones.

She had studied herself in the mirror longer than she had in years, turning this way and that, making sure everything was perfect.

The result was striking.

Her lips were a deep, inviting red that would make any man from Luca’s world stumble over his own feet.

Her hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, catching the morning light.

She looked, even by her own modest estimation, enchanting.

Nyx had caught her in the act, of course. Her sister had materialized in the doorway with that knowing smirk, firing off questions like arrows.

“Who’s the makeup for? Got somewhere special to be? Meeting someone, perhaps?”

Leona had deflected, evaded, and finally fled before Nyx could dig any deeper.

But now, standing alone in the clearing, she found herself questioning her own panic.

Why was she so flustered? She was simply going to perform her duties as matriarch—the tasks she had always done—only this time with the Hero beside her.

Two people with the same goal, helping the village. There was nothing strange about that.

She tried to hold onto that thought, but it slipped through her fingers. Because she knew, deep down, that this wasn’t just about helping the village.

The way her stomach fluttered when she thought about seeing him, the way she had carefully chosen her outfit—this felt far more like a date than a mission.

Her face went warm. Her ears twitched. She shook her head vigorously, trying to dislodge the thought.

’It’s for the village.’ She told herself firmly. ’The welfare of the people. Nothing more. Nothing else. There is no other thought in my mind.’

She was still shaking her head when a voice cut through her internal scolding.

“Why exactly are you shaking your head so much?”

The voice was amused, curious.

“Is that your way of telling me you don’t want me to come along today?”

Leona spun around. Luca stood a few feet away, watching her with a peculiar expression, one eyebrow raised. He had appeared so silently that she hadn’t heard a single footstep.

“No! Nothing like that!”

The words tumbled out too fast. She cast about for an excuse, any excuse.

“It’s just—there are so many flies this morning. Swatting them away. That’s all! Nothing else!”

She smiled brightly, praying he couldn’t see through the lie.

Luca’s expression said he absolutely could, but he let it pass. Instead, his gaze traveled over her—her styled hair, her bright cheeks, the careful way she had arranged her clothes.

His eyes widened slightly, and he blinked, as if seeing something unexpected.

Leona straightened unconsciously. She had never cared much about what others thought of her appearance.

She knew she was beautiful—it wasn’t arrogance, just fact—and that had always been enough.

But under Luca’s scrutiny, she felt suddenly nervous. Was something wrong? Did her lip color look foolish? Had she overdone it?

Luca didn’t say anything for a long moment. He simply looked at her, taking her in, and something in his expression changed into something tender.

“You look pretty.” He said, almost to himself. Then he shook his head, smiling, “I mean, you always look pretty.”

“But today you look…extra pretty.”

The words were simple. Unpolished. Nothing poetic or grand.

And yet they sent a rush of warmth through Leona’s chest, made her heart race, made her feel like all that extra time in front of the mirror had been worth every second.

She stood a little taller, a little prouder, and forced herself to wave a dismissive hand.

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!” She said, waving a hand with studied nonchalance. “I look the same as always. I didn’t do anything different.”

Even as she said it, she was already planning to do exactly the same routine tomorrow. And the day after. For as long as she could.

She was about to fish for another compliment when she noticed a shift in Luca’s expression.

There was something different in his eyes now. A hunger that hadn’t been there before.

He was looking at her the way a wolf looks at something it’s decided to catch, and the sudden intensity made her breath catch.

“You know…”

He said, his voice lower than before.

“I was planning to wait until later. Finish our tasks, find a quiet moment when we were alone, and then maybe…”

He paused, letting the implication hang in the air.

“Put some moves on you.”

Leona’s breath caught.

He kept coming, closing the distance between them, his eyes fixed on hers with an intensity that made her knees weak.

“But seeing how pretty you look right now…” His voice dropped further. “…it’s like you’re trying to entice me. Make me do something I shouldn’t. And I don’t think I can wait until the end of the day.”

Her heart skipped again.

“…Wait for what?”

He stopped right in front of her.

Close enough that she could feel the warmth of him.

Close enough that her thoughts began to blur.

“…For this.”

Before she could react—

His hand found her waist.

His arm wrapped around her, pulling her against him until their bodies pressed together.

Ans he started kissing and sucking on her tender neck.

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