The Monster Lady and the Holy Knight - Side Story 6

“Were you surprised? It’s the first time you’ve seen me dance!”

As soon as Veronica stepped down from the stage and spotted Leon, she ran straight toward him. His initially cold expression softened as soon as he caught her.

“I thought you’d be back in three hours. What happened in such a short time?”

“Oh, well, they said they could tell I had talent just by looking at me and asked me to dance. Right, Enzo?”

“Uh, well, I didn’t hear that part, but did the cat ask you that, by any chance?”

At Enzo’s teasing response, Veronica frowned and grumbled for him to play along. Leon silently watched the two bantering before intertwining their fingers naturally, redirecting her attention toward him.

“How did you become a real person?”

A clear, ringing voice interrupted them at that moment. The entire group turned their heads at once.

The question came from a little girl who had been watching the performance with her mouth slightly open. Her eyes were sharp with curiosity.

“…Huh?”

“Just now, you were a puppet.”

At first, Veronica didn’t understand what she meant. A strange, sinking feeling filled her chest. It was as if the girl had asked how Bahamut had turned into a human.

“The Lady and the Knight.”

But as soon as the child pointed toward the stage, where the props for the puppet show still remained, Veronica saw a black-haired doll and finally understood the question. The child thought Leon and Veronica had stepped out of the puppet show. Even though Leon wasn’t even holding a sword.

“Through love.”

Once again, the group turned their heads in unison. The one who answered was Leon, who spoke with the exaggerated seriousness that adults sometimes used when teasing children.

“Love is what breaks all curses. That’s how it always works.”

“Wow!”

The girl’s eyes sparkled with wonder, and Veronica blushed. It felt strange to be the object of admiration. To the child, she must have looked like such an adult—someone who seemed to know everything about the world.

“Then how can I find a knight like you, big sister?” asked the child again.

Veronica fell into brief thought. Memories of memorizing the names of knights and dreaming of them as a child resurfaced. She, too, had been a young girl like this once. If someone had told her the answer back then, she would have been so grateful.

“You don’t need a knight. Just love yourself. Love—no matter what kind—can break any curse.”

Veronica bent down to meet the girl’s gaze and smiled. The child’s bright eyes widened even more.

After saying farewell to their young audience, the two people who had lent them the dress and lute approached the group. The woman holding a cat pointed at the food in Charlotte’s hands, suggesting they share a meal in exchange for letting them stay in the tent. The lute player, who seemed like a free spirit, said he wanted to hear some interesting stories for future puppet shows.

“Oh, I actually have a good idea for a puppet story.”

Veronica, who had been watching the girl disappear into the distance, turned back and spoke up.

“It’s a developed version inspired by The Lady and the Knight…”

“The woman who became Bahamut and the Holy Knight.”

Leon muttered as he fed an apple to Nightstar. After dinner and drinks, the group had stepped outside the tent for some fresh air.

“Why? Do you not like that I told our story? But if we don’t leave any proof that we saved the world, no one will ever know. That would be too disappointing. I can’t let that happen.”

A slightly tipsy Veronica waggled her index finger in disapproval. Amused by her slurred speech, Leon chuckled softly, even in the darkness, as he saw her flushed face.

“No, I just don’t like the title they gave it.”

“Oh, that? I felt the same way, but since kids would be watching, there wasn’t much choice.”

“I also thought that people might realize it’s our story.”

Veronica’s eyes widened in surprise. “Huh? I didn’t even consider that. What if they figure it out?”

“Does it bother you?” Leon asked as he placed a cool hand against her flushed cheek.

“What others might think?” he added.

His long, dark eyes gleamed strangely. In the past, he had been unreadable, but as they spent more time together, Veronica could now decipher him bit by bit.

She gazed up at him, lost in thought, before finally speaking. “No, it’s not that I care about what others think… Are you jealous?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. That was so honest. So honest.”

“Is that a problem?”

“No. Actually, it makes me happy. If I said I want to make you even more jealous on purpose, would that make me a bad person?”

“You wouldn’t even need to try. I get jealous of your little jokes, and even when you go wash up, I end up feeling it toward women too.”

“You like me that much?”

“It’s long past just liking you.”

Her heart pounded so hard it felt like she could hear it in her ears. Whenever she was with Leon, she felt like she was someone truly special. Someone influential, incredibly captivating.

“What do you love about me so much?”

Was it the alcohol? Or was it the mood? The worn-out question slipped from her lips. She hadn’t expected a proper answer, but after a moment of thought, Leon answered seriously.

“You seem fragile but aren’t. I thought you were just like me, but you’re different. And…”

“……”

“Because you dance so well?”

The moment the sound of a lute drifted from the tent, Leon’s handsome lips curved into a lazy smile.

Veronica, who had been expecting some cliché remark about how bright she was, burst into laughter. Because, to her ears, it sounded just like a confession—like he was saying he had fallen for her all over again. And knowing him, that was probably the truth.

“Hey, do you remember? The first time I picked up a sword?”

“When you couldn’t even tell which side was the blade?”

“Yeah. Back then, I bet that if you ever tried to learn the Baila step, you’d be way, way worse than me.”

“For some reason, I have a bad feeling about this.”

“I’ll teach you now.”

As Veronica held out her hand, Leon furrowed his brows, about to refuse. But the problem was—she knew exactly which magic words could move him.

“I like people who are good dancers.”

The hand that had been idly grazing his nape suddenly froze. Leon let out a dry chuckle, tilting his head before lifting his gaze. Veronica’s hand was still extended toward him, as if inviting him to leave with her. And so, he grasped it firmly.

Laughter bubbled up every time they stepped to the beat, their gazes meeting and setting them off again. Being naturally in tune with his body, he picked up the steps surprisingly well, but he still made the occasional mistake.

With each misstep, Veronica felt her heart flutter. She hoped that, just like this, they would continue to walk together—dancing through life, stained only by the flickering flames.

***

Time flew by like an arrow. They had crossed mountains, fields, valleys, and villages, and now, it had already been a month since they passed the border.

“I smell the sea.”

Veronica was the first to reach the cliff’s edge, taking in a deep breath. The salt-laden breeze washed away the dizziness she had felt all morning. Even if it hadn’t, the sight of the sprawling coastal city below would have sobered her up instantly.

At last, they were at the threshold of their destination. The eastern coast of Whiteland—Roberdin, the port city. This was a trade hub the northern king had gained 600 years ago in exchange for adopting the state religion, securing a vital ice-free harbor.

“Do you like it?”

Leon, holding the reins beside her, asked. The city had thrived under its pledge to serve God, and reconstruction efforts were already in full swing.

“I heard that Roberdin shares the same ocean current as Bayren. The climate may be different, but the water’s color should be similar.”

At his words, Veronica suddenly recalled a moment from their journey—when he had asked what she liked. Without specifying whether he meant a person or a thing, he had posed an abstract question, and she had proudly answered, the color of the sea.

People often assumed all seas were the same, but that wasn’t true. Depending on the climate and depth, the sea could shimmer emerald, appear muddied with brown sediment, or even take on a deep, ominous blue. Among them all, the one she loved most was…

“Yes, this is exactly the sea I was looking for.”

The sea so vividly blue it made her chest swell with emotion. The rippling waves, glittering like scales in the sunlight, stirred something deep within her. Leon, watching her wide-eyed delight, remained still—as if he had lived solely for this moment.

“Thank you.”

She whispered as she wrapped her arms around his waist. Without a word, Leon embraced her shoulders in return. It was then that Charlotte’s voice called out from behind them.

“I suppose this is where we say our goodbyes.”

Startled, Veronica turned to find Charlotte and Enzo standing neatly in place. Leon was the first to speak.

“You really intend to leave without even stopping in the city?”

“The prices must be soaring right now, and I’m not confident we can afford an inn. Besides, if we’re going to camp out anyway, I’d rather do it in a quiet forest than a bustling metropolis.”

Though they had always known this farewell was inevitable, the weight of parting still struck deep. Veronica, having grown attached to Charlotte over the past month, looked at her wistfully before quickly shifting her gaze to Enzo.

“Enzo, are you leaving too?”

“I’ll be making a trip around the far north before I return. We’ll meet again then.”

Enzo extended his hand toward Veronica, intending to kiss the back of hers, but before he could, Leon grasped his hand firmly and shook it instead. The women, amused by his signature nonchalant expression, burst into laughter.

“When you return, I’ll make sure to welcome you properly. Hopefully, by then, we’ll have settled down.” Veronica barely managed to stifle her laughter before making the promise.

Charlotte, glancing at the game tied to Nightstar, smirked. “I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

Leon had hunted the game to sell in the city. The bird, adorned with intricate eye-like markings on its wings, was considered quite valuable. The money they made from it would be enough to last them several days until they found work. Not to mention, they still had the gold pieces from their shattered swords—but Veronica chose to pretend she didn’t know about those. As long as she was with Leon, she doubted they would ever have to touch that gold.

“Both of you, travel safely. Stick to secure routes. Be cautious of carriages, horses, and people alike.”

“You worry just like our youngest sibling used to. Don’t fret about us. Instead, I hope your new beginning is a smooth one. Oh, and when I return, I expect to see some change in how you treat your wife.” Charlotte teasingly warned Leon, as if she were Veronica’s elder sister.

Leon, who had been gazing at the sea, turned back and stated flatly, “That won’t happen.”

Goodbyes always felt too short, no matter how long they stretched on. After exchanging final farewells, the group split into two directions—one riding up the hill, the other leading their horses down the slope.

As Veronica descended the path, she carried both a lingering emptiness and a bubbling anticipation for what lay ahead.