I Picked Up My Father Who Left Home 68
Lia comforted Jeshuan with her heart. She knew that sincere feelings would be the most comforting for the other person, more than any words could.
Therefore, Lia hoped that her feelings would reach him.
Jeshuan quietly looked at Lia.
She simply called his name with a sad expression and said nothing more.
But somehow, that made Jeshuan feel more at ease.
Even without formal words of comfort or insincere words pretending to be heartfelt, Lia’s genuine gaze comforted him.
Yes, this was better.
He was just a terribly troubled child pretending to be fine.
For someone like him, any words of comfort, no matter how sincere, would not have reached him properly.
“…I’m glad I met you, Lia.”
After all, meeting Lia allowed him to breathe properly.
Even if just for a moment, he could feel a sense of peace.
Jeshuan liked her not just because of the rest she gave him.
He liked the way she looked at him and the emotions in her gaze.
Everything about her was warm and kind.
Lia genuinely worried about him and cared for him.
There was nothing calculated in her actions.
That was why he felt at ease.
He didn’t feel the discomfort he usually felt from his father’s worried gaze.
“I feel the same way.”
Regardless of what brought them together, Jeshuan was her friend.
He was the first peer she met and the only one she was close to.
That alone made their relationship special.
“…I want to get closer to you, Lia. I want us to be able to share our hearts as you mentioned.”
Jeshuan did not say he wanted to be just friends.
He wasn’t satisfied with just staying friends.
Whatever the name of their relationship, he clearly wanted to have a special bond with her.
He wanted them to be the most precious and unique to each other.
“We will become that close.”
With Lia’s words, Jeshuan made up his mind, and Lia, despite the relationship starting as a deal, had no intention of pushing him away. So, the direction of their relationship was almost decided.
Jeshuan smiled with pure joy at Lia’s words.
He was very much looking forward to it.
The future where they would become special to each other.
“How are you feeling now?”
Seeing that Jeshuan looked better than before, Lia asked cautiously.
“Thanks to you, I feel better.”
“I’m glad to hear that. But I don’t think it’s because of me. I didn’t do anything.”
“No. Just having you around is a great help to me.”
Jeshuan said this, hiding the special power he possessed.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Lia.
He wanted to trust her above all.
But he couldn’t speak easily.
The weight of those words was too great, and their impact was significant.
So, he decided to wait until he could trust her purely and they became special to each other.
When that day came, he would tell her everything about what she meant to him.
Then, he would be able to confide in her without any doubts or fears.
“Whatever it is, I’m glad if that’s the case.”
Lia did not think Jeshuan was lying.
In some way, her presence seemed to help him.
‘Come to think of it…’
It had always been like this.
Whenever she saw him in pain and stayed by his side, Jeshuan would always say the same thing.
And he indeed seemed to get better.
‘Do I have some kind of hidden ability?’
And could it be helping Jeshuan?
If so, everything made sense.
The emperor’s request for her to be Jeshuan’s friend, Jeshuan’s unique fondness for her.
But she didn’t know what her ability was or if she really had one.
It was something she couldn’t figure out on her own.
‘Even so…’
If she could help anyone, especially Jeshuan, that was enough for her.
That was what mattered.
“So… please stay a bit longer. I still need you, Lia.”
Having just escaped from hell, he didn’t want to fall back into it so soon.
He wanted to enjoy this moment a little longer.
“I’ll stay as long as you want, Jeshuan.”
Lia readily agreed to his request. It wasn’t a difficult thing to do, and she felt sorry for bringing him bad news.
So she was a bit concerned.
She felt like she was bringing him bad news just as he was recovering.
“Thank you, Lia.”
Jeshuan smiled brightly, like a child receiving the most desired gift.
His smile was pure, without any exaggeration or pretense.
“Um… there’s something I need to tell you, Jeshuan.”
“I’ll listen to anything you say, Lia.”
Noticing Lia’s hesitance, Jeshuan smiled and spoke.
Despite Jeshuan’s smile, Lia hesitated for a moment before speaking carefully.
“I don’t think I’ll be able to come see you for a while after today.”
As soon as Lia finished speaking, Jeshuan’s face hardened.
This was the last thing he wanted to hear.
He hadn’t wanted to hear this at all.
So, for a moment, he couldn’t control the emotions that surged within him.
‘Why now…’
Today. And right now.
Even the week he spent waiting for Lia was too long for Jeshuan.
He regretted agreeing to meet only once a week.
And now, he had to wait even longer.
The term ‘for a while’ didn’t specify how long it would be.
In other words, he would have to wait indefinitely, not knowing when they would meet again.
So, he was angry.
He had only her. He was only waiting to see her. But she didn’t seem to feel the same way.
Even though he knew that wasn’t the case, it felt as if she was deliberately distancing herself from him.
It felt as if she had suddenly become afraid of him.
Otherwise, there was no reason for her to avoid meeting him like this.
So, Jeshuan had a bad thought.
What if he locked her up?
What if he hid her in a place only he knew, where only he could see her?
He felt it was unfair to go through this waiting period alone.
Just as the thought was about to consume him, Lia spoke again.
Sensing his sudden change in mood, she spoke to explain herself.
“I’m leaving the day after tomorrow to join a demon subjugation expedition.”
“Oh…”
Jeshuan’s expression turned complicated.
“I don’t know how long it will take, but I’ll come to see you as soon as I return. Actually, that’s why I wanted to see you before I left.”
“………….”
Jeshuan said nothing.
The thought of their brief separation troubled him greatly, and his mind was a whirl.
He wasn’t sure he could wait for Lia.
The thought of enduring the hellish time without her made him not want to let her go.
A week.
That was the maximum amount of time he could wait for Lia.
But now he had to endure even longer, without knowing when it would end.
He could have handled it if he hadn’t tasted the sweetness, but now that he had, he didn’t want to let it go for even a moment.
Besides, it was a demon subjugation.
Jeshuan knew how dangerous it was. He had accompanied one once.
And now Lia was going there.
So small and fragile… could she really handle it there?
Jeshuan couldn’t easily nod in agreement.
The journey had been difficult even for him, an ability user.
How much harder would it be for Lia, who wasn’t an ability user?
She hadn’t even undergone her coming-of-age ceremony yet.
For her, the demon subjugation was too much of a burden.
“Do you really have to go?”
Jeshuan looked at her with a worried and pleading expression.
He knew that Lia couldn’t refuse the demon subjugation.
It was a duty she couldn’t avoid as the head of her family.
But still… he didn’t want her to go.
He didn’t want her to go to such a dangerous place. He was too afraid she might get hurt.
He was worried for her, but also for himself.
“Yes, it’s my duty as the head of the family.”
“What about your guardian? You have a guardian, don’t you?”
Her guardian could fulfill the duty of the demon subjugation on her behalf.
So he asked with a glimmer of hope.
“I don’t want to push my responsibilities onto others.”
“It’s not pushing. It’s just… sharing.”
“No, I don’t want that.”
“Demon subjugations are… dangerous. Even if it’s not you…”
“My guardian will accompany me. So, you don’t need to worry too much.”
Lia said this to comfort Jeshuan, who looked worried and anxious.
