Ch. 72 The Two Witches (52)
by Afuhfuihgs
Witch – Chapter 72 – The Two Witches (52)
Thump!
The sound of her mother’s heart being pierced echoed through the air.
Blood gushed from her mother’s mouth, covering Josie’s face.
“Josie…”
Her mother’s trembling hand wiped the blood off Josie’s face as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Her mother’s chest had a gaping hole, and if it wasn’t treated immediately, she would die. But Josie’s body wouldn’t obey her.
‘Where is Leo…? If only he were here, his Holy Eye could heal her mother’s heart…!’
‘Leo…!? Where are you!! Mom, she’s…!’
As if every word and small movement were forbidden to Josie, she could only watch her mother’s final moments with a clear consciousness, screaming internally.
There was nothing Josie could do but watch her mother die.
The sword that had pierced her mother’s heart was pulled out, and her mother’s body lost balance and collapsed.
Behind her… the figure of the person her mother had shielded her from stepped over the pool of blood, revealing herself.
“Heretic, you’re next.”
In one hand, she held Leo’s severed head, and in the other, a blood-stained sword.
The blade that had just pierced her mother’s heart was now pointed at Josie’s throat, and the silver eyes of the Heresy Inquisitor glinted.
‘Mom… Leo… are they both dead…?’
Eight years after the tragedy of the village, Josie had lost her family once again.
Thoughts of running away, thoughts of revenge… nothing could fill the void left by the loss.
The cold blade pressed against Josie’s neck, chilling her to the bone, while the warmth of her mother’s blood on the sword seemed to embrace her.
‘I don’t want to die like this. Not when the pain has just started to dull.’
Josie hated the Heresy Inquisitor who had once again brought death to her loved ones.
‘If only I were stronger…
Then Mom and Leo wouldn’t have died.
Even if it meant becoming a witch.
If becoming a witch could save Mom and Leo… if it could curse the Heresy Inquisitor…!’
Contrary to Josie’s wishes, she couldn’t even move a finger as the Inquisitor’s sword glowed with a silver aura, signaling the end.
“Nooooooo!!”
Josie’s scream filled the room.
Her eyes shot open as her heart raced.
Drenched in cold sweat and breathing heavily, Josie frantically looked around.
“A… dream…?”
The familiar scenery of her private room in Venetia reassured her that it was just a dream, and she let out a sigh of relief.
But as she tried to calm down, the events that had occurred just before she fell asleep came rushing back, and Josie hurriedly sat up.
It was a dream, but it wasn’t.
The scene she had witnessed in the dream had undoubtedly happened in reality. She had seen the sword pierce her mother’s chest with her own eyes.
“Mom, then…!”
She wished the nightmare had remained just that—a nightmare. She didn’t want to face the same situation in reality.
Her heart wouldn’t calm down until she saw her mother and Leo with her own eyes.
As if to soothe Josie’s anxiety, her mother’s voice came from right beside her.
“Mmm… Josie. Hehe, should we go eat something delicious…?”
The sweet scent emanating from her mother, who was hugging Josie’s waist and mumbling in her sleep, calmed her down.
‘The wound? Her heart?’
Josie carefully pulled down her mother’s top and checked the area where the sword had pierced.
“Mmm… that tickles… My chest is sensitive, you know…”
“Sorry, Mom. I just need to check for a moment.”
Only after confirming that her mother’s chest was smooth and unblemished, without a single scar, could Josie finally calm down.
Thank goodness, really.
She wiped the tears from her eyes with her sleeve.
Her shoulders, stiff from tension, finally relaxed.
She had been so terrified by the nightmare that she had momentarily forgotten that her mother was a powerful witch. Considering the feats she had shown against the orcs, she wasn’t a witch who would fall to the Heresy Inquisitor.
Josie lay back down and closed her eyes. It was late at night, and she wanted to wake up in the morning and hear the full story from her mother.
Tomorrow, they would all eat together and enjoy the festival.
Last time, her mother had given her a hairpin as a gift, so this time it was Josie’s turn to give her a present.
It would be unfair to only give her mother a gift, so she would also give something to Beryl, Nicks… and Leo.
No one dislikes gifts, so they would all be happy.
As she drifted off to sleep with these happy thoughts, a cold, unsettling feeling crept up her spine, and she sat up again.
It felt like she was forgetting something…
“Leo…?”
Why had she forgotten about him?
If her mother was safe, then Leo should be too… but she wouldn’t be able to sleep until she saw him with her own eyes.
Her mother didn’t like Leo…
With the Heresy Inquisitor as a convenient excuse, it was possible that her mother had taken care of Leo while Josie was asleep.
Carefully removing her mother’s arm from around her waist, Josie quietly got out of bed and slipped out of the room.
If Leo was in his room, he would be asleep at this late hour. Even if they didn’t talk, just seeing him sleeping would be enough.
She was more concerned about confirming Leo’s safety than worrying about what someone might think if they saw her going to a man’s room alone in the middle of the night.
Moving carefully to avoid making noise, but walking a little faster than usual, Josie arrived at Leo’s door and quietly opened it.
‘Men don’t lock their doors, huh? What if someone came in while he was sleeping…!’
Come to think of it, Leo’s door was always open.
Like with Emily, and even this morning. Maybe it was time to teach him a lesson about being more cautious, but Josie shook her head and dismissed the thought.
Trying to calm her beating heart, Josie carefully moved through the dark room. She didn’t want to make any noise and wake Leo.
“Leo…?”
Even as she groped around in the darkness, she couldn’t find Leo in his bed.
Could it be…?
Negative thoughts began to flood Josie’s mind. Her heart, which had barely calmed down, started racing again.
Did Leo not make it back? The Heresy Inquisitor was strong enough to cut Leo in half. Could it be that…?
‘Is Leo dead…?
It’s a lie, right?
Maybe I haven’t woken up from the dream yet.’
Thump… thump… thump…
Her heartbeat echoed through her thoughts.
Pinching her cheek only confirmed that this wasn’t a dream, as the pain was all too real.
“Are you hiding? Leo, come out. I’ve been scared enough… so…”
Without even thinking to turn on the light, Josie searched the dark room but couldn’t find Leo anywhere.
Under the bed, in the closet, the bathroom, the shower—everywhere.
“Ugh, Leo…”
Tears streamed down her face as she searched for Leo, who was nowhere to be found.
Maybe this isn’t Leo’s room but an empty guest room. Trying to rationalize, Josie knew she couldn’t have mistaken Leo’s room. The heavy reality closed in on her, squeezing her heart.
Finally realizing that Leo wasn’t there, Josie grabbed the windowsill and cried. A beam of light flew towards her.
Something reflecting the moonlight shone outside the mansion, as if signaling to Josie.
A sword moved with a dignified motion, reflecting the moonlight and tickling Josie’s eyes.
A blond man—it was undoubtedly Leo.
Josie opened the window and jumped out. Using magic to avoid crashing to the ground, she flew into Leo’s arms.
“Leo!”
“Jo, Josie…!?”
Leo, startled by Josie suddenly flying into his arms, dropped his sword and carefully caught her to prevent her from getting hurt.
He didn’t know why Josie had flown out in the middle of the night, but seeing the tears in her eyes and the open window, he guessed that she had come looking for him as soon as she woke up.
“Leo, Leo, Leo, Leo…!”
Josie repeatedly called his name as she buried herself in his arms. Though his chest was hard and rough, the sound of Leo’s heartbeat melted Josie’s anxious heart.
“Josie, calm down first…”
“I was so worried something had happened to you…!”
She wanted to scold Leo for being so reckless without considering how worried she was, but she couldn’t think of what to say.
For now, she just wanted to stay in Leo’s arms until her heightened emotions calmed down.
“Why would something happen to me? Lady Estelle is here, and Josie wants me to live. If I died like this, Josie would curse me…”
“What!?”
Angered by his last words, Josie pounded Leo’s chest. Not with any real force, but as if to let him know her frustration… Her gentle touch even tickled him, and Leo patted Josie’s head in response.
“…….”
“…….”
After enjoying each other’s touch for a moment, Josie’s cheeks flushed red as she came to her senses.
It was fine to get carried away and hug Leo, but what should she say now… How could she naturally leave his embrace… Everything from start to finish was uncharted territory.
“I’m… okay now.”
Josie turned her head to hide her embarrassment and pushed Leo’s chest away with her fingertips.
“I’m glad you’ve calmed down. It’s cold at night. Let’s go inside.”
“Speaking of which, what are you doing out here in the middle of the night, Leo?”
“That’s… I was training with my sword.”
Despite Lady Estelle’s advice to rest early so they could check the Holy Eye in the morning, Leo couldn’t sleep.
Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered the moment he fought Lucia.
If he had been stronger, Josie wouldn’t have been in danger.
If Lady Estelle hadn’t been there, it would have been Josie who was pierced by Lucia’s sword.
He didn’t want to put Josie in danger. As he had sworn, he wanted to fill her life with nothing but happiness. Wanting to become stronger even a little faster, he had quietly left his room to train with his sword…
But it seemed he had only made Josie worry more.
Her sky-blue hair fluttering in the wind, her sky-blue eyes shining brighter than usual as if her tears hadn’t dried, the butterfly resting on her hair, and her flushed cheeks…
Leo wanted to protect Josie, who looked as delicate as a butterfly. If he could go back in time, he would cut off his own hands to prevent himself from nearly killing Josie in the past.
Josie also looked up at Leo, not wanting to see him get hurt because of her.
“Josie.”
“Leo.”
Both called each other’s names, followed by a brief silence.
“You go first.”
Josie lowered her head, yielding. She had a feeling she knew what Leo wanted to say.
“I was too weak, and I put you in danger. I… will become stronger. Even if some god wishes for your sorrow, I will stop it.”
The sincerity in Leo’s eyes moved Josie more than any words could. A different kind of flutter filled her entire body.
Not knowing what to do with her hands, she fidgeted before tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Leo, I feel the same. If I were stronger, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt so badly… I’ll become a great mage with magic even greater than Mom’s. I’ll protect you!”
Josie’s determination and Leo’s resolve
took root in each other’s hearts,
blossoming into one.
A flower born not from magic or miracles, but from the hearts of two people, destined to last forever.
“Let’s go inside now. You’ll catch a cold.”
Feeling that the atmosphere might cross a line if it continued, Leo took off his coat and draped it over Josie’s shoulders.
He wanted to kiss Josie’s lips right then and there, but he couldn’t. He didn’t have the right. Just confirming each other’s feelings was enough happiness for now.
A little greed wouldn’t hurt, right? Holding hands should be fine.
That alone made their faces burn even hotter.
“Hey, Leo…”
As Leo was about to leave after escorting Josie to her door, she called out to him.
Her face, redder than when they held hands, took a deep breath as if making a decision.
“Um, tonight… do you want to sleep together…?”
“Huh? What do you mean…”
Did I hear wrong?
Thinking he might be hearing things due to exhaustion, he doubted his ears.
“I, I mean… I had a nightmare earlier… so…”
Gulp.
Leo swallowed hard.
If he refused, he wouldn’t be a man, but if Lady Estelle saw them sleeping in the same bed…
He would definitely die.
Even if he said they only held hands…
He was 100% sure he’d be killed.
The only uncertainty was how he would die…
“If Leo stays by my side, I think I won’t have nightmares… Is that… okay?”
“Lady Estelle will scold me severely.”
Right. It’s better than dying tomorrow from acting on impulse… Besides, Josie probably didn’t realize the implications of her words.
“Then, Leo, are you okay with me having nightmares…?”
Avoiding her pleading gaze, Leo lost his balance as a floating sensation overtook his body.
Josie had used magic to lift Leo’s body, and without any resistance, he was carried into the dark room.
As he entered the room, the sweet scent unique to a girl’s room stimulated Leo.
“Josie, this is really bad…!”
“Shh. I’ll explain everything to Mom.”
Whispering into Leo’s ear as he flailed in the air, Josie approached him.
Josie lay down in the center of the bed first, then placed Leo on the edge.
Are we really sleeping together…?
The bed, which had plenty of space for two, suddenly felt cramped, but before Leo could process it, Josie’s face was just inches away from his.
He didn’t want to move and accidentally touch Josie inappropriately. Staying still was the best he could do.
“Hehe. It’s our first time sleeping together, right?”
Josie grabbed Leo’s hand and pulled it close to her face, her warm breath brushing against his hand.
Her half-closed eyes, tired and smiling, made Leo’s sleepiness fade away.
All he could do was pray that his body wouldn’t touch Josie’s.
“You can’t go anywhere, okay? Tonight, together…”
“…….”
Josie kept talking, but at some point, her words became slurred, and she fell into a deep sleep.
Her steady breathing reached Leo through her hand.
A smile spread across Josie’s lips, as if she was having a good dream.
If Josie was happy, wasn’t that enough?
He could already picture the chaos Lady Estelle would cause tomorrow morning, but for now, he decided to focus on watching Josie sleep peacefully.
Josie would clear up the misunderstanding.
She had to…
Feeling like he wouldn’t be able to sleep in this situation, Leo slowly closed his eyes, following Josie.
“Y-You… you crazy bastard!!!! When are you going to wake up!?!?”
“Gah!!”
Estelle’s fist struck Leo’s solar plexus.
It felt like he had just fallen asleep, but the pain that hit him within what felt like a minute made Leo scream and open his eyes.
Big.
In front of Leo’s eyes was Lady Estelle, her face red and her top undone, revealing her large chest, which she usually kept covered.
“Y-You…!!!!! How dare you!!!!!!! Not only did you enter the room where a mother and daughter were sleeping, but you also groped someone in their sleep!?!!! No wonder I dreamed someone was touching my chest…!!!!!!”
“Wait, there’s a misunderstanding…”
This was a misunderstanding. This couldn’t happen unless someone had set Leo up.
Or unless Lady Estelle had staged this herself.
But she said a mother and daughter were sleeping…?
Leo glanced at the other side of the bed. There were traces of someone having slept there… So… that’s why the bed felt cramped…?
“Misunderstanding my ass…!!!!”
“Jo, Josie will explain everything!!”
“You crazy bastard… you perverted scum…! Trying to sell out Josie?”
“Jo-Josie… wake up, gah!!!”
Josie was fast asleep, unaware of what was happening to Leo
Lucent
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