My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

"Alright, let's end our conversation here. You look very tired, Arshley."

Liliana smiled gently, noticing the weariness in Arshley's eyes.

Arshley was slightly taken aback by the remark but then smiled sheepishly.

"I'm sorry, Liliana," she said, rubbing her eyes. "I haven't slept since last night. I didn't expect my body to give in to the fatigue so easily."

To ensure she arrived at the palace by dawn, she had instructed Adam to keep traveling through the night.

Although the carriage was equipped with a bed, she hadn't been able to sleep and had remained awake the entire journey.

She had originally thought she'd have the energy to speak with Liliana for a few more hours—but clearly, she'd overestimated herself.

"It's alright, I understand," Liliana replied, shaking her head gently. Then she stood and called out, "Lyra, come here."

A moment later, Lyra stepped in through the parlor door and approached them.

"May I assist you, Your Majesty?" she asked respectfully.

Liliana gave a small nod. "Please escort Saint Arshley to the room you prepared earlier. And one more thing—see to it that the soldiers accompanying her are assigned new rooms as well."

Without another word, Lyra bowed her head. "As you wish, Your Majesty."

Liliana turned back to Arshley. "In that case, allow me to escort you, Saint Arshley."

"Very well." Arshley smiled and nodded slowly. She looked at Liliana for a moment, then added, "Thank you for your hospitality, Liliana. By the way, there's still so much I want to ask you—especially about Brother Leon and the time he spent in your care after being exposed to the Devouring Poison."

"Of course," Liliana replied without hesitation. "I'll tell you everything."

"Good!" Arshley smiled in satisfaction.

She was genuinely curious about what had happened to her brother during his time in the palace.

To be honest, she had felt a twinge of jealousy at the thought of Leon and Liliana being together in this place.

But that feeling had gradually faded as she realized jealousy wouldn't change anything.

Besides, Liliana was a kind and approachable woman. Arshley didn't mind sharing her brother with someone like her.

Soon after, Lyra escorted Arshley to her room, leaving Liliana alone in the parlor.

Watching them leave, Liliana sat back down on the sofa and let out a soft sigh.

"Arshley, huh? She really is an interesting and lovely woman," she murmured.

At first, Liliana had expected their meeting to be somewhat tense.

Although they had grown familiar through letters, that kind of closeness didn't always translate in person—especially when Leon was involved.

She could tell the woman truly loved Leon—maybe even obsessively.

Strangely, she felt no resentment or jealousy—only a quiet sense of relief.

Having someone like Arshley by Leon's side only reaffirmed how remarkable he was.

Besides, Arshley could be an ally—someone who might help keep future rivals at bay, especially that woman... Athena.

The thought of the one who had once abducted Leon through deceitful means stirred Liliana's fury once more.

"Athena Hellness... I haven't forgotten what you did. I'll make sure you pay for it—tenfold."

***

In the spacious hallway, Arshley walked alongside Lyra. Her eyes wandered with curiosity, scanning her surroundings before turning to the woman beside her.

"By the way, Lyra," she asked softly, "what did Brother Leon do during his time in this palace?"

Lyra paused, as if deep in thought, before answering, "His Majesty Leon didn't do anything particularly eye-catching. He spent most of his time in his room. But… there is one thing that truly impressed me."

"Oh?" Arshley's eyes brightened with interest. "What was it?"

"He created the antidote for the Devouring Poison," Lyra replied respectfully.

"The Devouring Poison antidote?" Arshley repeated, stunned.

Lyra nodded slowly. "You may not be aware, Saint, but the Devouring Poison is one of the eleven deadliest poisons in the world. It was created by Jared Crimson, the Demon Emperor of the previous era—also known as the Lord of Poison."

"During the great war against mankind, he used his poisons to overpower the heroes and human armies, securing victory after victory for the demon race."

Suddenly realizing who she was speaking to, Lyra fell silent and gave a small, hurried bow.

"Forgive me, Saint Arshley. I meant no offense."

But Arshley simply smiled and waved her hand dismissively.

"It's alright. You don't need to worry—I'm not offended at all," she replied calmly.

When it came to the history of the war between mankind and the demon race, Arshley no longer harbored anger—let alone a grudge—for the countless human lives lost in the past.

After all, her brother had once told her that the war seven thousand years ago was nothing more than a grand performance—a stage play orchestrated by two legendary figures: Demon Emperor Amon Crimson and the hero whose name had been erased from history, Luminus Troya.

In the end, they were all just actors on that stage, never knowing who the true masterminds behind it were.

Lyra, visibly relieved by Arshley's calm response, continued her explanation.

"The Devouring Poison is the most powerful among the ten. In fact, anyone exposed to it is certain to die. However..."

Her expression shifted, eyes glowing with admiration.

"His Majesty Leon defied that fate. He survived. It was a miracle—something that should've been impossible."

Although the antidote's formula had been documented in a book written by Jared Crimson himself, the success rate was almost nonexistent—slimmer than the odds of stepping in a pile of dung on the roadside.

And that was why, even now, Lyra couldn't hide her admiration for Leon.

To her, he was an idol—and she was a fangirl who couldn't help but admire him.

Arshley was stunned. She always knew her brother was exceptional—but she had never imagined his abilities had reached such a level.

"As expected of Brother Leon... he really is incredible," she thought with pride.

They continued walking, chatting about Leon as they went.

The conversation drew them closer, and before long, Lyra had completely opened up to Arshley.

"This is your room, Saint Arshley," Lyra said as she opened the door and stepped inside first.

Arshley followed, her eyes lighting up with admiration at the room's interior.

"It's beautiful… and very comfortable," she said sincerely.

The room was spacious, with a king-sized bed positioned neatly near the center of the far wall.

Soft, flowing curtains framed the bed, designed to be drawn at night for comfort and privacy.

Flanking the room were two large wardrobes—on the right, elegant dresses crafted with obvious care; on the left, neatly folded pillows and blankets, prepared for use at any time.

To the right of the bed, two large windows bathed the room in warm sunlight.

Even so, it never felt too hot. A magic circle inscribed on the ceiling quietly regulated the room's temperature, keeping the air pleasantly cool.

"I'm glad to hear that, Saint," Lyra said with a gentle smile. "In that case, I'll leave you to rest."

Just as she turned to leave, Arshley called out to her.

"Wait, Lyra. Could you show me the room Brother Leon used during his stay here?"

Lyra paused, looking slightly surprised.

"His Majesty Leon's room?"

Arshley nodded lightly. "Yes. I'm just curious where he slept while he was staying at the palace."

There was nothing unusual in her tone—but deep down, she had her own reasons for asking.

Since the room had once been occupied by her brother, there were likely still traces of his scent lingering on the blanket, the sofa, or somewhere else.

And as a good sister, how could she possibly pass up the chance to... enjoy that? Ahem!

If Leon knew what she was thinking right now, he would've pinched her cheeks and scolded her, "You've grown into such a perverted woman, my dear sister!"

"Of course," Lyra replied with a polite nod. "I'll take you to his room."

"Yay!" Arshley clenched her fists in quiet excitement, though her expression remained calm and composed as always.

They made their way down the hallway. As it turned out, Leon's room was located quite close to Arshley's.

Lyra opened the door and stepped inside, with Arshley following closely behind.

"This is His Majesty Leon's room, Saint Arshley," Lyra said respectfully.

Arshley looked around. The decor was elegant but understated—just the kind of taste her brother would have.

She inhaled deeply, letting the subtle trace of his familiar scent fill her senses.

"Alright," she said with a soft smile. "You can go back now, Lyra. I'd like to rest here for a while."

Although she looked a little confused and hesitant, Lyra didn't ask any questions.

She simply gave a slow nod before turning and quietly leaving the room.

As soon as Lyra was out of sight, Arshley dashed to Leon's bed and jumped onto it with excitement.

"Ahhh~ Brother Leon's scent~" she murmured, wriggling around and rubbing her face against the bolster pillow, a wide smile on her face.

The scent was faint, but it was enough to make her feel warm… and even blush a little.

Still, she didn't do anything strange. She simply lay there, quietly enjoying the lingering presence her brother had left behind in the room.

Gradually, drowsiness crept in. Her eyelids grew heavy.

Before long, she drifted off to sleep—hugging her brother's bolster pillow tightly in her arms.

Unbeknownst to her, not long after she had fallen asleep, a small shadow slipped in through the doorway.

The figure crept slowly toward the bed… then gently wrapped its arms around Arshley from behind.