It didn't seem like the rain would stop anytime soon.
In the end, the two decided to stay here for the night. It was fortunate that there was a roof to shelter them from the rain.
Lellia laid a clean cloth over the old bed and lay down.
It was a much more comfortable sleeping arrangement than when they had been camping for several days. Thanks to this, her body wasn't uncomfortable, but Oscar's presence made her mind uneasy.
Oscar similarly laid a clean cloth over the sofa beside the bed and lay down at length.
Lellia subtly raised her head to look at him.
From this side, only his legs were visible.
He was lying with his legs crossed, protruding from the sofa.
Lellia suppressed her discomfort and forced herself to try to sleep.
And late at night.
Crash!
She snapped her eyes open at the sound of thunder that seemed to split the sky apart.
Lellia immediately sat up and checked the sofa where Oscar was lying.
Fortunately, he hadn't woken up; he was sleeping without even a stir.
'Thank goodness...'
It was thunder loud enough to startle even her, so if Oscar had been awake, he would have been startled too.
'I wonder if he's still afraid of thunder.'
Lellia very quietly slipped out of bed and walked toward the sofa.
Oscar's face, illuminated by the moonlight coming through the window, looked peaceful.
Seeing him quietly with his eyes closed, his face looked a lot like when he was young.
A small smile spread across Lellia's lips.
That was when she was about to head back to bed.
"……!!"
Lellia froze in place. It felt as if her heart was plummeting beneath her feet.
Oscar had grabbed her wrist.
He pulled her arm with force. Startled, Lellia was pulled along and ended up falling onto Oscar's body.
She tried to get up immediately, but the hand that had released her wrist was now at her waist.
His arm wrapped around her waist like a coiled snake.
Lellia's mind went blank. As she struggled to break free from him, a weak voice reached her ear.
"I'm scared."
"……."
"It's raining, Leo."
"L-Lord Oscar...!"
"The thunder... it's going to devour me."
Lellia turned her head to look at his face.
It felt like the sound of her heart pounding was being transmitted outward.
His red pupils were hazy, but his breathing suggested he wasn't having a seizure.
Lellia gazed at his moistened eyes and realized he was trembling.
Oscar was afraid.
In an instant, Lellia's nose stung with emotion.
Just then, Oscar's arm wrapped around her waist fell away limply.
Lellia slowly rose and stood before him. Not knowing what to do, she could only look at him.
Oscar raised his upper body, lowered his head, and buried his face in his palms.
"……."
Lellia carefully placed her fingertips on his tormented shoulder.
She wanted to hug him like when he was young, but she couldn't.
Just then, light flashed outside the window again.
Before the thunder arrived belatedly, he reached out to Lellia again.
Oscar pulled Lellia's hand that was on his shoulder and brought it to his cheek.
"...I won't call you Leo."
"……."
Rumble.
The belated thunder crashed as if it would split the earth. Without even flinching, Oscar asked her.
"Instead, would you hold me?"
"……."
"As I said earlier, I hate the rain and the thunder. No, actually, I find them horrifying and terrifying."
"Lord Oscar..."
"I can't breathe, I'm scared... like I'm going to die."
His low voice pleaded. Lellia could no longer refuse his trembling touch and voice.
So she slowly reached out and pulled his head into an embrace.
Oscar willingly embraced her approaching body and rested his face against her waist.
And as if struggling, he repeatedly took deep breaths and exhaled.
With a heavy heart, Lellia stroked the back of his head. For a moment, her hand almost went down to his back, but unable to touch his bare skin, she brought it back to his head.
Soft silver hair wrapped around her fingertips.
Lellia closed her eyes, calming Oscar down, and recalled the past.
With her eyes closed, Lellia became the 'Leo' of her childhood.
Holding the young Oscar who was crying in fear, soothing and comforting him, Lellia also found comfort herself.
Every time she held and healed him, Lellia too received comfort and healing for her heart.
However, unlike Lellia who had returned to childhood memories, Oscar's sharp eyes gleamed as he pulled Lellia's waist even tighter.
In the dark cabin, his red eyes flashed with a subtle madness.
The corners of his lips were slightly raised.
Nevertheless, he mimicked the weak breathing of a tender beast, trembling the arm that held her waist like a young lamb.
Unaware that the snake of his wicked intentions was coiling to swallow her, Lellia endlessly stroked him as if comforting a pitiful wild animal.
Fortunately, when morning came, the rain had completely stopped and the sun rose.
Lellia and Oscar left the cabin early in the morning and departed.
Having mounted the horse, Lellia sighed inwardly at Oscar's natural touch as he embraced her waist.
Last night, Oscar had held her with his face pressed against her waist until nearly dawn.
Only when the sound of rain began to subside did Lellia push Oscar away, and she stayed by his side until he fell asleep.
Perhaps because of that? Now Oscar's attitude as he wrapped his arm around Lellia's waist was extremely natural.
"Aren't we going?"
Oscar's question, as if asking why she wasn't leaving, reached her ear. Lellia bit her lip and gripped the reins.