Leonis trembled slightly upon hearing the sound and slowly turned around.
Tears still lingered on her face, and her azure eyes held a mixture of confusion, fear, and... a deep-seated, almost unfamiliar, immense joy.
Upon seeing Linde, her complex emotions instantly found an outlet. She subconsciously took a small step back, her hands unconsciously clasped in front of her lower abdomen, as if trying to hide the secret that had just been confirmed.
“Lord Linde…” Her voice trembled slightly, like a child who had done something wrong.
Linde walked up to her, very close, but did not touch her rashly.
His gaze was gentle yet firm, like a lighthouse piercing through the fog, looking directly into the chaos in her eyes.
“Leonis,” his voice was deep and clear, echoing in the empty church, “lift your head and look at me.”
Leonis looked up as instructed, meeting his deep purple eyes.
There was no blame, no surprise, only a calm, all-encompassing warmth, and... a radiance she had never seen before called "expectation."
What are you afraid of?
Linde asked softly, her tone guiding, "Afraid of violating the dogma? Afraid of tainting the purity of the Holy Knight? Or... afraid of not being able to be a good mother?"
Leonis's heart clenched; Lind's words struck a nerve with all her fears.
Her lips moved, but no sound came out.
“Look at me,” Lind’s voice carried an undeniable power, yet was incredibly gentle.
“Look at the place beneath our feet. This is the temple of Lucios, the Lord of the Light Veins.”
He has witnessed countless births and deaths, and protected countless lives and faiths.
His teachings are about protecting light and order, and protecting life itself!
Leonis, a new life, a life conceived by the faithful Holy Knight, was born under His watchful gaze… Is this not the most sacred blessing? Is this not another continuation of His glory on earth?
His words were like a warm, holy light, gradually dispelling the gloom in Leonis's heart.
She stared blankly at Linde, then subconsciously looked down at her still flat stomach. A strange and intense warmth surged from the bottom of her heart, instantly overcoming those cold dogmas and fears.
Yes, in the Lord's temple, under the Lord's gaze... this is not blasphemy, but... a gift! It is glory!
An unprecedented sense of pride and happiness instantly filled her chest, overwhelming all her unease.
The confusion in her azure eyes gradually faded, replaced by a firm, maternal tenderness imbued with a sacred radiance.
“I…I will be proud of this.”
Leonis's voice was still very soft, yet exceptionally clear, carrying a declarative reverence.
"Under the witness of the Lord of the Light Vein, protecting and nurturing this life will be my new and most sublime mission."
Linde smiled, a smile filled with relief and emotion.
He reached out, and this time, without hesitation, gently and with infinite reverence, placed his hand on the back of Leonis's hands, which were clasped together on her lower abdomen.
Through her clothes, he could feel the warmth of her palm and the miracle that was quietly taking place beneath.
“That’s right, my knight.”
His voice was deep and magnetic, “Remember this pride and happiness. You will always be my most loyal and strongest Holy Knight, and now, you will become a great mother.”
Leonis's face flushed instantly, the blush spreading from her ears all the way down her neck.
The warmth of Lin De's palm and the intimacy in his words made her heart pound.
She lowered her head, her long silver eyelashes trembling slightly, and murmured softly:
“And… what about Miss Alice? She… she was the first to follow you… me…”
Lind gently squeezed the back of her hand, interrupting her worries:
"I'll handle things with Alice. Don't worry, you are all my treasures, and I won't let anyone suffer."
Your current task is to rest well and focus on your pregnancy.
He released his grip, took a step back, and his expression became serious and concerned:
“From today onwards, the task of leading the people in daily prayers will be temporarily handed over to Rune and Koya. You need absolute rest and should avoid any strenuous activity or combat. Understand?”
"Yes, Lord Linde!"
Leonis immediately straightened her back, as if receiving a most important military order, her eyes filled with a solemn promise.
“I will take good care of myself... and this child.”
Her hand unconsciously moved gently to her lower abdomen again. This time, the movement was much more natural, carrying a tenderness of a new mother.
Linde nodded in satisfaction, and gave her one last deep look, as if he wanted to etch her divinely radiant appearance into his heart.
Then, he turned and left the church with steady steps.
Behind her, Leonis watched his figure disappear through the doorway, her face still flushed, but a happy and reassuring smile involuntarily appeared on her lips.
As we left the church, night had already fallen.
Warm lights illuminated the castle, reflecting the starry sky.
Linde did not return to the main castle, but went straight to Alice's workshop tower, which was filled with dark blue energy patterns in the night.
As soon as he reached the heavy metal gate at the foot of the tower, the gate slid open silently inward, as if it had known of his arrival all along.
The tower's passageways were bathed in a soft magical glow, and the air was filled with the familiar scent of alchemical potions and parchment, along with a faint... sweet fragrance?
Linde's heart stirred slightly, and he climbed the spiraling stairs.
The tower was unusually quiet, with only the faint sound of his footsteps echoing inside.
The laboratory door on the top floor was ajar, letting in soft, warm light.
He gently pushed the door open.
The sight before him made him hold his breath instantly, and his steps came to a complete halt.
In the center of the spacious laboratory, a huge workbench was piled high with blueprints, parts, shimmering crystals, and unfinished magic cores—a scene typical of a research fanatic's "battlefield."
On the edge of this "battlefield," Alice was curled up in a large, comfortable velvet sofa, seemingly fast asleep.
She was wearing her signature dark blue mage robe, though it looked a little disheveled at the moment, and a few strands of her long golden hair playfully clung to her smooth forehead and slightly pouting lips.
Her small face looked exceptionally serene under the soft, magical light, her long eyelashes casting small fan-like shadows on her fair skin, and her breathing was even and long.
However, what made Linde's pupils shrink and his heart almost skip a beat was not her sleeping face, but what she was tightly holding in her arms—
It was a life-sized cushion made of some kind of soft, velvety dark gray fabric!
The pillow's design... is strikingly similar to Lind himself!
Although the stitches were a bit rough and the expression was somewhat stiff, the signature black hair, deep purple eyes, high nose bridge, and even the faint curve of the corners of the mouth were all imitated perfectly.
The cushion is dressed in a miniature version of the lord's robes embroidered with the Truk family crest, with meticulous attention to every detail.
At this moment, Alice was sleeping soundly, as if she were holding the most precious treasure. Her cheek was pressed against the chest of the "Linde Pillow," her arms were wrapped around its waist, and one leg was casually draped over "Linde's" leg. She even had a satisfied, childlike smile on her lips.
A few crumpled sheets of paper and a drawing pen lay scattered nearby, clearly indicating that he had fallen asleep unknowingly during the research.
Linde stood at the doorway, as if frozen in place.
Shock, astonishment, disbelief... a flood of emotions surged through his nerves.
Immediately afterwards, an indescribable warm current, mixed with immense heartache and overwhelming love, suddenly broke through all the dams and instantly overwhelmed him.
He looked at the girl who was sleeping soundly, nestled among the pile of blueprints, clutching his "stand-in," and noticed the faint weariness in her eyes, as her tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly in her sleep...
This genius, proud, and hopelessly obsessed young mage... she actually... she actually did this secretly?!
How many lonely nights, studying alone until late at night, did she seek solace in this "him"? How many times, when her longing surged, did she confide in this dull pillow?
Linde felt as if something had struck his chest hard, a feeling that was both sore and tender, almost melting him.
He tiptoed almost silently to the sofa and slowly squatted down.
He reached out, his fingertips filled with endless pity and tenderness, and gently brushed away a few strands of playful blonde hair from Alice's cheek.
The movements were so gentle, as if afraid of disturbing a fragile dream.
Alice, still asleep, seemed to sense the familiar scent and touch. Unconsciously, she snuggled closer to the "pillow," letting out a contented purr like a kitten, and tightened her arms around "Lind."
Lind's gaze slowly moved from her peaceful sleeping face to the adorable yet thoughtfully chosen pillow, and then back to Alice's face.
The silent sigh was filled with heartache and tenderness that was about to overflow.
He carefully reached out his arm, went around Alice's shoulders and back and the back of her legs, and gently lifted her up along with the huge "Linde pillow".
Alice only furrowed her brow slightly in her sleep, but feeling the warm and reliable embrace, she quickly relaxed and even snuggled closer to him.
Linde held the sleeping Alice and the "himself" in her arms as if they were the two most precious treasures in the world, carefully avoiding the scattered blueprints and parts on the ground, and walked step by step toward the small lounge next to the laboratory.
There, there was a small bed that belonged to Alice, covered with a soft blanket.
The castle was bathed in gentle, serene night light, and the lights on the top floor of the workshop tower illuminated this silent yet loving scene.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com