### 122 Ice Cream Bum
This was Roswiser’s other reason for this trip: to get to know the man she called ‘husband’ in a different way.
Strangely enough, Roswiser had never been this sentimental before. The “I’ve seen the same scenery as you” romantic feeling was lost on her.
But after spending so much time with Leon, her heart had quietly begun to change.
However, rather than saying her curiosity as a queen had deepened and her romantic side emerged, it was more accurate to say she was only curious about Leon, and her romance was exclusive to him.
If it were someone else, she would probably just think they were being overly dramatic.
Just like her older sister Isar stockpiled so many unopened love letters, Roswiser couldn’t understand what role a letter played in a relationship — until she found herself sneaking off nearly every day to write a diary, chronicling her little moments with Leon.
It was then she realized that what mattered wasn’t the “letter” as a vessel, but the feelings she had while writing those words: longing, satisfaction, happiness.
Just like right now, walking on the path Leon had walked, seeing the views he had seen.
Roswiser didn’t want to act tough or tsundere; she simply wished for Leon to understand her subtle feelings.
And Leon’s response was to take a step closer, hold her slightly cool hand, and intertwine their fingers.
His black and silver eyes were filled with longing as a gentle breeze brushed against the beautiful lady’s long eyelashes.
“Well then, I’ll take you to the next place.”
Roswiser smiled faintly and nodded, “Okay.”
Not knowing when she would return to Leon’s hometown, it could be her first and last time, so she felt it necessary to express what was in her heart.
Fortunately, her silly captive didn’t spend all day being contrary to her.
He knew when to argue and when to soften up.
The couple jogged hand-in-hand through the streets of the lower district.
Leon was up front, clutching a shopping bag full of Shadow Stones; Roswiser was behind him, one hand lifted to hold her long skirt and the other tightly gripped with Leon’s.
They looked like a couple of lovebirds racing toward freedom, darting through the bustling streets.
…
By sunset, Leon had taken Roswiser on a tour of the lower district, of course stopping at all the safe spots marked by Rebecca on the map.
As the sun began to dip below the horizon, they found themselves sitting on a bench by the roadside.
The queen was holding the orange-flavored ice cream Leon had just bought for her, taking tiny bites.
Leon sat beside her, unfolded the map, glanced at it, and realized they had just one last place to check out.
In the central district, also marked as a safe spot by Rebecca.
Leon thought about the time; if they hurried, they could easily make it back before nightfall as per Nacho’s warning.
After making up his mind, Leon put away the map and picked up the bag full of Shadow Stones, “Let’s go to the last place.”
Roswiser looked down at her nearly empty ice cream cone, only one bite left.
She stood up and handed the ice cream to Leon.
“Oh, you get to eat the creamy part, while I’m stuck with the ice cream bum,” Leon joked as he took it.
“This is not just any ice cream bum,” Roswiser declared seriously.
“Oh? What is it then…?”
“It’s the ice cream bum of Her Majesty the Queen!”
“…”
Who knew she could come up with such a description!
Leon stared intently at the last little tip of ice cream which still held Roswiser’s lipstick marks.
Since it’s the queen’s goodwill, he might as well accept her offering gracefully.
“Alright, off we go.”
“Mm.”
The couple set off again toward the central district.
On the way, Roswiser asked, “Where is this last place?”
Leon thought for a moment and replied, “A very important place to me.”
He left a little mystery hanging.
Roswiser didn’t press further, simply continuing to follow Leon quietly.
As the sun fully set, they arrived in the central district.
This place was undeniably more prosperous than the lower district, with fancier fruits and snacks.
Leon led Roswiser through several blocks until they arrived at the entrance of a church.
By now, it had gotten late, and the gates of the church were closed.
However, a few kids were still playing on the lawn.
Nearby, two people dressed as nuns stood chatting.
“What is this…?”
“This is Casmod Orphanage.”
Leon pointed to an old sign on the side of the gate, where it displayed the name of the orphanage he just mentioned.
“More than twenty years ago, I was found right here at this gate by a nun.”
Looking at the aging church before them, Roswiser finally understood why Leon had chosen this as their final stop.
She had said she wanted to stand on the soil of Leon’s hometown to see him from another perspective; thus, Leon brought her to the place he had grown up.
Though he had been adopted by his master at five and taken away, Leon often returned to visit the teachers at the orphanage.
As an adult, he would volunteer there during breaks.
The kids there all adored Leon; his astonishing talent for child-rearing had already started to shine back then.
At the front gate of the orphanage, Roswiser and Leon held hands even tighter.
“Wow, it’s been so many years, this place has changed a lot.”
Whether it was the first time back to the Empire to deal with Victor, or twenty years later, coming back to investigate the Heartguard Dragon Scale’s secrets, Leon never had the chance to visit the orphanage again.
Counting the time, it had been at least five years…
Just then, a nun seemed to notice them.
She walked over, opened the gate, and smiled politely, “Good evening, may I help you two?”
However, Leon simply stared at the older nun, seemingly lost in thought.
Memories surged in his mind.
Scenes from his childhood flashed before him like slides in a projector:
At the orphanage, Leon had celebrated his first birthday, which was the day this very nun found him;
Fighting with a little friend in the dormitory because he said the nun’s cooking was absolutely terrible;
Protecting a girl by fighting off a vicious dog with his bare hands as a child and winning. Of course, that same nun later took him to the hospital for treatment.
…
In nearly every moment of his childhood memories, this nun was present.
If it weren’t for his master and mistress, there wouldn’t be the Dragon Slayer Leon;
If it weren’t for this nun, Leon would have frozen to d*ath on a certain night twenty-five years ago.
Her name was Caroline, Caroline Casmod, the only daughter of the orphanage’s head at that time.
Though she had aged, in Leon’s memory, she looked remarkably older in just these five years.
With gray hair and visible wrinkles beneath her eyes.
“Sir?”
Noticing Leon’s prolonged silence, the nun asked again.
Leon snapped back, “Ah… We’re travelers from the neighboring country… just out for a casual stroll.”
“Oh, is that so? Would you like to come in and take a look?”
Leon shook his head, “No, no, just standing at the gate is fine.”
He deliberately lowered his voice to match the disguise the Lionheart Association had prepared for him, and even Caroline didn’t recognize him.
If she did, it might stir up some unnecessary trouble—
While he was thinking, Caroline suddenly asked suspiciously, “Sir, have we… met somewhere before?”
Leon’s heart skipped a beat as he quickly denied, “No, this is my wife and my first trip to the Empire. You must be mistaken.”
“Really…?”
Caroline lowered her eyes and murmured, “Maybe it’s just that I miss that child too much…”
Leon blinked, “You mean…?…”
“He was named Leon.”
When she mentioned this, a warm smile spread across Caroline’s face, full of contentment.
“He was the most outstanding child I ever taught.”
