Follower

Ilona is heading on the streets that bustle with people. They turn their heads in her direction. Her face is cut and she is full of dust.

'Damn ….' She moves her legs more and passes the central pathway. Now she is on the narrower path that leads to her home.

The girl's thoughts are a mess. Eugen was not happy with what happened but he didn't dare to raise his hand, so instead he promised to ruin her life. Ilona might as well believe him cause he can destroy her life pretty easily. Him being relative with the king, gives him a certain superior power than other nobles have.

Her life will no longer be as easy as before. Thoughts cross her mind in search of a solution.

What can she do to protect Anise? Where to find work?

Ilona wipes her sweat. She feels her body temperature rise as she sees the path in a blur.

'Must be because of the fight with Carl …. I have no power left …..water …' She clears her eyes blinking but no use…

Her palms are hotter and hotter…. her body is giving in to the fatigue.

The lady falls to the ground.

Silence …. Dark …. Peace...

Poor think she can't feel any of these. She would have been thankful to experience them. The silence of people and the peace of being in no danger. The dark that would not let her memories reveal their face would make her happier than anything else.

Ilona's body is lying on the ground.

Her messy figure is seen by a boy that just passed the main street. He looks and sees the girl curled down on the ground. His hat is falling behind as he runs towards the lady.

"Ilona! Ilona! Wake up!" The boy is turning her face upward and shakes a little her head. That's right, the boy was no one other than Leo.

He looks and frowns when he discovers the long slit on her cheek.

'I told her to be careful …. Fuck!' He saw her going to the mansion of the noble Eugen.

This is not the first time he pestered her to take care. Seems that she doesn't even try to protect herself.

Leo heard about what other people said that she had a boy in her house and how they all call her a bitch.

He lifts her up and in a hurry and leaves towards her house. This time it will be his turn to take care of her.

It was in the time when the war just broke, that's when she was wearing armor and had a boyish hairstyle. He was crying over his parents' bodies, without caring if he looked weak and helpless. Ilona went straight to Leo and kneeled down next to him.

"Is no use to cry. You should fight and punish the people that did this to your parents. "Her voice and face back then were so cold. As if she spat ice, Leo's skin shivered and he wiped his tears. He stood one moment to think and decided to follow her. Well, the girl did take him under her supervision as the commander let her do whatever she wanted.

Later, few years after the war ended as she disappeared, he saw her on the street. Leo met her eyes and he knew that they were the same eyes that stare into him when he met the redhead boy back then. After he pestered her, she finally let him know that she was the boy. Since then, he had his eyes on her. Leo will always follow her.

The door is pushed with his leg and it slams on the wall. He rushes to put her on the bed. Ilona stays without vitality on the bed being watched by the boy. Leo scratches his head and overthinks what he is about to do.

'I need to clean her …..one way or another …..'

The boy hurries into the bathroom and brings a bowl with cold water on his arm and a towel.

He knows that his body will suffer after the girl will wake up, but …..he did the right thing at least. The boy can take her hits.

Leo presses gently the wet towel on her face wound and brushes the dirt off. Her hair is brushed aside too. Ilona's face is clean and a little pale.

He gulps.

With his agile finger, he is struggling to open the vest and the shirt. Her skin is showing through the slit, as the last button of the shirt is undone. He is shocked.

'No bra ...' His eyes lay on the well-defined abs.

He feels his body overheat. With a self-slam, he wakes up from mesmerizing and buttons up her shirt and vest.

Leo leaves the wet towel on her forehead as he thinks that she might have a fever.

The boy is sitting on the edge of the bed as he can't get it out of his head the thing he just saw.

'Fuck! ' If only his thoughts will disappear and leave him alone ....

Ilona feels something cold on her forehead and she opens her eyes slowly. She sees the back of a boy sitting on the bed with his face in his palms.

"Leo? "Her raspy voice makes the boy rise his face and look at her in a second.

"Are you fine? You fainted on the street …..What's wrong with you?"

His face is worried and his eyes are dead serious. Questioning her is only natural after what happened.

Ilona closes her eyes and pretends to not hear him.

'Like I can tell you …. I don't know what to do about it … you will just worry more ….' Her head already hurts.

Leo is annoyed but can't help to feel that she just doesn't want to make him more worried …. he was told by her once …" You worry too much for me. It ruins your focus …Forget about me when we are working … Take care of yourself first!"

Her words come as a cold shower every time he remembers them. Like he can not care about her!

'Stupid woman ….' His frowns .

"Give me …some water …." Her eyes open as she mumbles looking at the boy with cold eyes.

Leo lifts himself and walks into the kitchen to take the water. His frustration makes him slam a little the counter near the sink.

'Why did I have to fall for her …..?' A question that even if he knew the answer , it will not make the situation better.

The glass of water is served and Ilona feels her heat subside. Water really helps regaining her energy. Ilona raises herself a little and looks at Leo. He is sitting on a chair as he stares at her.

"What do you want? You saved me so …you have one wish that I can fulfill. "Ilona arranges her hair as she glances at the boy that is struggling to choose one thing from the millions that he has in mind. He was too obvious.

She can't help but giggle mentally. When will he renounce? But she already knows that he will never renounce till he will be killed. She tried to introduce him to girls but no use. Leo was stubborn as hell.

"Say it! Be a man."

Ilona is serious and meets his eyes. Leo sighs and looks calmly as if he already decided. There was no use for touching her if she didn't feel anything.

"I want you to be careful from now on. You have to eat and not use that sword of yours."

Ilona is shifting her gaze and looks at the window. She was planning to use the sword from now on so she can't promise him that.

"Something else." She looks again at him. Leo knows that she can't lie or make empty promises. He frowns and understands that she will never be safe once in her life. Leo lets out a sad smile. As he approaches he takes off the necklace he wears religiously around his neck, under the shirt. It has a small red stone and the material that is made is durable as few scratches are on the lace.

"It was mom's. Please take care of it for me." The girl is frowning but accepts the gift. She looks and can't help to think that she looks exactly like that necklace. Tattered but still in one piece.

Ilona puts it over her head and now the piece rests around her neck as the stone falls on her chest.

"I will take care of it." She looks at Leo as she touches the red stone. Her eyes are expressing how much she will protect the necklace.

Leo is satisfied. Now she will always have him with her. He can die peacefully.

"Never take it off. "Leo closed the distance." I will go, take care."

He leaves as Ilona follows him with her gaze. He respects her. The rule not to talk with one another as they leave the cabin is for all the teammates to follow strictly.Leo knows what will come if people will assume that she welcomes guy in her house.

The redhead lies in bed more and sighs.

'I will go in the army ….'She pats her hair and stretches on a strand.