This Time, To The Believed Path
Bad Habit

It has been two months since the events in the palace. In the end, the perpetrator of the blackout incident has still not been found.

Despite the disappearance of Marquis Giovanne, which caused a rift in the politics of the Solfilyan Empire and the Rozen Kingdom, with the return of the Marquis, the matter was resolved peacefully.

By decree of the emperor, the Black Cloak pillar would take over the investigation of the incident and the other pillars could return to their respective posts.

Forde also resumed his fieldwork checking the border.

As the defense of Purple Chain, Marquis Grandall is assigned in border security so often get a mission to check the border of the inner region observing the outer area of the territory or called ‘tebing’.

The cliff is a giant crack in the border between the kingdom of Solfilyan and the kingdom of Welsentein. The cliffs appear when the fifth labyrinth appeared in the world 100 years ago.

Not infrequently also strange events occur in the area around the cliff so that security in the area is very tight like a battlefield. With the emergence of these cracks, now the boundary divides between kingdoms can be seen clearly and make it the absolute boundary separator.

But there was something strange about Forde these few days.

He looked more tired than in the days before. Her face adorned by eye bags was something she had never seen in her first life.

These few days, Forde asked Leana to work beside him and would then work with her one hand wrapped around her body.

Although he focused on the documents before him, his hand did not reduce his strength in the least and made Leana unable to escape from him.

At that time he also only learned that Forde can write neatly using both hands. For the first time Leana felt jealous of her husband.

In the modern world, some say that those who are able to use both hands to write are intelligent. She did not expect to find him right next to her, especially her own husband.

Although Leana's work was faster than Forde's, she felt like she was being defeated from within.

When Leana asked Albert about Forde's condition, he also did not know the cause.

Leana glanced at Forde who was eating her breakfast. He looked as if he was running out of energy. His eyes did not have the spirit light he used to find when the two were together.

Leana stopped eating and opened her voice.

“Forde, are you okay?”

Forde flinched but he immediately tried to calm down and went back to eating his breakfast.

“I'm fine. Just a little tired.” The answer.

Leana raised her eyebrows at Forde's strange demeanor.

“Do not force yourself..” says Leana.

Forde just nodded in silence. Leana continued to stare at Forde who seemed to be hiding her problem from her. But Leana also cannot force Forde if she does not want to tell him.

In her heart Leana makes a plan to have Alscan make a certain potion that can overcome the problems her husband is having.

As usual, the night came.

Today, Leana has completed documents and reports from Alphiella quickly. The exhausted Leana immediately headed for her bed after finishing her bath.

He took off his sandals and went up to the bed

Tok Tok Tok

Leana stopped pulling her blanket and looked at the door of her room. No servant in this mansion will come to him at this hour, that means…

Leana got out of the bed and walked towards the door. As he opened it, Forde was standing in front of his room.

Leana was surprised and looked at Forde closely.

His tired face became clearer in his eyes as time went on. He said nothing and just fell silent like a statue.

“Ford? Why are you standing still in front of here? Is there something you want to talk about?”

“…”

“Forde?”

Forde was silent but Leana felt her husband like he wanted to say something.

Not wanting to let Forde continue to stand, Leana let Forde in. The two sat face to face on the sofa in silence and Forde occasionally glanced at him with his mouth closed.

“Anu, Forde? Is there something you think?”

Forde clenched his hand tightly and closed his eyes as if gathering courage. It was not long before Forde's jade eyes met his purple eyes.

“Leana.”

“I-iya?” leana replied with a slight surprise as Forde suddenly became serious.

“Can I sleep with you?”

Ha's?

Leana's brain stopped working.

Nope. Perhaps he no longer wanted to think because he was too tired and wanted to immediately beat his consciousness to death.

To her surprise, Leana had unknowingly left Forde without an answer.

“Leana... Can't I?” asked Forde with a slight tilt of his head.

Leana immediately pulled a bit of herself to avoid Forde's face being too close to her.

‘In-where did he learn to put up such a pose?! His face is too handsome! Damnit!’

Leana held back the urge to scream at her and tried to firmly grasp her evening dress. She was too tired to face her husband's fanservice.

What's he supposed to do? Accept it? Reject?

‘ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME!!’ inner exclaim Leana, wanting to cry.

Leana was confused but could not hang up her answer any longer and made Forde wait. With great care he answered…

“Ti-it's okay! Let's sleep together!” leana said with her face red.

‘Again just sleeping ‘kan? ‘KAN?!?!’ he nodded in an unsettled manner.

By the time Leana woke up, she was already lying in bed and met Forde's face above her. Leana started panicking and I started losing it.

“Fo-Ford! Ki-we only sleep ‘ right?! Sleeping as usual?!” leana asked with a wave.

Forde did not reply and just looked at him. Leana was not sure what expression her husband was putting on.

Slowly Forde approached. Leana immediately closed the matanyand exclaimed.

“Wait, Forde! Too close! Too de—”

Leana who felt a strange feeling opened her eyes and turned towards Forde who had fallen asleep beside her.

He buried his head on Leana's shoulders and hugged Leana's body closer to him, taking all the distance between them.

“Leana...” call Forde by limp.

“I-Yes?” Leana was surprised.

Forde fell silent for a moment and stroked his forehead onto Leana's shoulder. He also tightened his embrace to make Leana a little tight.

The silence made Leana worry if Forde could hear her unsettled heartbeat.

Doubtfully, Leana grabbed Forde's back and patted him a few times quietly.

“Forde?”

“Leana... these few days... I can't sleep..” Forde said.

Forde's calm breathing made her tension less and Leana kept patting Forde's back to calm herself down.

“I think... by hugging you during the day is enough. but the more days, it feels like I want something more.”.

The limp Forde's voice slowly faded away. 

“I'm sorry, Leana.. but please help me.... for this time...”.

Waiting for Forde to continue her words, Leana realizes that her husband is now asleep.

Unable to move, Leana simply turns herself in and tries to sleep and she hopes the morning comes soon.

***

When morning arrived, Forde's face had returned to his healthy state but not with Leana. He who had been hugged all night by Forde could not sleep in peace.

Not that he was uncomfortable it was just the shock he received when Forde suggested they sleep together making his sensitivity go up and he was always aware of the little things around him.

In the middle of his mind, he could feel Forde moving and the strength of his embrace was slightly reduced.

With a slight annoyance, Leana greeted Forde who had just woken up from her deep sleep.

“Good morning, Forde. I'm glad you seem to get a good night's sleep.”

The still half-conscious Forde stared at Leana nonstop. Not long after that a sweet smile was painted on his face.

“Good morning, my wife. I was so happy to see you when I opened my eyes.”

Leana immediately clenched her hands and tightly closed her eyes. For the umpteenth time he refrained from shouting.

The handsome face of her husband with a sun-like smile that she never received from him was too dazzling to make her eyes hurt.

It was still morning but Leana had spurred the heart like she was running with her life.

After Forde returned to his initial condition, Leana thought Forde's problem was now resolved and he could live his day in peace.

But later that night, he found Forde standing in front of his room as he had the night before. With a doubtful and timid look, he tried to say something to Leana.

Leana let out a small sigh and extended her hand to Forde.

“Mau... sleep together?” bring him.

Forde's eyes sparkled. He grabbed Leana's hand and both of them lay in bed in the same position as yesterday.

Leana was so grateful that they only slept in the same room but she was still not used to having to be hugged all night by her husband.

Too awkward in silence, Leana spoke up.

“Forde weren't you better this morning?”

He could feel Forde's body jolting with his question.

“Sorry, I can't sleep now if I don't hug you..” Forde said slowly.

Leana closed her eyes and took a breath then let it out quietly. Inwardly, she has shed tears of resignation and will try to begin to get used to her husband's new habits.

Sure oes. Somehow Leana seemed to have known the end of this series of events. He can guess it.

“Did you not like sleeping with me, Leana?”

The tone Forde put out was like a frightened child. His embrace also became tighter as if he did not want to let go of himself.

“I... It doesn't matter if you want to sleep together.” replied Leana timidly.

Forde who heard it immediately got up to look at Leana's face stunned.

“Is it okay from now on we sleep together?” ask Forde, confirm.

Leana frowned and immediately looked away. Both her hands insisted on pulling the blanket to cover her flushed face.

“I said it's okay! So you sleep well!”

Forde smiled happily at Leana's reply. He kissed his wife's cheek before dipping her in Leana's hair.

“Thank you Leana. I love you.”

When Forde began to sleep soundly, Leana was already covered in tears because she could not resist her embarrassment.

It seems like even tonight Leana can't sleep well.