Limitless Evolution Through Conquering Primal Beauties-Chapter 27 - Confession in the Moonlight

Leonard thought his hearing was malfunctioning.

He stared at Borami blankly, processing the words he had just heard. Leave this house. Kicking me out. What did that mean? Just a moment ago everything had been fine. He had been stroking Borami’s ears, Borami had pretended to sleep, Affection and Lust had increased. Everything had been going well.

So why had it suddenly turned into this?

Leonard tried to remember if he had done something wrong. Had his words earlier been too much? Had he crossed a boundary he should not have crossed? But no, Borami had responded positively. Affection went up. Lust went up. That proved it.

"Why?" he asked, trying to keep his voice calm even though panic churned inside him.

"Why do you suddenly want to kick me out?"

Borami lowered her head anxiously and did not answer.

Leonard waited. But she remained silent.

"Is it because of earlier?" Leonard asked again, his tone softer. "Because I touched your ears and horns without permission?"

He took a breath and continued quickly. "If that is the reason, I am sorry. Really. I will not do it again. I promise that from now on I will not touch anything without your consent first."

Borami shook her head slowly. "That is not it."

Leonard frowned. "If not that, then what?"

Borami lifted her face. Her honey brown eyes were glossy, and there was deep pain in them. She bit her lower lip as if trying to hold something back. Finally, with a voice that nearly broke, she said, "Because... because I am cursed."

Leonard blinked. "What?"

"I really am a cursed woman, Leo." Borami’s voice trembled. "I bring misfortune. Just look at it. You have only stayed with me for one day, and you almost died. What are the chances that you would be attacked by a Mutated Beast on this mountain and nearly..."

She stopped, swallowing hard as she tried to calm herself.

"If you keep staying with me," she continued more quietly, "I am afraid... I am afraid you will really die because of me."

Leonard looked at her. The woman before him now looked so fragile. Her eyes were wet, her shoulders trembling slightly, and her entire body radiated deep sorrow.

"That makes no sense," Leonard said firmly.

Borami looked up in surprise.

"What happened today was just a coincidence," Leonard continued. "It has nothing to do with curses or anything like that. I was just unlucky. That is all."

Borami shook her head, her eyes starting to fill with tears. "No, Leo. You do not understand. This really—"

"What exactly do I need to understand?" Leonard interrupted, his voice rising slightly. "You say you are cursed. Then what? What proof do you have? Your family died. That was because of Hungerman, not because of you. Your husband died. That was a hunting accident, something that could happen to anyone. And me? I was attacked by a giant boar that escaped from a group of hunters. That is not your fault either."

Borami fell silent.

Leonard continued, his tone softer but still firm. "I do not believe in curses. What I see in front of me is a kind woman who just happened to experience a lot of bad luck in her life. That is all."

Borami lowered her head again. Her emotions were in complete chaos, especially after meeting Taron earlier that day.

"Leave, Leo," she whispered. "Before you get hurt too. I do not want... I do not want to lose another person."

Leonard sighed. He gently took Borami’s chin and lifted her face so they were looking at each other.

"Listen, Borami." His blue eyes looked directly into her honey brown ones. "I will leave your house if you truly hate me and want me gone. But I will not leave because of a ridiculous reason like a curse."

Borami’s eyes widened. "You... you are very stubborn."

"Not stubborn." Leonard gave a faint smile. "I just do not believe in nonsense like that."

Borami bit her lip. "Why do you not believe it? Everyone in this village believes it. They all avoid me because—"

"Because they are foolish," Leonard cut in. "They need a scapegoat for their own misfortune. It is easier to blame one person than to accept that life is sometimes unfair."

[ Borami’s Affection: 60% ]

Borami fell silent. Leonard’s words pierced her, yet somehow they felt warm.

"But... but what if—" she tried again.

"I already told you," Leonard interrupted again, his voice firm but gentle. "Curses do not exist. That Mutated Beast attacking me was not your fault. I was just unlucky. That is all."

[ Borami’s Affection: 62% ]

Borami looked at him with watery eyes. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Why... why can you be so sure?"

Leonard smiled. A sincere smile that caused faint lines to appear at the corners of his eyes.

"Because I believe a woman like you does not deserve those curses."

Borami felt her chest tighten. But it was not from pain. Something warm was filling her heart. Those words, the way Leonard said them, the conviction in his eyes. All of it made her almost lose control.

She lowered her head, trying to hide her face.

"How... how can you say something like that?" she whispered.

Leonard shrugged. "I am only saying what I know and believe."

Borami raised her face slightly. Her eyes were still moist, but a faint smile appeared on her lips. A small smile that was almost invisible.

"Are you not afraid of me?" she asked.

Leonard chuckled. "Afraid? Why would I be afraid of you? Are you going to eat me?"

He tried to joke to lighten the mood.

"But you really scared me earlier, you know. When you said you were kicking me out. My heart almost fell out."

Borami gave a faint smile at the joke. But it quickly faded, replaced by a hesitant expression.

"Leo... what if I really am cursed?" she asked quietly. "What if you keep suffering misfortune after misfortune because you stay near me? In the end you will blame me. Hate me. Then become afraid of me."

She swallowed.

"Everyone ends up like that."

Leonard studied Borami’s face carefully. This woman was clearly deeply wounded inside. For years she had lived believing she was cursed, believing everyone close to her would suffer. That belief had made her fragile within, even though she looked strong on the outside.

Leonard answered with complete certainty.

"I already told you that you are not cursed at all. But..." he paused for a moment to make sure Borami was listening, "if I keep experiencing bad luck, and even if I die because of it, I will never blame you. I am completely sure of that."

[ Borami’s Affection: 65% ]

She stared at Leonard with wide eyes, searching for a lie in his face. Looking for any sign that he was just speaking sweet words and would eventually turn on her like everyone else.

But all she saw was conviction. His blue eyes were clear. There was no lie there. The only certainty was that it made her want to cry again.

Leonard continued, his voice softer now.

"I am also sure... that your late husband never blamed you either. Not until the end."

[ Borami’s Affection: 75% ]

Leonard saw the increase, but right now he did not care about it. What mattered was convincing this woman.

Borami gasped. This time she truly lost control. Tears finally streamed down her cheeks. Her hand rose to cover her mouth as she tried to hold back the sob that was about to escape.

But she failed. A small sob slipped through her fingers.

She lowered her head, trying to hide her tear-soaked face. Her other hand wiped the tears roughly, trying to stop them, but they kept flowing.

How is this possible? she thought through the restrained sobs. How can this man say exactly the words I most want to hear?

They had only met two days ago. Yesterday. Yet several times already this man had struck her heart with words that pierced straight into it. As if he could see inside her, as if he understood what she had been hiding alone for years.

For so long she had lived believing she was cursed. People avoided her, whispered behind her back, called her a bringer of misfortune. She accepted it all because she believed they were right. How could she not? Her family died. Two husbands died. Her child died before it was even born. Of course it was all her fault.

But this man... this strange man who appeared from nowhere, who was weak and foolish and knew nothing about this world... this man kept insisting that none of it was her fault.

How could she endure this? How could she not break?

Borami held back her tears with all her strength. She had already cried in front of Leonard this morning. She did not want to cry again. She did not want to look even weaker.

She wiped her tears with the back of her hand again and again until her face was dry, even though her cheeks were still damp. Then she glanced at Leonard from behind her still wet lashes.

"Leo..." Her voice was hoarse. "Why... why can you say all of that to me? We just met. Are you not... judging me too kindly?"

Leonard fell silent.

The question was simple. But the answer... the answer was not simple.

He asked himself the same thing. Why? Why was he so certain? Why did he care so much about this woman?

And the answer came out before he could stop it.

"Because... because I have fallen in love with you."

Leonard froze.

His eyes widened. His mouth opened, wanting to pull those words back, but it was too late. The words were already in the air, already heard by Borami, impossible to take back.

OH GOD, WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST SAY?!