A Secret Between Us

Leon nodded. His golden eyes were calm, but they held something sharp behind them. "Now, little maid… feel the energy around me."

Aria tilted her head, confused. "Feel… your energy?"

She hesitated, then reached out with her senses. Her brow tensed. Her lips parted a little.

"…It feels… strange. Dull. Like it's muffled. It's like…"

She gulped, her voice shaky as her gaze locked onto his golden eyes.

"Y-You're at the Mortal Realm."

Silence filled the room.

Leon gave a slow nod.

Aria gasped. Her hands trembled, as if the ground under her had crumbled. "H-How… How, my lord?!"

Desperate to make sense of it, she grabbed his hand tight, pouring her mana into him. She needed to feel it for herself.

And again—her purple eyes widened.

"This… this isn't possible! Y-Your cultivation was Grandmaster Realm, but now it's barely even Mortal! How—why—?!"

Leon didn't move. His face stayed still, but his voice carried a quiet weight.

"Listen to me, Aria."

She looked up. Those golden eyes that usually teased… were serious now. Soft, steady.

"You and Rias… you've always stayed beside me. You two… you're my only family."

Her lips parted. Stunned. Her heart thumped loud inside her chest. Family? To him, she was just a maid… and yet, to him, she was more?

That truth stirred something warm inside her. Her eyes shined.

"But there's something you and Rias don't know," Leon went on, voice heavier now. "Something I never told either of you. I have… a very grave disease."

Aria's face changed at once. Panic filled her eyes. "A disease…?" she whispered, breathless.

Leon flinched a little inside. Of course, it wasn't a real illness. It was shame. He could never tell her he'd once had erectile dysfunction. So, he lied—but with pain deep enough to make it real.

"No…" Aria stepped off the table and rushed to him, clutching both his hands. "My lord, why didn't you tell me?! I'll call every doctor and healer in the Moonstone Kingdom! If that's not enough, I'll take you to the Empire myself. We'll fix this!"

Her voice shook. Her eyes were wide with panic. That look—pure, raw concern—touched something soft in Leon's chest.

He raised a finger and gently placed it on her lips.

She froze.

"Shh," he whispered. "Just listen to me, little maid."

Aria nodded slowly, her eyes locked on his.

"I don't know what kind of disease it is… but it was draining my vitality. I would've died, sooner or later. But I got lucky. I found something strange… a power that healed my body."

Aria gasped, relief rushing through her face.

"But…" Leon paused, his voice lower, full of regret, "it came at a cost."

She frowned. "Cost…? What cost, my lord?"

Leon looked down at his palm, then closed it into a fist.

"My cultivation. Everything I built. All gone in a moment."

Aria gasped again. Her hand flew to her lips. "You gave up your cultivation to heal yourself…?"

He nodded. Slow and steady. "I poured everything into that power. All my hard work… gone."

For a few seconds, Aria was quiet. Then, softly, she reached out and held his hand in hers again.

"My lord… then we'll build it back," she said. Her voice was firm. "Even if it costs me my life, I'll protect you until you rise again."

Leon blinked. Her words caught him off guard. A small smile tugged at his lips.

"You really are something, little maid," he whispered.

She looked confused. Then—"Eek!"—let out a squeak as he pinched her nose lightly.

"You're adorable when you say stuff like that."

Aria turned bright red.

Leon laughed under his breath, but then his tone shifted again.

"There is… one way to regain strength faster."

Aria straightened. "What is it, my lord?"

Leon leaned in, his golden eyes playful but darker now. His hands circled her waist, pulling her close. She landed softly between his knees.

"If I sleep with a woman stronger than me… I absorb her energy and grow stronger."

Silence.

Aria blinked once. Then twice.

Then her face turned beet red.

"M-My lord… you mean… you need to… f-fuck to get stronger?" she stammered.

Leon grinned. "That's exactly what I mean."

Her mouth fell open. No sound came. The idea was strange. Wild. Perverted, even. But… if it helped him…

She swallowed. Her thoughts spun. Her heart beat fast in her chest.

Leon's voice dropped—deep, soft, and full of heat. "So, little maid… will you help me?"

He brushed back her purple hair, his voice close to her skin.

Her eyes fluttered closed. His hand slid lower, squeezing the soft curve of her rear again.

"I… If it helps you, then…" she breathed, voice shaking, "I-I'm ready."

Leon smirked. His grip on her hips firmed. She moaned faintly, biting her lip.

"But," he added, eyes glinting with mischief, "are you doing it to help me… or because you want me?"

"I—It's not like that!" she cried, cheeks burning brighter. "I… I just want to help, my lord!"

Leon leaned even closer. Their lips barely apart.

"Then say it," he whispered. "Say you desire me."

Aria's voice trembled. "I-I do… desire you, my lord…"

His golden eyes gleamed, warm and pleased. That heavy tone from before melted into something softer. But just before their lips met, he paused.

"Aria," he said, firmer now, "what I told you—don't tell Rias. Not yet."

Aria's eyes opened wide. She nodded quickly.

"I understand, my lord. Young Mistress… she would panic. She loves you deeply—I won't worry her. I swear."

Leon smiled at last. Then kissed her. Soft. Slow. Full of quiet thanks, of something tender…

And something new.

Something just beginning to grow.