The World Is Mine For The Taking

Chapter 522 - 83 - The Invitation (3)

Martha and I walked side by side through the garden at the Leonamon. It was a private retreat, created for those rare occasions when a prominent figure might want to meet with me. Thankfully, I’d never really needed to use it for that purpose.

"I like the flowers in this garden," Martha said softly as we strolled along. "They somehow calm me down."

"Really?" I replied, glancing at her.

"Yes." She nodded with a faint smile. "The atmosphere here is so calm and gentle. It doesn’t even feel like it’s part of your company."

"I see... That actually makes me happy to hear. My sister loved flowers, so I made this garden with her in mind."

Martha looked at me with a hint of surprise. "I never thought you had a sister."

I was referring to my sister from my past life, but I couldn’t exactly explain that she was gone now. Luckily, I had a sister in this world too. Stay connected with novelhall.Côm

"I have many, apparently."

"Apparently?" she laughed softly. "Why do you say it like you’re not even sure?"@@@@

I shrugged. I was certain I had other sisters besides Elise, though I hadn’t met them yet.

"Oh? What’s this? Is this supposed to be a swing?" she asked, pointing ahead.

"Yes," I said. "Though it’s not just any swing—it can hold four people at once."

It was a canopy swing, sturdy and spacious, nothing like the flimsy ones meant for just a single person.

"Can I sit on it? It’s not going to break, is it?" she asked, a little hesitant.

"It’s perfectly safe. Don’t worry," I assured her.

With that, Martha eased herself onto the swing.

"Whoa... It’s so balanced! This is amazing. Can it really hold more people?"

"Yes," I replied. "It’s built for that."

"Then come here and sit with me," she said, patting the seat beside her.

Like a bee drawn to nectar, I moved closer and sat down next to her.

"It really is balanced," she said with a soft giggle.

Hearing her laugh like that warmed my heart. It reassured me that she was okay now—or at least, I hoped she was. There didn’t seem to be anything wrong, but I couldn’t shake the fear that she might just be hiding it well. My sister had been like that too. I never noticed anything was off until she took her own life.

"Leon," Martha’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. "I’ve heard you’ve been supporting me all this time. Thank you."

"I just don’t want you to suffer," I said honestly. "I want to help you as much as I can because... you’re special to me."

But this wasn’t Kana-nee.

I was back in the present. This was the world I lived in now, and the person in my arms wasn’t my sister. It was Martha.

I clung to her tightly, tears spilling down my face. No matter how much time had passed, the memory of that day still haunted me—the silhouette of her body swinging like a pendulum burned into my mind. It was a pain that never dulled. And now, faced with someone who so deeply resembled her, I couldn’t stop myself from breaking down.

"Leon...?" Martha whispered. She didn’t know why I was crying, but she didn’t let me go. Her hand gently rubbed the back of my head, soothing me.

Even the way she comforted me was just like Kana-nee.

I didn’t want to hope, but I couldn’t help it. Some part of me couldn’t shake the thought that she might be the reincarnation of my sister.

After a while, I pulled myself away from her.

"I’m sorry for breaking down like that. It must’ve been weird, right?" I said.

"It’s fine," Martha replied with a gentle smile. "Honestly, I’m grateful you showed me such a vulnerable side. I always thought of you as someone so strong, Leon, so it’s kind of shocking to see you break down like that. Not that breaking down is a good thing, but... I’m glad you trust me enough to let me see you like this."

"Now that I’ve let it all out, I feel so embarrassed," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.

This was the first time I’d cried in this world. I hadn’t even shed tears when I was a baby here. Somehow, all the sadness that had been bottled up inside me had poured out in that moment.

"Leon, if you’re ever having a hard time, come to me. I’ll always offer my shoulder," Martha said, her tone warm and comforting. "Keeping it all bottled up will only make you explode eventually."

I chuckled lightly. "Alright," I said. "But the same goes for you. Don’t keep things to yourself or do anything drastic, okay? You can lean on me too. I might not look it, but I’m pretty reliable, you know?"

If she ever felt hopeless, if she ever considered taking her life, I wanted her to remember that I was always here. I’d be by her side, no matter what.

"Okay," she said softly, her smile glowing with trust. "I’m counting on you."

***

I was fully dressed for the wedding. My suit looked fantastic—not overly extravagant, but sharp enough to stand out. It was something a middle-class guy could afford, yet it fit me perfectly. I stood in front of the mirror, taking in the reflection. Damn, I looked good.

"Fufufu! I’ve done a great job, haven’t I?" Krista said, beaming with pride.

"You’ve done an amazing job," I said, admiring her handiwork.

"If that’s the case, can I get a reward for all my hard work?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Of course," I said with a grin. "What do you want as your reward?"

Her smile widened, practically stretching from ear to ear. "I’ll have to think about it for a bit, but you better be ready to deliver, alright?"

I had no idea what she’d come up with that needed so much thought, but whatever it was, I’d make sure to give it to her.

"Sure," I replied.

With that, the preparations for the wedding were complete, and it was finally time to head to the venue.