Instead, it seemed she was more interested in Leokas than anyone else. Traveling back, she spent the whole time talking to him while he just listened as they walked side by side.

From what she said, Leokas learned that like him, Aria was a noble. However, she was the youngest child and had many older brothers and sisters. Because of this, her family wasn’t strict on noble practices with Aria and wasn’t given many family resources since among nobles, they were more middle class.

But Aria didn’t mind. Instead, she preferred it this way since it gave her more freedom to do what she wanted. While her elder brothers and sisters were studying and training, she took an interest in the arts. Singing, music, dancing and even writing poems, her interest grew into a passion.

While her brothers and sisters became knights, mages, tax collectors and councilmen, she would be found in a plaza, dancing to the music and at other times, be the one playing music while others danced.

Whenever a celebration was held at House Ashford, she would liven up the place with her positive attitude. She would bring music and have others dance along with her. Her lifestyle was carefree and cheerful.

Once she was a young adult, she decided to set off into the world. She became a traveler, adventuring the different lands and learning of their different cultures, food, music, and dances. She spent years traveling and staying in different places. She learned different instruments and met many different people.

While away from home, she sent letters letting her family know of her journey. And finally, when she was ready, she decided to return home. She set off with a merchant group that had other travelers and guards escorting them.

However, on their way to Kandarynd, the group was attacked by bandits. All the men were killed while the women were taken to their hideout and were violated by them.

However, the bandit leader was astounded by Aria’s beauty and thought to use her differently. He decided that he’d get paid a substantial amount of coins by selling Aria to a noble who liked breaking pretty women and their spirits that were willing to buy her for a high price. Thus, he ordered the other bandits not to touch her to keep the “product” clean and pure.

But his plan was disrupted when Leokas and his comrades defeated the leader and the other bandits.

---

Leokas listened to Aria telling her life story to him. In truth, he enjoyed her company and hearing her stories of when she visited different nations. It reminded him of the adventures he would go on, which he told to Aria once she was done telling her own stories.

She was captivated listening to Leokas’ adventures, she felt as if she was right there with him on his journeys. Slowly, she began to realize her heart bear would quicken when she would glance at him and realized that she had begun to have feelings for him. In fact, it was so obvious, even the knights behind them could tell. Even Leokas could tell how she felt because Aria made the same look Liera did when she became interested in him.

Once they arrived at the kingdom’s capital, the bandits were handed over, Leokas and his men split the bounty rewards they received and then decided to give it to the women. They knew it couldn’t make them feel any better or entirely compensate for what’s happened to them, but perhaps this can help them and any of their family to a better future.

The Queen took the women and handed them over to some personnel to help them get back to their original lives, as close as they could be. After a period of time and healing, some women returned home to their families. Others devoted themselves to the gods and goddesses becoming priestesses or knights. Some became friends during their time together and decided to be with one another and travel.

Aria returned to House Ashford, who’ve lived in the capital. But before leaving, she wanted to see Leokas again and tell him her feelings for him. And so, before they departed, Aria confessed her feelings to Leokas.

Aria was confident that Leokas was interested in her as well. That’s why she was even more surprised after listening to Leokas’ next words.

“Thank you, Aria, truly. But I don’t believe I deserve someone like you. Goodbye,” Leokas said as he abruptly left.

Aria stood dumbfounded at what just happened. Were her feelings just… rejected? This was the first time for her. Usually, she’d be the one being confessed to and rejecting the other person. Now that she was the one rejected, she felt different. This was something new to her, something different. Yes, this only just further encouraged her to be with Leokas.

She returned home for the first time in many years. Her family celebrated and listened to her many stories and adventures of her time traveling. After she was done, she asked her family about Leokas Nightwell. From them, she learned that he was a widower since his wife passed away.

She learned of his family, his son, and daughter. She was saddened and teared up a bit hearing about what happened to his wife and how he drowned himself in work to the point of neglecting his children. Although they had just met that day, Aria felt a special connection to someone for the first time in her life. Living free spiritedly and traveling was fun and all, but now she wanted to settle down and felt that being with Leokas would make her happy.

The following days, Aria would spend her time frequently interacting with Leokas. At first, Leokas thought she would leave him alone after rejecting her feelings towards him, but he was wrong. At first, having Aria around him was nice, having someone to talk to was interesting after all. But after a while, he began to find her presence slightly troublesome.

But for some reason, he couldn’t tell her to just leave him alone. His annoyance became tolerance, and he became used to having her as company.

She would always come to visit him to play songs and dance. She would tell stories from her journey that would always manage to make him smile. The songs she would sing were always pleasing to the ear, and he would miss her music if he didn’t hear her for a day. Bit by bit, the walls in his heart were being torn down by this cheerful, music-loving girl.

Even his children noticed his changes. Magnus and Jaina saw that their father’s mood and demeanor was improving day by day. They agreed with each other that the cause of this was the beautiful lady that’s been with him recently, Aria Ashford. Magnus and Jaina were wary of Aria at first, but over time, they saw that she was a woman worthy of their father.

Aria treated Magnus and Jaina good-heartedly. She would play songs on her flute that helped soothed the bookworm, Magnus, whenever he would have headaches from reading too much. She taught the muscle-head Jaina how to dance and act more feminine like. Overall, Aria lovingly treated them as her own.

Although she would never replace the memories of their mother, Liera, Aria’s kind and joyful demeanor was captivating.

Then one fateful night, Aria sang a song she’d written that managed to capture Leokas’ heart.

In a soft falsetto voice, while slowly playing a wooden mandolin, she sang.

“Wind blows, leaves fly

Laying under moonlight.

Silence, eyes closed

Holding hands ‘till daylight.”

“In your eyes, tears flowed

All this without any words.

Held you, in my arms

Waiting for an answer.”

“When I take my last breath

Your eyes are all I see.

When I asked you

To live a life with me.”

“And when the daylight dies down

Leaving nothing in the sky.

But I don’t mind.

If I’m with you, then everything’s just fine.”

Aria continued to sing and play while Leokas listened.

As he listened, he noticed a certain moisture sliding down his face. He lifted a finger to wipe it away and noticed what it was.

Was he… crying? He was.

During the song, memories of him and Liera together flooded his mind. The hard times, the sad times, the happy times, and the loving times.

He missed her.

But through the song, he realized if Liera saw how Leokas was now, she’d be disappointed in him.

Apathetic every day? Mourning the loss of a loved one for this long? Liera wouldn’t have wanted that. She would have wanted Leokas to live his life to the fullest with their children.

Although she was gone, if Leokas didn’t forget the memories he’s made with her, Liera would never truly be dead, would she? He’d finally understood this.

Aria finished playing the song and her eyes moved to Leokas. What she saw was a man with red swelling eyes with tears flowing down them. Looks like her idea worked. She wanted Leokas to understand his love for Liera and her passing, learning to grow from it. She smiled at him.

Leokas moved towards Aria, “Aria… I–”

Aria quickly covered his mouth and said, “I know. You still love Liera, and no amount of time can change that.”

She looked directly into his eyes as hers began to tear, “However, if I could only occupy a small space in your heart, then nothing else would satisfy me more in this life.”

Leokas understood what she said and stayed still for a moment. Then, with a look of determination and conviction, he took Aria into his arms and their lips touched.

Aria was startled at first at Leokas’ actions. Slowly, she gave into him and placed her arms around his neck, hugging him.

The fateful moonlight shone on the two.