Chapter 157: Second Wife? (2)

Leon then turned his attention toward Mira.

He remembered their previous encounters, particularly the time they had crossed paths in the safe-zone corridors of the Lotus Rest Hotel. Even then, she had left a considerable impression on him.

Mira was tall, athletic, and possessed a striking appearance that remained difficult to overlook even after everything she had endured. Her silver hair was currently tied into a loose, disheveled braid, with several strands escaping around her face. Beneath the dirt and exhaustion, her sharp features and observant silver eyes remained remarkably beautiful.

Her dark leather armor had clearly seen better days.

Several sections were torn, while dried monster blood stained the material around her waist and shoulders. Nevertheless, the equipment had survived an entire month of dangerous encounters, suggesting that it possessed considerably more durability than its current appearance implied.

A short, magic-infused curved blade rested against her hip.

Leon recognized the quality of the weapon immediately. Acquiring equipment of that caliber without belonging to an established guild wasn’t easy, especially for someone who had spent most of her time fighting alone.

She had earned it.

Every piece of equipment, every level, and every achievement represented countless dangerous encounters that she had somehow managed to survive.

Leon appreciated that kind of determination.

He had little interest in surrounding himself with helpless individuals who needed constant supervision. Mira had demonstrated that she possessed the intelligence, adaptability, and combat instincts necessary to survive independently. With access to better resources and proper support, there was little doubt she could become considerably stronger.

There were obvious advantages to bringing her into their family.

However, Leon wasn’t particularly interested in pretending that his decision was purely strategic. He found Mira attractive, appreciated her personality, and had no objection to having her closer to him.

The more he considered the proposition, the more appealing it became.

It would be a great loss not to marry Mira, he concluded.

Having reached his decision, Leon finally placed his wooden fork on the table and rose from his cushion.

His movements immediately attracted Mira’s attention.

He walked around the mahogany table, his void-steel-plated boots making barely any sound against the polished bamboo floor. Snow watched him approach with a satisfied smile before gracefully stepping aside, giving her husband and their prospective new family member some privacy.

Leon stopped directly in front of Mira.

At his full height, the difference between them was impossible to ignore. His broad shoulders and imposing physique cast a shadow over her seated figure, while his dual-colored eyes remained fixed on her face.

"Mira."

His deep, resonant voice broke the silence.

She instinctively straightened her back.

"Yes?"

Leon studied her for another moment before speaking.

"It will be my pleasure to marry you."

There was no elaborate declaration, no unnecessary romantic speech, and certainly no hesitation. He simply stated his decision with the same confidence he displayed whenever making an important judgment on the battlefield.

Then he extended his right hand toward her.

"Do you accept?"

Mira stared at his outstretched palm.

For several seconds, she couldn’t find the words to respond. Her silver eyes moved from his hand to his face, taking in the striking combination of his golden and icy-blue irises.

A deep blush gradually spread across her cheeks.

She had spent the past month worrying about monsters, resources, equipment durability, and whether she would survive long enough to reach the next level. Marriage was probably the last thing she expected to discuss, especially while sitting in the estate of someone she had once considered an almost unattainable figure.

Yet here she was.

And the man himself was asking her to become his wife.

An unexpected memory suddenly surfaced in her mind.

It was from their time at the Lotus Rest Hotel, back when they had both been staying in Sector 4. She remembered the luxury hot spring, the steam hanging heavily in the air, and an accidental glimpse of Leon emerging from the water without his usual draconic armor.

Her face grew even hotter.

She remembered considerably more than she would have liked.

Mira discreetly swallowed, her imagination briefly wandering toward the implications of marrying someone with Leon’s physique. Considering the man’s extraordinary proportions, she couldn’t help wondering whether she would be physically capable of keeping up with him.

The thought was simultaneously intimidating and embarrassingly exciting.

However, her attention eventually returned to the man standing before her.

Leon was powerful, certainly, but what mattered more was his control. He possessed enough strength to destroy enormous monsters with his bare hands, yet he could regulate that strength with extraordinary precision.

If there was anyone she could trust not to hurt her, it was him.

And perhaps, after everything she had endured, she was finally ready to stop running from the possibility of having someone she could call her own.

Mira slowly raised her trembling hand.

Her scarred fingers hovered briefly above his open palm before finally settling against it.

"I..."

Her voice cracked.

She cleared her throat, gathering what remained of her composure before raising her head to meet his gaze.

"I accept."

Her fingers closed around his hand.

"I will marry you, Leon."

For a brief moment, the entire room seemed to fall silent.

Then Leon gently tightened his grip, his thumb brushing across the back of her hand. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips, softening the otherwise imposing features of the Vanguard.

Mira felt an unfamiliar warmth spreading through her chest.

For days, she had lived with the constant awareness that any mistake could cost her life. Every night had brought uncertainty, every journey another potential encounter with something capable of tearing her apart.

She had survived through determination, caution, and an unwillingness to surrender.

But now, sitting in front of Leon, she felt something she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

Relief.

She no longer had to face everything alone.

"Wonderful!"

Snow’s cheerful voice immediately shattered the silence.

She clapped her hands together, practically bouncing on her feet as her crystalline blue eyes sparkled with excitement.

"So it’s official! Welcome to the family, Mira!"

The white-haired woman approached them with an enormous smile, seemingly more excited about the arrangement than either of the people actually getting married.

Mira couldn’t help smiling.

"Thank you, Snow."

"Don’t mention it!" Snow replied enthusiastically. "And you can stop worrying about all that awkward stuff. We’re family now, so you can talk to me about anything!"

Leon glanced at his wife, briefly wondering how many more surprises she intended to introduce into their household.

However, before Mira could respond, he gently pulled her closer.

Her eyes widened as he leaned down, one hand settling against her waist while his other remained intertwined with hers. She barely had time to process his intention before his lips met hers.

Mira stiffened for an instant, completely caught off guard.

Then, gradually, she relaxed into his embrace, allowing herself to enjoy the warmth of the moment.

Across the room, Snow watched with an overwhelmingly satisfied smile.

It seemed their family had just gained another member.