Page 213 of DATE
Leonardo looked up in shock, instinctively wanting to defend Sarai. "Sarai is just too young and mischievous. He's kind at heart—when I’m tired, he even tiptoes to help massage my shoulders. He’s a good boy, Hedy."
Hedy frowned and shook her head. "We’ve already had an open conversation about this."
"Stealing once can be a lesson, but the second time, we should send him away."
Leonardo, perhaps due to the association with the word "abandon," pressed his hand to his forehead, feeling conflicted and disheartened.
"Hedy, give him one more chance."
"We've never denied him food or clothing. He does these things just out of playfulness."
"Isn't that even more dangerous?" Hedy countered. "Do you really think he’ll repent?"
She opened the door, allowing the child to step out.
Sarai once again appeared with that angelic, innocent, and pitiful expression, still sobbing softly. He was clearly frightened, first glancing at Hedy in panic before running back into Leonardo's arms.
"Do you know what you did wrong?" Leonardo's tone was a mix of reproach and concern. "There can't be a next time, do you understand?"
But after the next time, would there be another?
"No." Hedy could sense his desire to smooth things over, and her tone was calm yet cold. "He needs to go."
Her words could not lose their effectiveness. If she gave in today, there would be no deterrent in the future, and it would be like the words were just drifting in the wind.
Moreover, this boy had never even apologized once, not after being caught, not after seeing her pay the gold coins. She owed him nothing.
"I’ll have Dechio send him away tonight."
She couldn’t allow such an unstable factor to remain in her environment—especially since this child was never really in the position of being someone she had to care for or nurture.
"Hedy—can we talk about this tomorrow?" Leonardo shielded him, trying to be as gentle as possible with her emotions. "We don’t have to rush. Let’s take it easy tonight. You’re tired, aren’t you?"
Hedy suddenly laughed.
She had actually been thinking about telling him where she came from, even attempting to approach him as if she were like a modern person, trying to connect and understand him.
"Alright." She spoke softly. "You both rest well tonight."
In that moment, Hedy suddenly realized that perhaps it was because she had been too lenient with him in the past that he had become like that child.
He dragged her to dissect corpses, complained about the church in front of her, refused to paint when he was feeling lazy, all while yearning for her approval and acceptance.
He was a little selfish, and he liked to act spoiled.
— He was protecting that shameless child because he knew she would let him have his way.
But she didn’t like playing that role anymore, and she had no intention of continuing it.
For the first time, when she returned to her bedroom, she locked the door and drew all the curtains shut.
Lying on the soft bed, Hedy closed her eyes and tried to calm her emotions, letting out a long sigh.
She knew why she was angry.
From her birthday until now, she had always thought he had feelings for her.
Although she didn’t want to admit it, she had been moved by him and even considered getting closer to him.
