Endless Leveling Done Right!

Chapter 731: A Spark Of Courage

“Are you alright?” Alex asked as he danced with the elven princess. “Your hand is cold to the touch.”

“And your hand is warm,” Lapiz replied. “I like it.”

Alex didn’t know why he found Lapiz so endearing right now. The way she smiled and looked at him seemed very different from how she normally interacted with him.

“Alex, did you have any regrets in your life?” Lapiz asked as she followed her partner’s lead. “If you find this question sudden or inappropriate, feel free to ignore my question.”

“I do have regrets in life,” Alex answered. “I regretted not telling someone how I feel about her. That regret truly weighed on me at one point in my life.

“I always asked myself, ‘What would have happened if I just told her how I felt at the time?’

“Unfortunately, I can’t turn back time. The feelings and the words that I didn’t say to her that day is something that I will forever carry in my heart.”

“Who is that person?” Lapiz inquired.

“My Guild Master,” Alex answered.

“A Guild Master?” Lapiz inquired. “Like the leader of the Hunter and Merchant’s Guild?”

“Something like that.”

“I see…”

Lapiz could see the regret in Alex’s expression after being reminded about something sad in his life.

“I’m sorry,” Lapiz said. “It seems I made you recall a sad memory.”

“It’s fine,” Alex replied.

“You know, when people say it’s fine, they don’t really mean that they’re fine,” Lapiz stated. “I know because I always use that reply.”

Alex held the young lady’s hand a little tighter. He already knew that even if she didn’t tell him.

To be honest, he was surprised because Lapiz had taken the initiative to start a conversation with him.

Usually, she was more reserved, only answering if someone talked to her first.

“Alex, did you also confess to me because you didn’t want to feel any regret?” Lapiz inquired.

“Yes,” Alex replied. “You are very precious to me, Lapiz. More than you’ll ever know.”

Aeris watched as the two teenagers danced on the dance floor.

She could read lips, but whenever Lapiz asked Alex a question, it was perfectly timed to whenever Alex’s body was blocking her view from her sister.

The elven princess had strategically timed her questions, making sure that her sister wouldn’t know anything about their conversation.

And since Alex had his back facing her, Aeris also couldn’t read his lips and know what they were talking about.

Lapiz could sense her sister’s gaze locking onto her body, but she no longer cared. It was as if the cage that had locked her away had finally been opened, allowing her to step out and spread her wings before flying to the sky.

It was a very liberating feeling, and she felt like she could do anything.

Yet, this happiness she was feeling was incomplete.

Why?

Because her mother, whom she loved very much, was not here to see this moment.

“Alex, I trust you,” Lapiz said, no longer caring if Aeris could read her lips or not. “Please save my mother.”

“I will,” Alex replied. “I will do everything in my power to save her.”

Lapiz lowered her head for a moment after hearing Alex’s promise.

The music continued to play softly around them. But for the elven princess, everything else seemed distant.

Why? Because for the first time in a very long while, someone had looked her in the eyes and promised to fight for something precious to her.

“Thank you,” Lapiz whispered.

Alex smiled. “You don’t need to thank me.”

“I do.” Lapiz shook her head lightly. “You don’t understand.”

Her fingers tightened around his hand, which took him by surprise.

“Many people have offered me sympathy,” Lapiz said softly, a faint sadness appearing on her face. “Many people have told me that Mother would return someday. My father, my sister, and my brother believed it to be so. However, seven years have already passed since we last saw her.”

The young lady bit her lip, doing her best to take control of her emotions lest she tear up at this moment.

“But no one but you have told me that they would do everything in their power to save her and bring her back to us.”

Alex didn’t know how to react or what to say to the young lady’s heartfelt words. Sometimes, there were moments when words were unnecessary.

Instead of speaking, he pulled her closer to him so that she could rest her head on his chest.

The two continued to dance in silence for several seconds after that.

Then, unexpectedly, Lapiz chuckled, which caught Alex off guard.

“Lapiz?” Alex asked, worrying that his partner might be crying and just laughed in order to hide it.

“It’s nothing,” Lapiz replied.

“It doesn’t sound like it’s nothing.” Alex gave her a worried look.

“It really is nothing.” Lapiz smiled. “I was just thinking what would have happened if I met you sooner. Maybe you won’t have as many lovers as you have now.”

Alex really didn’t know how to react or what to say after seeing her playful gaze. However, the young lady was still not finished in saying what she had to say.

“Most people become interested in me because I’m an elven princess,” Lapiz said. “But when you look at me, I don’t feel like you’re seeing a princess.”

Alex blinked. “Then what do you think I see?”

Lapiz thought about it for a moment before answering honestly, “A pitiful, lonely girl.”

The young man froze. For a brief second, he wondered if she had somehow read his thoughts.

Because if he were honest with himself…

That was exactly what he saw.

Not the Second Princess of the Elven Kingdom.

Not the beautiful girl whom countless nobles admired.

Not the hard working student, who sometimes studied until late at night to make sure that she was prepared for the next day.

Instead, what he saw was a girl who constantly compared herself to her perfect sister.

A girl who never believed she was enough.

A girl who desperately wanted someone to tell her that she didn’t need to become someone else just to be worthy of love.

Lapiz smiled after seeing the expression on Alex’s face. “I was right, wasn’t I?”

Alex didn’t have the heart to lie to her and nodded.

“Yes.”

“Mmm.”

The elven princess looked pleased with his answer. She was deeply fond of honest people. And for some reason, knowing that Alex understood her made her heart feel warm.

The song slowly approached its end.

Sensing this, she felt a little sad. She wasn’t ready for this moment to end.

Not yet.

However, she knew that all dances eventually came to an end.

As the final melody of the song echoed throughout the ballroom, Alex gently pulled her closer before guiding her into a graceful spin.

Lapiz’s silver hair fluttered beautifully behind her, which prompted several nearby nobles to stare at her.

They even thought that they looked good together. Better than when Alex and Aeris danced.

When the music finally ended, applause erupted throughout the hall.

Alex bowed politely.

While Lapiz curtsied.

The dance was over.

Yet both of them felt like something had just begun.

Alex then reached out his hand to escort her back to the side of the ballroom.

“Alex,” Lapiz said after holding his hand.

“Yes?” Alex asked.

“…If.” Lapiz hesitated, but not wanting to regret things any longer, she gathered her courage and spoke what was on her mind. “If we save Mother…”

Alex watched as Lapiz’s cheeks turned slightly pink as she finished what she wanted to say.

“Will you dance with me again?”

A smile appeared on Alex’s face. The kind of smile that made her heart skip a beat.

“Of course.”

“Good.”

Lapiz smiled brightly.

A smile that she hadn’t shown anyone else in the past. After all, she rarely felt this truly happy.

But now, after seeing her smile, Alex could tell that the young lady, who always felt she was inferior, had truly taken that step to face the world with a spark of courage in her heart.