Leveling Up by Seducing Milfs-Chapter 78. The Knight’s Confession

The medical room at the Divine Temple was quiet except for the soft light from the healing crystals that were set into the walls. Carmilla was lying in the recovery bed, her body completely healed thanks to Liora’s powerful divine magic and Sylvia’s aggressive dragon healing working together.

The wounds on the body were gone, where the bruises went away, bones healed, and cuts closed up without leaving scars. But Rick could tell through their restored Spirit Bond that something else inside her was still broken, something that healing magic couldn’t fix.

He had pulled a chair up next to her bed and wouldn’t leave, even though Liora gently told him to. That was twelve hours ago, and now the sun had set, night had come, and dawn was coming again. Rick stayed and watched Carmilla’s face in the soft light of the crystal.

She was acting like she was asleep. Her breathing was too steady, and her body was too still.

Rick could feel the turmoil inside her through the bond. She couldn’t seem to untie the knot of anxiety, fear, shame, and relief.

Rick said softly, "I know you’re awake."

Carmilla’s eyes opened right away, which proved his point. Her orange eyes looked almost weak in the low light, as if the confidence of a seasoned warrior that she usually wore like armor was gone.

Carmilla said, "You should rest." Her voice was rough from not being used. "You fought hard to save me, and now your body also needs time to heal."

Rick said, "You did too. And you were taken hostage because of me. I can at least check on you to make sure you’re okay."

"That’s not your fault—"

"It IS." Rick leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. "They wanted me, Carmilla!"

"You were just a tool used for bait! You got hurt, got caught, and got that collar put on you that broke our bond. All because being close to me makes you a target."

"How is that not my fault?"

Carmilla sat up quickly, and the blankets fell to her waist. The plain white recovery gown she was wearing made her look smaller, like a woman who had been through something awful, not like the big knight who had saved Rick in the Forgotten Sanctum.

"Do you know what I was thinking?" Carmilla asked, her voice tense. "Do you remember when I was chained to that beam and the collar prevented me from reaching you?"

Rick waited, knowing she needed to say this.

"I thought to myself, ’This is how I will lose him.’" Carmilla clutched the blankets tightly. "Not to battles... Not to dragons, or perilous trials, or an impossible quest, but to my own weakness."

"I thought you’d realize I’m not strong enough to stand beside the Hero of Mature Hearts. That I’m just a... dead weight."

"What? Carmilla, you’re not—"

"I AM!" The words came out of her mouth like an explosion, years of hidden insecurity coming to the surface. "I couldn’t keep myself safe!"

"I was attacked in an alley like some new adventurer! And then I needed YOU to help ME!"

"I’m the veteran knight who’s supposed to protect you, but I got caught like a helpless damsel in a stupid fairy tale!"

Rick saw tears welling up in her eyes as her voice broke at the last word. Carmilla never shed a tear before, and it’s the first time for Rick to see it with his eyes.

He had witnessed her confront monsters, endure brutal training, and suppress her grief over her deceased husband in favor of duty and determination. But now, in this quiet room, her walls were falling down.

Rick took her hands and felt how they shook even though she was trying to stay calm. "Please, Carmilla... you have to listen to what I’m about to say."

"You killed four trained Shadow Covenant operatives before they could stop you. I saw the proof! The blood on the walls and the bodies that were dragged away serve as evidence of your actions.

"You fought like a demon as soon as that collar came off and you got your strength back. Don’t ever call yourself weak again because it’s not true!"

Carmilla shook her head hard. "But I was so scared... not of dying..."

"I’ve faced death before and accepted that it is inevitable. But Rick, what truly terrified me was the thought of never seeing you again. The fear of dying in that quarry and knowing you would feel it through our bond. The idea of leaving you to handle all of these emotions alone was unbearable."

The tears finally came, silently and steadily, down her cheeks. "I lost my husband five years ago. I saw him die in my arms from wounds I couldn’t heal."

"I promised myself that I would never let myself get that close to someone again because the pain was too much to bear, but then you came along with your dumb smile, your kind heart, and your complete lack of self-preservation, and I..."

She wasn’t able to finish. The sobs took over, shaking her body with the power of the feelings she’d been hiding since the day she was caught.

Perhaps it had been since the moment she realized she was falling for Rick, despite every logical part of her brain warning her that loving again was too dangerous.

Rick didn’t say a word. He just held her in his arms and let her cry.

One hand stroked her crimson hair while the other rubbed her back in circles to calm her down. He put everything he felt into their connection through the Spirit Bond. There was love, acceptance, a strong commitment, and the absolute certainty that she was irreplaceable.

Rick said softly, "You won’t lose me," when her sobs turned into shaky breaths. "I promise you that."

"You don’t know that," Carmilla said softly against his chest. "You are the Hero of Mature Hearts."

"You fight dragons, go through deadly trials, and collect Major Powers like they’re rare treasures. There is danger every day. I don’t know if I can handle being left behind again if you don’t come back one day."

Rick gently moved her head so she could see him. She had red eyes and a blotchy face, and he had never seen her look more beautiful.

Rick said firmly, "Then I’ll make sure I always come back... because I love you, Carmilla."

Carmilla stopped moving, her breath caught. "What...?"

"I love you." Rick looked her in the eye, wanting her to see the truth in his eyes. "Not just love, physical attraction, or gratitude for saving me that first day."

"I mean it like LOVE! Love that is real and true, and I want to spend my life with you."

"You are strong, caring, and protective, and you make me want to be a better person."

"You believed in me when I was nothing, and you still believe in me even when I do dumb things. How could I not love you?"

The dam broke all the way. Carmilla’s walls, which she had carefully built over five years of sadness and loneliness, came crashing down.

She grabbed Rick’s face and kissed him hard, letting out years of feelings that she had kept inside. It was perfect, even though it was messy and had tears on it.

Rick kissed her back just as hard, and his hands got caught in her hair. Their feelings crashed together like waves through the Spirit Bond.

Carmilla was relieved and needed to know that he was real and there for her. Rick’s love, his determination to show her he’d never leave, and his own desperate need to show her how much she meant to him.

When they finally let go of each other, both of them were breathing hard. Carmilla pressed her forehead against his.

"I love you too," she said softly. "I’ve been trying not to for weeks because I was scared, but I can’t stop."

"Rick Rolland, I love you. Even though you drive me crazy with how careless you are, how bad your battle cries are, and how you can’t say no to a woman in need."

"Hey, come on now..." Rick laughed, which made the tension go away. "My battle cries aren’t that bad."

"You called us your baddies... you really are hungry for older women like us, huh?"

"I was upset!"

"You called those older women Pouchmon. What even is that...?"

"Okay, that was bad."

They sat together for a long time, just holding each other. The bond between them was strong and full of happiness. Carmilla’s Guardian’s Resolve ability was almost purring through the connection, pleased that Rick was safe and close.

"Stay with me tonight," Carmilla said in a low voice. "Not because of duty, safety, or the bond network."

"I just need to know you’re really here, to ensure this isn’t a dream that I’ll wake up from."

Rick said, "I’ll stay as long as you need me."

"Always," Carmilla corrected, wrapping her arms around him more tightly.

"I need you to always be there."