My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

Chapter 446 The Pitiful and Exhausted Arshley

"Hah... I'm completely exhausted..."

In her workspace, Arshley let out a small sigh, her face weary. She stared at the pile of documents on her desk, irritation creeping in.

It had been over two months since Velix's death and the fall of the Holy Empire of Elysium, and now, she was officially recognized as the true leader of mankind.

But was it really that simple? Of course not.

In these two months, the once-destroyed Imperial Palace had been rebuilt, serving as her second residence after the Holy Orthodox Hall.

Here, she was responsible for restoring order to the cities thrown into chaos by the empire's downfall.

Though Velix had been overthrown, the aftermath of the rebellion remained severe.

The damage spanned multiple sectors—social, economic, and infrastructural—leaving the empire in turmoil after the widespread rebellions.

Fortunately, the people had accepted her as their rightful ruler, sparing her the concern of another rebellion.

"I should have brought Edward here," Arshley murmured regretfully.

As the Saint of the Holy Orthodox, such matters were never her responsibility. Edward had always handled them—she only needed to sign and enforce the policies he devised.

Yet, she knew it wouldn't be that easy. With her departure from the Holy Orthodox, Edward had temporarily taken over her duties. If he left as well, it could have serious consequences.

Shaking off her thoughts, Arshley patted her cheeks, instantly dispelling her exhaustion and replacing it with renewed determination.

"I can't give up! This is the responsibility Brother Leon entrusted to me! I won't let him down!" she told herself.

Without hesitation, she refocused on her work, her expression serious.

But suddenly...

"Hmm?" Arshley flinched slightly as she felt a pair of hands gently massaging her shoulders.

Turning around, she found Leon smiling at her as he continued his massage.

"I'm sorry for putting you through this, Arshley," Leon said softly, though his voice carried a hint of guilt.

"Brother Leon!?" Arshley's eyes lit up, and she instinctively tried to stand, but Leon gently stopped her.

"No need to get up. Just relax and let me take care of you," he said.

Arshley felt a wave of embarrassment but remained silent, giving him a small nod instead.

Leaning back against her chair, she let Leon's careful, affectionate touch ease her tension.

Arshley's aches, fatigue, and exhaustion gradually faded with each gentle press of Leon's hands on her shoulders.

Behind her, Leon glanced at the towering stack of documents on her desk, a pang of guilt settling in his chest.

For the past two months, Arshley's workload had been relentless, burdened by the internal struggles plaguing various cities.

He had witnessed her working late into the night countless times—even once going three days without sleep.

It made him wonder—had his decision to unite humanity truly been the right one?

As Leon sank into contemplation, Arshley, completely at ease, drifted into a deep sleep.

Realizing this, Leon gradually slowed his massage before finally stopping.

Letting out a quiet sigh, he stepped to her side and carefully lifted her into his arms.

Gazing at her peaceful, sleeping face, he smiled softly and whispered, "The little girl who used to cry and follow me everywhere has now become the true leader of mankind. Time really does fly."

Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

When Arshley was taken in by the previous Saint of the Holy Orthodox, she had been just a little girl living alone in a remote village.

With both her parents gone, she survived on the charity of the villagers. However, such kindness never lasted long. By the time she turned four, a famine struck the village, and any help she once received quickly disappeared.

From that point on, Arshley had to fend for herself, scavenging for food to survive. Then, at the age of five, the Holy Orthodox Saint found her and brought her to the Holy Orthodox Hall.

When Leon first heard her story from the former saint, his heart ached for her. From that moment, he vowed to take care of her for the rest of his life.

This was also one of the reasons he later chose to adopt Stella and bring her into the inner palace.

Beyond pity, he saw a reflection of Arshley in Stella, which ultimately led him to that decision.

Leon carried the sleeping Arshley over to a large sofa in the center of the room. The sofa was spacious, more than suitable to be used as a bed.

In fact, it was he who had asked Albert to prepare it—so that if Arshley ever refused to return to her room, she would at least have a comfortable place to rest.

Yet, Arshley never used it to sleep on, leaving the sofa as a mere display in her study.

Slowly, Leon laid Arshley down on the sofa, then picked up the neatly folded blanket from the armrest and carefully draped it over her, ensuring she was fully covered.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly felt a gentle tug on his right hand, followed by Arshley gripping it tightly.

"Brother Leon... don't leave me..." She murmured softly, her brows knitting in distress.

Seeing her talking in her sleep, Leon simply smiled. Kneeling beside her, he gently kissed her right cheek.

"Don't worry, Arshley. I promise I'll never leave you again," he whispered solemnly, softly running his fingers over her forehead and hair.

As if comforted by his words, the tension on her face melted away, replaced by a peaceful and radiant smile.

After making sure she was resting soundly, Leon slowly stood up and turned his gaze to the stack of documents on the desk.

"Alright, let's take care of that first," he muttered, striding over to Arshley's chair and settling into it.

He picked up a document and skimmed through it. Once he grasped the key points, he immediately got to work.

Being a hero didn't mean he was uninformed or unknowledgeable in government affairs.

Since childhood, he had been trained not only in combat but also in politics, economics, war strategy, and various other disciplines by the esteemed teachers of the Holy Orthodox.

By coincidence, in his previous life, he had been born into a wealthy and influential family, giving him a deep understanding of politics, economics, and social structures.

However, there was one thing he could never master, no matter how hard he tried—magic.

Without mana, learning magic was naturally impossible for him.

Still, he had thoroughly studied its fundamentals and theories, granting him extensive knowledge of the subject.

Two hours later...

"Hmmm..." Arshley's eyelids fluttered slightly before slowly opening.

As she awakened, she realized her once-exhausted body now felt refreshed and full of energy.

It had been a long time since she had experienced such deep, restful sleep.

"Hoam~" She let out a soft yawn, stretching her plump, curvaceous body.

But the moment her gaze landed on Leon, who was busy working, her expression stiffened.

"Brother!?"