The right choice.

It wasn’t a polite thing to do, but Delilah Wisler couldn’t help herself. After arriving home from the convenience store with Angela and hearing from Reiko-chan what had happened, she moved to the eastern side of the house and stood outside of Leonardo’s room.

“…Lucia-san, again, I want to get rid of this curse, I really do,” she heard his voice coming from inside. “I understand how painful the inability to feel pleasure is. But is it wrong that I don’t want it to become something mechanical done out of obligation? Is it wrong that I want to at least get along with the people I have to sleep with, if not form a meaningful friendship? It goes for you, too, Lucia-san.”

She could hear it clear as day, and she knew there was no way that her daughter, jaded as the poor girl was, couldn’t hear it either. The sheer honesty in his words was palpable, and he’d practically spelled out the reason she’d picked him over any other guy. He had two important things which were not given to him by any divine intervention, but by the way his father had raised him.

Leonardo had the empathy to care about the people around him, and the presence to make himself heard. It wouldn’t have been difficult to find a random man willing to sleep with every woman that crossed his path to fulfill the ritual of the Book of Eros. But people to trust its power to? Not many. It was proof of how trustworthy Leonardo was that, despite having experienced the effects of the curse in the flesh, he still cared more about the feelings of those around him than drowning himself in the pleasure he always wished for. Though Delilah still had to admit her daughter had a point. Leonardo wasn’t very active in his endeavors to remove the curse, but that was fine for the moment. Slow and steady would win the race, she was sure of it. Instead of sleeping with any woman and sowing discord among them, Leonardo would first create strong bonds of trust. This was why she chose him.

Delilah heard steps and knew someone would be coming out. She made her escape so as not to be seen, but caught the form of her daughter going to her own room. She followed her, stopping her before she closed the door behind her.

“It seems you had a very productive chat,” Delilah commented merrily.

“You were listening, weren’t you?” Lucia groaned and kept her back to her.

“I was,” Delilah admitted. “And I was surprised to hear you give in. Did Leonardo’s words get through to you? Maybe you’re finally beginning to believe there’s more to people than pure selfishness?”

“I don’t need a lecture, mother.”

“No, my dear. You’ve needed one for a long time. Tell me, when did you become so used to getting everything handed to you on a silver platter? Where is the girl who was once so passionate about becoming a teacher? At what point did you decide that people weren’t worth understanding, and instead started using your Gift to hurt and take advantage of them?”

“…”

“Tell me, Lucia. Are you satisfied? Are you happy with your life? Is the luxury of Vegas what your heart truly wants? If you can look at me with a straight face and tell me that’s the case, I’ll stop bothering you, and I’ll be able to worry about you just a little less.”

“…” Lucia took a deep breath and shook lightly, like she was holding something back. She didn’t dare show her face to Delilah, knowing she’d read her like a book. Lucia didn’t know that not only was the old lady capable of reading emotions through more than just facial expressions, but that a mother sometimes just knows when things are wrong.

“Tell me, my girl. Are you happy?” she repeated softly.

“…I think I forgot how, at some point,” Lucia admitted, tiredly.

“Oh, dear…” Few things could hurt a mother as deeply as hearing those words from their child. She turned Lucia around and gave her a powerful hug, which she was glad her girl returned with at least some strength.

Lucia sucked in a shaky breath as she asked, “What do I need to do, mother?”

“You need to relearn how to let people in, dear. Then, you need to learn to struggle. Face your weaknesses, don’t run from them like you did before. Conquer your fears, and you’ll start to see beauty in the smallest things.”

“I… I want to be alone for a while.”

“Okay. But let me give you one more thing to think about. I can try to get you a job interview at the school if you want. You did graduate, after all. How about it?”

“…I’ll think about it.”