"...L-Len?!"
For a moment, painful silence rang throughout the room. Then, the young man's face broke into a soft smile.
"Yes, Your Highness." He replied, and then bowed deeply.
It took a moment to register what exactly the young man had meant, before Rin's eyes started to well up with tears.
"LEN~!" She cried with joy, tears streaming down her face, as she ran towards him. She flung herself upon him, and for a moment, she could see his eyes widen with surprise, before they fell backwards together.
THUMP.
Laughing at their fall, Len sat up, with Rin still clinging onto him, sobbing into his shoulder. He smiled gently, before slowly embracing her small frame. He stroked her silky hair, with tears rolling down his own face.
"Princess, I've missed you so much." He mumbled softly into her hair.
Rin ceased her sobbing, as they both looked up to each others' faces.
"I've missed you more than you could imagine, Len." Rin replied, tears still silently staining her dress.
Len thumbed her tears away. Grinning, he replied, "Oh, I can imagine... because, I've probably missed you more~"
Rin started to laugh midst her crying. At first it was a small chuckle, then a giggle, then full blown-out laughter. Her heart felt like it would explode from happiness. She wanted to run out into the streets and proclaim her joy.
Len started to join in with her, and soon, their mingling voices created a lovely duet of laughter. In that moment, they were the happiest people on the face of the Earth.
"So, Len." Rin started, as she picked herself up from the floor, and outstretched a hand towards Len. "How have you been faring?"
Len gladly took her hand, and pulling himself up, replied, "Well. I guess I've been alright. What about you, Princess?"
Taking a seat on one of the richly furnished chairs in the room, she gestured for Len to sit on one as well.
"Honestly, nothing has been fun anymore, Len. Without you in the palace, it's just been an endless boring routine of learning various subjects from fat, dull governesses. Recently however, things are starting to getting a bit more interesting." Rin said, amusement glinting in her eyes as she grinned coyly.
Len grinned right back. "Whatever do you mean, milady?" He inquired.
"Well~ Do you remember the Royal tradition that requires the Princess to start meeting suitors?"
Len nodded. "Of course, I do, Your Highness," he took a pause. "...But, at what age was supposed to take action, again?" He asked, bashfully rubbing the back of his head.
That was when Rin's goofy smile faltered. Len immediately noticed, and his face expressed genuine concern.
"What's the matter Your Highness? Is something the matter?" he prompted, searching for any signs of fatigue or illness on the Princess' face.
Rin shook her head. "I'm fine, Len." She paused for a moment. "It's just that... my parents have already found a suitor for me. I think they really want me to marry him. He's the Duke of Hammington; impressive family background, power, wealth, and good looks.. supposedly." She added that last part with a roll of her eyes.
For a fraction of a second, she could see shock and bewilderment on Len's face. But it quickly vanished. She blinked, and his face showed nothing but understanding and affection. "Maybe I'm seeing things..." She wondered to herself.
Just then, a worried Paula, came running into the room. She panted, "So... there you are..., Your Highness!" before she realized that Len was in the room. She squinted her eyes, bafflement written all over her face. Then a wave of recognition flooded her features. However, shock quickly replaced all other emotion on her face.
"Y-you're that boy..!" She said, pointing a quivering finger at Len.
Len silently nodded, his eyes held an unreadable stoic expression. "Yes. And you're that maid who helped.. in that event." He said in an icy tone of voice, smirking cruelly.
Rin's eyes widened. Was this really the Len she knew? How could he seem so warm and loving one minute, and turn cold and cruel the next? This was truly a new side of Len to her.
Paula gulped nervously, and stammered, "W-why are you here?"
Rin turned and looked to Len for an answer as well. Once their eyes made contact, the steely cold look in Len's eyes died down immensely.
Closing his eyes, Len took a deep breath. "Would you please leave us alone for a minute? You can hear the story from the Princess." He said to Paula.
Paula nodded and quickly exited the room.
Rin sat, expectantly looking up at Len. Len exhaled loudly, and smiled wearily."I guess I owe you an explanation first, Princess."
"Yes. I'm curious as to how you and why you came back, Len." Rin replied. Then a thought struck her. She fearfully gasped. "Y-You didn't run away or anything, did you, Len? You aren't in danger, are you?!"
Len chuckled at this remark. "Of course not, milady. Here, let me tell you the whole story of my time away from the palace."
Rin nodded enthusiastically, and Len took a seat once more.