Part Six

The next day— I stepped out into the courtyard to get a breath of fresh air during a break in my official duties. (I can't help it— I keep thinking about Leo.) As I looked around the garden, I spotted Robert off to one side painting a picture.

"Oh good to see you Maya. What's wrong? Are you still having troubles?"

"Hi Robert." Robert's smile was so gentle and reassuring that I was talking to him about it before I even realized. "Um, I—" (Robert probably won't mind hearing about me again, right?) I decided to ask him for more advice. Robert put aside his paints for the moment, and we sat down on a nearby bench to talk.

"I see." I explained the basics of the situation to him, and he nodded slowly. "Maya— I know you're doubting his feelings right now, but have you tried believing in them instead?"

"Huh?" (Believing? Just like that?) I raised my head in surprise at his words.

"You already know that he's kind. Why not try just believing in him?" Robert gave me a wide smile. "Give it a try- at the very least, you'll be less stressed than you are now." We talked for a little longer, but Robert soon returned to his painting, and I returned to the palace to get to work.

I walked slowly down the palace corridors back towards the office. Robert had given me a lot to think about. (Should I try believing in Leo? It's true that he's always there to help me out with everything. If I just—) But I was still trying to sort out my feelings when a voice called out to me from behind.

"Princess, do you have a moment?" At Giles request, I joined him in the office. As I stepped into the room, I realized that Leo was there too. He nodded silently to me, but said nothing. (I wonder what's wrong? They both look very serious.) As I shut the door behind me, I spoke hesitantly.

"Um—did something happen?" Giles sighed softly, and then began to explain.

"We've been investigating this for some time, but it would appear that someone from Stein has managed to make their way into the palace."

"What?! I was so startled by Giles's words that my voice came out as a squeak. (How could someone from Stein be in the palace?) My pulse sped up at the mere mention of the Kingdom of Stein—it was a country shrouded in mystery. (Leo told me that Stein is a country to be wary of.) No one had yet been able to enter into any kind of diplomatic relations with the young king of Stein. (But why should someone from a country like that be here?) Giles placed a pile of documents on the desk in front of him. "What are these?" I picked one up and glanced over it. It contained information that had been shared with Stein via some sort of back channel.

"Their goals are not yet clear, but it's highly likely there's a spy in the palace.) My breath caught at the word 'spy,' and I raised my eyes to meet Giles's gaze. "The only ones I can trust right now are myself and Leo, who has been leading the investigation, and Alyn who is currently away on an expedition." (It sounds so farfetched—could there really be a spy here?) "I have some suspicions, and there are some people I would like to talk to. We must find the spy as soon as possible." Giles turned his gaze to me. "Princess, please be careful from now on, and don't say anything careless."

"Okay." I nodded at his words, and he sighed again.

"I also think you should hold off on looking for a prince consort until we catch whoever's behind this." I was quiet for a moment. Then I looked up at Giles again and spoke softly.

"Who are the people you want to talk to?" Giles met my gaze directly.

"There is someone who has entered the palace recently—"

I was stunned at the name he spoke.

"What—you really think Robert— There's no way! After all he's—" (I heard that Robert was invited to the palace because the king values his talents so highly. But there's no way someone like him could be a spy!) I was too confused to think straight, and Leo interrupted me.

"He only came to the palace recently, and nobody knows much about his past. We're just saying he needs to be investigated further."

"But that's—" I thought of what Robert had told me. (That's right— what he said made sense to me.) I raised my head again, and gazed at both Leo and Giles. "Robert taught me that I should believe in people instead of doubting them. It may be true that his past is unknown, but I just don't believe that Robert is a spy. So I will find a way to prove Robert's innocence." Leo raised his eyebrows at my words and stared at me in silence, his eyes narrowed.

After Maya had left the room, Giles sighed softly.

"Sometimes I'm amazed by the princess's ability to take action. What do you think, Leo?" Giles turned to look at Leo, who gave him a sudden smile.

"I don't think she's even aware of it herself." Giles pressed his lips together but said nothing. Leo waved to Giles and left the room as well, following after Maya.

After I left the office, I went in search of Robert. (Oh, he's not here.) I looked for him in the courtyard where I'd last seen him, but he was no longer there. (I wonder where he went?) At that moment, someone suddenly grabbed my hand from behind.

"Ahh! Leo—?" I looked back to find Leo standing behind me.

"Princess, you should try not to go off so willfully." All the things I wanted to say seemed caught in my throat. But I stared straight back at him, refusing to back down. "Maya?"

"I want to believe what Robert told me." (After all, it's because of him that I've decided to believe in Leo's kindness.) "That's why I—" Leo gave a soft laugh that was half sigh.

"Believing in someone is pretty easy. But betraying someone is just as easy." He moved his face closer to mine, so close that I could feel his breath on my cheek. "I mean, have you forgotten what I did to you?" I bit my lower lip lightly. I remembered what he'd said to me, but I met his gaze firmly. (I don't care what you said. I'll still—)

"Leo—I'll keep believing, no matter how many times I'm betrayed." Leo seemed to freeze at my words, and his mouth snapped shut. (It's true.) I stared up at his startled expression. (I've always wanted to believe in him.)After a long moment of silence, Leo spoke softly.

"Really?" He let go of my hand and turned his gaze away from mine. "That's not something I'm capable of."(Huh?) He turned to leave, and I hurriedly called out to him.

"Leo?" Leo's step faltered for a moment, but he didn't stop and he didn't look back. I sighed softly as I watched him walk away. (I almost feel like that was the first time he was ever actually honest with me.) I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Something about my encounter with Leo had left my heart racing. When I opened my eyes again, I suddenly noticed something on the ground at my feet. "Oh!" (is this Robert's?) It was a paintbrush with the paint still on the bristles. I leaned down and picked it up, and my gaze was caught by a crest carved on the handle. (Hmm, I feel like I've seen this somewhere before.) "It's the crest of Stein." I raised my head and stared around the garden. (But why would Robert have something like this?)

I returned to the office and put the paintbrush on the desk in front of me. Then I simply sat there and stared at it. There was no mistaking the crest carved into the handle— it was the crest of Stein. (What should I do?) At that moment the door opened, and Leo peered into the room.

"Maya, Isn't it about time we started today's lessons?"

"Gah!" Leo's voice was bright and cheery, as if nothing was wrong, and I hurried to hide the paintbrush. Leo stared down at me as I sat unmoving in the chair, my hands hidden.

"Did you find something?"

"N-No nothing. Today we're doing history, right?" Leo was silent as he stared at me. I stood up and turned towards the bookshelf, trying to avoid his gaze and keep the paintbrush hidden. At that moment, Leo began to laugh loudly. "Wh-What?!" I turned back to stare at him in surprise and he spoke between bursts of laughter.

"It's written all over your face. You found something."

"But—!" (Am I really that obvious?) Leo came closer and ran one finger gently along my cheek.

"See? It's written right here." My pulse quickened at the gentle caress. I stumbled back from him and placed a hand on the desk to steady myself. When I looked up at him, his gaze was gentle. "Why don't you tell me? What did you find?"

"I—" I caught my breath at his questions, my mind wavering in confusion. The paintbrush slipped from between my fingers and fell to the floor. "Oh!" Leo looked down to where the paintbrush had fallen.

"Hmm, what's this?"My breath caught in my throat. There was nothing I could say as he bent down to pick up the paintbrush. I squeezed my eyes shut in shame.

That evening— Giles sent for me again, and I visited the office as requested.

"I see. This is definitely the crest of Stein." Giles sighed as he gazed at the paintbrush, and then Leo laughed.

"So he's the kind of guy who gets gifted paintbrushes with royal crests— he really is one heck of a painter!"

"Leo this is no laughing matter." As Giles glared at Leo, I spoke hurriedly.

"B-But—this doesn't mean it's really Robert."

"No it doesn't. There are still others under suspicion." Giles handed Leo another document.

"What?"

"This is someone who I think may have introduced a spy to the palace. If we are to find the Stein spy, we will need to question him as well." Leo narrowed his eyes, but said nothing. I gazed up at Giles in confusion. (I wonder what he means by 'him?') Leo silently leafed through the document Giles had given him. A moment later, he scowled, his face turning pale. Giles was frowning, but he seemed unsurprised by Leo's reaction. His expression was serious as he dropped his gaze to the floor.

"Leo?" I spoke without thinking, and Leo smirked, the right corner of his mouth turning up slightly.

"Ahh, it's nothing. Is it okay if I hold on to these, Giles?"

"Of course." I caught my breath quietly as I watched Leo's face. (The right side of his mouth turned up just then. That's what he does when he's lying. Leo, what are you hiding?)

That night I lay in bed, completely unable to sleep. (I'm worried about Robert, but that's not all.) I thought about Leo's expression, and I buried my face into my pillow, frowning. (Leo said it was nothing, but he did that thing he does when he's lying. What on earth was in those documents he got from Giles?) As I lay there thinking, I heard a sudden tapping noise at my window.

"Gah!" I sat up with a start, my body shaking. "What is it?" I hurriedly climbed out of bed and opened my window, and Leo's parrot flew into my room from the darkness. "Oh!"

"Trouble, trouble!"

"Huh?" The parrot circled the room, and finally came to rest on the back of the sofa. "What trouble?" He spread his wings wide and opened his beak.

"Leo, it hurts, Leo."

"Leo?!" (What if something's happened to him?!) I rushed across to open the door of my chamber. "Okay, let's go to Leo's room!"

"Let's go, let's go!" The parrot flew through the door and down the hall ahead of me. "Hurry, hurry!" I dashed out the door after him and hurried down the corridor, trying my best to keep my footsteps quiet. But I couldn't quiet the pounding of my heart. (Leo, are you okay?)

As I approached it, I could see a faint light shining out from under the door. I stopped in front of the door, where I could hear a pained groaning coming from within.

"Leo—!" I pushed the door open and stepped into the room, where I found Leo curled up on the sofa, groaning. "Oh!" (What should I do? Is he having a nightmare?) I hurried across the room and knelt down next to him. "Leo? Leo, wake up!" I reached out and gently shook him by the shoulder.

"Mmnnn—" Leo's body shuddered as if in pain. I caught my breath, feeling suddenly helpless. I reached out and gently stroked his hair. At my touch, Leo gave a huge sigh. (He looks like he's in so much pain.) At last he opened his eyes and spoke, his voice raspy and hoarse. "Huh? Maya?" I could hear the confusion in his voice, and I pulled back from him and gazed down at his face. "I'm sorry. I did it again." He put a hand against his forehead, and I spoke hesitantly.

"Leo, I'm right here with you—you can sleep if you want." (This is probably the only thing I can do for him right now.) I slipped my arms around him as I spoke. Leo's expression seemed to calm a little at my words. He hesitated for a long moment, but at last he relaxed into my embrace. I closed my eyes and simply held him against me. I raised one of my hands to stroke his hair gently. At last Leo fell asleep again, his body leaning against mine. I gently stroked his forehead, brushing the hair back from it. (He's drenched with sweat. What sort of dream would get him this worked up?) I continued to hold Leo against me as he slept. He seemed to be sleeping normally this time, and I gave a small sigh of relief. (That must've been a really awful nightmare.) I shifted my hold on him a little, being careful not to wake him. His parrot sat on the desk watching us, and spoke in a worried tone of voice.

"Leo, cheer up, Leo."

"Yes, I hope he does." I spoke softly, and then placed my finger against my lips in a shushing gesture. (I'd like him to have a proper sleep for once.) The parrot nodded his head and spread his wings before climbing into his cage. The room was quiet, and I closed my eyes. At last I started to doze off as well. But just as I hovered on the edge of sleep—

"I will never—" (Huh?) I thought I heard the parrot's voice hovering on the edge of my consciousness. "—forgive them." (What? Leo?) But before I could think about the words any further, I succumbed to sleep.

When I opened my eyes, Leo was no longer in my embrace. (Huh?)

"Good morning, Maya." I blinked at the bright light filling the room, and looked up to find Leo staring down at me with a smile.

"Ahh, I fell asleep—" I climbed to my feet, and Leo spoke softly, his voice almost a whisper.

"It's been a long time since I slept that well." Then without warning he turned away and began to strip off his clothes.

"Gah!" I froze in shock, and Leo glanced over his shoulder at me and smirked.

"What? Why are you blushing so much? I'm just getting changed." I swallowed hard, unable to think of a thing to say. There was laughter in Leo's voice, and my cheeks flushed even more. Leo turned back to face me again, and spoke in a quieter voice. "I'm going out today. Maya—do you want to go with me?"

Aww, poor Robert. I think we all know who the real spy is. ;) Side story up next!