Part XVII

Frey's favorite season had begun, the cherry blossoms slowly drifted in the air. Leaving a trail on the ground, Frey felt as if every day she was walking down a wedding ceremony. She would blush at the thought, but then soon remember her circumstances. She would bow to work harder each day, to secure the life she wanted. Finally finished with shores, she prepared her books in an orderly fashion and placed them on her rucksack. She hummed a lovely tune, as she began to walk towards the little Bell Inn. She reached Leon's door and was about to knock when Leon came out of his room in a flurry, almost bumping into Frey in the process. He stopped himself by holding her shoulders.

"Ah. That's right you're always here early." He rapidly let go of Frey's shoulders.

"I always am Leon, is this a bad time?" Frey tilted her head slightly.

"Perhaps, I have some errands to run for the day." Leon seemed to look behind Frey, searching for something.

"Oh! Well maybe I ca—"

"Ack! I'm sorry, I have to go." Leon then ran off.

"Eh…EH?" Frey was completely filled with curiosity.

She wondered who Leon was chasing after, and started to pout a little. "Fine then." She thought to herself, as she let herself in Leon's room and began to study the books she had been assigned. Her work for now was to learn to read fluently. She would often get stuck and would ask Leon what certain words meant, but now that he wasn't there it seem a lot harder. Frey began a list of the words that she didn't understand.

Meanwhile, Leon was heading straight to Kiel's home, he was sure Kiel took a book that Leon was working on. Kiel had mentioned he wanted to show it to his sister, since it was a love story.

"Hey Kiel. Did you take the book? 'A Recipe for Happiness'?"

"Ah! Yes. I couldn't put it down, it's quite interesting? Did you finish it?"

"Yes, yes. I was going to lend to Frey and gage her opinion." Leon said and Kiel handed him the book.

"He he. Okay then Leon, I'll see you later, I'm going to bake Forte something."

As Leon began to walk out again, Frey had already grown bored of waiting and had started looking for Leon around town. She was near the clinic when she stumbled upon Doug and Dylas having their usual spat.

"Do you ever watch where you are going you shrimp!?" Dylas said annoyed.

"Are you saying it's my fault you flea-bitten gilding? You got my clothes dirty." Doug snapped back. As Frey watched, Leon was in proximity with his book in his hand.

"Let us use each other's words to talk. I took my heart out and placed it on a plate one day. I looked at it, watched it, then put it next to yours. Then we added a cup of argument, a dash of honesty and a pinch of trust… And what would you know…we had both begun to smile." Leon said out loud.

"What the heck are you saying?" Doug blurted.

"It's the story of a happy couple, who would use this method to make amends." Leon smiled.

"Huh?"

"It's written right here in this book." Leon patted the book.

"Somehow I feel sick." Dylas said as his face contorted.

"Hehehe!" Frey started to laugh at them.

"Ohh. You were listening Frey?" Leon looked at her.

"You just described their relationship perfectly Leon." Frey said.

"I'm glad you see, that this is 'happiness', it's quite interesting." Leon touched his chin.

"Don't say disgusting things like that Leon! Others will get the wrong idea." Dylas complained.

"Fine by me, less competition for me." Leon took out his fan.

"What does that even mean?!" Doug began to look worried.

"He-he. This is fun." Frey giggled.

"No it's not!" Doug and Dylas said in unison. Then began to glare at each other.

"Ha-ha. Let's let them finish Frey, come along." Leon began to lead her by the shoulders to the Inn again.

"H-Hey!" Dylas said pitifully.

"I'm not done with you gelding." Doug raised his fist up.

"Tch!" Dylas finally said.

Leon and Frey walked towards the inn and looked at the desk, Frey's things on the desk.

"I got a new assignment for you, clearly you now know." Leon handed her the book.

"Ah yes! The methods of a happy couple who don't always see eye to eye." Frey said with excitement.

"Yes. Though if you think about it, it's just another mushy romance between a besotted couple." Leon said it with a happy expression.

"Ah-he-he." Frey said nervously.

"Well then I have bothered you enough for today, that's enough adventure for the day." Leon patted Frey's back.

"Ehh. We didn't get to study much, yet it's this late already." Frey pouted.

"It's my fault, I'll make it up to you once you finish that book." Leon began to pet Frey's head.

"O-Okay. I'll finish it by tomorrow." Frey smiled. "I'll be going now." She said as she finished packing her stuff.

"Hmm. I hope you'll get something out of it."

"Yes. It could be good for us." Frey said as she smiled, blushing a bit.

"…" Before Leon could say anything Frey had already left the room.

Leon sighed and remember his conversation with Kiel, and with Arthur earlier. The book had been written in ancient language on purpose. He felt a familiar warmth from the book, and pondered about his time period. 'I'm going to use your words to speak.' He thought about that quote and what it could mean for him. Leon was laying down as he pondered, and slowly drifted into sleep.

Part XVIII

It was unusual for Leon to feel insecure or self-conscious, it was far from his person as far as anyone could even guess. He had been sitting in his room pondering, he knew Frey wasn't coming over today he had to told her he was busy today. A bit of white lie never hurt anyone is what he was thinking to make his guilt ebb away. Somehow he hated what he was doing, but knew it was necessary for his mental health. He looked outside and it was a bit past noon, he had been translating for a while to keep his mind off things. He saw a beautiful day, crisp and fresh outside as he touched the window. Leon saw the cherry blossoms falling which reminded him of Frey. An impulse to go outside overtook him. He started to stroll outside. He saw by Porcoline's restaurant, when he spotted Frey from a distance, she was standing in front of Dylas smiling.

"Hehe. Sure we can go fishing soon if you want Dylas." She said with a smile.

"I-If you're too busy that's fine too." Dylas said while scratching his head, Frey looked past him.

"Oh!" She stepped to the side a bit and started to wave at Leon. She did so for a while but there was no response, as Leon stepped away. "Eh?" She said. Dylas turned to see but saw nobody.

"Are you alright?" Dylas asked with his eyebrow raised.

"Ah. Yes, I thought I saw someone but—" She again saw the flicker of someone's tail. She continued to look past Dylas, who turned again.

"Hey. I don't see anything there." His annoyance slightly peaking.

"Oh. Um." She said it again but this time.

"Frey, why won't you look at me?" Dylas softly grabbed her chin and made her look at his face.

"…!" Frey began to blush, as Dylas was close to her face.

"I-I…" Dylas released her chin. "I'm sorry that was uncalled for." He put his hands in his pockets.

"N-No, it's alright. I was being rude." She suddenly smiled brightly.

"Did you see Leon is that it?" He said while looking to the floor.

"I thought I did, but he's been rather elusive lately. More busy than usual." She said shrugging.

"Ah, that's why you're suddenly free…" Dylas was still looking down, his tail drooping slightly.

"Eh! No! I was just busy studying, it has nothing to do with Leon, I-I should be making time for friends too!" She said while blushing her fist rising to her chest. Dylas seemed happier this time around, a slight smile on his face.

"I'll go get the fishing rods then, don't want you to get back too late, wait for me here." Dylas went off into the restaurant while Frey waited. Frey looked towards a winged statue near the airship landing, and slowly walked towards it. She looked behind it, with her arms behind her, she peeked. There Leon was standing, his legs crossed, and his fan behind his back, head leaning against the statue.

"Leon, so I wasn't seeing things." She said a bit confused.

"…" Leon stared blankly and nodded.

"Leon?..." She started to look worried.

"Just studying huh? I see." Leon said in a serious and distant tone.

"Eh? Leon…?" Leon then began to walk away. "Leon! Wait…it's not what I meant." She was ignored until the end as she saw his back disappear into the Inn. Her hand stretching towards him still. She started to calm down before she could cry, she remembered she promised Dylas an outing. He came out and she attempted to put up the same demeanor as before.

They had reached the lake and had already started to fish, yet Frey was far too quiet for Dylas taste, he began to feel discomfort.

"Frey." He said while looking at her, his line still casted.

"…" She said nothing, and Dylas called on her again.

"Eh? Ah, sorry Dylas. I was focused." She said half smiling.

"Something's going on, you're acting strange and quiet. It's freaking weird." He said bluntly.

"Hmm. I think Leon might be mad at me, although I'm not sure why." She was also blunt. There was silence between them for a while. Dylas was gathering his thoughts.

"I don't know nothing about relationships. It seems to me you didn't get the chance to chat with him, because you're here with me?" Dylas said as he reeled a fish in.

"I-I, that was my decision. Plus I don't know why he's been so weird and detached lately. Humph." She began to complain.

"It's getting dark. You should get home and gather your thoughts. I'm gonna fish for a bit more…" The fish he was reeling got away.

"You're truly a kind friend Dylas, I don't know what I'd do without you." She suddenly hugged him.

"…!" Dylas lightly patted her back.

"I'll see you soon Dylas." She said as she picked up her things and ran off home.

"Hnnmm…" Dylas sighed, as he let the flush on his face slip. It has shocked him to be hugged so suddenly. He felt a deep pang in his heart, from the start. Although it had been an opening to confess to her, he could not get himself to exploit that moment. His eyebrows furrowed as he focused his anger towards Leon as he fished.

Frey was relaxing at home, in her pajamas. She couldn't sleep no matter how much she tried, she was feeling impulsive. She looked up at the ceiling, and sometimes placed a pillow on her tummy. She was annoyed now, she put on her slippers and walked like that in the middle of the night while everyone slept. She had now reached the halls of the Inn, the inn never had closed doors in case the visitors wanted to leave at night. Frey went upstairs without being seen, when she spotted long hair, a lighter blue than the sky was dripping wet. A white towel was on top of Leon's head as he walked in his robe towards the room.

"Leon…" She said loudly enough. As he turned around in shock at her attire, he turned around immediately.

"Wh-what are you doing in that attire? What if somebody sees?" Leon said hiding his blush under the towel, he did not have his fan with him this time.

"I can't sleep…can't we talk for a bit?" The string of her night gown was starting to slip off her shoulder, she would sometimes correct it. Leon wouldn't turn around.

"It would be indecent of me to invite you in…agh…what I mean is…" Leon tried to gather his thoughts.

"I don't care. You're my boyfriend aren't you?" Frey pressed him.

"Yes…I am…doesn't mean I have the right to see you this way." When Leon has sighted her, he could tell she wasn't even wearing a bra, while wearing a pink dress like gown.

"You're the only one who has the right…why won't you tell me what's wrong?" She began to step softly towards him, without making much sound.

"Frey, I was going to speak with you tomorrow." Leon said still looking the other way.

"You're lying." Frey had reached his back. She placed her palm on his warm back.

"It's cold outside and yet you still come here…your hand is cold…" Leon said while he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Then…you'll warm me up." She pressed her entire body on his back, her cheek pressed between his inner back. Shocks bolted in Leon's body, he felt his body quiver without it moving. His mouth was open, and his heart rate was becoming exasperated. He has never seen her in this state. He was entering a state of panic, as the scenario he was trying to avoid continued.

"F-Frey…Please go back to the castle before you catch a cold." Frey shook her head, her hands wrapping deeper around his waist. Part of her fingertips already in his robe, it was situation that should not happen in a hallway.

"…" Leon grabbed her hand, and began unwrapping them away from him, he was shaking slightly.

"Leon…" She finally let go of his back.

"I'm sorry Frey…I can't do this." He said his back still to her. He left her there, and walked into his room while locking the door.

"L-Leon…can't do what?" She whispered to herself.

"Don't joke like that please…" She began to knock on his door. "Wh-what did that mean!?" Her knocking became quieter, as it was clear in her voice that she was crying.

Inside Leon was sitting on the bed, his head tilted. His eyes began to water as he hurt Frey, yet he couldn't get himself to tell her the truth. He couldn't lead her on anymore, he wanted to close off his heart entire. He wiped his eyes. He couldn't tell her he was jealous of Dylas, or how much he wanted to hug her more, or even just kiss her once. He was shaking as he was filled with regret, why he had even began the relationship was the first mistake. Leon could not even admit to himself what he was feeling. He felt guilty on both ends, about his past and now this. He heard Frey's footsteps as she left. He stayed there in the dark, for the rest of the night, without a single wink of sleep.