For the first time in my life I wished I was a blue mage. Then avoiding a certain elf would have been a lot easier, especially if I could make myself invisible. Unfortunately using magic was impossible for me so instead I chose the harder option which involved making sure all of the work I undertook didn't cause me to cross paths with him.
With all the work I could handle I hurried back and forth as I made my rounds, carrying books and paperwork between the many rooms and buildings that made up the city. After a third day and with no sign of Leovold I found myself relaxing, actually whistling as I finished handing back a book borrowed by Hanna. I had just emerged from the library when someone called out and I groaned, turning my head slightly to find Leovold standing there.
"That was a little uncalled for, Serla." Leovold pointed out, a smirk curling his lips when I crossed my arms. I started to walk towards him and his smile grew only to frown when I strolled right past him, not even looking back. Shaking his head, Leovold followed at my heels and I sighed once I heard his boots clicking across the floor. "You didn't act this cold the last time I saw you." He teased and I spun around, nearly walking into him.
"Would you be quiet? I made a mistake which I won't do again." I hissed and he just chuckled as I began to walk back towards Hanna's office. "Okay why are you following me? I work for Hanna not you."
"For your information I need to see Hanna about your job. Anyway I didn't hear you complaining a few days ago." Leovold answered and I froze, cheeks growing red as he chuckled behind me. "Well not complaining anyway." He added and I growled, whirling around to glare at him.
"Why are you still trying to get me to work for you? What part of 'no' don't you understand?" I snapped and he just shrugged, still smiling at me. "Okay enough with that grin. It's getting really annoying."
"What grin are you talking about?" Leovold asked and I rolled my eyes, sighing before I resumed walking to Hanna's office with the elf in toe. We arrived at her office and I stopped so suddenly Leovold nearly bumped into me only just catching himself in time. "I am only trying to help you, Serla. If you worked for me instead you would be paid well for your time and you wouldn't be running around so much. Besides you could live in a much nicer apartment than the one you currently occupy." He offered but I didn't respond, reaching up to knock on the door.
"For the last time, Leovold, I don't intend to be used again." I hissed just as we both heard Hanna's voice from inside the room. Giving him one final cold stare I grabbed the doorknob, slowly opening the door to find Hanna sitting at her desk. To my disbelief I saw a pile of papers sitting there and I bit back a groan, Leovold smiling at my back.
"There you are. I need you to deliver these to the council for me as well as post some envelopes." Hanna explained, waving her left hand towards the paperwork. I hadn't noticed the envelopes until she slid the desk draw open and I couldn't help grimacing as she removed what looked like two dozen envelopes, neatly stacked on top of one another, setting them on the desk. Noticing the grimace I still had she fixed me with a raised eyebrow. "Unless this is too much for you." Hanna asked and I quickly shook my head, grabbing the papers and the envelopes before I changed my mind.
"That looks like a lot of work. But I'm sure Serla can handle it, Miss Hanna." Leovold said and I turned to stare at him, finding the urge to kick the elf in the knee nearly unbearable. Knowing I would be out of a job if I did I gave Hanna and Leovold a quick smile before I hurried into the corridor. I made it about two doors down before I heard footsteps and I groaned, turning my head to see Leovold leaving the office.
"Why are you following me? I thought you had important business with Hanna?" I grumbled, hoping he would leave me alone. Giving me a grin he headed my way and I growled, keeping a firm grip on my workload and my mind on my job.
"I know you're curious, Serla and it does concern you." Leovold started and I snorted, gripping the papers tighter in my hand. "You'll be happy to know that I convinced Hanna that working for me would be a wonderful learning experience for you." He finished, blinking when the papers and envelopes ended up landed in an untidy pile on the floor.
"How could you?!" I snapped and he blinked when I pushed him. "You just can't leave me alone." I grumbled a little quieter this time as I knelt. Leovold just watched on silently as I gathered the papers and the envelopes into a pile. But when I tried to lift them up they spilled onto the floor due to my shaking hands and I growled, fighting the urge to kick them which would only scatter them further across the polished floor.
"Here, let me help." Leovold finally offered as I strugged to fix the mess I'd made. As soon as he knelt he heard me sniffing and when he stared at my face he could clearly see the tears already welling. Silently he reached over and together we managed to collect everything I'd dropped. He rose with a handful of envelopes and I straightened after a moment, keeping my arms wrapped around the papers in case they started to fall again. "Let's get these back to my office before Hanna notices then you can tell me why you're so shaken up." Leovold told me and I gave him a tiny nod, tears now sliding down my cheeks.
I followed him as the elf led me to his office, my head drooping once I noticed that a group of men were whispering. Whether they were talking about me was another story altogther but I already knew they could see me crying so it made sense. Which made me feel even worse as I shuffled along eventually reaching Leovold's office. As soon as he opened the door I hurried inside and he tilted his head slightly to one side, staring at my back before he followed me closing the door quietly behind him.
A few minutes later I sat on one of his chairs, taking a cup of tea from his hands when he offered it to me.
"Serla, if I upset you in any possible way I am sorry." Leovold started, sitting in his own chair behind the desk only to see me shaking my head slowly back and forth. "Then why did you start crying when I offered my help?"
"You didn't contact me after we were...together in your office. Not a single word and that made me think...you didn't care about me. That I was just a spur of the moment thing and nothing else." I answered, taking a sip of the warm tea. "Maybe it would be better if I left Paliano and went back home." I muttered to myself not realizing just how strong Leovold's hearing was.
"Serla, I tried to talk to you but you kept avoiding me." Leovold told me and I raised my head cheeks slightly red. "It is a little difficult to talk to someone who doesn't want to spend even a moment in your company." He added with a tiny smile.
"Look I admit I did avoid you but you could have come up with someway of speaking to me. Hanna and Refia always seem to know where to find me ever since I arrived in the city." I answered and he sighed, pausing to take a sip from his own teacup before he looked at me.
"So then I'm at fault as well?" Leovold asked and I nodded, unable to hide a tiny if weak smile when he raised an eyebrow at me. "I wasn't agreeing with you, Serla." He said but his smile didn't fade instead it grew bigger.
"That's what you say, elf. Look I enjoy talking to you, most of the time anyway, but lately..." I trailed off as he set his own cup down on the desk. Quietly he moved around the desk and after he reached me he stepped forward, his hands cupping my own.
"Serla, I can see you're struggling with the workload Hanna gives you on a daily basis so I wanted to help you." Leovold explained and I froze when he gave my hands a quick squeeze. "If you continue to refuse my offers of help I don't know what I'll do...except ask you again. And again until you give in." Leovold added with a smirk on his face and I felt my face burn when he knelt in front of me, lightly brushing his lips over the tips of my fingers.
"I'll think about working for you but you need to give me a day to think about it." I answered once I found my voice and he chuckled, rising to his feet.
"Then I'll keep you to your promise. A day and that's it." Leovold agreed moving back to his desk and for a moment I couldn't help gazing at his back.
He really is easy on the eyes. Gods what am I doing? I'm supposed to be mad at him not admiring him.