Chapter 6: Another Exception

Lannie's P.o.V.

I entered the garden after Marie left me for her cleaning duty. Our tour wasn't over yet and she was about to show me the palace garden but a higher maid request her duty. She told me to wait at the entrance but I just can't stand there all afternoon so I decided to groom on my own.

It's been so long since the last time I entered a palace garden. I forgot that it's the only place I love that the royalties owned. The well grown plants and flowers. The butterflies flying freely. Sometimes you can find other cute animals like squirrels and rabbits.

I was walking in happiness when I tripped over something white. I almost fall on the ground when someone caught me in time. I stood up properly to see my savior, it's Kai-ouji. I look down to see what made me tripped and found a sleeping white hairy dog. It must be the dog that Adele-hime played with this morning.

"Are you... okay?" Kai-ouji speak up and I nodded. I bow at him in thanks and was about to leave when he grabbed my sleeve. "Shadow is sleeping... don't want him to... wake up... I can... show you around..."

"I am honored with that offer, your highness. But I must decline for I don't want a prince to interrupt his afternoon plans for my sake." I said and pull my arm away from him.

"You can... get lost... the garden... very big..." he said worryingly. "Want... to be... friends..." he added. I really despise being around with royals but he is right, I can get lost. This will only happen once.

"I wouldn't mind a little walk." I said and he smile a little. He lead the way and I followed. We we're walking in silence, I don't like talking and I think he's having a problem in starting a conversation.

Yesterday, I was a mess in front of him. I tried to glare at him but instead of avoiding my gaze, he stared at me. So I decided to just observe his room but he's gaze is still following me until Heine reminded him to focus. As much as I hate royals, I hate being watched and I hate boys with an exception of Heine Sensei. He took us in and loved us like we're his real daughters.

Let's put that thought aside and go back to where I was. I accidentally blurted to Kai-ouji that he's weird. I couldn't act tough and mean like I did to Leonhard-ouji because of his weirdness. He's weird because he's the combination of the three things I don't like.

"Nice weather we're having..." he finally managed to broke the silence.

"I agree." I replied.

"I like cute things..." he said.

"Yes, you do."

"You're cute..."

"Thank you." I said as I managed to hide my blush. After that conversation, silence was back in the atmosphere. That talk feels like scripted, I wonder who told him that. This walk is getting awkward, I better go to Heine Sensei.

"Your highness-"

"Do you hate me?" Kai-ouji suddenly ask interrupting my farewell.

"Frankly speaking, yes." I answered him and he become sad. Somehow I feel bad looking at him like that. "But if you're not a prince I might like you. I've heard praises and compliments about you from the palace staffs." I said to make him a little happy.

"What's wrong... with a... prince?" He asked with a frown.

"I hate royalties more than anything else." I told him and he seems to be waiting for a reason. I can't tell him, especially he's a prince. I just cross my arms and look away.

"Whatever... the reason... I'm sure... there's something... royalties... you like..." he said making me nod in his statement. "Maybe... you should... think... what you like... more..."

"I like the garden." I said to him as we reached the flower field. Without saying anything, he went to the flowers and sat on the ground which is very unlikely for a prince. In curiosity, I walk near him and witness that he was making a flower crown skillfully. "Impressive." I compliment after he finish it. He turn to me and put the crown on my head.

"Do you like flowers?" Kai-ouji asked and I nodded with a fade smile as I look at the horizon of flowers.

"Yes, they're very pretty." I reply still watching the horizon and I slowly sat also on the ground.

"Father told me that... flowers are pretty... because they don't... think bad things... only good..." he started to talk and I listen carefully. "You're... like a flower... right now..." I stare at him confusingly. "You're... prettier... if you don't... think bad things... only good... keep smiling..." he finished and I touched my cheeks. I didn't noticed that I was smiling. Did I just really smile? Maybe he's not really what I think he is. I can make another exception.

"I'm smiling because I'm starting to like you." I said keeping my smile like he said.

"I am... happy... I also heard... that... if you'll share your problems... it will be lighter... can you do that?" He asked a question that should be ask soon if you'll become closer but I decided to tell him. I let the words that were always hiding out, I felt a drop of tear sliding down on my cheeks. As I was getting closer to the end, my heart felt lighter and I can no longer feel angry towards the 2nd prince. When I finish every single detail, I saw Kai-ouji's reaction. He look at me pitifully.

"Promise me that you'll keep everything I said a secret." I asked him with a glare and he place his hand on my head petting me then nod. I don't like getting pet because it's like telling me that I'm tiny and weak but why do I feel good if he's doing it. "Can you... stop that?" I said in annoyance hiding my blush. He did what I said and it somehow made me a little sad but I didn't show it.

"Are we... friends...?" He asked and I nodded softly. "I'm very... happy... new friend..."

"You can just call me Lannie, your highness." I told him.

"Lannie... Kai..." he said telling me to call him by his name.

"That's an honor but I'm afraid I shouldn't since Heine Sensei told me to treat your highnesses equally." I declined and he just nodded.

"We must go now..." He announced standing up and help me. We started walking silently and not awkwardly unlike earlier. When we reached the garden entrance, Marie was standing waiting for me. When she set her eyes on us, she suddenly rush up to me and pull me away from Kai-ouji rudely. I was not surprise with Marie's action since it's a her typical attitude whenever she saw her family getting close with other people aside from those she already knew.

Marie continue on dragging me through the halls. I'm still not familiar with the palace so I don't know where we are. She decreased her steps slowly and stopped.

"You didn't wait for me when I specifically told you that I'll be back." She said quietly and I just raise an eyebrow to her. "Do you not trust me anymore? Am I not needed in this family after all?" I forgot her sensitivity. She's very insecure ever since she came to our family.

"Family will not be the same without you, Marie. My trust for you will not fade even if how many mistakes you'll make." I told her and she finally look at my way still wearing her blank expression. Marie's emotionless on the outside but very emotional inside.

"Thank you." She said then point at a simple looking door on her right. "You, Leine and I will be having a sleepover in here. It's my room." She said and opened the door. Leine was already inside sleeping on the mattress on the floor in her pajama. She got up from the sound of our footsteps.

"If you guys are wondering why I'm already in pajama well the answer is Papa." She said. Heine Sensei and her must have another little fight. It's commonly Leine's fault usually by teasing him too much.

"What is it this time?" Marie asked as she locked the room.

"I'm not gonna eat tonight until Papa apologize from calling me worthle-" she cuts her sentence when she look at me. "You made that, Marie?" She asked pointing at me. I look at her confusingly and Marie shake her head at Leine. They both point at my head. I raise my hands and touch the flower crown on my head.

"Well if Marie didn't made it then there's only one person who did it." Leine said in smirk. I immediately took off the flower. "Did you had fun with Kai-ouji this afternoon?" I grasp the crown tightly before nodding and look away. "What? I was expecting an angry response not an honest yes."

"Do you like Kai-ouji?" Marie asked and I nodded again hiding my face.

[A/N: That's the end of this chapter, I know that it's very short since I'm struggling a little on this. I was asking myself and friends what kind of conversation can make a girl fall in love with a boy but it turns out we don't have any ideas so I just ended up what comes out of me naturally and this was the best one.

I can't believe that I did not update for a whole year. I promise to give you 4 chapters today as a punishment or as an apology. (I originally plan 5 but turns out I always got stuck whenever I plan of writing something romantic.)

What do you think? It's the second point of view of my oc. (Marie was the first one in chapter 2). What do you think about their emotional side? Don't worry, you'll get to know what Lannie confessed to Kai soon because I'll be a huge spoiler. Can you try to guess what it is?

Stay in your home and stay safe.]