Third P.O.V.
"Dear L
Your name rhymes with honey
And you're cute like a bunny.
You're hair is red as cherry
Watching you is a journey.
Journey where started all
I know I'm like a fool
You're presence makes me full
That's why in love, to you I fall.
It was only a pretend.
To me, you're more than a friend.
Too bad that day had end
I want it to happen again.
In person this I can't say
But I cannot wait another day
When you think I wanted to play.
Writing seems to be the only way.
With this letter I want you to know,
Our spending time wasn't long
But your laugh is a song
Where my heart wants to belong
The prince who's in love with you
I will give you a clue
In line he is two
Kai his name, it's true."
Two weeks had passed since that letter has been sent to the room of Lannie which she's sharing her sister with. No progress have happened between the 2nd prince and the tutor's daughter. Still friends spending a lovely afternoon together in the garden. No one seems to ask about the letter and nobody wants to talk about it. The letter might have not change the relation with Kai and Lannie but it change some behaviors. Since the letter was opened, Leine and Lannie have not talk to each other. Every meal with Heine, the two only chat with Marie and the professor but never a word to each other. As the parent, Heine called the two in his chamber. He will try to end the misunderstanding between the sisters.
"Papa!" Leine exclaimed tackling her father with a tight hug. The girl didn't plan on letting go until the door open and a curly red haired maiden entered. "Oh, I thought this talk is gonna be private." The youngest said crossing her arms glaring at the oldest.
"What am I doing here, Heine?" Lannie asked ignoring the glare.
"I want you both to talk and finally settle this fight you're having against each other." Heine said pulling out his teacher's pointer and slap it on his palm. This made the girls stiff and tremble in fear, Heine have not hit someone with the pointer before and never raised a hand to his daughters but his serious face can give chills to anyone. Sometimes when what Heine asked was not obeyed he can be cruel in other ways.
"Lannie started it!" Leine immediately yelled before the second slap hit but this only made the professor to glare at her. Even scarier.
"I want you to talk with your sister, not to me and I don't wanna hear childish blames." Heine said.
"What's wrong with you? You never yelled at me in rage before." Leine started asking her sister to begin fixing the misunderstanding.
"I never been angry at you but because of that letter, for the first-time I feel jealous and I don't know how to handle that emotion." Lannie honestly answered and with sincere eyes she said; "I'm sorry."
"I've told you many times that there's no reason for you to feel that way. I was only joking that the letter was for me when it's obviously meant for you." Leine explained.
"You're only saying that to make me feel better. It's for you because you're the only girl I knew that the name starts with L and really adore the smell of peppermint." Lannie stated her own perspective.
"Letter? Peppermint?" Heine put the two together realizing that he was also part of their misunderstanding but to clarify, he asked; "Is this about a love letter from Kai-ouji?"
"Lannie, did you hear someone talking?" Leine asked crept out looking in all directions possible. Heine walk up to her and pinch her cheeks.
"I am asking a question." Heine in annoyed before letting go. "Not a perfect time for joking."
"You're the one who said not to talk to you. I'm just being obedient." Leine complaint rubbing her cheeks. "I thought you already knew that we're arguing about Kai-Ouji's letter, papa."
"I already had it in mind but I don't always jump to conclusions." Heine answered.
"I'm really sorry, Leine. I'm the one who's in fault here. I don't have any rights to be jealous to you, it's not like Kai-Ouji and I have any connection." Lannie apologize sincerely again and this made her little sister groan.
"How many times should I tell you that that letter isn't for me?" Leine groan in annoyance.
"How can you be certain? How can you explain about the peppermint? The rhyming? The word laugh? I never laugh since I arrived here." Lannie protested.
"I was present when the letter was being made. I wanted to apologize to papa that night when I heard him talking to Kai-Ouji. About the peppermint scent, Papa gave it to his highness mistakenly thinking that you love it since I've been bugging you to get it from him. About the rhyming, Bruno-Ouji and Licht-Ouji suggested it and about the word laugh, Kai-Ouji assume that smiling is close to laughing." Leine answered. "I was only present when Papa gave the paper, the rest of the information was from Leonhard-Ouji." She added.
"Come on, you think I'll believe that made up lie of yours? Even so, I'm not gonna believe from an unreliable source." Lannie protested again and the youngest groan with anger this time. "The palace staffs saw the two of you with the letter." She said with tearful eyes.
"That was because Kai-Ouji asked me to give it to you and because of my mischievous mind, I came up to trick you first before giving it to you but I wasn't aware that you would react that way. I thought you wouldn't care like the letters that were asked to me to hand over to you."
"Letters from whom?" Heine interrupted the argument.
"Information not available for other people. I promised not to tell." Leine tell her father zipping her mouth like it was a zipper. "I think this misunderstanding between Lannie and I is ready to end. You should try to fix one between Marie and Bruno-ouji, Papa. Their fight seems endless." She suggested.
"Endless fight doesn't have a solution. They have to sort it out themselves. I believe it's more than an argument and I shouldn't interfere in that kind of matter." Said Heine.
"I got what you mean and I want to excuse myself."
"Where are you going? You both haven't reconcile yet." Heine asked and Leine was already at the door.
"I promise that it's related to where I'm gonna go." Leine said before shutting the door. There was only one way to solve their problem and that's what she's gonna do. She doesn't know the daily routine of that certain prince but she usually see him in the garden. She start walking towards her destination. When she arrived, she failed to find what she's looking but found someone else.The youngest prince leaning on a sturdy tree, his head down making his long blond hair to fall in front of his face. He seems pretty droopy and that's very unusual to see from a playful prince. She knows that it's none of her business but she still approach the boy.
"Seems like a hard shell really contains a soft heart." Leine said that made Licht look at her. "Pardon me your highness but I can't help noticing that you're not happy today. Is it possible for you to share it to a curious maiden?" She asked politely. Licht just smile at her, his flirty smile.
"So being sad is the only way to get your attention. Why haven't I thought of that before?" Licht said to her. She keep silent waiting patiently for his story. Licht gave up on the chance to play. "Just had a silly fight with Leonie. Nothing serious at all."
"But you look SERIOUSLY sad, your highness." Leine asked emphasizing a word. "Lannie and I aren't also getting along well. How about you help me with my sister and I'll help you with your brother?" She offer her hand to him. Licht took her hand for a support to stand up then turned into a hand shake. They both smile at each other.
"What can I offer to the troubled beautiful lady?" Licht asked with a wink."
Actually I was looking for Kai-ouji, your highness. I believe that you can at least tell me where he is." Leine answered.
"Kainie eh?" Licht said thinking up remembering where he last saw him. "He's currently at father's office." When Leine heard the location, she immediately walk towards the exit of the garden. "Hey, are you really planning to leave me like that?" She stopped and turned to bow in apology.
"I'm sorry, your highness. I just thought that asking you a question is already too much that's why I planned to leave immediately so that I won't bother you farther." Leine reason out.
"Do you really think I'm that rude?"
[Time Skip]
"Is that so? Unfortunately, Kai-ouji cannot come out yet. The King needs him for something and like what his majesty told me, they might finish very late." The butler said to Leine. Instead of being disappointed, she smiled and bow to say thanks before approaching Licht.
"Thank you so much, Licht-ouji." Leine bow again. "Let me repay this debt of mine by fulfilling my promise." She already step away when she stopped and turned again. "If you would like to come along, your highness I wouldn't force to stop you." They both started walking side by side.
"You're so modest all the time, Leine. Aren't you being a little forceful? I'm sure at least you want to not care once in a while." Licht pipe up and made the lady to cover her face.
"I'm just being obedient. Onii-chan told me when I was younger to always be polite to everyone. I didn't thought that anyone would notice that it was very forceful. I was trying hard." Licht was about to say sorry when Leine burst into laughter. "Is that what you think I'll say?" She said trying to hold back the laughter. She was totally a different person unlike what the prince usually see her.
"What?" Was all Licht said in confusion.
"I'm sorry, your highness. The truth is that I was taught to highly respect people with high power. The more powerful a person is the more respect I should show." Leine answered and went back to the face of which the prince is more familiar with.
"So you're completely different when you're with peasants?" Licht asked still puzzle.
"You can say that but there's nothing special about me anyway. Whether I'm with a royalty or not, I'm still me. I think the only odd thing is that I can easily say no and ask favors to those people with less power." Leine stated then realize something from her words. "Well, this time is quite different since I desperately need help to reconcile with Lannie. We've been in bad terms for weeks now and I really miss her."
"You know, Leine. This is actually the first time were together alone. I didn't expect you to be so talkative." Licht pipe up and this made the girl trace down her memories then bow down. Leine may find her behavior embarrassing but for Licht it's a pathway to Heine's road of mystery. Sure, he's used to girls' endless shares and maybe consider it as annoying sometimes when it's not about him but he's letting this one slide smoothly for easy access of trust.
"Yes, this is indeed the first time. I just realize that. I thought I was friends with everyone in the castle already that I got carried away in talking." She said and just continue walking down the halls but this time she increase her pace. Licht finally saw it, Leine has a mixed up personality. The persona that the prince always hear about her is just polite and kind alone. Never a talkative. Something about today seems to be the reason that she has her guard down and Licht concluded that it was the misunderstanding that she has with her sister.
"Are you trying to avoid me?" Licht asked and he decided to just ask and ask more random questions and see if he'll be able to make Leine open up. The lady ignore his question and just continue walking straight. The prince repeated the question louder because of their distance now but the question is still neglected. Licht chase Leine's pace and when she made a turn the 5th prince grab her by the arm.
"I know what you're up to, your highness. If you think that I'm the vulnerable one out of the three of us then sure enough you don't know me." Leine immediately said when she faced Licht. He just smile and was about to decline when Leine added more. "I'm only disoriented for the time being but I know you've been prying on Onii-chan's history and you've been trying to befriend me to spill out everything." She then change her serious gaze into something pitiful. "Please, your highness. Let me go. I am deeply engrave if I offended you in some way that I did not notice but please don't hurt me." She cried and the youngest prince was suddenly pushed, strong enough for him to lose his grip unto Leine's arm.
"Hey, why are you hurting Heine's sister? Didn't you know that hurting someone is bad especially a girl?" The fourth prince tried to lecture his little brother. Licht gaze at Leine who still continue to look pitiful.
"I didn't mean to. I'm so sorry Leonie." Licht apologize to his brother but Leonhard only got confuse.
"Why are you apologizing to me?"
"I'm apologizing about this morning."
"Huh? Did something happened this morning?" Leonhard asked growing more confused.
"Eh!? You don't remember! You were really mad at me about it." Licht exclaim starting to regret feeling down about it too much.
"Oh, you're talking about dropping my torte on the floor. You don't have to worry about it anymore because dearest brother gave me his share and patted me three times to forgive you." The blond prince said with a toothy smile patting himself reminacing the adored brother's action.
"Why is Leine crying?" The second prince questioned at his sudden arrival.
"Licht hurt Leine even if she's already begging enough." The innocent 4th prince tell his interpretation of what he saw. It was barely visible but the white haired brother expressed a disappointed look to the youngest brother before approaching the sobbing lady.
"Licht... good boy... don't know why... he did awful... but... he is real good boy..." Kai attempts to apologize for his brother and Leine's tears stop.
"Kai-Ouji, this may sound impolite but may I ask you a favor?" The crimson haired girl look up to the prince still with swollen eyes. Kai nodded at her very pleased to help. "Can you meet me at the garden later this afternoon at 4? It's very important so please, I am begging for your presence!" She bowed and is planning to kneel if the prince refused. This is just how she desperately want to have her sister again. She lift her head up when she felt a huge hand on her head.
"You want to do something good... for Lannie... I will come... help as I can..."
"Thank you very much, your highness. My gratitude regards from the bottom of my heart!" Leine beam in happiness. She turn to the other brothers still wearing her warmest smile. "The same gratitude goes towards Leonhard-ouji and Licht-ouji. Thank you very much!" The two princes blush from seeing her genuine smile.
"I think your exaggerating too much." Licht responded.
"Tell me whenever my little brother hurts you. As a big brother, I have a duty to lecture my baby brother." Leonhard said with a prideful posture. Licht whine at his brother and was stop by Kai. Leine giggled watching the brothers.
Leine went to the room she still shares with Lannie to retrieve something essential for setting the misunderstanding over. She search the entire room but failed to find it. The only place she have not checked is Lannie's secret box and it is locked. Leine does not know what is inside but she have a hunch it is something Lannie and her father do not wish for her to learn. She respect both of them so she do not develop the curiosity but opening the box is the only thing she have not done in searching the letter. Leine stared at the box when the door swung open and Marie entered.
"Leine, Heine-sensei is searching for you. He told me that you left without fixing the fight you have with Lannie." Marie informed.
"But I already told Papa that my whereabout is related. I'm fixing it, I promise. I just need one last item for this to be over." Leine answered putting back the box where she found it.
"What are you planning to do, Leine?" Marie asked wearing her usual blank expression but this time her eyes darken.
"Obviously, fix the misunderstanding that the love letter from Kai-ouji is for Lannie and not for me. I am planning to make the two of them talk with me to guide them. They're both bad at communications." Leine send off a soft laugh at the end.
"So you are looking for the letter?" Marie asked and Leine nodded. "I was the one who asked Heine-sensei to make Leine and Lannie talk to each other today. I want to be the one who will fix this." Leine seems confuse from Marie's statement but her eyes widen when Marie showed her the letter.
"So it was with you all this time. May I have it?" Leine asked but Marie put it back on her pocket.
"I saw you asked help from Licht-ouji. I heard you earlier thanking the three princes and you look very happy. You asked Kai-ouji to help fix the misunderstanding between you and Lannie." Marie said but her voice this time is broken. Leine realize where Marie is going with this conversation.
"You are correct so this time, I am asking Marie to help me fix by giving me the letter." Leine said in hope it will calm down the green haired maiden but it was for null. Marie quickly lock Leine inside the room. "Marie, let me out. You will gain nothing from locking me in here."
"No, I will gain some time to fix everything." Marie answered outside the door.
"What are you trying to fix?"
"The relation of my family with the princes." Marie raised her voice. "I know that you are aware of Lannie's feelings towards Kai-ouji but his highness does not feel the same."
"You don't know that."
"His highness is an airhead, Leine. I know that you are planning for Kai-ouji to confess to Lannie personally for her to believe that the letter isn't really for you."
"What are you planning to do?"
"I will have a little chat with Kai-ouji. He is currently waiting at the garden like you told him to." Marie starts to walk away from the room. This time around, the palace personels are busy thus there will only be a rare chance for someone to hear Leine from the room.
Marie had plan for this since she notice Lannie and Leine avoiding each other. What she only need is the letter but she had difficulty to obtain it since someone is always occupying the room where the letter resides. So she asked Heine to force Leine and Lannie to reconcile while she sneak and steal the letter. What she did not plan was for Leine to left and ask help from the princes. She felt betrayed when Leine finally seek for help but did not ask her.
Marie reached the exit to the garden at exactly four o'clock but what she found was not a peaceful garden but a commotion where plenty of palace workers gathered. Marie was astonish and squeeze her way through and found the source of the commotion. Everyone cleared a path for Kai-ouji carrying the fainted Leine inside the palace with Lannie tailing them.
"I saw Leine running at full speed dragging her sister towards the garden where his highness is at but she suddenly fainted." A maid said to another maid.
Marie got confuse on how Leine got out and even beat her in reaching the garden. The room where Heine and Lannie was in the first floor while the room Leine was locked in was at the third. Marie's eyes wandered to the window of Lannie and Leine's room and notice that it is open. It will be dangerous if Leine actually jump from the third floor but when she looked at the ground, she found mattreses and pillows lying.
Feeling her heart tighten, she quickly trail Kai and Lannie towards Heine's room. Kai lay Leine on Heine's bed and not even a minute pass when Heine arrived with worried as an expression. He approach his daughter and examine her.
"Looks like she fainted from exhaustion. It's nothing serious, she just needs rest." After Heine said this, Leine woke up and Marie was the first one to get near her.
Leine hugged Marie and whisper on her ear; "Kindly put back the matresses and pillows I dropped from the window." Marie nodded and excuse herself out.
Leine turn to Kai and smiled widely. "Thank you very much, your highness. I wish to repay your kindness." She extended her arm towards the prince. Kai who is confuse shake it but felt that Leine slid a paper inside his sleeves. "Lannie, would you kindly escort his highness back?"
"I'll be here and take care of you." Lannie said intending to tell her sister to forget their childish quarrel.
"But I want you to get out because I want to be spoiled by onii-chan by having him all to myself just for today." Leine said and Lannie was force to nod. Kai and Lannie both get out after saying get well soon.
"What did you do?" Heine asked his daughter after everyone left.
"I dropped myself from a window at the third floor and dash dragging Lannie to get to the garden." Leine told the truth causing her to receive a flick on the forehead from her father. "Hey, I did that because I was in a hurry. I told Kai-ouji to wait at 4 o'clock. It would be rude if I let him wait a few minutes late." Leine explain but Heine can see through the girl.
"What else happened?" Heine asked knowing it was not the only reason Leine was in a rush.
"Marie still don't trust everyone. Even me." She said.
Meanwhile, Kai-ouji took out the peppermint scented paper from his sleeves. He immediately recognized the content.
"Lannie... have you read this...?" Kai asked the girl beside him. Lannie's eyes widen and cheeks redden. "What... do you think...?"
"Why did you write that letter to Leine, your highness?" Lannie asked as a last confirmation for her to not develop any farther feelings towards the prince anymore.
"Leine...? This is for you..."
"Ehhh??? The letter, your highness, do you mean it?" Lannie's heart started to beat even faster than when it is already from Kai's presence.
"I... wanted to write... thank you... for becoming my friend. It was fun... creating this letter... with my brothers... I thought instead of giving letter with thank you... I give you letter with my brother's help... as a gift... to let you know... they are good boys..." The second prince unknowingly clarify things.
"So that was the purpose of the letter?" The red haired maiden asked growing more and more embrassed from being jealous to her sister and assuming things.
"Yes... now that I look at it... I never finish your name... I cannot give this back to you... it's crumpled...I write it again..." The prince said and the girl that was red from embrassment only nodded.
[A/N: Wow, so much happened in this chapter. Also, what a cringy poem!]