(A/N: Filler chapter. Not much happens, but I was just hoping to get back in the swing of writing. Happy Valentines!)

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"I… I'm so disturbed," Odin said, staring up at Niles.

The outlaw smirked at him, looking elated as he sucked on a piece of oddly shaped dark-chocolate, biting down on it until creamy white filling oozed out. "Oh, but it's so goooood," Niles said.

"Pray tell, what is going on he-" Leo walked in to the mess hall kitchen, pausing in his tracks as he saw his retainers donning frilly aprons, with smears of chocolate on them. He'd received report about "disturbing noises" coming from the kitchen, supposedly coming from his retainers. "Is there any reason why you two are still here and dressed like… that?" Leo asked.

Niles and Odin straightened, immediately turning to face their liege. "O-Oh, Lord Leo! You're still awake!"Odin said, "We were just… uh… you know! Making sure none trespass these sacred halls! After all, tomorrow is a hallowed day, and-"

"Hallowed day?" Niles interjected. "I beg to disagree, I'm pretty sure it could get quite a little sinful…"

Leo just stared at them, in those ridiculous aprons, and then noticed the thick smell of sweets in the air. "Chocolate?" he asked.

Odin sighed. "Well… yes, milord. See, I was hoping to give some to Selena, and Niles here said he'd help me…"

Leo walked over to the kitchen counters, inspecting the tray of chocolates his retainers had resting there. "These are some… oddly misshapen chocolates," Leo said, a note of confusion in his voice. He was too scared to dare to pick one up and try to taste it. "Why, though? Is there some sort of occasion?"

Niles and Odin looked stunned, eyes widening in surprise. "Milord, you don't have the slightest idea?" Niles asked. "No idea at all?"

"Good gods, Niles. Just get on with it and say it," Leo said.

"It's the Festival of Love. Most people give gifts to people they like."

"...Oh," was all that Leo said. He vaguely recalled a couple of times that he received chocolates or gifts around this time of year, but he had always dismissed them as gifts out of courtesy.

He wondered if, this year, he'd perhaps get something from Charlotte…

"So, to Selena, huh?" Leo asked, curiously. "Well, I hope it tastes decent? I never knew it was men who gave gifts. I always assumed it was the other way around."

His retainers looked at him doubtfully and Leo wondered if he'd said something wrong. "Milord, it has always been men giving gifts," Odin said.

"H-Huh? It has always been that way?" Leo asked, confused. "Then how come I used to get…"

"I suppose we can assume you got gifts out of courtesy, because of your station," Niles said. "You never noticed that Odin and I have never gotten anything at all, ever?"

"...And I just assumed that was because no woman in their right mind would think to do that," Leo said, half in jest.

Odin and Niles grumbled and argued otherwise, but most of it fell on deaf ears as Leo just stared at the chocolates, a thought eventually dawning on him.

Charlotte wasn't supposed to give him a gift. It was supposed to be the other way around.

"...I think there would still be some stores open at this hour?" he said, to his retainers. "It's not too late to just buy a gift instead. With how picky my sister's retainer seems to be, I doubt these would pass her high standards."

Odin gave a big sigh. "I was hoping to go for the sincerity of handmade… but alas, it seems I have no choice…"

Niles grinned at Leo. "You're going to pick out something for someone too, aren't you, milord?"

"S-Shut it…" Leo said, as he turned his back on his retainers, trying to hide the blush of embarrassment on his cheeks. Picking out a gift for a girl… this was going to be a first. Good thing any of his siblings weren't around, or he'd never hear the end about it. "Get changed out of those ridiculous things," Leo said. "I'll be waiting outside."

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Odin found nothing that he thought would pass for Selena's incredibly high standards, and so ended up traipsing in the forest that night, coming out with hand-picked wild blooms, rolled into a bouquet and accented with a ribbon that Niles snuck out of Elise's rooms.

"W-Well, I guess I can accept this…" Selena said, to Odin, sounding condescending as she usually did, but she hid behind the flowers, hiding the blush on her cheeks. "Thanks…"

Odin looked relieved, and let out a tense laugh as he walked beside Selena, the two wandering aimlessly for a stroll. From a distance, Leo and Niles let out a sigh of relief, somewhat glad for Odin.

"And now there's only you left, milord," Niles said. "Shall we visit Charlotte again and get it over with?"

Leo's lips curled down to a dangerous frown. Every time they'd tried to approach Charlotte today, she had been with one man or another, receiving a gift. She was well liked, and it showed. With all those gifts, would she really need his?

"Oh! There you are, Lord Leo!"

Leo jolted straight, recognizing the voice. He looked up and found Charlotte herself, approaching him and Niles. She seemed her usual, cheery self, Leo noted. His fingers tightened inside his pocket. Get it over and done with, he thought.

"I thought I'd never find you," Charlotte said, then glancing at Niles. "…And you too,I guess," she said.

Niles only chuckled, "Well, I could leave you two if you wanted-"

"Oh, there's no need," Charlotte said, sounding quite hurried. She then handed Leo a small box from a pack that she'd been carrying. Leo accepted it, and examined it. It was a pink box of chocolate hearts, all looking perfectly made and delectable. "I made them myself, so I hope you like them~!"

"But I thought the Festival was only for men to give gifts," Leo said, sounding confused.

"That's how Nohrian tradition is, but since I take some pride in the sweets I make, I might as well take the opportunity, right?" Charlotte said, with a giggle. If Leo listened closely, he would have heard that she was slightly nervous, watching him just staring at her chocolates.

"The opportunity to show men how much of an amazing chef you are," Niles said, smirking. "It truly is a shame to pass up such a golden chance."

Charlotte pouted, and by the expression on her face, Leo could already tell there was a long argument ready to spill from her mouth. "Niles, don't tease her," Leo said, dissuading his retainer. "These are really thoughtful of you, Charlotte," he said, staring down into the chocolates again. They all looked so delicate, the chocolate looking tempered to perfection that they almost shined. When he imagined her in the kitchen, making each of these… it couldn't help but bring a smile to his face.

"Well… it's the least I can do to repay you, you know?" Charlotte said, twiddling her thumbs in her blonde hair. "W-Well, that's all! I hope you like them!"

She turned her back on the two men, almost as if trying to make an embarrassed escape. It was then that Leo remembered his own gift, still tucked away in his pocket. "Wait!" he called after Charlotte, reaching out and grabbing her by the wrist. "I… I got something for you too, Charlotte."

Charlotte turned around, and looked at him curiously. "You did…?"

He reached into his pocket, and handed her the item-a jeweled brooch, with sapphires and pearls. "I noticed the brooch on your hairbow looked a little worn, so I thought to buy you a new one. I'm sorry I didn't bother to get it wrapped…"

Charlotte took the brooch, a smile on her lips. "Oh, thank you so much, Lord Leo! It's so sweet of you to notice and to give me a new one… I promise I'll cherish it."

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"You really should have sent me away, milord. I felt like I was really interrupting something," Niles said, watching as Charlotte walked off, looking like she had a little more skip in her step.

"It's not like you have anywhere else to be… I know none of the ladies have ever really been fond of you," Leo said. He had sensed that Niles was about to tease him, so he decided that he would rather go ahead and tease his retainers first. In all Niles' years of service to him, the women seemed to find the outlaw more frightening than alluring.

Niles only smirked, not even offended. "…Soo, can I have some of that chocolate, milord?"

"Not a chance," Leo quickly said, holding onto the pink box of chocolates tightly.

"Milord, you don't even like chocolate."

"I don't hate it," Leo said, with a huff, as he started walking back to the direction of his chambers. "You can have the rest of your day off," he said, to Niles. "I think I'm heading back to my tent and enjoying these with some coffee."