Part Three

The following day— I sat quietly on my sofa in my chamber, staring off into space and thinking hard.

"Maya." "Princess Maya!"

"Ahh!" (What?) I raised my head and focused my gaze to find Nico standing in front of me.

"You look like you were thinking pretty hard about something."

"Ah, I'm sorry, Nico." I stood up hurriedly, and Nico frowned doubtfully.

"Did something happen?" I shook my head at his words.

"No, it's nothing. We should hurry, right?"

"Yes." As I smiled at him, a gust of wind came in through the window.

"Oh!" The postcard on the windowsill fluttered down onto my bed. I stared at it in silence. Somehow the postcard that I'd given to Leo had turned up in my bag again. I sighed as I turned my gaze away from it.

After he'd kissed me, Leo had leaned down and picked up the fallen bouquet from the ground. Scattered petals littered the street at my feet.

"Maya, did you sneak out of the palace?"

"…!" I raised my gaze in surprise at the kindness in his voice.

"Should I escort you back?"

"I—!" Leo reached out towards me, and I couldn't help but shrink back from his hand. When I did so, he stopped at once. His eyes were wide, but he said nothing. I could feel his gaze on me, and I straightened my shoulders and spoke softly. "I can return to the palace on my own." Then I turned and walked away. I didn't look back to see his reaction.

Leo narrowed his eyes as he watched Maya walk away. He sighed softly, and dropped his gaze to the bouquet of flowers in his hand. Then he turned and walked off in the opposite direction.

I sighed as I remembered what had happened the day before, and dropped my gaze to my hands. (Why would Leo do such a thing? And I can't really talk to anyone about it either.)

After I finished breakfast, I headed to the office as usual and opened the door. Leo sat inside at the desk, looking the same as he always did.

"Good morning, Maya." I nodded silently to him in reply. Then I sat down and opened my book. (Would it be better to pretend it didn't happen? But—) I turned my gaze away as I thought.

"Are you listening, Maya?" Leo tapped me gently on the forehead.

"Oh!" I caught my breath as I met his gaze. (That's right— worrying about it isn't going to do me any good.) I took a deep breath and then spoke quietly. "Um Leo— about yesterday—"

"Hmm?" Leo raised his gaze from his book, and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Leo, why—" Leo watched me silently. (Ahh, what should I do? How should I phrase it?)

"It's nothing." I mumbled the words, and Leo nodded hesitantly.

"Okay." I couldn't think of what else to say and then Leo smiled as if he understood. "I won't do that again." I bit my lip lightly at his words. I lowered my gaze, but I could still feel him watching me. (I just have no idea what he's thinking ever.) We returned to our lessons, just as we always did. But I couldn't concentrate properly.

We finally took a break, and I stepped out into the courtyard for some fresh air. But it didn't seem to make me feel any better. (I didn't end up asking him anything.) I crouched down to gaze at the flowers blooming in the garden. (That reminds me— Leo bought those flowers, but who was he giving them to? I wonder if they were for another woman?) Then I shook my head at my thoughts. (Why am I even thinking about that?!) At that moment, I heard a dry voice behind me.

"What are you doing?" (Huh?) Alyn stood behind me, a dubious look on his face.

"Alyn! Um, I was just—" I stood up hastily, and brushed my hair back behind my ears. (Ahh, I must've looked so weird just crouching there like that.) Alyn stared at me, his expression relaxing a little. Then he sighed and tapped me gently on the forehead. "Oh!"

"You don't look so good, you should rest."

"Ah—okay." Something about his touch on my forehead had been surprisingly gentle, and I blushed a little. (Huh? This feeling kind of reminds me of something.)

A while later— Giles visited Leo in his office. "What is it?" Leo raised his gaze from his book and looked up at Giles.

"Giles, what, Giles."

"Can you do something about the way that bird talks?" Giles gave a sigh, and Sebastian flapped his wings.

"Not bird. Sebastian."

"He said it, not me." Leo laughed oddly, but Giles ignored him.

"Leo, I have to ask— did you do something to the princess?" Leo fell silent, his laughter gone. One corner of his mouth quirked upwards.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because she's quite clearly acting odd."

"She really is open-hearted, isn't she?" Leo gave a sigh that was half laughter. He stood up and removed his glasses. Then he spoke, his tone clear and sure. "You're right. I did do something." Giles frowned at Leo's words.

"By which you mean—" Leo narrowed his eyes.

"So you need to admonish me, right? And make sure I don't get further involved? For the princess's sake, I mean." Giles continued to frown as he stared at Leo.

After Alyn left, I wandered around the courtyard alone. As I did so, I noticed that there was someone else in the garden. He was headed my way, and I stopped as I saw his face. (Hang on, don't tell me that's—) I raised my voice in surprise at the familiar figure.

"Robert?!"

"Ahh! It really is you, Maya!" When I was a child, Robert lived only a few doors away from my house. Back then, he used to tutor me and the other children while studying to become an artist himself. (I heard quite some time ago that he'd suddenly gone missing. But it really is him, isn't it? This sure takes me back.) Robert told me about how he was now living and working in the palace as the court painter. But although I was happy to hear all about it, I couldn't hide my gloomy expression. "What's the matter? You look as if something's troubling you. Would you like to talk about it?"

"Ahh—" (Robert used to always listen to my troubles when I was younger. I kind of want him to listen to them now too.) I spoke hesitantly at first, but I slowly told him about what had happened with Leo.

"I see." Robert frowned a little as he listened to my story. "But you know that's odd."

"Huh?"

"He certainly does seem to be involved with other women a lot of the time, but I've never heard about him being the one to make a move before."We spoke some more, but I was distracted by his words. Eventually we said goodbye and went our separate ways.

After I left the garden, I walked slowly through the palace corridors. (I wonder what Robert meant.) As I was thinking about it, I saw Leo at the far end of the corridor.

"Huh? Maya?" I stared at him silently as he approached me. (Leo— why did you kiss me?) He stopped in front of me and gazed at me. "Are you still mad at me?" I didn't know what to say. I dropped my gaze in an attempt to avoid his, and Leo narrowed his eyes a little. "Hey, I'm sorry." I froze at his words, and then opened my mouth to speak.

"Leo— have you done that to other people besides me?"

"Huh?" For a moment, Leo looked confused, but then he smirked. "Yep, I have." As I stared at him, I saw the right side of his mouth curve upwards, just a little. I met his gaze trying to read his expression. (Is that really the truth? Or—) Right then, Leo tapped me gently on the forehead again. "Hey. If you keep staring at me like that, I might do it again."

"Ahh!" Startled, I put my hand to my head, but I realized then that someone else had done the same thing to me recently. (That's right. I know this feeling.) "Alyn—"

"Huh?" I spoke without thinking, and Leo froze slightly.

"Oh—um—it's just, you remind me of Alyn somehow."

"Wow—you're good Maya." Leo sounded impressed as he gazed down at me. Then he gave me a sudden smirk. "I should remind you of him. After all we're twins."

"Wha—twins?!" I exclaimed in surprise.

"Yep. Although no one's ever told us we're similar before. Are you surprised?"

"A bit, yeah." I spoke softly, and Leo peered at me.

"Sometimes I think you're even smarter than you let on." Then his gaze dropped to my sleeve. "Maya, you've got something on your sleeve." Leo pointed to my sleeve.

"Huh?" (What is it?) I peered down at my elbow, and saw some sort of bright color there.

"Paint?" At his words, I remembered when I'd been sitting with Robert. (I must have gotten some of Robert's paint on me then.)

"Yes, I think so."Leo narrowed his eyes as I nodded. He gazed at me in silence, a frown on his face.

That evening, I sighed softly as I sat at my window. I gazed up at the clear night sky as I thought. (Who would've thought that Leo and Alyn are twins? But it seems like Alyn is always avoiding Leo. I thought about Robert had told me. If what Robert said is really true—) At that moment, I heard a voice outside my window. (What?!) When I looked around, I saw a parrot sitting on the branch of a nearby tree. "Oh!" (I wonder if that's the one that was in Leo's room?) The parrot flapped his wings.

"Cute, princess, cute." I was startled by his words, but I couldn't help but smile at him.

"Thank you." The parrot seemed pleased with my response, and he spread his wings.

"I will never—"

"Huh?"

"Ha!" The parrot hastily flapped his wings. "Forget I said it, forget I said it." Then he flew away.

Hey—wait—!" I stuck my head out further and called after him, and the parrot circled back towards me.

"Cheer up!" And with that, he soared up into the sky and was gone. (Aww, he left. But he told me to cheer up. It's nice to have someone encourage me.)

Leo allowed Sebastian to land on his arm, and then spoke softly to him. "You didn't say anything you shouldn't have, right?"

"Said nothing, cheer up!" Leo grinned at Sebastian's words. Then he gave a small sigh.

"She'll feel better about being encouraged by you, rather than me."

Several days later— Giles told me about a festival that was scheduled to occur in the Kingdom of Laurelia. "Laurelia is a prospering agricultural country, and their harvest festival is a grand affair. You have been formally invited as the princess. He gazed down at me as he spoke. "You will depart tomorrow, accompanied by a troop of knights."

"Okay." (So that means I'll be going with Alyn and some of his men.)

"Oh, and one more thing." Giles sighed, and then continued to speak, his tone disapproving. "Leo will also be accompanying you."

"Leo as well?" It was the last name I expected to hear, and I blinked up at him in surprise. (Why would Leo be going?) Giles gave another sigh.

"Leo has also been formally invited by the king of Laurelia. As your rumored partner."

"What?!" I raised my voice in surprise at Giles's words.

The next day was the day of our departure. We boarded the carriage in front of the palace, and were soon on our way. "Let's have fun, Princess." Leo and I sat in the carriage together, and Alyn rode next to us on horseback. "Aww, c'mon Alyn, don't make such a scary face." Alyn was silent as he rode. His gaze was turned away, as if he hadn't heard a word Leo had said. Leo stared at him, and then gave a small sigh, as if he didn't want me to hear it. (I wonder how this is going to go.) It was a long journey to Laurelia. And there wasn't much for me to do besides look at the scenery. The silence in the carriage began to feel uncomfortable, so I decided to break it.

"Leo about that rumor— how come you haven't been denying it?"

"Hmm?" Leo smirked in amusement, and tilted his head a little. "Well I don't exactly have any reason to deny it. If you find a real partner, and the rumor becomes a problem, I can just deny it then." I couldn't think of a reply. Leo gazed at me. "Does it bother you?" (It's not that it bothers me, but rather—)

"Are you okay with it? You're not worried that other women will misunderstand?" Leo laughed softly.

"I'm fine— there are no other women that are serious about me."

"What do you mean?" Leo laughed again, and then narrowed his eyes a little.

"They're all serious about someone else."

"But—" Before I could finish asking him about it, the carriage suddenly stopped moving. The door opened, and Giles peered in at us.

"From here on we must travel by horseback."

"Yeah, yeah." Leo climbed out of the carriage first and then offed me his hand. "Your hand, Princess." I hesitated, then took Leo's hand. But I couldn't stop thinking about what he said. (Are you really okay with that, Leo?) The rest of the trip to Laurelia was uneventful. But Leo's words stayed in my mind the whole way.

At last we arrived in Laurelia. As the princess of Wysteria, I exchanged formal greetings with the king. "And this is your rumored partner?" The king's voice was amused as he gazed at Leo. Leo narrowed his eyes just a little. But instead of speaking, he bowed formally to the king. "Ho ho, you have quite a lot of promise."

"Your Majesty, in truth—" I wanted to deny the rumor, but the king of Laurelia laughed loudly as he stroked his beard.

"Ahh, don't worry. I understand. I won't ask for details now. I'll wait for the formal announcement." The king laughed loudly in amusement, and I couldn't think of anything more to say. Then I realized that Leo was laughing softly as well. (Ahh, I don't know which of you is worse!)

We spent the rest of the afternoon being given a tour of the palace., and then we dined with the king and his family. As evening fell, Leo and I visited the festival together. "Laurelia holds a festival every season to celebrate the harvest. They leave the bonfire burning in the square for an entire three days and three nights of the celebration. "

"Wow, really?" I sighed as I gazed at the huge fire in the square. Leo fell silent beside me, and I glanced up at him. He as gazing at the fire as well, his expression unusually serious. I wondered what he was thinking.

When the festival had ended, I was shown to my room. "This is where you will be staying." The maid opened the door to the room.

"Huh?"

"What?" My gaze met Leo's where he stood inside the room. As we stared at each other in shock, the maid curtsied and spoke.

"As arranged by his majesty."(Wait a minute, does that mean—)

"We're sharing a room?"