Part Five

Leo embraced me gently, and suddenly my heart was pounding fast.

"U-Um—Leo—" Leo was silent. But I could feel his fingers pressing gently against my back. (Why is my heart beating so fast?) At last I heard Leo whisper softly.

"Thank you, Maya."

"Oh—" I thought of the conversation we'd just had. "That's okay." I raised my hands hesitantly, and wrapped them around Leo in return.

The next day, Giles visited my chamber and handed me a letter addressed to me.

"What's this?" It was a letter from the children who'd been my pupils when I lived in town. (I hope they're all doing well.) I smiled as I stared down at the letter in my hand. Giles narrowed his eyes a little as he gazed at me.

"You must be tired after our busy trip to Laurelia. Is there anything in particular that you'd like?" (Something I'd like? There's lots of things but—) I thought a little about his offer.

"If it's okay— I'd like to go down and visit the town." (I'd like to spend some time with my pupils.)

"I see. Well in that case—" Before Giles could finish, the door to my chamber opened.

"Huh? Giles, you're here too?" Leo listened as I explained my request, and then gave me a broad smile. "I get it. Well if you're going into town do you mind if I go with you?" Leo stood there smiling, and I stared up at him in confusion.

"Leo, what—?"

"You're going into town, right? It's perfect timing 'cause I wanted to go too." Giles glanced at Leo and then sighed.

"Well I guess it's okay." He turned to look at Leo and spoke firmly. "But make sure you're careful while you're out."

So we visited the town, and I was able to see my pupils again after so long. We spent a wonderful afternoon together, talking, playing, and laughing. Afterwards I made my way to the town market. As I wandered down the crowded street, I thought about the smiling faces of my pupils. (It was great to see them all after so long. I feel energized again.) Leo had gone off to do something else while I visited the children, but he'd promised to meet me at the market plaza. (Hmm where are you Leo?) As I waited, my attention was caught by a necklace on display at one of the market stalls.

"Oh it's so pretty!" I accidentally spoke aloud, and I heard a voice behind me.

"Do you want it?"

"Oh!" I felt his breath on the back of my neck, and my pulse sped up. "L-Leo!" I looked back at him, but I shook my head. "No—it's okay." (I don't think a necklace this pretty would suit me.) Leo gazed at me quietly. I hastily moved away from the stall and he followed after me. I didn't want to return to the palace right away, so I showed Leo around the market and some of my favorite places in town. As we wandered slowly, Leo spoke suddenly, admiration in his voice.

"You sure do remember the town well, don't you Maya? The children too."

"Of course I do." I gazed at the streets ahead of me as I spoke. "There's no way I'd ever forget them. Every time I look at their letters I remember them."

"Is that so?" Leo nodded slowly, and then his gaze turned distant somehow. It was so different to his usual expression that I spoke without thinking.

"Leo?" Leo blinked and looked back at me.

"Hmm?"

"Ah—um—" (He looked somehow different to normal, but maybe I was just imagining things.) I turned my gaze away and looked at the shops around us. "Aren't you going to buy anything?" I saw a happy family group crossing the road in front of us. "For your parents, maybe?" Leo's gaze moved to the family in front of us, and then a faint smile touched his lips.

"My parents are long gone. They don't need anything anymore."

"Huh?" I was startled by the unexpected words, and I stared up at Leo. (So they're dead?) "I see—I'm so sorry." (That was pretty tactless of me.) Leo tilted his head at my words and spoke softly.

"Why are you apologizing? You really do amuse me Maya." As I gazed up at him, Leo smirked cheerfully at me. We continued to make our way around town. But Leo was quieter than usual, and I couldn't think of much to say myself. We stopped at a spot overlooking the town and spent some time gazing down at the view. But it was time for us to return to the palace. I sighed softly to myself. (I've always just lived in this town like everyone else, never looking further. But now things have changed. As the princess I have to protect this country.) Leo turned his gaze to look at me. As I stood there in silence, gazing out at the town, he spoke.

"Don't you want to go home?"

"Huh?" I looked up at him and our eyes met. (He's not talking about the palace— he's asking if I want to return to my life in town, isn't he?) I shook my head slowly as I met his gaze.

"No, I belong somewhere else now."

"That's what I thought." Leo's voice was soft, and then he stepped around behind me, his fingers brushing against the back of my neck.

"What are you—?" I started to turn my head to look at Leo, and he murmured in my ear.

"Hold still." I caught my breath. (I know he said to hold still, but it tickles.) Leo's fingers moved gently against my neck and I closed my eyes. Then I heard his voice again, almost like a sigh against my neck. "There you go."

"Oh!" I opened my eyes at his words. Then I realized there was a pendant hanging from a chain around my neck. "This is—"

"You said it was pretty, right?" Leo grinned as he peered at my expression. It was the necklace I'd been looking at in the market. (How on earth did he buy it without me noticing?) I stared up at him in surprise, and he gave me a broad smile. "It suits you Maya." I blushed at his words.

"Th-Thank you." (It makes me happy when he says things like that. But I'm not used to it, so it makes me kind of embarrassed too.) I averted my gaze shyly and spoke hastily. "I guess you're used to this sort of thing, aren't you? You said it before too."

"Yeah." Leo shrugged at my words, and then smirked suddenly. "But this might be the first time I've ever given a girl a present."

"Huh?" (But that means—) I raised my head and stared directly at Leo.

"Hmm?" Leo narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. "I've received them, but I've never given them." I continued to stare up at him. I tired to think about the implication behind his words.

"So why me then?" Leo looked doubtful for a moment and then raised his gaze.

"Who can say? Maybe because that necklace really suits you." Leo reached out and gently touched the ribbon on the front of the necklace. I caught my breath. "Right?" He gave me a quiet smile, and then began walking away. I raised my hand to touch the pendant and stood there silently as I watched Leo walk away. Something inside me ached at the sight of him. (I don't understand you at all, Leo. What are you thinking right now?) Leo turned back to look at me. "Maya, if you don't hurry up, I'm going to leave you behind."

"O-Okay!" As I caught up with him, the setting sun shone straight in my eyes. "Ahh, that's bright!" Leo stared towards the sunset as well and squinted at the bright light.

"It is, isn't it?" His breath was unexpectedly hoarse, and I glanced up at him. (Leo? Is something wrong?)

The following day— Giles visited the office and placed a mountain of paperwork on the desk before me.

"Giles what are these?" I stared up at him, and Giles gave me a faint smile.

"These are documents for the princess."

"For me?" As I flipped through the pages, I realized that they were all investigative reports on various nobles. (And they're all young men. But why would all these be for me?) Giles seemed to sense my confusion and he smirked.

"I am hoping that you might be interested in my suggestion regarded the future of Wysteria. Or had you forgotten?" (I remember now.) Giles sighed and dropped his gaze to the documents on the desk. "These are all reports on young noblemen. Please look through them at your leisure." Then he raised his gaze at me again and met mine. "I would like you to meet each of them, and perhaps choose a suitable partner from amongst them." Giles left me alone in the office with the huge stack of documents. For a moment I was almost too scared to touch them. At last I picked up a few and began to flip through them. I scanned the content, not really sure what I should pay attention to. (Is this what he meant when he said to look through them? I don't know!) I let out a long sigh and at that moment there was a knock at the door.

"Huh?"

"Leo!" Leo came closer to where I sat and peered down at the documents I was holding.

"What are those?"

"Um—Giles prepared them for me." Leo gazed down at the documents, and then gave me a sudden smile. He pointed at one of the documents.

"That guy's a nice guy. But this guy's no good. He fools around." I frowned as I listened to him talk. My heart clenched in my chest. (What is this feeling?) I couldn't find the words to describe what I was feeling, and I turned my face away. Leo paused in his explanation and leaned closer to me. "Maya, what's wrong?" I stared back at Leo.

"Y-You sure know a lot."

"Well, yeah. If you have any questions, just ask." He smirked at me. "I know a lot of people. And hey, I know it was fun. But it's probably about time to be done with that rumor about us, don't you think?"

"Y-Yeah." Something about his smile made my heart ache, but I smiled back at him. "Thanks Leo." I waited for him to leave before I turned my attention back to the documents again. But I couldn't focus on them at all.

I decided to head out into the garden to take a break. I sighed as I wandered around. (I don't want to listen to Leo's advice.) I looked down at the necklace Leo had given me. (Why do I feel this way?) As I was thinking, I raised my head and—

"Huh?" I spotted Leo and Alyn standing near the arena. Alyn was scowling as he spoke to Leo.

"What's this about you not sleeping?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why won't you talk about it?" Alyn glared at Leo, but Leo stared back at him, his eyes narrowed.

"Alyn, you're misunderstanding things." Then he gave a small smile. "I'm not the person you think I am."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Alyn muttered under his breath, and the right corner of Leo's lips turned upwards in a smirk.

"I have something I have to do. You're just in my way." Alyn scowled at Leo in silence. Then he took a deep breath and spoke softly.

"And what about her?"

"Who can say?" Leo turned his back on Alyn and walked away. Alyn watched as Leo walked away, and then glanced over his shoulder.

"Ahh!" I froze as his gaze met mine. Alyn stopped as well. then he turned and walked towards me. As Alyn and I walked around the garden together, I admitted to him that I knew he and Leo were twins. Alyn stared down at me in silence. I shed softly as I met his gaze. I didn't know what else to say. I haven't really heard the details yet. (I should probably wait until he explains them to me, shouldn't I?) After a long time, Alyn spoke softly.

"You shouldn't get too involved with him."

"Alyn?" I stopped walking, and Alyn took a few more steps before turning back to face me.

"He's had this habit ever since he was young."

"Huh?" (What sort of habit?) Alyn narrowed his eyes and smirked a little.

"When he lies, the right corner of his mouth turns up."

That night, I sat alone in my room, going over the documents Giles had given me. I lay sprawled across my bed, turning the pages slowly. But I wasn't really seeing them at all. At last I put the documents aside and buried my face in my pillow. (That habit Alyn described to me— I feel like I've seen it somewhere before.) As I rolled over, an image of Leo fitted through my mind. It was after Leo had kissed me. (So does that mean he was lying then? Who is the real Leo? What type of person is he?) As I lay there thinking, I heard the sound of wings fluttering.

"Huh—?" I turned my gaze to the window and saw a bird outside. (Is that the parrot that was in Leo's office?) I climbed off the bed and moved across the room to open the window.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" The parrot tipped his head to one side as he stared at me and I sighed.

"I don't even know myself. What's wrong with me?" It hurts when I think about Leo."

"It hurts." I nodded as he repeated my words.

"Yes." The parrot stared at me in silence. Then he spread his wings and flew away again without another word.

Sebastian flew to the window of another room where the light was still lit.

"Sebastian is home, home."

"Mmm." Leo continued to read without glancing up, and Sebastian spoke again.

"It hurts. It hurts me."

"Huh?" Leo raised his head, and frowned as he stared at Sebastian. "Don't tell me, did Maya say that?"

"Princess, cute, Princess."

"Gah—"Leo closed his book and stood up, then turned to leave the room. As he did. Sebastian spoke again.

"I think about Leo. It hurts." Leo froze at Sebastian's words. His hand was already on the doorknob in front of him, but instead of opening the door, he leaned his forehead against it.

"I see." Leo took a deep breath. Then he turned around and sat back down in his chair.

"Leo? Leo?"

"I can't be her partner." He spoke softly as if reminding himself of the fact, and began to read his book again. Sebastian fluttered his wings quietly. Then he turned and climbed into his own cage.

"I will never—" He pulled the door of his cage shut with his beak. "Forgive them."

I will try my best to post part 6 tomorrow~