Part Eight

Our lips were almost close enough to touch, when suddenly Leo froze. (Leo?) I raised my head and saw Nico at the far end of the corridor, walking towards us.

"Maya, Giles wants to see you." Leo moved his face away from mine at the sound of Nico's voice and released his grip on my arm.

"Ahh—okay—thanks." I glanced up at Leo briefly, then hurried towards Giles's room. (What Leo said just now—What exactly did he mean by that?)

As I made my hurried way down the corridor, I didn't even notice that my cheeks were flushed. Leo stared after Maya as she left. Then he glanced at Nico, still standing in the corridor with him.

"See you later then, Leo." Nico turned to leave, but Leo's voice stopped him.

"Hey Nico— Do you think Robert is a spy from Stein?" Nico's expression turned serious for a moment. Then he turned slowly back to face Leo and smiled faintly.

"Why would you ask me something like that?" Leo smirked back at him.

"Well it's true that he's a bit suspicious, but I have my doubts about you too." Nico narrowed his eyes at Leo's words, but then he laughed suddenly.

"Gosh Leo. Maya won't like you very much if you keep saying such silly things."

"You might be right." Leo smirked back at Nico as he replied. He watched quietly as Nico walked away, and then he frowned slightly, his expression thoughtful.

That evening— Nico visited my room and gave me a proper report.

"Right now this is all I know. I'm very close to being able to expose the person who's been manipulating Wysteria and Stein. If we look hard enough, we'll find the skeletons in his closet."

"I hope so." As I looked over the documents that Nico handed me— "Ahh!" I jumped in surprise at a sudden knock at the window.

"What's that?" Nico frowned and turned his gaze to the window.

"Oh!" (I bet I know what that is.) I opened the window, and sure enough there was Leo's parrot. "It was just the parrot."

"Sebastian. I'm Sebastian."

"I see, so your name is Sebastian?" I smiled at the parrot, and then Nico peered over my shoulder at him.

"Hang on— is that Leo's parrot?" I glanced up at him and realized he was frowning.

"Nico, is something wrong?"

"Nico, what's wrong, what's wrong?" Sebastian spread his wings again and flew away.

"Aww he left." Nico said nothing as he stared at the darkness beyond the window. But something about his expression made me feel uneasy.

Meanwhile elsewhere—

"I see." Sebastian repeated Nico's name to Leo. He leaned against the windowsill and sighed softly. "I wish you wouldn't bother the princess so much."

The following day, I sat in the office talking to Nico. As we chatted, Leo appeared in the doorway.

"See you later, Maya." Nico started to leave the room, but Leo spoke just as Nico passed him.

"Hang on." Nico stopped and turned to look at him. "There's something I'd like to talk to you about, Nico."

"Oh?" Nico frowned a little at Leo's words.

"Nico Meier. " Nico's expression stilled, his eyes narrowing just slightly at Leo's hoarse voice. I could see his shoulders trembling just a little. "Apparently King Byron of Stein has a devoted servant with that name." I nearly choked on my own breath at his words. (How did he know?) Leo narrowed his eyes as he gazed at Nico. "Well, what do you think?" Nico stared at Leo, as if trying to read him.

"What is it you're trying to say, Leo?" He gave a wide smile, and Leo smiled right back at him.

"Come on, surely you know that?"

"U-Um Leo—" (Leo seems really angry. I don't know how on earth to explain things to him.) I hurriedly tried to interrupt, but Leo scowled at me, his gaze serious.

"Maya—I don't know what you were thinking. For you to harbor a spy from Stein—I'm a bureaucrat of the Wysterian court— I can hardly overlook it." I caught my breath at his steely tone of voice.

"Leo, I—" (I want to explain what we're trying to do.) I dropped my gaze for a moment, and then raised my eyes again and stared up at Leo. (I'm the princess of Wysteria now—I have to be sure of what I say.) "Please let me explain a few things to you."

I explained to Leo what we'd been working on so far.

"I see." Leo slowly looked over the documents that Nico had put together. "So basically, you've been using a spy from Stein to try and expose these crimes?" I glanced up to find Leo staring at me. "That's hardly the princess's job you know." I swallowed hard. (I know I should probably be focusing on my other duties. But—) I raised my head and stared back at Leo. (Even Leo told me before how much I need to know and be aware of. I started to say something, but suddenly Nico cut in.

"The princess is a kind person, and I'm the one who put her up to this."

"Nico—" Leo narrowed his eyes again at Nico's words. Then he dropped his gaze to the document in his hands. A moment later, his face suddenly turned absolutely white. From where I stood, I could hear him gasp softly. "Leo, what's wrong?"

"Ahh—nothing." Leo pressed his lips together, frowning. He was silent as he scanned the contents of the document again. Then at last he put it back down on the desk and grinned at me. "Hey, Maya?"

"Y-Yes?" Leo spoke slowly but clearly.

"I don't suppose you'd let me involved in this as well?"

"Huh?" Leo's sudden question confused me. He took his glasses off and met my gaze again.

"This is something that's been bothering me for a while. I want to help." There's something not quite right about Leo's smile. After thinking for a moment I spoke hesitantly.

"Leo—you're not mad at me, are you?" I looked up at him and he laughed in amusement.

"Aww, do you want me to be mad?"

"That's not what I meant—" (He seems different to how he was a moment ago, but I don't understand why. Is there something in those documents that's bothering him?) As I stood there wondering, Leo glanced at Nico.

"Depending on how he does, we might be able to let Nico go too. That doesn't sound too bad, does it?" I turned to look at Nico as well.

"Nico—" Nico narrowed his eyes as he met my gaze. Then he gave a long sigh.

"At this point, I really don't have much choice, do I?"

As Leo left the room, he paused in the doorway. He spoke softly to Nico so that Maya wouldn't overhear him.

"Just so you know, I'm not like Maya—I don't trust you at all."

"I understand that all too well." Nico gazed up at him and smiled brightly. "After all Leo, I don't trust you either. I don't even want to know what you might be thinking."
"That's wise of you." Leo gave him a tight smile, and then left the room ahead of him.

The next day— Giles was busy with other work, and Leo had accompanied me on a trip related to my duties.

"Maya?"

"Yes?" We were on our way home, and Leo tilted his head as he gazed at me.

"Shall we take a little detour?"

So sorry I haven't posted in a while! A lot of things have went on the past week, and I haven't had time to work on this. Anyway, this is only half of part eight. Side story up next, then I'll post the other half!