Part Ten:

The next morning—Giles told me my schedule for the day as I ate breakfast, just as he always did.

"In spite of the ongoing issue with Stein, I don't think you should neglect other matters at hand."

"Huh?" I raised my head in surprise at Giles's words. (I wonder what he's talking about?) Giles sighed as I stared at him.

"I don't suppose you looked over the documents I gave you? The ones about the noblemen."

"Ahh-yes." I picked up my toast and took a small bite.

"How would you like to meet some of them, starting today?"

"Wha?!" My mouthful of toast caught in my throat, and I began coughing helplessly. (Is he telling me to go on dates with them?) Giles patted me gently on the back until I recovered.

"You haven't forgotten my request, have you?" I could feel his gaze on me, and I raised me eyes to meet it. (I know he's right—there's a lot of reasons why it would be wise to choose a prince consort sooner rather than later.)

"No I haven't." I nodded to Giles, and quietly picked up my toast again.

Apparently there was a lot of preparation involved in going on a date with a nobleman. But I was ready far sooner than I wanted to be. Giles walked me to the carriage, and we passed Leo in the corridors.

"Ooh, where are you off to?"

"Umm—well I—" I couldn't think of a decent way to explain it, then Giles answered for me.

"She's going to meet one of the noblemen from the list I made for her."

"Oh really?" Leo widened his eyes, but said nothing more.

Leo continued to walk on, leaving Maya and Giles behind. He turned a corner and then stopped suddenly. He stared unseeing at the corridor in front of him.

"Ahhh, what the heck am I doing?" He gave a sudden smirk and then turned around and began to head in the opposite direction to where he'd originally been heading.

As we traveled in the carriage, I sighed softly as I stared out the window.

"Is something the matter?"

"Ahh—no. It's nothing." His question startled me, and I spoke without thinking. But after a long moment of thinking, I spoke again, my voice quiet."Um, Giles—if I went with the rumors and chose Leo—what would you do?" Giles turned his gaze on me, studying my face for a long moment. Then he sighed softly.

"I think your feelings are keenly apparent for anyone who chooses to look."

"Wait, what?" (Is he saying he already knows how I feel about Leo?) I couldn't help but blush at the realization.

"The problem is Leo. I don't think he wants to become a king who must work for the people. Of course it's not entirely impossible—if for example you were to force him into it." I stared at him in surprise—it wasn't something I'd ever considered. But I quickly shook my head. (There's no way I could force him.) Giles gave me a sudden, wistful smile. "That's what I thought you'd say. And that's why I would like you to try and consider other men." (I never realized Giles was worrying about me like this.) I looked up and met his gaze, feeling suddenly grateful.

"Thank you, Giles." (He only wants what's best for me, and that makes me want to do my best for him.) The rest of the journey continued in silence, but it was more of a comfortable silence now that we'd talked.

We arrived at the residence of the nobleman I was visiting that day, and climbed down from the carriage.

"Thank you for coming, Your Highness. This way if you will." After our formal greeting, we decided to take a walk in the garden together—just the two of us.

As we walked, I began to feel quite uncomfortable. (He's keeping really close to me.)

"U-Um—" I started to put some distance between us, when all of a sudden he slipped his arm around my waist.

"Why are you moving away? Come closer."

"Ahh!" My body seemed to freeze up at the touch of his fingers on my waist. I'd wanted to make the best of things, but as soon as he touched me I knew it was all wrong. (Oh Leo—I wish you were here.) At that very moment, a voice called out from behind us. The nobleman turned and looked over his shoulder, but his hand remained on my waist.

"Grr, why now?" At last he let go of me and stepped away to attend to the servant calling him, and I breathed a sigh of relief. (Oh thank goodness.) Right at that moment—

"Huh?" Someone grabbed my hand from behind, and I jumped in surprise. I turned around to find Leo standing behind me. "Le—" Leo gently put his hand over my mouth before I could finish saying his name. He made a soft shushing noise, and then pulled me behind the building to hide.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?" Leo leaned closer and gave me a mischievous grin. (What was he thinking coming here?) I frowned at him, startled and confused by his presence.

"Why would you do something like this?" (I never have any idea what he's thinking.) Leo pressed his lips together at my question, and then narrowed his eyes as he stared at me.

"Are you crying?" His fingers reached up to touch my cheek.

"I-I'm not crying!" Leo smiled at me again, and then cupped my cheek with his hand. He leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss at the corner of each eye. I caught my breath, my heart pounding.

"I just felt like—you were calling me." Leo wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a gentle embrace. I leaned against him and slowly blinked the tears away. I hadn't meant to cry at all, but I'd just been so relieved to see him. (I finally understand. I get what Giles meant when he said that, I really do. And yet—even knowing that, Leo is the only one I want to choose.)

After we'd returned to the palace, and I'd visited Giles's office, I made my way to my chamber. I found Leo already there, sitting on the sofa.

"I'm sorry Maya. How long did Giles waste scolding you?"

"No, it was fine. What about you—are you okay?" Leo gave me a broad smile.

"Me? Of course." I couldn't help but look away from that smile of his. Ever since I'd realized how I felt about Leo, my heart hadn't stopped racing, and I felt like I had butterflies in my stomach. (I don't know what to do. I've never felt like this before.) Leo stood up and came closer to me. "What's wrong?" I couldn't quite meet his gaze. (Here I am thinking about how I want to be with him forever—But what about him? What does he feel?) Just thinking about it made my heart ache. (What if my feelings for him are just a burden to him?) "Maya."

"Ahh!" I raised my head with a start, and Leo tapped me lightly on the forehead. "Leo—"

"You look like you have something to say. So what is it?" He leaned closer and stared into my eyes, and I tried to find the words I needed.

"Leo, I—" His gaze was intense, and I faltered for a moment. But I took a deep breath and tried again. "If I said I wanted to choose you—what would you do?" Leo stared back at me, his expression serious. The silence grew longer, and my heart was pounding so hard I thought it might burst. Leo narrowed his eyes, just a little. Then he gave a long, drawn-out sigh. (Oh—) I turned my face away and closed my eyes. "Huh?" I felt a gentle hand on my head, and I tried to raise my head again. But his fingers pressed gently against my head, holding it where it was.

"Hold still a moment."

"O-Okay." I could feel myself blushing, but I stayed where I was, and after a long moment his hand moved away again. I raised my head properly, and realized there was some sort of hair clip in my hair.

"I thought so—it suits you. You're beautiful, Maya."

"Leo?" Leo sat down suddenly on the bed.

"I never even thought about it when we first met." He gave me a wry grin and tilted his head a little to the side. "But you're even more beautiful than I thought. And also—" He looked up at me and narrowed his eyes a little. "No one's ever said anything like that to me before." I bit my lip lightly. (Does he mean—) "I don't even know what to say, but—" I stared at him in silence for a moment. Then I stepped forward and stood in front of him, just looking down at him. Leo spread his arms wide and gazed up at me.

"Ahh—" I didn't even have to stop and think—I threw myself in his arms. Leo whispered softly in my ear.

"Please stay by my side, always."

Royal challenge side story next and then the rest of part ten.~