~20~ Time Between Victoria and Xyle

"So, uhm, Xyle?"

"Yes, Lady Victoria?"

"Uhm, just call me Victoria, alright?"

"Then, just also call me whatever you want"

"Truly?"

"Yes"

"Then, I'll call you …. Hmmmmmm, oh! I got an idea! From now on I'll call you Elyx"

'Huh? Where did this annoying lady get hat name from, huh?'

However, instead of responding harshly, Xyle only controlled himself as he pretended to smile genuinely at the lady who was truly genuinely smiling at her

"I know that it might confused you however, I think it suits you more. Besides I only call you by inverting the letter of your name"

'So that's why, huh? No wonder she's beaming so hard in front of me. Is she even teasing me?'

Xyle was now clenching his hands on both of his sides. However, he was surprised again that Victoria immediately yet gently hold one of his hands. That made him widened his eyes and almost jump out of his position if Victoria hadn't say anything immediately

"Alright, now Elyx, let's go towards the garden! I'll have to show you something there!"

Then immediately as Victoria said those was immediately that she led Xyle towards the garden. Both of them were running now from the hallways they were in as Victoria held tightly however gently on Xyle's hand. Xyle, on the other hand, only was running behind Victoria's back hearing gentle giggles from the lady.

He doesn't know why but the way that Victoria held his hand, the way that he's running behind the lady and the way that he's hearing Victoria's giggles never left any bad impressions in him. only that he felt such warmth that he never felt in such a long time ago.

'What the hell is this lady's problem now? As far as I'm concerned she's unpredictable. However, why can she make me feel like this? Did I have any problems now?'

Xyle couldn't believe himself that he let the lady took a hold of his hands. That's the part that he never wanted ladies to touch. Even though he's pretending in front of the lady for the first time that they've met --- he never – even once – consider her touching him. If she did then he'll immediately shove her hands --- that's what he thought. Yet, his thoughts were wrong from the first time that Victoria already held his. It's because he only felt warmth --- a warm soft pale hands rather than cold disgusting ones.

Then just like that, Xyle wasn't even able to know that they're already inside the household's garden if it weren't for Victoria speaking on him again

"I guess this is it!"

"…"

Yet, what Xyle acted was like unusual for him. He never thought that after saying those words, Victoria will immediately let go of his hands. Now, he's looking at his hand that was held by Victoria. He stared at it for a long while until deciding to look at Victoria who was currently looking at a large tree and smiling genuinely. That moment captured something inside of him that is more than a warm feeling

He looked on Victoria --- he focused on every detail that he could think of. His brown hair that was being swayed by the cool breeze where they were, her gentle happy brown eyes looking above the tree, he lips that was red and lifted upwards and her pale skin that was being colored by the magnificent warm rays of the sun. All of those --- captivated Xyle's mind for the first time. It's the first time that he had given such importance to a lady. It's the first time that he never imagined how his heart beats faster than usual. He was confused and curious at the same time of his feelings. It was all possible becuas eof the sight that he's seeing now. It was a captivating sight

"….and it's beautiful, right?"

"Yes, so beautiful"

Xyle unconsciously blurted out that made Victoria's smile grew wider. However, what Xyle was pertaining was not the tree that Victoria was talking about. It was no other than her all along. He didn't know why but he's already at the verge of considering Victoria as the first lady who ever tore his wall

'She's unpredictable but maybe this time I'll go with that I've felt to her. I'm never disgusted but I don't know these feelings. Maybe for the first time I'll be able to have a friend that is a lady. I don't know why but I never felt hatred to her'

"Alright! Let's go on in here, Elyx!"

'There she goes again, saying that name that she created. However, what's funny is that --- I'm never disgusted, or angry at all. I think it's a great name rather'

"Alright"

"Oh! And let's capture these falling leaves. After capturing some leaves then we'll show what each other had in that way, the loser will do anything what the winner would ask"

'As I thought she's unpredictable and still a young lady'

"Alright"

After a few seconds, Victoria did try her hard. While, Xyle only had those composed movements, it's like he knew how to catch those leaves in the first place

"Time's up!"

After saying those words, Victoria breathed hard while Xyle only walked towards her with many leaves captured while Victoria on the other hand had less than what Xyle had

"Alright let's count!"

Victoria was eager that she'll win however, after counting --- she had known that Xyle won

"I thought I was going to win?"

"Well, better luck next time lady"

The old Xyle was back however that was an unconscious response making Victoria genuinely smile again to him

'I guess he's still the old Xyle in the original plot but I'll change that point of view'

"Alright! Since you've won, I'll be frank to you Elyx. I'll do whatever you wanted to do since it's a condition for a winner to ask anything of the loser"

"And you're the loser of the day right?"

"Yes, I had no choice! You're so fast at capturing those!"

With those sudden expressions, that Victoria let out. Xyle couldn't help it but chuckled that made Victoria's eyes widened but immediately smiled afterward

'There, there, I know I'll change him completely'

"Then, here's what you'll have to do"

***

"Your highness, are these the books that you were searching again?"

"Yes, Giovanni they are those. Thank you for always bringing those books in here"

"Oh! It's never a problem your highness. It's always been my honor"

'However, what does these books' connection with the imperial palace? As far as I'm concerned when I've read those titles they're all about medicine and herbs. So what's the news about it? I'm confused'

"You're confused as well right? You know, you have the same expressions as Fahar had when I've been gathering lots of books lately through him"

"Your highness?"

"Well, it's because of these books that you're curious right?"

"Oh! Yes your highness!"

"I'm searching for some herbs that could wake up a sleeping beauty"

'Huh? Sleeping beauty?'

"It seems that you're not aware of Hersha's condition right?"

"Hersha? Wait your highness may I ask if she's your fiancée?"

'Oh! So he doesn't even know that the person he saved was my childhood friend and sweetheart, huh?'

"The lady is not my fiancée however, she holds a major part in my life. She holds my happiness"

'What the hell did I just heard from his highness' lips? The lady named Hersha wasn't the fiancée? Then I've saved the wrong girl? Wait, I didn't saved the wrong girl because his highness said that the lady holds a major part of his life --- and that is his happiness. So what about his fiancée then?'

"I see however, you may do what you're about to do now. Once she's woken I'll introduced you to her. maybe she'll even recognize you as her savior"

"Oh! It's my honor your highness to be of your assistance always. I'm grateful that the lady had been well"

"Well, I should be the one to thank you for saving her life"

"Your highness, employing me inside the imperial palace to work was a big help for me already. It's so much more than that"

Then Charles only laughed it off and genuinely smiled towards Giovanni who admired and respected the crown prince

***

"Are you sure we're doing the right thing, Elyx?"

"Yes, Victoria. You said you'll do whatever the winner asks and I guess we're already at the market by now so quit asking alright?"

"Alright, alright. However, we should have a slight trip towards a place I know well, I'll give them these"

"So that's the reason you took too long inside the kitchen. Tell me, what are those?"

"It's s-e-c-r-e-t, Elyx"

"Alright then I might as well leave you here. I guess I'm the winner but---"

Xyle wasn't able to continue what he was saying when Victoria got a grab of his coat that he's wearing. Then Xyle looked at him seriously

"What?!"

"Alright! I admit it!"

"Admit what?!"

"This box contains muffins"

"Muffins? For what?"

'As I thought I just don't get this girl. She's unpredictable and sometimes was the only one who can stop my movements'

"I'll be giving this to a young individual that we've saved in the streets a couple of days ago"

"For what?"

"Well, for saying that I'm grateful that he's already alright. Besides, living in the place is already enough to know that someone cares for one"

After saying those words, Xyle didn't know but again --- the warm feeling inside his heart. It was emerging like a fire that he can't control anymore

"Now, shut smiling, will you? More like start doing the actions now"

"You mean you give me permission now?"

"What choice do I have now, Victoria?"

"Well, I'm grateful! Thank you Elyx!"

Then Victoria immediately hugged him. That caught him in surprised but there's something in him that's urging him to hugged her back. And so, he unconsciously smiled while hugging her back

'Right now, I'm already starting to see the real him instead of his pretending side'

"However, only after I bought whati wanted to buy then we'll go towards the place"

'As I thought it's already the real him that I'm talking too. However, he can't seem to change the reality about his straightforwardness'