Him

The sky outside was full of clouds colored orange and some kind of red because of the ray comes from the setting sun— and with this wide window frame, it looks like a great painting that's attached in Folia's golden lavender humongous space wall. They we're in her soothing room— it's full of amusing little objects and some stuff as fluffy as a cotton animal shape cushions full of different colors laying in different furniture.

Leonthera— sitting in an appealing lilac divan at the end of Viola's mattress with some kind of above knee table patterned like flowers in front of her— doesn't know how to start a conversation and explain herself, choosing between act like what she wants or what she needs. She's sitting there for about ten minutes ago but she's just watching this princess wearing a lavender dress that looks refreshing as a flower and her soothing presence like the vibrant of her flowery image preparing a tea with sweet snacks.

Straight back and head high posture while sitting, Leonthera clears her throat. "Princess Viola...", she started but still staring at the table. "..what you saw..." she just wanted to blurted out everything then curse. "Prince Caelum helped me to.. hide.", she confessed with gentleness to sound graceful.

Viola didn't answer but she walked towards her. Put the tray with teapot and two tiny glasses. "I-I'm sorry. I do not prepare the formal things because I.. I know this is just an excuse but.. I didn't expect to have a guest.", her voice became low because of the embarrassment and her pupils and hands are disoriented.

Leonthera smiled and felt relieved. "Don't be discouraged. Preparing this fragrant tea means a lot for me with your... unique things.", she complimented then hold the cup's arm to examine it.

"Is it, right? It's from my kingdom and it's one of my favorites because you can plant it anywhere but it's better if it always received the sun light but make sure to take care of it with a lot of water. And it's flower is soooo beautiful.. and fragrant. There are also various colors of it like mauve, floral and amethyst. They are all beautiful and magical, specially when the winds touch them and sway and stay together... I al— oh! I-I-Im sorry.", after realizing that she's talking a lot and didn't notice her posture, she immediately bowed and apologize to the princess in front of her who's smiling with her eyes sincerity.

Leonthera then laughed because of her lovely surprised reaction. It was genuine. For her, she was just like Sidus who have both delicate way of express theirselves. Totally opposite of her. "It's alright. You really love this flowers, don't you? It makes you really happy. Expressing yourself and not reminding your title makes you human and not just a princess. I was entertained." she explain to reassure the worried emotions that is in Folia's face.

The other princess smiled for what she said and pour her a cup. "Princess Leonthera, I apologize for my rudeness now and earlier... a-about you and Prince Caelum.", she lowered her head and put down the teapot.

Leonthera took a sipped. "Don't worry about it but.. what do you think about Prince Caelum and me?", she asked that surprised Viola.

"I... I am actually worried about... you. I a-apologize—", she was interrupted by Leonthera.

"Princess Folia, you don't always have to apologize. Please talk with your heart contents and do not worry about who I am!", putting her tea cup, she smiled when she looked at Viola who have an inexplicable visage. "I know a lot of rumors about me... and what happened on the royal commencement are just who I am. I showed it to everyone because I don't like the 'nameless' princess thing. That's why I decided to make a scene where they could name me something... unique." ... or cool'. She wanted to add it but, not a thing she could say.

Viola laughed like Sidus— sweet, gentle and fancy. It was soothing. "What kind of reason is that?", she commented then Leonthera continued to lift up the mood.

"Well, they all mistook me for like a... I don't know. There's a lot to say about me!", she told her like remembering things she heard outside.

Viola nodded twice. "We we're surprised when the Scarlet Kingdom announced their participation about the tournament. No one ever expect that a queen had a child. It was just a rumors at first then people saw you but not clearly until every story mixed with the others and became... unbelievable.", she explained, talking about what she witnessed in the passed years.

"It was truly unbelievable! But, I am grateful about being mysterious because no one knows what I truly looked. Well, recently, I introduced who I am to others and I successfully changed their opinion about me.", Leonthera is smiling while talking about what happened to her this passed weeks.

The other princess looked at her with confusion. "Is Prince Caelum one of them?", she asked carelessly, full comfortable at Leonthera's presence.

She nodded. "Yes, but I detest that man. It just doesn't show.", talking exasperatedly, she still smile.

"If... you don't mind, Princess Leonthera.. why are y-you together in his... chamber.", her faced blushed and her hands are bewildered.

Leonthera inhaled before answering. "I was hiding because of my attendant.", she confessed that makes Viola stopped sipping on her tea. "And the knights are chasing me but when I heard the knights in the hallway— where your rooms are located, I panicked and just enter some random room. I stayed there for hours. Nothing happened— not in anyone's dream.", she shrugged and casually end the explanation. She bend a little to stretch her uncomfortable corset. The etiquettes and manners she was taught could kill her any second now. She was waiting for a miracle— hating to see Victrina but in this moments, she was ready to be found.

The lilac princess exhaled with relieved. "I was glad to hear that. I just worried about you being swayed by the prince. It's... not my position to tell you this much but I want you to be careful because you might fall for him. I can't blame prince Caelum for being intelligent, sweet and gentleman— he's almost perfect because he knows a lot of things, and falling in love with him is unavoidable but he enjoys everyone's accompany and never looked back even you cry and beg.", she elucidate as if she was taught.

Leonthera burst with hallow laughed and forgot her standing but control it when she saw how Viola was taken aback. She cough playactedly while suppressing her pleasantry— she almost cried. "I.. I will remember your.. ehem.. your moral.", she successfully delivered it.

The other princess didn't put all her attentions on Leonthera's strange actions. "T-Thank you. But... I didn't say to stay away from him. It's just that...", she doesn't want to continue, afraid that she might start a conflict. Brushing her fingers to each other above her thighs.

"Thank you for giving me cautions. I do not desire a man who loves to fool with women."...because I prefer to have them than to share them with a useless husband. She wanted to say it but she chose to keet it on her heart.

Leonthera almost jump out of happiness when Folia's attendant opened the door and bowed when they saw them.

"Amise! What took you so long?", Folia cheerfully greet her, not minding her posture that made the other princess smile. She looked back at where the lady is.

It was a lady on her 20's with simple yet lovable clothes. She's beautiful and tall. Looks like a noble because of her graceful manners. "Greetings, princesses! I apologize for interrupting your conversations.", she bowed too low because of the sudden realization. "Please, continue your conversation. I will now, take my leave!", before she gets out, Leonthera stopped her instantly.

"Wa— ehem.. A minute, Lady Amise!", she declared with conviction. Amise got startled because of her declaration.

"What could I help you, my lady?", the servant stand still and waits for her answer.

She swallowed before answered. "Permit me to asked for this Lady Viola, but can I borrow this maiden to escort me to my chamber?", she looked at Viola then looked at Amise.

Viola looked surprised by her request. She didn't answer immediately and her face turns pale that made Leonthera pensive. "Umm.. Can I asked if..", she was interrupted by Amise.

"Lady Viola!", she called her with such force then cough when she realize her impulsiveness. "I- I apologize, princesses! Lady Leonthera, it's an honour for me to escort you.", she bowed while holding her dress both sides.

Leonthera didn't answer because of the sudden change of harmony in the room. She could witnessed the ladies opposite opinions and deep connection. By their actions, it was obvious that Viola is being protective by Amise and not just because of the solidarity because she saw Viola alone a while ago.

"I understand, Lady Amise.", she stand and smooth her red fluffy dress. She looked at Viola who's still sitting in front of her— staring at her agitated hands and watch her attempt to say something but hesitated then stop. "But... I want to hear about your desire, Lady Viola.", the two ladies on the room looked at her instantly with astonishment.

Viola on the other hand, is afraid of what Leonthera might do if she refuse to let Amise leave with her. As an attendant who always beside a princess, people only think of them as an object and throw whenever they want and call them as powerless play things. And remembering what Amise experienced because of the princess decision, she never trust anyone again when it comes to her attendant.

"T-There's.. there's this noble who visit our Kingdom for my.. my birthday. She was a duchess.", she started, still looking at her hand. Leonthera just looked at her while still standing. "In that night— when my birthday celebrated in the castle.. and I am occupied by acquaintances. She asked Amise to deliver her a missive that is on her luggage in her chamber. I grant her request and... Amise followed. After that night.. I never saw Amise— who always wakes me up. Then.. I just learned.. she was forced by the duke...", Viola started to cry. Amise walked briskly towards her and offer a cloth. Looking at the attendant, the nightmare is still hunting her.

"Lady Viola! Please, I am now well. It... It was long ago...", the attendant was lost in words.

Leonthera felt disgusted and distraught by the duke. The enormity of angered she restored all her life was again increase from the nobles and the power and the difference.

'They just like that damn old man.', she cursed in her head— thinking about her fa— king. "Who is this duke?", she asked with an inexplicable tone and intention.

Viola hold at Amise hand and looked at Leonthera. "It.. It's Duke Dorigor. He was powerful in our kingdom and.. he owns almost half of our land.", she explained that made the other princess surprised.

"Why is that?", Leonthera exploded and forgot her being princess attitude.

"It was about... my mother.", Viola answered that made them all silent. It was defeaning because they all know what happened to her.

Leonthera knows the rumors and truth about her mother. The fact that her mother died and killed inside their castles with no one admitting the crime, and the rumors that it was his father who did it.

The huge bell rang on the center of this humongous castle, it was the rhythm of the starting dinner. It will start after an hour.

The ladies didn't talk that made Leonthera start the conversation. "I will now take my leave, Princess Viola, Lady Amise! I will leave what we all argue in this room and never say a word outside.", she said her farewell and walked at the door but Viola stopped her.

"Princess Leonthera... I am grateful to your kindness!", she said then smiled. Amise bowed— agreeing to her princess.

Leonthera smiled. "Better than always apologizing...", referring on her gratitude. "Well then, Lady Amise.. Someday you will heal and live without a burden.", she said that made the attendant bowed and smiled at her.

When she got outside, she saw a young man leaning at wall by his left shoulder and cross arms.

"What if I am not the one who saw you?", she reacted with grimace on Caelum's face.

The prince looked at her irritatedly. "I am not expecting you, Princess! Where's the noble lady wearing a simple dress?", he asked then stand with composture.

Leonthera laughed at got serious after a second. "Distance yourself to the gal. She was disgusted by your kind. You understand what I mean, right, bookworm?", she added a nickname that made Caelum's face crumpled because of her not-so-funny idea about him.

"I know.", he answered and fully aware of what she was talking about. "And.. being a bookworm is better than drooling in other's chamber.", he said then wipe his lips using his thumb— acting like there's saliva falling from it.

"Oi, you're lying, er?", she argued but Caelum started to walk away. She wanted to chase him but she's going to be late in the dinner.

Leonthera knows if Victrina saw her with just a little time before the event, she's safe from her irritating ways. While walking, she was planning to flee again from this night after their little conversation with king and queen.