Chapter Treinta y Ocho: Colliding Waves of Silence

Adanna sat in her chambers, her thoughts racing as she tried to piece together the puzzle of the day's events. The knock on the door was unexpected, especially since it was already late in the evening. She called out, "Come in," expecting it to be one of the other contestants seeking comfort or perhaps more information about the unfolding drama.

The door swung open, revealing Leonardo standing in the doorway, his expression slightly tense. "Lady Adanna, may I speak with you?" he asked, his voice tentative.

"Of course, please come in," Adanna said, gesturing to the chair beside her. She could not help but notice the worry in his eyes as he took a seat.

Leonardo took a deep breath and leaned forward. "I need some advice," he began, his eyes searching hers. "It is about Serena."

Adanna's heart skipped a beat. Of all the things he could have talked about, it was about Serena. She had hoped to keep the peace between her two friends, but it seemed the situation was more complicated than she had anticipated. "What is going on?" she asked, her voice calm despite the turmoil within her.

"Well, the other day, she—"

"You like Serena?" Adanna interrupted, her voice steady despite the surprise coursing through her.

"Uhm, yes," Leonardo stuttered, caught off guard by Adanna's directness. "The other day, she just... she blew up at me," he explained, his voice tinged with confusion. "And...I am not sure what to do."

"What happened? Why did she get upset?" Adanna asked pretending to be oblivious of her friend's feelings, her eyes never leaving Leonardo's face.

"I do not know," he said, frustration evident in his tone. "I was just trying to be friendly, but she seemed to think I was being disingenuous. It hurt. I have never intended to lead her on or anything, but..." His voice trailed off as he struggled to find the right words. "I just wish I could explain myself to her," Leonardo said, looking genuinely distressed. "But she told me to stay away from her, and I have been respecting that. I do not know what I did wrong. Did she say anything to you?"

Adanna nodded but before she could reply, the door to her chambers swung open and in came Serena, her eyes widening at the sight of Leonardo in their chambers. "Oh! I did not realize—"

"Serena!" Adanna exclaimed, sensing the tension in the room. "I was just talking to Leonardo about—"

"I can see that," Serena interrupted, her voice tight. Her heart raced as she took in the sight of Leonardo. She had never expected to find him here, not after everything that had happened. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment, and she wished the floor could swallow her whole. "What are you doing here?" she asked, her eyes darting to Adanna for help.

Leonardo took a step forward, his expression earnest. "I... I—"

"Well it seems like I should you two alone," Adanna said, sensing the awkwardness. She stood up and made her way to the door. "If you need anything, I will be outside. Take your time and talk it out." She slipped out of the room, leaving the two of them standing there in an uncomfortable silence.

Once Adanna was out of earshot, Leonardo took a deep breath. "Serena..." he began.

"Please, let me speak," Serena said, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked at the floor, unable to meet Leonardo's gaze. "I... I wanted to apologize for the other day," she began, her voice barely a whisper. "I was wrong to accuse you of—"

Leonardo interrupted her, his hand reaching out to gently cup her cheek. "Serena, it is okay. I understand. You were hurt, and you were angry. But you did not mean it."

Serena looked into his eyes, her heart pounding in her chest. "I did, though," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I was jealous. I saw you with Anjali, and I..."

Leonardo's expression softened, his thumb gently brushing away a tear that had escaped. "Serena," he whispered, "I care for you. You know that. Anjali and I—it is not what you think."

"I know...Anjali told me...you were confronting her aboout her relationship with Meera...," Serena said, her voice trailing off as she tried to hold back the sob that threatened to escape. "But I still should not have said those things. I did not mean to hurt you."

"It is okay. I forgive you. But I want you to know... I care about you, Serena. More than you know." His words hung in the air, and she could feel the heat of his hand against her cheek.

"Serena," Leonardo continued, his voice low and husky. "I have loved you since the first time I saw you in the courtyard. You are smart, strong, and beautiful, and... and I know I should have told you sooner, but with everything that has been happening, I was waiting for the right moment."

Serena's heart pounded in her chest as she looked into Leonardo's eyes. She had been denying her feelings for him, but now, as he poured his heart out to her, she could not deny the truth any longer.

"I... I like you too, Leonardo," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "But...I am competing for the duke's hand, and I should not have feelings for you. It is—"

"But what if I do not care about the contest? What if all I care about is you?" Leonardo's voice was earnest, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I... I do not know what to say."

"Just tell me what you want," he urged, his voice barely above a whisper. "Do you want to give this a chance? Do you want to see where this goes?"

Caught up in the intensity of the moment, Serena felt her heart race, her pulse pounding in her ears. All of her reservations melted away, leaving only the undeniable connection she felt with him. Without thinking, she stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

"Maybe I do," she whispered, and before she could second-guess herself, she leaned in and kissed him, her arms wrapping around his neck. The kiss was gentle at first, a soft brush of their lips, but it grew in intensity as they both realized that this was what they had been longing for.

As they pulled apart, breathless, Serena's heart raced, both exhilarated and terrified. She looked into Leonardo's eyes, searching for reassurance. "What does this mean for us?" she asked softly, feeling a mix of excitement and dread.

Leonardo smiled, his gaze warm and hopeful. "I do not know what it means for the contest, but I do know that I want to figure this out with you. No matter what happens, I am here."

Just then, Adanna knocked and reentered the room, her eyes wide as she took in the scene. "Oh! I—sorry! I did not mean to interrupt—"

Serena quickly stepped away from Leonardo, her cheeks flushing again. "It is fine, Adanna," she stammered, glancing at Leonardo, who wore a sheepish grin.

Adanna raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile spreading across her face. "What did I miss?"

"Just a little conversation," Leonardo replied, a hint of mischief in his tone.

Serena shot him a glare but could not hide her smile. "We were just... talking about the contest."

"Oh, really? I must say, you two have to be very careful. Your relationship could cause a scandal if it is not handled properly," Adanna warned, her voice filled with concern. She knew that their feelings were genuine, but she could not ignore the potential consequences of their actions.

Leonardo's expression grew serious. "You are right. We need to keep it a secret for now. For everyone's sake, especially with all the tension in the air and the competition in full swing."

Adanna nodded solemnly. "The stakes are high, and we can not let our personal feelings get in the way of our safety or our goals. But, if this is what makes you both happy, I will support you as much as I can without compromising anything else."