The Manor in the Afternoon

Eileen seemed to understand something when she saw Leonardo's eyes. She walked up to Luna, reached out, and gently arranged her sister's slightly messy hair. Her movements were so gentle that she seemed like a different person from just now. "Have you thought this through?" Her voice was much softer, and a worried look filled her eyes.

Luna nodded vigorously, her golden hair swaying with the movement. Her eyes sparkled brightly, as if filled with starlight. "I've thought it through, sis."

Eileen let out a long sigh. When she turned to Anna, she had already regained her usual dignity. "Inform the designer to re - customize all the engagement gowns." Her voice returned to its calm state. "Use the latest high - end couture collection."

"What about the Vanderwoodsen family..." Anna asked cautiously, her fingers nervously intertwined.

"No need to inform them." Eileen's voice was as cold as ice, and a sharp glint flashed in her eyes. "Since Richard has chosen his lover, let him lose the Windsor bride forever."

Leonardo stood aside, watching the interaction between the two sisters. A complex emotion flashed through his eyes. When Luna turned to look at him, he quickly lowered his eyelids, hiding the fluctuations in his eyes, and a perfect smile curved his lips.

"Thank you." Luna said softly, her eyes slightly bright with gratitude, and her long eyelashes fluttering gently like butterfly wings.

Leonardo nodded slightly, the smile on his lips deepening a bit. "It's my pleasure, Miss Windsor." His voice was low and gentle, with a barely perceptible tenderness in his gaze.

Outside the window, the roses in the Windsor Manor swayed gently in the breeze, and the dewdrops on the petals sparkled in the sunlight, like diamonds scattered for this special moment.

The afternoon sun slanted in through the French window, casting a warm patch of light on the mahogany desk. Luna Windsor slightly furrowed her brows. Her left hand unconsciously twirled a strand of fallen blond hair, while the pen in her right hand moved slowly across the invitation. Her eyelashes cast fine shadows on her cheeks, and her pink lips were slightly pursed in concentration.

"Your handwriting..." Her eyes widened slightly. "How can it be so beautiful?" Her green eyes were filled with sincere admiration as her gaze lingered on the invitation Leonardo had just written. The letters seemed to be enchanted, gracefully stretching across the paper, with every turn exuding an air of calm and poise.

Leonardo stopped writing, the corners of his lips curving up. "My grandfather said, one's handwriting reflects one's character." He gently flexed his wrist. "I had to practice until it was worthy of the Black surname." The corners of his lips turned up, and a few fine lines appeared at the corners of his eyes, making him look more approachable.

Luna propped her chin and looked at him. "When I was a kid, I always slacked off when practicing calligraphy. My sister was so angry that she took away all my fairy - tale books." She suddenly lowered her voice. "Actually, I hid one under my bed."

Leonardo chuckled. "So it seems Miss Windsor was quite rebellious as a child."

"Not at all!" Luna quickly defended herself. "It was 'The Little Prince'. My sister didn't say anything when she found out later..." Her voice gradually trailed off, and her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the edge of the invitation.

Luna suddenly noticed that the neatly stacked invitations in front of him were almost twice as high as hers. She bit her lower lip, and a faint blush spread across her fair cheeks, like a budding rose. "You must be tired. Take a break. I'll write." Her voice carried a hint of guilt.

Leonardo shook his head. His slender - boned fingers gently smoothed the corner of an invitation, his movements as elegant as if he were caressing the keys of a piano. "No need. Some things are more meaningful when done by oneself." He suddenly pushed the invitation in front of him towards Luna, a mischievous glint flashing in his gray - green eyes. "I'll have to trouble my fiancée then."

This address instantly made the tips of Luna's ears turn pink. She quickly lowered her head, her thick eyelashes fluttering like butterfly wings, casting a shadow on her face. Her slender fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her dress, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "Okay."

On the sofa not far away, Eileen Windsor was flipping through the guest list. Her sharp eyes would glance at the desk from time to time. When she saw her sister's blushing ear tips, a fine line formed between her brows. The pen in her hand "clicked" as she placed it on the table. "Luna, when you're done writing, come for dinner." Her voice carried an unwavering authority.

Luna straightened her back reflexively, so quickly that the chair shook slightly. "Almost done, just wait a moment, sister!" she replied crisply, her voice tinged with a bit of flattery, like a well - behaved kitten.

Leonardo raised an eyebrow thoughtfully,慢条斯理地 put on his watch, and then lowered his voice as if casually asking, "Does your sister often bully you?" His voice was so low that only the two of them could hear. He leaned slightly closer, and his warm breath brushed against Luna's earlobe.

Luna's eyes widened in surprise. "No, she doesn't." Her expression was sincere and confused, clearly not expecting Leonardo to have such a misunderstanding. "She just... cares too much. After our parents passed away, she was always afraid that I'd suffer if I didn't learn well." She suddenly looked up, her green eyes looking straight at Leonardo. "Just like now, she's actually worried about me."

In the eyes of others, Eileen's strictness towards Luna might seem like bullying, but in fact, everyone in the Windsor family doted on her. She used to be lazy in her behavior, with improper walking and sitting postures, and Eileen would correct her whenever she saw it. Over time, she would automatically straighten her back whenever she heard her sister's voice. There had always been rumors outside that the family treated her badly. She had explained many times, but later, when she found that no one believed her, she simply stopped defending herself.

Luna put down the pen and looked at Leonardo seriously. "She's a great sister, and I hope you won't misunderstand her." Her emerald - like eyes sparkled with a determined light.

Leonardo stared at her, his gaze so deep that it seemed to be able to see into her heart. After a while, he nodded gently. "I won't in the future." His voice was low and solemn, as if making an important promise.

Leonardo nodded thoughtfully and pushed an invitation in front of her. "Then, Miss 'Little Prince', would you be willing to help me write this one?"

Luna took the invitation, and her fingertips accidentally touched his. Both of them were slightly startled.

"Leonardo," she suddenly asked in a low voice, "did your grandfather also manage you like this?"

He lowered his eyes to adjust his cufflinks. The platinum cufflinks glinted coldly. "He was even stricter. The first time I attended a board meeting, I knelt in the study for a whole night because the third button of my suit wasn't buttoned properly."

"Goodness!" Luna exclaimed. "But you..."

"Later I found out," he looked up, a sly glint in his gray - green eyes, "that as long as I unbuttoned the first two buttons, it became fashionable."

Luna was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing, fine laugh lines appearing at the corners of her eyes. The laughter caught the attention of Eileen not far away.

"Luna," Eileen's voice came from the sofa. She looked up, her eyes behind the wire - rimmed glasses as sharp as an eagle's. "Are you going to write the invitations all day?" The pen in her hand twirled in her fingers and then gently tapped on the table.

Upon hearing this, Luna immediately straightened her back, like a student called out by the teacher. The pen in her hand almost dropped. "Almost done, sister!" she replied quickly. Then she turned to Leonardo, stuck out her tongue, and lowered her voice. "See, it's like flipping a switch." Her slender fingers made a switch - like gesture at her neck.

Leonardo raised an eyebrow slightly. His long fingers gently stroked his chin as he looked at her reflexive reaction thoughtfully. His gaze slid from her straight back to her nervously intertwined fingers, and a playful smile curved his lips. "I guess..." He leaned forward, his voice extremely low. "You got caught stealing desserts when you were a kid?"

"Not at all!" Luna suddenly turned her head, her golden hair making an arc in the air, and the tips of her ears instantly turned red. But then she slumped like a deflated balloon, her shoulders drooping, and her fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of hair. "Okay... just once." She looked around, then leaned closer to Leonardo, carrying a faint scent of perfume. "On my seventh birthday, I hid in the closet and ate chocolate, and then..."