We depart from the village the next day. Jack and his group of men escorted us until the end of the forest. Once we were back on the road, all was safe again
"Princess, are you feeling well?" Tricia asked worriedly.
"What do you mean?" I asked Tricia a little confused.
"Well your face is a little red princess." Tricia said. "Maybe you have a slight fever."
"No, I am perfectly fine. Haha." I smiled awkwardly. "It"s just a little stuffy in here, that"s all."
"Is that so?" Tricia asked. She got a fan from my bag and started to fan me. "Don"t worry princess, it"s just a few hours away from the capital. You just have to endure for a while."
"O-okay." I said.
"Is it really hot? Or are you just feeling "hot" because of certain someone outside." Snow who was curled up on my lap said.
"I won"t hear the end of it, will I?" I asked Snow.
"Nnooope... I will surely enjoy teasing you these coming days." Snow said while yawning.
I sighed internally. Snow is a kind and loyal familiar but she likes to bully me sometimes, especially regarding Leon.
I remember what happened the night before, when Leon and I were at the edge of the small lake. We were both lying down on the gra.s.s, looking up at the stars. My head was rested in his arms.
***
"So..." I said. "Does this mean we are officially lovers now?" I asked shyly.
"Of course, what else could we be?" Leon chuckled.
"I-I mean, well... I don"t know exactly what will happen next." I said.
"We don"t need to do anything." Leon said. "Let"s just take our own pace and enjoy the moment."
"Really?" I asked. Of course this is a little different from the romance novels I have read. Novels are fast paced unlike in real life where we can take our time and enjoy each other"s company.
"I am just happy to be here with you now." Leon said. "Of course in the future I would marry you and we will have children and a family of our own."
"Children and a family?" I thought of what he said and felt a blush creep on my cheeks. I hear Leon chuckle.
"Are you thinking of "how" we will make babies? You little pervert." Leon teased.
"I didn"t think that." I slap him in his chest.
"Aww, hahaha." Leon was laughing. "I"m joking." He hugged me closer to him.
"Alicia." Leon said after a long pause.
"Hmm?" I asked.
"The day before your sister"s birthday ball, I"m afraid I have to leave you for a while." Leon said.
I looked at him curiously.
"But do not worry." Leon said. He adjusted his position so he was facing me. "I will be present in your sister"s birthday ball. But I am sure you won"t recognize me so easily."
"What do you mean?" I asked him.
Leon was looking at me, his eyes straight to mine.
"Remember I just told you earlier that I am not who you think I really am?" Leon said.
"Yes." I nodded. "And I said that it is really not that important to me who you really are."
"I know. And I love you for that. Thank you for trusting me." Leon smiled sweetly. "But it is also important for you to know my true ident.i.ty. It will be important for our future together. But for now, there are still some things that prevents me from telling you who I really am."
"But you can tell me in my sister"s birthday ball?" I asked curiously.
Leon shook his head. "No, I still can"t tell you."
"But.." I was about to ask how will I know.
"Because I am sure you can find me." Leon said with certainty. "I am sure your heart will find its way to me."
I thought for a second before I got what Leon was trying to say.
"Are you saying that you can"t tell me your true ident.i.ty but you are sure that I can find that out myself in the ball?" I asked. Leon nodded in agreement.
"Are you really sure about that? That I can find you in that ball with many people?" I asked.
"Well I trust that you love me that much." Leon had a wolfish grin.
"You"re teasing me." I made a sour face at him.
"Hahaha, don"t you trust your own capabilities?" Leon asked. I gave him a sour look.
"Okay, let"s make a bet." Leon said. "If you are not able to find me, you will serve me for one day. You will be my personal servant."
"And what if I find you?" I asked.
"Then I will take you somewhere very special." Leon said with a smile. "It is somewhere precious to me."
"A precious place to him?" I thought. "That won"t be a bad deal because I also want to know more about him."
"Hmmm, okay it"s a deal then." I said.
"I will be looking forward to it." Leon chuckled.
"I will surely find you." I said with confidence.
Leon looked at me with affectionate eyes. He was so close that I can feel his warm breath on my face. I can"t help but feel drawn towards his gaze. I close my eyes and felt his lips press onto mine. We share a sweet kiss under the night sky full of twinkling stars.
***
I felt shy remembering what happened last night. I can"t believe that Leon and I have mutual affection towards each other.
"So we are a couple now? A couple." I tried to gauge the word describing the relations.h.i.+p between Leon and I.
"Well what else can you call it?" Snow interjected my thoughts. "Unless you want to be called a "future wife" or something?"
"F-Future wife?" I internally screamed with the thought.
"Sheesh... so this is a girl in love." Snow said. She stretched her body and stood up.
"The capital"s gates are just up ahead." Leon said from the front of the carriage.
I look outside and see the walls of the capital nearing.
"So I am back again." I said to myself.
The first time I came here, I was but a weak lonely child who is craving for love and affection from a family. Now I am not the same weak child anymore. I am surrounded by my loved ones and they are the ones that gives me strength. I won"t let them bully me again.