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Chapter Text

Twilight stopped and turned when that voice called out to him. With those confusing gestures and purple eyes that were up to no good, of course it had to be the Princess. Keeping his documents close to his chest, he nodded in acknowledgment (albeit too awkwardly). “Er… what is it, Princess?”

After all, one can’t expect what her intentions were most of the time. It always was one strange thing after another with her. Perhaps except for the Demon Cleric, that is. ‘Please don’t be a strange thing that I can’t handle,’ Twilight desperately hoped while waiting for her response.

“Leo’s off to somewhere far tomorrow, right?”

Despite him never understanding her much, he knew that tone well. A little too well for all the many times the Princess used that same voice before indulging herself into such dangerous endeavors. A little warning before actual trouble would ensue. With his other hand, he scratched the nape of his neck and he found his gaze wandering off elsewhere. Hopefully, she didn’t notice any sign of unease from him. Trying not to sound just that, he answered, “yeah. The Demon Cleric has to go to a village that is in need for a disaster relief.”

“That village is known for its magical well, yes?”

He felt that flick of a gloved hand on his neck, a little startled from the Princess’s (habitual) probing when something caught her interest. Ugh, those eyes were really glaring at him. Rather than asking him, she was more or less interrogating him. Great. Sighing, he nodded with words that didn’t exactly reach up to her eagerness, “so I’ve read from the travel catalogs.”

“I can go there, right? As long as Leo is nearby and I’m within his sights, it should be fine,” and there came her usual insistence to get what she wanted. Her purple eyes had that eerie glint to them and her grin widened into that of a witch. With hands rested on her behind and her head tilted, gradually drawing herself closer to him as she asked him, “right?”

Her constant pushiness annoyed Twilight a little and made him long for some peace and quiet. ‘And to think I’ve gotten used to the Princess whenever she gets like this,’ he thought to himself, a slight shake of his head and knowing full well as to how futile it was to refuse her. ‘And besides, the Princess’s right. As long as there’s someone to keep an eye on her, there’s less for me to worry about.’

After much consideration, Twilight shot her that look. The kind that always gave into her demands, but still gave her some stern warnings. “Alright, alright, you can go if you stay close to the Demon Cleric–”

“Twilight, I’ll be sure to bring back souvenirs for you and the others!”

But of course, the Princess ran off the second she got his approval. How typical of her. “And there she goes,” he muttered with some tired resignation in his voice and a lazy shrug. “I was going to tell her about the magical well she’s so interested in. But ah well, she’ll see it for herself when she gets there.”

And with that, Twilight got back to his work.

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Paying no mind to the rattling of wooden wheels and the unsteady sunlight that filtered through the windows, Sya eyed the slumbering man. Closely, she watched as those lashes remained shut and not a single touch of warm breath hit her moving hand, slender fingers going forth to have a light feel of those pale cheeks. Both bored of the same passing scenery and curious, a finger was raised forward and then extended to touch its objective.

She blinked a few times while poking it. Though the skin had been lean and firm to that of a man, there was the slightest of bouncing as a result of lightly touching Leo’s cheek. Almost as if to repel her touch, but that only made her want to poke it more. Obviously, she had not a single worry of waking the latter up by doing this. She knew his sleeping habits, after all. ‘So still and silent like a dead log, such is Leo when he’s sleeping,’ Sya mused to herself as she continued on with her poking.

But all while it staved off some of her boredom, another part of her was dismayed a little by the feel of his cheek. How could she not when his cheek felt this cold? Quite a freezing touch, she must admit. ‘It can’t be helped since the Demon Church and the dwellings of its followers is a floor level right below the frozen zones,’ a click of her tongue was heard by none other than herself as she kept on staring at a sleeping Leo, ‘but it would’ve been better if he was a tad bit warmer than this.’

She could only sigh at the thought. ‘He’s only ever warm when he’s awake,’ purple eyes cast a brief look at the few items that should have made their ride all the more comfortable. Pillows, sheets, blankets, you name it. But she shook her head, immediately deciding against it. ‘Not to mention, Leo doesn’t look like he breathes at all when sleeping. I’ll just suffocate him if I wrap a blanket around his face.’ With only frustration and a bit of entertainment by her side, she kept poking one cheek after another and in repeated turns.

After a while, an idea came to her. ‘Hmm, should I try lightly slapping his cheeks? Nah,’ and so soon was another idea rejected by her, ‘even if Leo doesn’t wake up from it, I’m not sure how much strength I should apply into the slapping and experiencing facial stings isn’t exactly the most pleasant thing to wake up to.’ Another failure, how vexing–

Sya pushed away all thoughts when she whipped her head around and took note of a certain something. That with each little bump the carriage encountered, did the blanket slip little by little and fall off from Leo’s shoulders before landing on his lap. Ah, another thing to look out for. Pursing her lips and with no denial of what she was currently feeling, she removed her fingers from his cheeks to grab hold of the blanket and wrapped it around him once more. Whether or not Leo had a blanket on his person, his sleeping face never changed. Nonetheless, it was better this way than leaving him be with no source of warmth.

Unlike the coldness found in his cheeks, that is. But speaking of slapping, Sya looked down to the hands that still held onto the blanket. A moment of contemplation and eyes moving between her hands and his cheeks. Narrowing her brows, she considered another idea, ‘my hands get cold just as easily, but will two cold things joined together turn to warmth–’

But a bump, much larger this time from below was felt and something stole her attention once more. Her ears stung from hearing that sudden, loud impact made on the carriage floors. And when the buzzing hurt from her ears died down, Sya shifted her head and saw a smaller trunk that fell from the seat and into the floors. ‘All my trunks has been kept in another carriage, so this must belong to Leo’s,’ briefly, she sneaked a glance at Leo and then returned her gaze to the trunk that fell.

Just when she was about to reach for it, she felt and heard a light knock right behind them through a slab of wood. The coachman must have been worried about the sound, she quickly concluded. With hands formed around her mouth to make her voice louder, she answered and through the tiny gaps of wood, “something fell.” As if the coachman understood, it became mostly silent (if you don’t pay attention to outside noises) again.

She lowered her back, whisking away the fallen items from the wooden floors and placed each into one curled arm, cradling them so carefully and gently as if all were a newborn babe. Stacks of paperwork tied together by a ribbon, a quill and ink bottle, some Hi-Potions, a box of red bean cakes, a purplish ball of yarns, and wooden needles. ‘Seems like work isn’t the only thing in his mind,’ was her opinion of the assortments before putting them one by one into its rightful place. She twisted its locks to ensure it was kept shut and put the trunk on the seat opposite of them. She smiled at her little efforts.

“Ah,” a drowsy voice captured her attention at once, turning her head to Leo rubbing at his eyes, “that must’ve been a dream.”

With a hand cupping her face, she blinked curiously. “Hmm, what’s the dream about?”

“P–Princess?! Why are you h–here?!”

Typical Leo and his outburst.

“I did inform you that I’m going to accompany you, but I guess you wouldn’t remember since you ‘fell asleep’ soon after,” she shot him an idle side-eye and with a finger now tapping at her cheek. She watched the fast motions and color changes made on his face within a span of a few seconds, counting all those little facial details before they had gone away. Him taking all that she found amusing once he regained his composure. It sure was fun to look at while it lasted.

“I apologize for such an improper behavior,” sheepishly, he told her and observed how his fingers twitched as if itching to so badly scratch his head or neck but stopped midway. Did he also find it improper? Perhaps. Then, those goat eyes shyly turned to get a look at her and then wavering to the side. Still, he opened his mouth to speak of something else. “And er… I assume you came along because of the well?”

At the moment, her eyes lit up. Though she held back from such enthusiasm being shown too openly, purple eyes studying Leo’s reactions without a miss of a beat nor carelessness. “What, you’re not gonna ask if I got Twilight’s approval to tag along with you or not?”

His response was immediate and casual. “I don’t think I can ask that when it’s already a given; after all, you go wherever and do whichever as you please.” And though muffled, a giggle escaped his lips and there was that soft glow in his eyes. At that, she lifted a brow at him, not quite anticipating such a reaction to come from him. He’d always been too cautious in what to show and what not to show. Almost as if there will be a change between them if he did.

But being caught by her, he was back to the same old Leo. She observed how he suppressed those careless expressions and washed it out with a polite smile. Though they sat next to each other, there was always that sense of distance from him. “But of course, I’ll do my best to fulfill the other task the Demon King has entrusted me with.”

Or perhaps it became too hard of a habit for him to die down. Them sitting together in the same seat was quite a progress when before, Leo would jump right out of his seat and insist that he sat across from her. Two mixed meanings that he was sending her in such a confusing manner. Still, she smiled. “You mean keeping an eye on me?”

He nodded, without so much of a question or doubt. Only certain compliance as if he already expected this outcome. Not that she minded. After all, she was prone to breaking out of the Demon Castle like he pointed out and any unexpected occurrence that happened way too many times was bound to wear down its shock value. At least now that everyone had gotten used to it, she’ll just need Twilight’s permission or just accompany anyone to explore and sightsee new places.

Just like right now. And with this, she can enjoy things without much worries.

“So, Princess, what… is it that you wish for?”

The hand that held her face almost fell. Thankfully, she steadied it by having her elbow on the window sill as support before it could happen. Puzzled, she stared at him for a good minute. That was completely unexpected. Leo of all people was the one to initiate a conversation with her without her insistence? Now that was something new. ‘And seems like he’s trying, even when he sounds nervous,’ Sya grinned not to grin too much at such an endearing effort, knowing that he’ll just shy away from this and never do it again if her nonverbal teasing went a little too far.

“So Leo knows why I’ve come along, huh...”

“I’m pretty sure that every now and then, you’d rummage through confidential information that the Demon King and the Ten Guardians keep from the world,” there it was again, that resignation and certainty in those goat blue eyes. Sighing, he simply shrugged his shoulders and said, “in other words, you know the well in question is a magical well that grants one wish of each person. Other than the magical well the village is known for, there’s not much to see.”

When he put it like that, was he trying to pull strings at her conscience? Not that it really worked much in his favor. Sya gave him a once over from head to toe, trying to find a clue or two. ‘But he should have known by now that type of wording doesn’t exactly work on me or this must be Leo’s tendency to over-explain things?’

Well, it was one thing or the other. Either way, it wasn’t something to dwell too much on. Thus, she ended her examining just as fast and let the situation be. But truly, it would be a shame to not mutter a word when Leo so rarely ever mustered the interest and will to ask her something… so personal. With a grin and her signature thumbs-up, she responded. “Yeah, the magical well is my purpose for coming along.”

Leo curled his hands and nodded, reiterating his question. “Er… Princess, what you plan on wishing for?”

In turn, she couldn’t refrain herself from giving him a playful grin. “It’s so unlike of Leo to keep on asking me something so personal. I wonder why that is?”

In contrast to her, his gaze wavered and a reddish shade had spread over his cheeks. Her grin grew, seeing this. But not for long as Leo told her, “well, you see, the magical well has its limits,” with a guilty look on his face as if he was the one to ruin her day and not at her failure to have done a thorough research beforehand. “I’m sorry…”

The fretting caresses Leo made on his sleeves, she noted. His teeth that bit on his lower lip but so gentle that no blood was drawn, she noted. Those night-like eyes with goat pupils that roamed around the entirety of the carriage interior in such an unsteady manner, she noted. That tail with a harpoon-like edge that swished so rapidly and then falling limp by his side, she noted. All that she saw and all that she noticed. It wasn’t too difficult to realize what those signals meant.

…So it wasn’t because Leo had grown a little curious in knowing her more, but because he was worried that the one thing she so looked forward to in this trip… wouldn’t be what she imagined it to be. Always so caring, always worrying over the well-being and happiness of others. However, in all that he poured for everyone else, he left nothing for himself in that regard. Altruism sure had its ups and downs. If only she can do something about it, but she knew that Leo won’t let her and will hide things that concerned himself.

At that, she clicked her tongue and clenched her mouth. Nevertheless, she tried not to be swayed by such irritating emotions. There was no point to fussing over the things that Leo wouldn’t let her do. If that was what he wanted, then so be it. Pushing all things aside, plain idleness was her response. “That’s too bad, I was going to wish for a bed capsule deluxe.”

“If you’d like, we can turn back and–”

Immediately, she interrupted him, “no, we’ve already spent six hours into this travel. And besides delaying your duties, I might as well see through it,” with purple eyes showing that of absolute resolute. She had forgone so many things because he wouldn’t let her, at least she can have one thing to go her way. “You know,” she shut one eye and relaxed her skin folds. She continued on a casual tone to change the tense atmosphere that slowly surrounded them, “if you tell me what the magical well can and can’t do, then I can come up with an alternative for my wish.”

In an instant, Leo beamed. Whether from the relief of no longer disappointing her or that he was now of help to her, she wasn’t sure. Perhaps both, considering this was Leo. And so, with her back leaning deeper into the comforts of her seat, Sya carefully listened to his every word.

“Okay, so the magical well can technically grant any wish but on a smaller scale.”

“Mhm.”

“You can apply that concept with money. You wish for lots of money and assume you’ll receive a bank’s worth of money, but instead you’ll only get two to three bags of it.”

Sya nodded. “So that’s what you meant by the magical well being able to grant any wish, but only on a smaller scale. So then, a bed capsule deluxe is definitely a no go.”

In return, Leo could only laugh a tad bit awkwardly. “If you remove the deluxe part, then your wish could be granted.”

Insistent and a deadpanned look, she said. “It’s either a deluxe edition or none at all.”

“So I guess you’ll think of another thing for your wish?”

“Yep.”

For a brief moment, Sya stared at the outside view. Of the endless night, of the strong winds blowing at trees and plants which made them bent or broken apart, and of the road paths not too smooth and with dumps being felt now and then. “Say, Leo…”

“Yes?”

Turning back to Leo, she caught him opening the latch of the smaller trunk. He shoved a hand in and pulled out a stack of documents and then a quill attached to a ink bottle. Tilting her head to the side, she asked him, “the reason we’re using a carriage, is it because you want to finish your paperwork by the time we get there?”

He placed the trunk on his lap as if to function like his working desk, soon followed by documents and the quill with the ink bottle. She took note that when she asked that, the stack of papers nearly slipped from his grasp. Sighing, he answered, “a part of it is that. The other is… to not frighten the citizens by using a teleportation spell to get there.”

Contemplative, she had a finger back to her cheek again. Huh, why would they be if the citizens experienced a natural calamity? Unless…

“You don’t mean…”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Leo swallowed a nervous gulp before continuing on, “the citizens didn’t face a disaster of a natural cause. Rather, it had been raided by adventurers and they left behind a big of a mess that one would call it a disaster. Even the magical well was affected.”

Oh, no wonder Leo took this approach. ‘To think the adventurers would be the ones behind this,’ Sya thought, a finger tapping at her cheek.

Afterwards, he started on his paperwork and she let him be. Looking out into the window, she considered her plans and it wasn’t just about her wish.

Chapter Text

Sya stood from her seat and took idle steps until she stood by the door, the carriage step in plain sight. She smiled once she laid her eyes on Leo who stood right in front of her. A hand was extended out for her to hold onto, albeit shakily and one that matched well with the rosiness spreading across his cheeks. At that, the edges of her mouth widened. ‘Look at him, trying with all his might,’ she thought, a glee that tickled her chest as she placed her hand into his, ‘Leo is too much of a gentleman, after all.’

What sweet comfort that greeted her.

While descending down the steps with a guide from Leo, she missed not a single feel of him. Compared to earlier, he was much warmer and full of energy and life. With mere seconds, she felt it all. The curves of his fingers, the calluses that was gradually molded from hard work, the warm pulses from his fingertips that flowed through and out, and the little trembles he made. And in a way, his hand warmed her own. Bit by bit until it had gone away. It never lasted long, Leo taking all his warmth with him when her feet touched the ground.

Sya sneaked a glance at her hand. She noticed how stiff and slow her fingers had soon become when curling it. The coldness overtook her hand once more, she realized. With a little shake of disapproval, she then looked away with a passing notion, ‘it’s better than nothing. I never get rare chances like this and especially when he’s awake,’ before turning her attention to their surroundings.

A small crowd, a land that barely had trees but mostly plants and dirt, and the chilly breezes. In those three observations, she already knew what sort of village it was to have sought out Leo’s abilities as the Demon Cleric. Just when Sya looked around to figure out as to who the chief was, the whispers of the crowd captured her attention instead.

“Is that the Demon Cleric? He looks much younger than I imagine…”

“I’ve heard from rumors that he can resurrect multiple demons at once! I wonder if that’s true?”

“As long as he can do his duties right, then I have no complaints.”

Different wordings and yet all held the same meaning. Doubt, distrust, curiosity, perceiving. Be it humans or demons, people would react and mention the same old things in the face of something new and yet to be determined by their judgement. Although it was to be expected, she couldn’t help feeling irritated by such opinions that these people easily threw at Leo. Purple eyes went to one side and soon he was reflected in them. Compared to her, he seemed unfazed as he addressed the crowd with a kind smile and a calming presence.

Like he always did.

At that, her irritations gradually cooled down and Sya took on a more idle demeanor. No longer was she interested in the crowd, so she averted from them. ‘Since Leo isn’t troubled by their judgement,’ she mused, her gaze wandering off to what little signs of life that nature had to offer. Her fingers playfully picked at one another and her shoulders became slack. With a little nod of her head, she agreed to the words in her head, ‘then so should I as well. There’s nothing to gain from it except for nonsensical passing.’

Or so she thought. It wasn’t even a minute later when her ears had gone back to listening on their whispering, although for a different opinion of Leo this time.

“Oh, my! I thought it would be some old man, but to think a handsome face would turn up!”

Unlike the previous comments, it was too easy to tell that this remark in particular had come from a demon lady. And along with her was a couple of them that hummed along, compliant.

Curiously, she followed their feverish gazes and set her eyes on him. More specifically, his face. Dark bluish eyelashes, that were neither too short nor too long, which had matching colors as his ear-length hair and goat eyes. All in the color that reminded one of the endless night sky. A corner of her lips tilted to a side, slightly rigid and contemplative as she took in her observations. From the day they first met and up to the present, she never really noticed the aesthetic side of things when it came to one’s face.

But it would be a lie to not regard Leo as a handsome face. ‘But,’ her brows knitted together and the closer both had gotten to each other the longer she examined Leo in a different light, ‘but it’s strange. Why do I feel so bothered by it?’

A brief moment and a sideway glance, her fingers itched so terribly to grab that hand held hers before. But her hand stayed at her sides, not moving an inch. She knew how dodgy Leo’s reactions would be if she attempted such a sneaky move. Begrudgingly, she could only listen on the conversation that had the demon ladies running their mouths off without a care in the world.

“Ah,” she heard a wistful sighing from one of the ladies, “we’ve had our share of handsome men in this village, but that one’s different from them…”

And by that one, they meant Leo.

“Oh, I understand what you mean,” instantly added by another, “the men in our village are all muscular giants while that one has an ethereal beauty that you’d only see from a painting!”

“Careful now, you might scare the poor man off if you approach him in full force~!”

“Ahahaha, you’re right!”

Somehow, that struck a nerve with her. Huh, these ladies were comparing Leo to a painting. Sure, he had an calming effect on most people and that part of him complemented well with his ability to heal and revive others, but that didn’t mean a weakness and frailty within him that he had to be likened to a blasted painting! At this point, Sya could barely hold herself back as she shot them all a piercing glare.

How can they say that when…

These ladies didn’t know that whenever she caused trouble, Leo would come running after her and try to prevent the risky endeavors she had in mind from happening. That even though he would end up failing in his attempts, it didn’t stop him at all and he kept on trying to do the right thing. And in the midst of it all, he confronted the dangers and harm head-on that came with stopping her.

That he’d risk his own safety and wellbeing if it meant keeping others, and not just her, away from harm’s way. At that, she blinked with wide eyes once a certain realization came her way. ‘That’s right,’ she told herself, the itchy feelings that pestered her had soon faded away. Nodding, she went on, ‘they don’t know Leo like I do. They’ve already jumped to the conclusion of him being weak while I know full well of what he’s capable of. What he can do for others.’

Of course, of course, these demon ladies may never know since they weren’t her in the first place. What risky endeavors she found herself in that brought something out of Leo. That only she could witness and explore that side of him. As it turned out, being herself sure had its other perk that wasn’t just her completing the objective for a good night’s sleep. As if it were some great feat she accomplished, Sya held her head high and had both hands on her hips with a grin so wide it reached her eyes.

“But who’s that beside him? His secretary or assistant?”

At the sudden mention, her grin wavered a little. Even though she no longer glared at the lot of them, she already expected discomfort to some degree once their attention had been shifted to her. ‘Whatever they’re gonna say about me, I’m sure it won’t be pleasant,’ Sya brooded to herself, a frown to her brows forming.

“Hmm, she’s real pretty I have to admit,” much to her surprise, Sya received a compliment from one of them but something told her that her tone don’t sound too friendly when mentioning it. Then, one of the demon ladies continued with what seemed to be an annoyed huff, “it’s not everyday you’d see silver hairs so soft-looking and shiny that don’t belong to a granny’s, a heart-shaped face with such flawless skin, and her eyes like that of precious gemstones with a star in each. Although…”

That sudden change in their wording, something that wasn’t too hard to miss especially when she was alert like this. Sya can already tell where they were getting at with their conversations. One of the demon ladies snickered as her gaze trailed down a little. “…Although she’s lacking in the height and chest departments. How so pitiful, she didn’t get the right nutrients and portions for her growth.”

She expected this just as much. A standard, that though her height was considered the average for an adult human female, was deemed as unfitting for demons who were more on the taller and massive spectrum of things. And the latter part was something she had no control over, no amount of magic could get her the ample upgrade she wanted. Though she anticipated this sort of rude remarks coming her way, that didn’t mean she could stand how they spoke ill of her. Of course it got her grinding her teeth together and behind her bangs did she glower right at them.

Appearance this, appearance that. She was growing sick of hearing their gossiping. But as if the comment wasn’t enough, another chimed in. “Oh? But from the outfit she’s wearing, seems like she has curves in the right places. But isn’t that strange? How can a child possess such a womanly figure?”

‘That’s it,’ Sya fumed, what little that remained of her tolerance was now gone and she set a narrowed pair of eyes on the demon ladies who mocked her, ‘I’m going to teach them a lesson they won’t forget–’

“Ahaha, you’re right–”

“Sir, I’d like you to meet Demon Scissors Alisalis or Lady Alis for short,” be it the gossiping or her raging thoughts, both were silenced by a calm voice. Blinking, she turned to Leo who still had a polite smile on as his hand gestured over to where she stood. Then, he continued, “not only is she a close colleague of mine, but also that she’s a researcher and master who specializes in the forbidden arts of magic. I hope you’d treat her well.”

Slightly more puzzled, she continued to look at him. It was the same tone he used when interacting with others, but there was also a weight to his voice that she never heard before. Then, there was that glint in his eyes that she witnessed for a second before he closed them. Bitingly chilly was a phrase she’d never imagine to describe Leo, at least in his manners and the way he carried himself. And yet, here she was doing just that…

“W… Why of course, Demon Cleric,” stammered the chief of the village, his constantly shifting eyes betrayed an obvious sight of panic. Turning his back to them, the leader proceeded to send the demon ladies a warning through a stern glare. And that was more enough for them to stay put, quietly vexed in fact. Seeing this, she let out a smirk and made sure the lot of them saw it before pushing them out of her focus.

“Princess,” a voice called out to her softly and it sounded too low that she might as well be the only to hear it. “You’re fine the way you are, so… please don’t take their words to heart.” A faltering gaze of blue, a rosy shade on the cheeks and down to the neck, and that same comforting she always heard from him.

At that, she smiled. Happy and thankful for the things that he didn’t have to do. It was out of his station as the Demon Cleric to muster that effort. And yet, he still did it. And just like the hand that was held out to her moments ago, his efforts just now warmed her heart as well.

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Idly, Sya sat on a patch of newly-grown grass. She watched as the talismans in Leo’s hands faded into thin air and in its place, small group of spirits appeared. Dark, shadowy figures with faces unclear and voices unheard. All that was left of them had to be their own silhouettes, a little fraction of what they were. Humanoid demons, the average sort of demons, such pasts were all cast in that shadowy shade.

‘Well, they’re well-cared for under Leo’s wing,’ she mused, sensing their MP through the tips of her fingers that she waved around. So steady, so healthy, and comforting. That same feeling like when she was healed and revived by him. From where she was, her hearing couldn’t quite catch a single thing Leo told his summoned spirits but she only can guess that he was giving each of them their own duties.

And their heads bowed, having understood their tasks and compliant, most had leaped out in long swirls of shadowy fogs let the darkness conceal their presence. All except for one that remained close and unmoving for a minute. At that, Suya tilted her head to a side, curious and wondering as to what of assignment Leo gave to that one in particular when the rest of its peers had left. Unable to resist the little ticks of impulse pulling at her mind, Sya stood right up and made her way to the magical well, to where Leo and the spirit were.

The ground under her heels were old and ancient, sure, but the same could not be said for the grasses that were recently grown in this land that was once a forest. With every step she took, the shape of her footwear left a mark behind. An imprint at a time, a continuous line of it that led up to where she wanted to be. With not just Leo and the spirit in close view, but the magical well as well, there she stood.

Watching and idly turning until her gaze stopped at the magical well before her. The chill winds of the night blew past her, silver hairs going along the currents. What would seem to be the only source of light, had it not been for the lamp in Leo’s grasp. But even if the dark almost overtook every part of this land, the light from the lamp gave enough sight of the magical well and its current state. A few inches down of her head and she looked at it. Contemplative and analyzing.

Such a sad sorry state it was in, for sure. The foundation of rocks that made up the well had remained sturdy, but if you look more into its inside, then you could see the purplish mists that came out of it right from the bottom. Just exactly where the magical water which granted a person’s wish should have been. Those purplish mists that drifted about and out, they carried with them a pungent and sour scent which made one’s nose turned the other way. Even she couldn’t handle such a nasty thing.

‘Poisoned,’ she discovered not too long ago, a hand went up to her nose and covered it in a firm grip. ‘Seems like the adventurers that came here had no chance against the men of this village, so they resorted to stealth, magic, and alchemy. Burning down their forests and poisoning their magical well when the people here weren’t looking.’

Having known such intentions, she narrowed her brows in annoyance. ‘Twilight and the Ten Guardians made areas only meant for the adventurers and the demon troops that ‘guarded’ such areas, so to keep the regular demon folks from harm’s way. But there are those kinds of adventurers who like journeying on their own and finding shortcuts to leveling up.’ And with a finger from another hand tapping at her chin, she considered a method. ‘Should I inform Mother of this?’

After all, wouldn’t it be the most logical thing to do? Unlike her (prior to ‘captivity’) and her father’s line of work, the delicate matters that were dealt with behind the scenes… had always fallen into her mother’s hands. Without anyone knowing and the orders her mother had carried out with her secret organization, handing over the adventurers– no, the culprits behind this incident to her would be the obvious approach to take.

‘When I return to Demon Castle, I’ll have to find a way to contact her,’ with a nod, she concluded her thoughts, ‘but first thing’s first, there’s something I must confirm.’ And with that, Sya held in her breath as her other hand was brought out and moved high up. In them was a slightly fragrant, green thing and one full of dew. Curious and focused, she rubbed her fingers together and felt the grasses that stuck to her hand. After a while, she stretched her arm of that hand farther to shorten the gap between her hand and the magical well–

“Princess, please don’t stick your hand out!” That worried voice called out to her, a hand was held outward as if to reach her in desperation and panic. “We’re not even sure what dangerous particles the magical well has!”

“Don’t worry,” she reassured Leo, her fingers moved to show him the grasses that still clung onto them, “I just want to test something out with these ones.”

“Alright, as long as you don’t put your life at risk again,’ came a sigh of relief from him, though he withdrew that hand all too soon and placed it by his chest. Even if for a second, she gave it a glance. A whir of emotions, but she was unsure of them so she paid such trivialities no heed.

Now, back to the task at hand, the direction of her hand changed and it went closer to her face. Inch by inch, she watched those grasses, that though some flew away by the breezes, remained stuck to the palm of her hands. Stubborn as ever to remain in their place. But all took a different turn when she had a big gulp of air, gathered the ones inside of her, and released it all at once. In a huge blow of her breath and with enough force that the little spiny green things were removed from her hand.

Flutter in the air, they did. The grasses may have danced for a little, but it lasted not for long and gravity was quick to take them down with it. With her gaze trained on them, Sya looked as the grasses slowly fell down. One at a time, but all came crashing down and finding the grasses soon had entered the maw of a defective well. Before it could reach the very bottom, the grasses possessed a brownish color of wilt and decay in an instant before one grass and another disintegrated all together.

Looking like dusts for a second, then as nothing the next. Gone as if the grasses were never there in the first place. And in that brief moment, she caught clear sight of what seemed to be symbols which glowed a dark hue in the interior walls of the magical well.

Next to her, a voice that of shock and dismay then spoke out. “T… Those symbols just now, don’t tell me…”

“The well’s also cursed,” plainly, she told him. Her eyes, though they should have kept its focus on the magical well, found themselves taking little peeks at Leo. Fishing for any reaction to get out from him once such suspicions were confirmed. But from the looks of it, the shock never lasted long and in its place was a pair of downcast goat eyes and a heavy release of air puffs before the curled fingers at his sides had loosen their grip on each other. She expected more fretting from him or perhaps dismay at the unfavorable situation, but he gave off a sense of resignation. And then, that quiet sadness he often carried. She couldn’t help but wonder the reason behind it.

Why did he make that kind of face? It was almost as if he…

“It can’t be helped,” and ah, there was that tone. Nevertheless, he put on a small smile, albeit too forcefully. “Now that we know it’s also cursed, I can at least–”

His words didn’t reach her then when another sound overtook it. A continuous swish of a sound that she didn’t hear before was now louder and far too distracting for her to make guesses of a single thing Leo told her. An irritated shake of her head and turning, there she saw that spirit dragging their feet on the ground. At first, she couldn’t understand the intention nor reason behind their actions. But then, with the little sparkles ceasing to exist with every drag of their feet on the ground. Her eyes widened before possessing a much sharper tone. The spirit was erasing something, she realized.

The tiny particles of MP that not the normal eye could see but that of a one who possessed magic. In other words, the spirits was wiping off the fragments of magic that the adventurers left behind. Their only clue to finding the culprits behind this incident. She hadn’t informed Leo of this, assuming he saw it as well. But to think…

His summoned spirit would do something on their own, something she absolutely couldn’t stand. With a hand on the sheath where her giant pair of scissors rested, she hissed at the creature, “What do you think you’re doing? That’s not what you’re supposed to do,” with not an ounce at masking her anger and hostility. In turn, the spirit could freeze up and stay still as if unsure what to do with her. How to deal with her.

"Well?”

The spirit merely looked at her, still not moving from their place. To receive such a reaction from them, this only made her pull out her weapon–

Shadowy hands soon surrounded them, filling up the place with nothing but darkness. And it was back to normal the next second except for the fact that citizens that stood nearby looked panicked and confused as they turned their heads one way to another. Like she, Leo, and the spirit had long since vanished from their sight. ‘Leo must’ve cast an invisibility and soundproofing spell,’ thus, she came to that conclusion and a hand put the giant scissors back in its place. Still, she wondered as she shifted her attention from the frightened spirit and back to Leo, ‘what is it… he doesn’t want others to hear?’

“I’m the one who instructed this spirit to erase the evidence,” he confessed, his voice still possessing that same old gloomy tone. His eyes seemingly drawn to the ground, his bangs covering half of his face so much so that his quivering lips was all she could see.

And in response, she couldn’t hold back the anger in her voice, “why, Leo? What makes you think that erasing the evidence is the best course–”

“Because the citizens would only want get back at the adventurers who wronged them if they knew!”

She blinked, the circular hilt of her sheathed weapon was far out of her grasp so her hands waved in motions she wasn’t sure. For the first time, she felt herself thrown off by an unexpected outburst. Though there were times before that Leo had scolded her in a booming voice, never once had he raise his voice like this. And what was more, anger nor impatience was present in them. Instead, she could hear the cracks and strain in them.

She didn’t like hearing him this way. So down, so worried, so guilt-ridden. And as if he had realized what he had done, his head bowed even lower than before. “I’m sorry, Princess. I didn’t mean to speak so rudely to you…”

There he went again, always apologizing and making himself seem so little. Knowing such emotionally-charged responses without a rational mind will lead them to nowhere, Sya breathed out and calmed her nerves. Changing her voice to something more patient and slow, she spoke out, “but the adventurers involved had done these people wrong. They took away their livelihood, their pride and joy. It’s only natural for them to get back at them once they found out.”

Finally, Leo turned to look at her. And that emotion was reflected so clearly in those blue eyes. Resignation once more. Then, he reasoned out, “but Princess, wouldn’t the demons have done the same thing? Be it out of malice and sinister fun, the demons would have also taken away something that humans hold so dear to them. And then, what? The humans will get back at them and the demons will return it to them. And again and again and again. There will be nothing but a vicious cycle that hurts everyone…”

Sya then concluded. “Nothing will be achieved and only revenge and hatred shall remain, you mean?”

Leo nodded, a forlorn smile to his lips before turning his back to her and looking at the sky. For a moment, she stared down at her own hands and then her gaze moved to the trembling ones that were by Leo’s sides. One hand, though so dainty, was steady and solid while the other hand, though so much bigger and long, was shaking the slightest beat. Another thing that was different between her and him, she mused to herself.

Just how so different they thought of handling this incident in particular. Though it had been so long since she had done work and was temporarily free from it due to her stay in Demon Castle, Sya can only imagine the approach and method she dealt with any matter or issue would have been the same. Whatever the case in question will be, she’ll examine it as it was. And without looking back to anything else, she’ll hand out judgement and the punishment due to the culprit/defendant that shall be the same weight as their crimes.

But it was different for Leo, it seemed. It wasn’t just the incident nor crime he will look into, but also the external factors that came with it. The people connected to them and their role in society will also be affected. With so many factors to consider, it was no wonder he’d hesitate and go for an approach that so contrary to hers. She couldn’t help but sigh at the realization of it all. ‘It’s strange how Leo and I had gotten along well so far despite our differences.’

Perhaps there will be things about Leo that she may come to never understand, but trying her best to know more about him and understanding him for a few things was better than nothing at all. At that, she gave her hands some squeezes in order to get her grip back in reality. ‘Even if I’d do things differently from him, it should be fine,’ she thought, her head now all cleared up and observing her surroundings and especially him. ‘Leo’s very loyal to Twilight, so every single detail will be reported to him and Twilight and the Ten Guardians will be the ones to handle this matter and hand out their judgement. Once the spirits that Leo has dispatched… found those adventurers, that is.’

“I know the decision I’ve made is such a trivial thing that won’t affect the feud between humans and demons,” weakly did Leo say this, his hands still shaking, “but at the very least, I can take away a bit of that and have these people focus on making their lives better again and not on revenge. And if they ever find out down the line, I will take responsibility–”

“If that’s what you want,” she interrupted him, a dainty hand had patted the back of his arm, “let’s go with that.”

“E… Eh, Princess?”

“What I’ve said is what I’ve said. Now, now, you’ve got a curse to undo,” carefully, she told him with the intention of redirecting his attention to one of his duties. “We can’t have the people waiting too long, right?”

“Er… but I’ve yet to decipher the origin of the curse…”

“No need,” she reassured him with a huge grin formed in her face, “I’ve already figured it out.”

And yet, he still hesitated and couldn’t look at her. “But it’s not right to burden you with…”

Nevertheless, if he was going to be stubborn, then so will she. With a lazy wave of her hand, Sya insisted, “well, didn’t you call me something like a researcher and master who specializes in the forbidden arts of magic and in front of so many people at that?”

“B… But that was for–!”

And this time, she reasoned, “and besides, you’d still have to provide the people with basic supplies and your healing services after removing the curse. That’s a lot of work and will take up too much time and waiting if things get delayed even more.”

And right there, she finally caught him. With an amused pair of eyes, she watched him flinch back a bit and had his hands up to a weary face. With no refute nor comeback to say to her. “What you say is true,” slowly removing his hands, he let out a heavy air and appeared that nervous smile of his. “I ask of your guidance, Princess.”

And with a grin still place, she nodded. “Don’t worry, Leo. I’ll go easy on you.”

Chapter Text

Sya set yet another piece of manuscript on its stack. ‘Another paperwork done for the day,’ she mused. And with that, she placed down the fountain pen and briefly noticed how worn out its nib had become. Well, compared to her own fingers that did all the writing and filing. Though it had been long since she had written documents or reports, it still came as easy as breathing for her. Once being bound to her duties until she got ‘captured’ by the demons sure had its perks. Now that she had finished off most of Leo’s paperwork (except for the ones that required more of his decisions and signature), she got the rest of the day in idle.

However, lazing around was not an option for her considering the current circumstances at hand. And by that, she meant Leo. After stretching her hands and legs for a bit, she turned around to check up on him who had been sleeping away most of the days since he fulfilled one of his main duties to this village. That was to undo the curse placed upon the magical well and to rid its waters of poison. Seeing him like this made her frown as she walked up to his temporary mattress.

Taking up a spot in the worn fabric and leaning her head down a little, Sya watched the ever-so slumbering Leo. Not a part of him moved and there was not a single breath that escaped his lips. So still and silent once more. Somehow, the sight of him like this reminded her so much of the trip on their way here. Just like in the carriage ride, he was so still like a dead log. ‘And so cold,’ she thought with a click of her tongue, feeling little irritated sparks as a dainty hand went up to touch his forehead.

Being this cold was something she didn’t want for him. But knowing how little comfort the citizens could provide for him and especially since this village was still recovering from a man-made disaster, it was to be expected that their accommodations could only provide so much. The citizens could hardly keep themselves warm in their patched-up tents, so how else can they provide better for Leo? She knew that well, but it did little to erase such pestering feelings from her.

The more she thought about it, the more irritated she had gotten. ‘And even though Leo should focus on regaining his strength, he keeps on handing out the basic supplies and healing others! Now, look at him. He sleeps a lot more because of his stubbornness.’

She felt her hands clenching too tightly, her nails almost digging into skin but her fingers loosened their grip once she came to. It was useless to be wasting her emotions on something that was beyond her control, that she knew well. But to be forced in such a helpless position, she despised it and the gloom that came with it. With a sigh, Sya removed her hand from his forehead and slowly did it slide down until her hand touched his cheek. The touch of it, just like the rest of him, was so cold. ‘Sleep is meant to be relaxing and fulfilling,’ she let out yet another sigh, what sleep meant for her seeped out from her thoughts. ‘And not when one has exhausted their limits and needs it out of desperation.’

Just like back then, the old her who had once saw sleep as such and the signs of it. The thin lines on his face and the dark bags under his eyes; every part of it was all too familiar. To those days when she knew nothing to life but work and duties. Though that annoying sentiment weighed down on her, Sya had her fingers spread out. All in hopes that such a tiny action can at least bring a bit of warmth to him–

All the pondering and worrying had all but vanished (for now) as she was taken back to reality by the sound of loud tapping from a trunk-made pole that supported the tent, the very same little place that housed a slumbering Leo. Annoyed, her brows narrowed and her head now faced the entrance that separated her and the unexpected visitor by a mere fabric. ‘Can’t the person tell that Leo absolutely needs his rest after a day’s work? Why are they bothering him in such a late hour?’

The first time, Sya tried ignoring it and stayed by Leo’s side. Unfortunately, the tapping continued on that it got to her nerves and had her marching toward the entrance. Once she had reached that part of the tent, she pulled up the entrance curtains and shot the visitor a glare. And there, she saw a demon lady standing right before and the latter’s hands on her back.

Immediately, she lifted a brow in unwanted recognition. ‘This lady, she’s part of that group that mocked me. What’s she doing here?’

And knowing that fact, Sya kept up her guard and didn’t utter a word as she stared at the demon lady. Contrary to the confidence she possessed in her gossiping with others from that time, the latter stood in an ungainly manner. Her footwear made those little nervous dances and her gaze went everywhere except looking back at her.

“Well?”

Sya crossed her arms to her chest or rather her humble-sized ones as this lady would previously like to call it. She tapped one heel on the ground, quick sounds came out of them to show the latter that she wasn’t exactly in a mood to wait for her to say something. A few seconds passed and still not a word from her. Blowing angry steams out of her system, Sya slowly let her hands fall to close the entrance curtains and vocalized in a no-nonsense tone, “if it’s not so urgent, then do come back tomorrow–”

“W–Wait! Please hear me out,” nervously did the demon lady interrupted her and held onto the entrance curtains with one arm out. With a nervous gulp, the demon lady finally spoke up. “Y… you see, all the insulting comments I said about you…”

“…”

The latter flinched, was it out of nervousness or guilt? Sya couldn’t tell nor did she want to bother herself with. Then, the demon lady continued, “even though girls and I have said such things, you still… went out of your way to decipher the curse…”

In turn, Sya shrugged. “Don’t mention it, I was simply fulfilling my duty.”

‘Technically, I’m a human in disguise,’ she thought to herself, her eyes briefly staring at the fake goat horns that rested at the top of her head (which was held together by a ribbon) and then looking away. ‘Bu I gotta play the part, one way or another.’

Narrowed eyes glimpsed at the entrance curtains that the latter held onto, so tightly and shakily at that as if the moment the fabric fell completely between them, the demon lady would never be given the chance to say what was it she wanted to let out. Despite the huge difference in their heights, the demon lady trembled a little and insisted. “Even i–if that’s the case, what you’ve done for this village is no small feat! You could’ve chosen to disregard us and yet, you didn’t…”

“…”

“And for judging you right away and making all those nasty comments,” for a moment, the demon lady swallowed the air around her and then released them all. And the next thing Sya knew, the latter bowed to her. “I apologize.”

‘It’s about time she saw through her mistakes… but,’ thought Sya, eyeing the demon lady who didn’t move an inch and her head remained down. Still bowing to her in a way that inwardly told her the latter will stay that way, like a statue that can never leave. This made her more irritated than delighted in the process. After all, so much time being spent on this trivial situation when she should be looking after Leo. She rubbed at her temples, hoping to ease down her nerves. ‘If I don’t say anything, this lady will keep at it and waste more of my time...’

Imitating the word choice and the kind face Leo had whenever a troublesome matter came up, Sya responded, “we all are prone to mistakes, so you’re forgiven.”

“R… Really?”

Bright eyes full of doubt and worry despite her definitive answer, all it did was wear down on the little patience she had left. Sya sensed the ‘polite’ smile on her face wavering, but she forced it right back in. In turn, she nodded. “Of course.”

‘Just leave,’ such irritations she felt that was behind a kind face, ‘I don’t have the time to entertain you–’

“T… That’s right! I almost forgot,” once again, she was cut off by the demon lady. Be it previously mocking her or feeling apologetic, the latter sure had a consistent air of rudeness to her. Despite that, Sya listened on (begrudgingly) and hoped for this purposeless conversation to meet its end. With the other hand moving, the demon lady finally pulled out whatever it was that she hid behind her and verbalized a more upbeat vibe, “I just have the thing that will improve the Demon Cleric’s condition!”

‘The emotions of this lady sure changes a lot and in an instance,’ Sya realized this fact after much observation of the latter, blinking away the puzzlement she must be felt while watching this demon lady. ‘Also, what’s this about bettering Leo’s condition?’ and to which had her eyes trailing down the arms of the demon lady until it stopped at the thing that the latter had in her grasp.

‘A Hi-Potion, but with a different shade…?’

Being reckless as she was or taking a liking to such high-grade quality of something, Sya had been too well-acquainted with the purplish substance from a purple and blue glass bottle. But so unlike the ones she consumed on a daily basis, this one’s substance in particular had a color of blue so light that it might as well be translucent like water. Even the bottle had that very clear-like glass. However, she threw side all her confusion and examined the object. ‘Not to mention, with it being so different from the Hi-Potions,’ she reminded herself and her lips curved to one side, ‘it can’t be one of the potions Leo has brought along to provide the citizens with…”

And so, she questioned the latter. “Where did you get this?”

Though still quite nervous, but now smiling, the demon lady answered. “I wished for this potion.”

Having realized by what she meant, Sya could only blink blankly at her. “So you gave away your only wish to Le– I mean, my colleague…”

“The Demon Cleric has done so much for this village, after all,” such was the demon lady’s response, a merry voice resounding in her voice, “so I don’t think that using my wish this way would be a waste. And besides, I could’ve wished for something I’d just get bored of.” And before Sya knew it, the different-looking potion was in her hands. “So please take it,” was all she could hear before a gush of strong winds blew at her. When she looked up the next moment, the entrance curtains had fallen and the demon lady was no more.

In her place, only this potion had remained. In silence and filled with mixed feelings, she looked at it. After all, Leo’s action wasn’t just built in good intentions alone. There was one more thing to it that wasn’t all positive. Giving it careful strokes, Sya thought solemnly, ‘even though Leo hid the truth from them and is willing to take accountability for it if they ever found out, will these people still treat him with–’

“Princess?”

She snapped back upon hearing that voice, always so full of softness and warmth, call out to her. Shifting her head, she saw Leo who now sat in his mattress. Though still drowsy as he rubbed his lids, her eyes captured a sweet smile that came from him. Somehow, it made her ache. From what? She was unsure herself. Calmly and seeming idle, she replied. “Leo, you’re awake.”

“For a while now, actually,” gently, he said with a sleepy smile that reached those goat eyes. But so soon, there appeared shaking hands done out of politeness as he continued, “Don’t worry, I couldn’t hear what your conversation was about with the visitor and that you don’t need to tell me–”

“I received this,” immediately, she answered before lifting her arms a little to give him a better look at the potion. And as if he recognized the thing in her hands, his eyes widened.

“Wait, that potion…”

“Seems to me that it contains special properties which should help you get better,” she explained with much clarity, at least based on her understanding of the demon lady’s wordings and how different the potion looked compared to other potions she knew. And while musing such notions and hunches, Sya went toward the mattress Leo now sat on and swiftly handed over the item to him.

And as he inspected the thing, there was a certain emotion that stormed in those gentle blue eyes. “We don’t have this type of potion with us since Demon Castle doesn’t have the budget nor the proper ingredients to craft such a rare potion. Don’t tell me the someone you talked to… gave away her wish. All just for me?”

In response, she nodded and waited. Closely did she observe him, saw how his fingers wrapped around its cylindrical form and the trembles that his fingertips left behind. A slight lift of her head and his face was in full view. A skin, once smooth, was now distorted by facial lines. All through feelings of gladness and guilt. “To be given such a precious gift, someone like me… doesn’t deserve it,” sighing, he muttered more to himself than her who could hear the relief and gloom in that gentle voice.

‘I figured as much,’ she thought, refraining that click from her tongue to escape. ‘That Leo would put himself down for a flaw in that kindness. If he wants to,’ seeing him like this, it made her chest feel heavy and stuffy. She found displeasure in such feelings. Trying to quiet it down was difficult a task than before. Still, she stood tall and didn’t allow herself to waver. ‘If he would just let me, I’ll give him a way out.’

Al he had to do was say the word and she would do just about anything–

But as soon as she saw that smile, that line of thinking perished from her head. Just as quick and fleeting like a breeze. The gentle smile that her eyes witnessed and held to. It was then she knew something to be true. ‘Knowing him, he’ll just decline my offer. That’s just how Leo is.’

Sya could only shake at the sight, a little annoyed but at the same time she found appreciation for the things he did. That gentleness and kindness (even if flawed at times) that moved people, it was an innate ability she couldn’t possibly possess. Just imitating some of his mannerisms as the Demon Cleric can only get her so far. And one of the many things that drew her closer to him. ‘And as much as it frustrates me and that kindness not always being perfect, I wouldn’t have it any other way,’ she mused, grinning widely despite herself.

Taking up space on his mattress, she said nonchalantly and raised up a lazy point at that potion. “Your exhaustion and lack of MP will only continue to hinder your work, you know? The people of this village needs the Demon Cleric.”

Such an obvious comment, that she knew but pointing out the obvious to shake away one’s hesitation and gloomy thoughts more often than not proved its effectiveness. And especially with the overly-fretting type like Leo, it sure worked wonders. ‘I’d prefer for him to rest longer, but he won’t stay put with one thing over the other. At least with this, he’ll have one less thing to worry about,’ sighing, she thought.

“That’s true,” was his response, his gaze never once leaving the potion at hand. He gave it a firm squeeze before nodding. “And I can’t waste someone’s good will, even though I’m undeserving of it.”

She watched as Leo lifted the potion, bringing a little hollow hole of the glass bottle to his lips. Soon, skin met glass. The liquids left its container and with continuous movements of his throat, he allowed a slow flow of the potion to enter his mouth. To the very last drop, he drank it all. But the moment he finished his consumption of the thing, a soft glow surrounded his form. Little, dwindling lights of green like that from a firefly’s which came in and went away, all in the blink of an eye.

Pity that she couldn’t capture that rare moment with her own eyes. But as soon as she was no longer distracted by the light, Sya laid her eyes on him. To her delight, the results of him drinking that potion turned out to be a wise decision. The thin lines on his face as well as the shadow bags under his eyes, all of them had vanished. Then, there was Leo who moved his limbs with more motions and he didn’t flinch when doing it. “I knew the potion would be effective,” said Leo, in awe of his own body working better than before, ‘but to think it happened in an instant…”

Good. That demon lady’s wish didn’t turn out to be a waste, after all. She grinned, more than pleased with the results. “That must be why it’s the rare type on top of being a high-grade potion–”

Sya stopped midway once something caught her notice. She blinked, utterly bewildered to see her own hand raised high up and stretched. And by following its direction, she realized what it was reaching for. It was heading for Leo, no doubt about that. To do that unknowingly, she huffed all irritated but quietly as she shoved that one careless hand into her skirt pockets. ‘What was I thinking? Trying to touch him when I knew full well that he’d just panic and pull away…’

The mere thought of that made her chest all the more heavy and irritated.

“Princess?”

“It’s nothing,” averting her eyes, she didn’t want him to see her like this. Definitely not–

But a gentle voice pulled out of her brooding. “You’ve… been wanting to check out the magical well, right?”

At that, she looked up and stared at him. Puzzled as she hadn’t expected those words to come from him. As if her confusion was all too clear to him, he exclaimed, “me being ill and not being able to work through everything… must’ve kept you busy. If you’d like, we can take a break for today and check out the magical well.”

‘That’s not exactly what troubled me, but…’

Nevertheless, she grinned. “Sounds good.”

.

.

.

“Say, Leo…”

“Yes, Princess?”

Walking through the pathway with mostly grasses and the cold winds surrounding them, Sya had her fingers tapping at each other. Curious, nervous, and trying to form the words from her head. Though they spent in each other’s company with comfortable silence most of the time, there had been questions that ticked away in her mind so persistently. Questions she wanted to ask and answers she wanted to hear from him. To know more about him and not just her making second guesses and a trial and errors of sorts before coming to the right clues from her observations alone.

Little nervous sparks that was felt from her fingertips. She was never one to feel this way and yet, she did. But even something like this can’t stop her from knowing. After all, she had been waiting all this time. Planning out her move at a time and actions taking forms but so little and subtly, all so without spooking Leo out. All this time, she had done that. Just asking one question about him wouldn’t hurt to try, right? Swallowing down the pestering feelings, she asked in a voice that she hoped to be nonchalant like she always was, “who’s your role model?”

“My role model, you say…?”

She felt that sudden itch on her forearm, the need to rub and scratch it away. But nothing about it was real, no redness or anything. It was just her mind playing tricks with her, so she ignored it and clarified. “Everyone has at least one role model in their life, right? That someone you respect and admire, that someone you look up to, and that someone you strive to be.”

“For me, that would be my parents and especially my father. That’s why I used to work my hardest, just so I could reach up to his level and be as great of a ruler as him in the future,” seamlessly did the words escaped from her mouth. So calm and clear that was so unlike the raging speed that was her heartbeat and the slight dampness on herself when her hand touched her attire to point at herself for an example. Despite making it seem natural, she was nervous, really nervous for this rare instance. She really wanted an answer to that question. She was itching to know despite the risk she was taking for once.

“Is that so,” a mild phrasing with a gentle smile as he looked at her. Sya saw that glimmer of sadness in those blue goat eyes. She bit on her lower lip, a part of her regretting that last sentence she spoke of. She had been too anxious and let that one careless thing to slip from her, great. Just great. Now he’d be feeling guilt from her being a ‘captive princess’ and only allowed to ‘limited’ access of areas with someone to guard her, thus preventing her from being that great future ruler she wanted to be. Even though she found out through the demons that there was more to life than duties. Even though she formed such meaningful bonds with them. Even though she was having the time of her life, doing things she had never done before.

Even though she was happy with her current situation.

But before she could say anything, in an attempt to ease down that heavy feeling from Leo, that sadness vanished on their own and he continued, “that time when you and the others went to my hometown. Do you remember the lady with the shades and a smoking pipe?”

Thoughts of worrying and regret were then replaced by a head-tilting recollection. Tapping her fingers at her cheek, she tried imagining the few features Leo had described and matching them with someone she had encountered before. So soon that she figured out the aforementioned person to be the same lady who showed her directions to Leo’s old room in that estate. Well, still fresh from her memories. At that, she nodded. “Yeah, I do. Very nice lady that showed us around the place.”

“That’s my aunt Baal, she’s the Head of my household,” though his walking had slowed down a bit, Leo spoke with such enthusiasm she’d never heard nor seen before. His eyes had gone bright and lively as he went on, “and my role model. After all, she’s strong and brimming with so much brilliance!”

Oh, oh, what was this? Leaning her head to a side closer to where Leo was, she listened to him and with a delight that she hadn’t expected to find from a question she once was anxious about. Not to mention, for Leo to be beaming this much was a rare sight to behold. Most of the time, the air around had always been calming and slow. Even his smile and tone of voice were also the same, all to the point that everything about him seemed so faint.

But right now, that wasn’t the case. He was full of life and so carefree for once.

‘This unexpected side of Leo, I like it just the rest of him. Although it would’ve been nice if he brought this out more,’ she thought, nodding to every word he said and with an amused curve of her lips but not without a hint of gloom to something so rare, ‘with where we are now, this won’t last long. And if I mention this to him, Leo will just shy away and never let something like this slip again…’

But that was fine, this can be for another time and when they had grown closer. She still had to ‘play’ the waiting game and to initiate little actions one at a time that pushed for that progress. There was no need for her to worry when things were slowly going in her favor.

“–and back when my aunt saw potential in me and congratulated me for my first hard-earned victory against a much bigger and stronger opponent, that was when I wanted to grow up and be just like her. Strong and brimming with brilliance, although it didn’t end up the way I intended to,” Leo let out an awkward chuckle with his hand scratching the back of his head. Almost as if embarrassed by his own shortcomings.

‘Though it’s never properly brought up, but I can only assume Leo was once renowned for his skills as a warrior before taking on the role and duties of the Demon Cleric,’ she pondered over that fact, a slight feeling of distaste and annoyance once realizing the meanings behind his words and that awkward expression.

“Hey,” pointedly, she shot him a look and began to refute with her hands on her hips. “Being a powerful healer who has the ability to not only heal others, but also to revive others from the dead is not something that anyone can do. Not to mention, you can summon and command an army of spirits and otherworldly creatures as well as exorcize them; yet another thing that not anyone can pull off successfully.”

Laughingly, he nodded. “You’re right, Princess. And in a way, I managed to be like my aunt even for a little.”

That smile just now... looked light and relieved, as if her words of comfort meant something to him.

“Mhm.” And in that way, she, too, felt relieved. Turning around, Sya watched her surroundings with content. ‘I didn’t think Leo would answer such a personal question, but I’m glad he did.’ Another thing she knew about him, for sure. Another thing of him that she had gotten close to, thinking about it made her happy.

“Oh, we’re here.”

She looked up and saw the magical well nearby. As the distance shortened with each step, she observed how different the magical well was than before. It was now warm and gentle to the touch even though her hand could only hover its gaping mouth. And right from the bottom, she could glimpse a shine of blue and silver that made up its waters. Finally, she took a sniff and it smelled of sweetness and comfort in its water salts. The magical well healed up nicely and it was all thanks to Leo for undoing the curse and cleansing it of such nasties.

‘And to think he belittles what great things he could as a healer,’ she thought, rolling her eyes.

Just then and at her side, she heard mumblings. Shifting her head around, she cast a curious gaze to Leo who had his head bowed, eyes shut tight and both hands clasped together as if in a prayer. For a moment, she observed him standing still and without a word to her. Completely absorbed in the prayers he muttered under his breath and the magical well before him. ‘I wonder,’ she mused, a tilt of her head as she took in everything, ‘is that what you do to have your wish granted from the well?’

And it was answered once a sudden gleam (that almost hurt her eyes) came from the magical well and back to its low-lighting the next second. Afterwards, she saw how Leo lifted his head, let go of his hands, and opened his eyes. And then, he pulled on the rope that held the bucket from the bottom. One pull at a time before the bucket came into a view. Gently, Leo placed the bucket on a stony surface and took out whatever was in its wooden casing.

Much to her surprise, it was a piece of paper that seemed to hold of no importance. At least she thought that without having seen what was written on it. Still, she couldn’t help asking and with a bored tone at that, “Leo, you… asked for a paper?”

Contrary to her, he smiled a bit widely but still polite as if he won something of great value. In turn, he told her, “it’s not just any paper, Princess. It’s something that would help you get what you want.”

She could only blink at that response. “What I want?”

And thus, he turned around the blank side and showed her the other side of the paper. There, as she squinted her eyes, it read the following details: “A sixty percent off… to purchase a capsule bed… the deluxe edition?!”

In complete shock, repeatedly did she switch looks between Leo and the paper (now known as a coupon) in his hands. Narrowing her brows, she said, “but wait, you said during the ride that I can’t wish for something too grand and more. Didn’t you just use a loophole to get around the magical well’s limitations by wishing for a coupon instead?”

He continued smiling. “That I did.”

A pout came up and the hands at her sides shook too wildly. “You should’ve told me before!”

“Ahahaha, sorry. It just came to my mind when I was thinking of what to wish for…”

‘To think Leo has a cheeky side to him,’ she huffed, with her arms crossed to her chest for a brief moment until she saw the hand that reached out to her, the coupon in its grasp. ‘But he didn’t mean to, so I’ll forgive him.’

“Here you go, I hope it’s of use to you… Princess?!”

She stared at him, not quite understanding his reason for an outburst. But when she felt that sensation so faint from her fingers, the reason then became clear to her. Though the coupon was now in her possession that she witnessed, Sya looked down a bit and noticed those fingers that were not her own retracting but still within reach. How they curled in awkward angles as if they touched something sharp or broken had hurt them, but that was far from the truth.

On top of Leo’s features twisting from a certain emotion, his reason was…

“Princess, your hands… they’re shaking!”

Blinking, she lifted them and saw them just as how he described them. Shaking so uncontrollably from the cold, no doubt about that. There was even a thin layer of frost that covered the tip of her fingers. Nonchalantly, she nodded. “Oh, you’re right.” At times, her recklessness sure came in handy for a situation like this. For what she planned exactly. 

There can only be one way to warm her hands. She hid that glint of mischief and amusement in her eyes, continuing to be her usual idle self.

“How can you be so calm when you’re freezing so much?!”

Mild anger resurfaced in all of that worrying from him. She wanted to smile at it, but didn’t. He’ll just scold her more if she did.

“I… I… ah! Right, I left my kit in my tent,” said a very worried Leo to himself after rummaging through all the pockets in his coat. “That won’t do! I’ll go back and–”

But her cold hands reached out and held him back, preventing him from leaving in the process. “We only have this one day to relax and it’ll get real busy starting from tomorrow,” she reasoned, all the excuses to stop him from leaving was running through her head, “and besides, even if you got back here quick, you’ll still need time to knit.”

Still, his head darted to and fro in a frenzied panic. “B–But what do I… do to keep you…”

And in response, she lifted their joined hands to show it off to him. “Your hand’s doing a fine job of keeping me warm.”

“But… I! Uh… I, this is…!”

‘Just as expected, he’s still not ready for this,’ Sya thought as she watched the man beside her struggling between collapsing to the ground unconscious and fighting hard to stay wide awake amidst the deep red that took over his face. ‘I gotta distract him, somehow.’

And it didn’t take her long to brainstorm for an idea on how to. Grinning, she made sure to keep their intertwined hands out of his sight, but still holding onto each other and then swiftly changed subjects. “Say, Leo. Since you’ve wished for what I want, how about I use my wish for what you want?”

“Eh, there’s no need to…”

“Oh, I know! How about a box of back pain patches?”

“I have plenty of those!”

“How about that special edition book you’ve been wanting to get your hands on?”

“D… Don’t worry, I’ve been saving up!”

“How about an automatic pounding machine for red bean cakes?”

“I prefer the manual labor!”

“How about a brand new tea set?”

“I still have my current one!”

“Or–”

“Seriously, Princess! You’re too much!”

And as she giggled at that flustered face, Sya was filled with content from having that hand hold hers (even if it couldn’t last long). But of course, her fingers dared not move for a moment, savoring the feeling as much as she could. Though his grasp on her was shaky, it was neither loose nor tight. Just firm, warm, and comforting like he was. At that, she smiled a bit sadly before slowly letting go. Even if she was reluctant to let go, she knew that she had to. After all, it wasn't the right time for this. Leo had yet to feel at ease when she was this close.

The cold winds may make her fingers awkward and stiff, but she can bear with it if it meant she can cherish such fleeting yet warming moments like this until that one day coming to a reality.

‘Brushing my fingers with his accidentally and tapping on his arm or shoulder,’ she mused to herself, already making a new set of plans and placing her slighty warm hand (for now) close to her chest while she conversed with Leo who was insistent in not wasting her wish on him, ‘that should do the trick to get him gradually used to us being in close contact.’

One slow and unnoticeable step at a time, just like she had always done with him and playing the waiting game so that later on...

He’ll be the one to request a real closeness from her.

Chapter Text

With a paper in one hand and a fountain pen in the other, both sat on her lap as Sya examined the details she’d written over. Places she had scouted within and a little outside of the village and places she wanted to see again. Now that Leo was better, she can enjoy whichever endeavor she fancied to her heart’s content! 

‘But I wonder,’ the thought of it, however, gave her pause as she dropped her pen and tapped a finger on her cheek. ‘Would Leo be interested in joining me?’ 

And so, in all her curiosity, she looked up. Her head shifted one way and another until she set her gaze on a certain goat from the other side of the tent. There he was, dressed in fine white silks for his robe and a rich purple stole draped over his shoulders, standing and a gentle smile to his face. Leo always made sure to look his best in his habit as he took his duties as Demon Cleric seriously. 

‘Unlike his casual clothes that's far too few and plain as if he doesn’t pay attention to them,’ Sya remarked to herself, purple eyes watching the citizens that came close to him in a very herd-like fashion. She took note of their eyes all bright wide and hopeful as Leo healed away their ailments and injuries and handed out supplies to them. And when one would leave his side, he’d bid them a friendly wave and then swiftly returned his attention to the others in need of him. 

‘It's not that long when he got better, but he’s been at his service for days now,’ she thought, her eyes wandering off to a nearby clock and then back to him and the citizens, ‘with some toilet breaks if needed,’ but only for a brief moment. Seeing all their smiles and hearing their words of gratitude, Sya looked away and back to what was on her lap. From all that, she got her answer and knew that Leo had his hands and time full of helping others. 

‘He’d just decline if I ask him now,’ she mused, a slight shake to her head before going over her plans for tomorrow. If Leo wasn’t able to, at least she would double the fun and sightseeing for them. At least she could tell him all the places she enjoyed visiting during dinner (and since Leo had forgone breakfast and lunch to make helping others his top priority). With that in mind, her eyes trailed one word after another, trying to connect places closer to the other and planning a schedule based on that. 

But soon did Sya realize that she couldn’t focus at all. Feelings of excitement she once had was long gone and her head struggled to even manage the task of making a plan for her ventures. And the more she pushed herself into it, the more difficult it was to even read the paper. And it made the entire thing the more troublesome to do and a complete waste of her energy and time.

Minutes passed by, Sya finally gave up. She moved it to the side and her temper flared up for some reason as she took one last look on the paper before turning her sights away. And so, all she could do was lie down on the boxes surrounding her. All bored, tired, and dissatisfied.

.

.

.

And like water in a kettle, those pestering feelings seemed to only intensify. In the table she was on, Sya looked away from the plate of dessert she made and cast a glance to the chair across hers. It was empty of an occupant. No signs of someone having previously sat there, all except for the plate of food still placed on that side of the table. She stared narrowly at the meat and vegetables in the plate that barely had bites to them. Almost untouched and, without a doubt, had gone cold from the two hours it was left forgotten by a certain someone.

Sya didn’t even need to look elsewhere, all it took was hearing the sounds of pleasant talks and laughter to find Leo offering his service to others and not far from where she sat. He had skipped breakfast and lunch for many days in a row, so he should’ve made the best out of his dinner meals to get some rest besides sleeping. And yet, he couldn’t afford just that.  

That heart of his was far too soft and giving to leave others be. To leave her be whenever something happened to her, so much so that he was prone to forgetting himself. Unable to watch it any longer, she huffed at the sight before turning back to dessert she made. As if Leo leaving behind his food to help others wasn’t enough to worsen her already sour mood, she had to face her failure of a creation that was meant as a surprise for him when he returned.

But now, she couldn’t give this to him.

Just slicing it in half showed her the results. It didn’t turn out the way she wanted it to be; there was far less filling of red bean paste and the outer shell that was the sticky pounded rice happened to be far too thick for an Eastern dessert known as a daifuku. Not to mention, with the lack of a slice of a strawberry stuffed inside it, what she made turned out to be another Eastern dessert known as mochi. The former dessert happened to be one of Leo’s favorites for something sweet and yet, she couldn’t manage just that.

Everything she cooked or baked always turned out differently than the one she wanted. Just why can’t she get something right for once? 

‘I was raised to be perfect in all things that mattered as the Princess,’ the flicks of irritation went on as Sya poked on the little bouncy thing with a fork. And in turn, sugary dusts flew into the air before they vanished. She poked the dessert even harder, still fueled by that same heated emotion. ‘And yet, I can’t perfect this skill in all the years I’m given the time and freedom to do so.’ 

Sya couldn’t help the pout forming in her face once a little thought escaped her. ‘Leo sure makes it look so easy when making them for others.’ 

And for her as well. At that, a flash of a smile and a gentle pair of goat blue eyes appeared in her thoughts, to which she immediately had her head shaking. So wildly that her vision blurred for a moment. To rid herself of it all. And though this village had such a consistently cold climate, why did she feel slightly feverish? Not from the irritation, but from something else.

It couldn’t have been her health being affected. On top of the steadiness and strength that was her body, she hardly did anything except checking out some nearby areas for the past few days. And if not that, she let idleness pass the time with lots of sleep and her leisurely meal times. In the midst of it all, she could somehow hear that voice call out to her softly; “Princess.” 

Even if she knew the owner of that voice wasn’t there in the first place. She blinked blankly at that notion, her cheeks becoming warmer to the touch. This strange condition she was going through, for all the knowledge and skills she had at her disposal as the Princess, she was unsure on how to handle it…

…Even though deep down, she had an inkling or two of what it could truly mean. 

‘All this thinking is making me act funny,’ Sya thought as her thoughts got more noisy. Despite it all being in her head, she used her other hand to brush them away as if the pestering things were real– 

“Er, Princess?”

Sya looked up and though a fog of confusion hovered over her head, it was all but lasting for a brief moment until that gentle face came into view. The smile wavered a little and those brows took on frowns, twisting his face into that of worry. In a slow and cautious tone as if not wanting to bring her further distress, Leo spoke, “is there something wrong, Princess?” 

She lifted a brow. “Have you been calling out to me?” 

In response, he nodded. And that smile he had on now; was it his way of providing her comfort without sticking his nose too closely on her business? How typical of him. ‘So I wasn’t imagining things when hearing him earlier,’ she let out a sigh of relief, but wiped away that strange feeling that dared to crawl up her spine. Even though she was previously confused and allowed herself to experience such things, there won’t be a next time that she’ll be taken aback like this. 

Never again. And she started on that aim by taking herself back to reality. She listened on as Leo softly began while sitting down, “sorry, Princess. That sure took a while, didn’t it?” 

“Two hours, to be exact,” Sya clarified, her hand setting the fork down. There was no need to torment the poor little mochi anymore. Although her irritation still remained, it had gone simmering for the most part. Almost as if she wasn’t completely consumed by it before. How perplexing it was for emotions to sudden turns, but she decided not to dwell on it further.

And so, she watched Leo. She watched him quietly dragging that chair closer to the table. She watched him send that sheepish smile her way before looking elsewhere. She watched him warm up his food with a spell he muttered under his breath. She watched him take a spoon to scoop up reheated meat and vegetables and then bring it to his mouth. She watched those slow movements in his face and hand. She watched how his hand holding the spoon had trembled so much… 

From all the seemingly endless work he put himself into. At that, she narrowed her eyes and felt another twinge of that irritation once more. She found herself unable to pause nor stop as the words spilled out of her mouth, the words came out as they simply were, “Leo, do you really need to push yourself to this extent?” 

Of course, her mildly annoyed inquiry was met with wide eyes and a puzzled tone. “Push myself to what extent?” 

She tried to hold back, knowing how much pride and fulfillment Leo had for his own work, but the words came too quick and almost too sharp. “Besides not having much sleep, you keep skipping out on breakfast and lunch. Was there a need to delay your dinnertime as well?” 

And there was that nervous shifting of the eyes and the slightly crooked smile. “B… But Princess, you see…” 

She interrupted him, frustrated and stern as she was, reiterating the same phrase he always told her. “Yes, yes, there’s virtue to helping those who are in need and that you experience fulfillment when seeing the smiles and relief of those you’ve helped out.” 

“Guess I’ve said that a lot…”

She eyed that spoon going back to his plate. How he didn’t drop food with that trembling hand was beyond her, but her stance on the matter was still the same. For a minute, she went silent, considering the right things to say and express them clearly. Sya knew full well that she can be vague with her word choices and it left others unsure of her meaning. Even Leo, who was observant and understanding of others, can misunderstand her at times. And while she pieced it all together, she stared at her hands. 

The same hands, with dainty fingers once slowly moving in an awkward manner from holding a thick stack of papers and signing too much paperwork, now calloused and quick from all the endeavors she indulged herself into. One of the obvious signs that she came to be. And for that, she was glad and eager for the new things in her that will come to be.

And on that note, she can’t be the only one who saw it as such. Clenching her hand in a form of balled conviction, she turned and set her gaze on him. The him who was nervous and unsure. Looking straight at him, she began, “I’ve heard people say that a life of sacrifice is noble. Back then, I used to hear that saying a lot,” with a voice unwavering and clear in its meaning, “but as good as it may sound to those who want to do things for the greater good, would it really matter if one day you find yourself unable to get up because of that weight you carry?” 

Truly, was it worth getting hurt in the process? Even though the duties she once fulfilled as the Princess back in her castle had varied so much from that of Leo’s duties as the Demon Cleric, the hardship and pressure were all the same. ‘It’s all thanks to him and Fluffy Dog that the pressure and responsibilities Twilight has in ruling the demon world as the Demon King… is made lighter and more bearable,’ she mused to herself, waiting for a response from the latter. ‘Because Leo and Fluffy Dog cares so much for him, wants a life for him more than just work and responsibilities…’

If there was something she once envied about Twilight, it would be that. But not anymore when she, too, gained something like that for herself. And that side of Leo, of taking on more work for others, was just as frustrating as it was commendable. And at times, it can be concerning. Just like moments ago. 

After much silence between the two, Leo broke it with a stiff-sounding chuckle leaving his lips and a rub at the back of his neck. His eyes were then closed tight, as if there was something deep within him that he didn’t want her to see. “So that’s how you see it, huh…” 

She wondered what it could be, but decided to leave it for next time. Leo had exhausted his energy and body to the brink of collapsing. And no, his ‘I’m alright’ smiles will never fool her into thinking otherwise. At that, she moved on and nodded firmly. “Yep and you can’t make me see it the other way.”

“And I don’t need to,” she raised her head, looking up to see Leo staring back at her as he continued, his tone calm and with a hint of sadness to them, “especially since what you say is true. Yes, there’s merits to helping others and that seeing their smiles has kept me going,” he then trailed off, his trembling fingers playing with each other and to which Sya saw it as him being unsure of how to properly convey his meaning. 

Even though Leo can talk all day long and preach in front of hundreds of demons during a black mass, he sure was often at loss for words whenever it came to himself. This goat, really. Nevertheless, she stayed put and listened on, without judgment nor a refute. And it was the silent encouragement from her he needed that got him speaking again. “But I’ve become too focused on making others feel at ease and happy that I couldn’t see the limitations I have. And if things go as is, I’ll end up not being able to get up as you say.” 

She nodded, a little more violently than it should be. “Exactly. Twilight and the dog will worry. Others will worry. And I’ll worry. It’s good to help others, but not at the expense of your own health.” 

“Right,” smilingly, he looked at her with eyes that matched the colors of the night sky surrounding them, “I should try to do things more in moderation. It might not be easy at first, but I’ll take a step at a time and get it right.” 

‘Good, he finally saw my point. Unlike me, he’ll listen to the good advice that others have for him,’ Sya thought, wanting to pat herself in the back for her efforts. 

“Say, Princess…” 

“Mhm?” 

“I don’t think this village has the ingredients to make this dessert unless…” 

Sya blinked. And it wasn’t so long that she was taken to an entirely different matter, the one she had forgotten to throw away before he saw it. How she wanted to slam her head against the table for this carelessness. But then again, he’d get worried and use what little remained of his MP to heal her. Thus, she held back from that urge. “the citizens didn’t wish for these things. I brought it along with me.” 

“Oh,” a sad little look took form in his face as he looked at her. “I’m sorry, the dishes here aren’t to your taste…” 

Quickly, she disapproved of his claims and with a shake of her head. “No, that’s not it. I made this dessert for… you,” once she told him that, Sya averted from him. Embarrassed and irritated by her own shortcomings. 

“It’s for me…?” 

“It is, but it didn’t turn out the way I intended for it to be,” she said with a huff, not being able to bring herself to look at Leo nor the dessert in question. “it’s supposed to be a daifuku, one of your favorite sweets, but it became a mochi instead,” thus, was her reason for not being able to face him. 

Then, she heard a giggle and a slow drag of something that made her curious enough to catch a glimpse of whatever it was from the corner of her eyes. There, she witnessed Leo staring down at the dessert with a gentle smile and his trembling hands pushed a half of it to the other, making the mochi whole again. Even if that line between them should be an obvious sight to notice, the slice she made that had set them apart.

But Leo didn’t seem to mind it as much as he continued to smile while lifting the dessert until it was within his mouth’s reach. And finally, he bit into its sticky surface till he took a small chunk and chewed on it. Somehow, despite herself, she couldn’t tear her gaze away when his face lit up and looked as if he enjoyed the dessert. “Well,” he voiced his delight, his hand wiped at the sugary dusts that coated his lips, “even if it’s not what you expected it to be, I still think it’s delicious and very filling. Thank you, Princess, for this delicious treat.” 

That gentle smile and the sweet tenderness in his gaze were now directed at her. She nearly jumped from her seat, witnessing that for herself. And a certain warmth seemed to take hold of her and how she disliked it when her words came out as a stutter. “Y… you don’t need to thank me for a failed attempt!” 

“But it’s not really a failed attempt if I enjoyed it,” smilingly, he reasoned out. “The fact that you thought of me while making this dessert when you didn’t have to, it truly warms my heart.” 

‘T… This goat!’ Sya thought with a heated face and for once, she found herself speechless which wasn’t so like her! How infuriating!

“A… Anyhow! I’ll have to feed you.” 

“E–Eh?! But, Princess…”

“Look at the state of your hands, you’ve exhausted it to the point that it’s a struggle for you to lift a fork.” 

“But that’s a bit…” 

“Well, you don’t want others to worry when doing services tomorrow, right?” 

“A… Alright.” 

At that, Sya let out a little grin, albeit a slightly shaky one. At least she wasn’t alone in feeling this way. Being flustered was more of his style than hers. Not that she found that part of him endearing or anything. Definitely not at all!

And yet, seeing him smile and look all starry-eyed while looking at the dessert she made was more than enough to make her chest swell with pride and warmth. To think a shortcoming such as this would be looked upon so positively. But then again, the man in question was Leo after all. 

With that, her grin grew at the notion.