"Haa..."
"Haa..."
"Pah..." Soft pants left the little girl's mouth, amidst of catching her breath.
Her hands softly held her knees as she bent down, staring at the bright green grass beneath her feet that glowed beneath the sun, taking her time to catch her breath.
"Hah."
It was the girl's twelfth birthday, and the dress she wore was worth of a simple celebrant.
'Gosh, what a tiresome path.' She grunted as she looked behind her back, briefly glancing at her father's humble estate.
'I'm sure father wouldn't mind.'
A soft giggle left her lips as she turned back to the path she was on. Determination shined in her eyes as she began to hurry her steps. The young girl was eager to arrive on the field of flowers nearby, as early as she could.
'I must hurry before my handmaidens notice that I am missing.' She thought, as a grip occupied her soft lips.
Fixing her composure, the girl began to take long strides as she hummed a soft melody. As she passed along the trees that followed the path, the rays of sunshine delicately prickled her face. It felt good and warm.
As soon as she saw the field of flowers, the girl began to walk even faster. "How lovely!" She cheered, walking straight into the meadow. Her small laugh made it even more lovelier.
"Hicc... Hiccup..!"
Before she could plop down and roll around on the field of flowers, the girl heard a small hiccup. She stiffened, suddenly wary of her surroundings. She took a look around, nervous of what there could be.
'Is it a ghost?' Her face began to pale.
"Haa... Hicc...!" Another faint sob came from behind the tress.
"Who's there..?" Though scared, the girl still managed to ask despite her trembling voice.
And yet again, the girl heard another sob. This time, she took a step back.
"Show yourself...!" She spoke loudly. But her voice couldn't even be considered a threat.
Despite her fear, the girl garnered enough courage and began to draw near where the small cries was coming from.
"If you don't show yourself, I'll—!"
There she saw a boy pathetically sitting on the ground, crying in grief, nonstop. His small thin hands covered his face as his tears flowed continuously, followed with his small sobs.
"Ah..." She was dumbfounded.
'Where did he come from?'
'What is a boy doing here..?'
'No... In the first place, who is he?'
"A-Are you... alright?" She spoke quietly.
Suddenly, the boy stopped. The hands that covered his face was soon removed as he turned to look at the girl
A small gasp left the girl's lips. "You're pretty." She whispered, staring into the deep green eyes.
"Are you crying..?" She asked. Her eyes observed his sharp nose and rosy lips seemed as though sculpted by the angels.
"Is it not obvious?" The boy responded. Although he spoke sarcastically, his voice was shaky.
"I can very well see that."
"....." A small awkward silence was left between the two.
"Can I ask why you're crying?"
"It's nothing." Immediately came the boys answer.
"But you wouldn't be crying if it was nothing—"
"Hicc!" The girl flinched in surprise as he suddenly sobbed.
"Do you... hicc... have a handkerchief..?"
"I do not have any handkerchiefs with me right now, my apologies."
"...." The boy stared at her quietly with his tear brimmed eyes, observing her bit by bit despite in the midst of his grieving. Her ebony hair shined beneath the sun, and her eyes that didn't even bother to hide her pity towards him softly shined.
"It's fine—Hiccup!"
"Um..." The girl gently clutched the skirt of her dress. "You can use the hem of my dress if you don't min—"
In an instant, the boy blew his nose in the skirt of her dress. "Thank you."
Moments passed, and when the boy was done, he slowly began to stand up. "Thank you for that." He murmured, his ears reddened and his cheeks flushed.
"It's okay." Said the girl. "So long as you feel better."
"But May I ask?" The girl spoke. "Why were you crying?"
"..." The boy looked at her hesitantly, as if debating whether to trust her with his reason.
"My mother passed away." He spoke painfully, evidently drained from his crying.
"Oh my..." It was not what she expected to hear. "I'm so sorry for your loss." She reached her hand out to him as she gave him a pat on the shoulder.
Somehow, the boy's tears began to flow again.
"Ah? Don't cry..!"
The girl, not knowing what else to do, hugged the boy while gently stroking his back. "It's okay..."
"It will be fine."
It was the only way to comfort a person that she knew, for it was how she always comforted her younger sister whenever she cried.
But in that moment, she couldn't believe that she was comforting a boy, a stranger even, in the field near her home, instead of getting ready for the celebration of her birthday. Soon, warm tears began to wet her shoulder.
Moments passed, and the boy finally calmed down. "T-Thank you." He murmured. His eyes were red and swollen, but even so, the girl still thought he was pretty.
"I feel a little bit eased at least." His low murmur brushed her ears as she noticed his green eyes lowering down to the hem of her dress.
"Ah, I shall replace your dress as I've dirtied it—"
"Oh, no need!" She cut him off. "It can be washed. And besides, at least you felt a bit better."
That's the first time he heard such sincere words after his mother's death.
At least you feel a bit better.
The lips of the boy who has been unable to lift his lips into smile for a few days now, miraculously smiled for the first time in a while.
"May I ask your name?"
"My name is Cordelia." The girl smiled.
"You're a very kind person, Cordelia." Said the boy.
In return, Cordelia's smile widened. "And you are? What is your name?"
The boy gently shook his head. "My father said that I mustn't tell my name to strangers because it is dangerous."
A small frowned formed on her head. "But I just told you mine..? That's unfair."
The boy ignored her words. "Do you frequently come here?"
"I do."
"Then I'll meet you here often. Maybe by then, I'll be able to tell you my name." He smiled faintly for the second time.
"Alright." The young Cordelia grinned.
"Then I'll see you again here."
Cordelia's eyes opened as she awoke from that dream. Her sore body immediately greeted her as she woke up in Leon's room, her bare body covered with nothing but a blanket.
'Why did I dream of that memory?'
Cordelia slowly sat up, her eyes sorely scanned the bedroom, finding the space beside her empty. Leon was already gone so early in the morning.
'He must have gotten up already.' She thought. 'But what a strange dream I had.'
At the same time, in the midst of a busy morning, Leon was in stuck in a small trance as he recalled the events of yesterday.
The churning feeling still haunted him, and it was very unpleasant. But still, he couldn't help but wonder why he felt upset after seeing another man hold his wife's hand.
'Because of that... I...'
He groaned, wincing as he recalled what he did last night. Leon refused to acknowledge that he had forced Cordelia to bath in order rid of the trace of that man's touch, and made love to her right after that.
"Cedric." He called.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Why do these unpleasant feelings bother me when I see her with another man?"
He blinked. "Who..?"
"Cordelia."
"The madam? With another man?"
Leon nodded.
"Did you feel angry when you saw her with another man?"
Leon nodded once more, to which Cedric's face quickly lit up. "Then isn't it because of jealousy?" He grinned upon Leon's face that was full of disbelief.
"Don't be ridiculous, Cedric."
"Maybe you like the madam."
"Cedric, that is impossible—"
"But you could only feel jealous if you like someone. Could it be that you are denying your feelings, master?"
"Don't make me laugh, I certainly wasn't jealous—" Leon paused.
In fact, he was indeed jealous. Very jealous. He remembered the very displeasure he felt last night, almost to the point that he wanted to rip the hand of the actor that held Cordelia's hand. Leon disliked the thought of her with any other man.
'Then... does that truly mean I like her?' That very thought ringed in his mind. He couldn't fathom it at all, that his feelings for her bloomed.
Leon had come to realize that his recent possessiveness over her wasn't merely because of his worries over his reputation that she could potentially ruin. Rather, it was because he was starting to like her.
"Have you realize it now, my lord?"
"Have I really come to like he—" Leon was unable to continue his words at the sudden opening of the door.
Clack
"Oh my," Cedric smiled.
"Good morning, madam." He cheerfully greeted Cordelia, who entered the office.
"Good morning, Cedric." She greeted, smiling back before turning to Leon.
"Good morning, Leon."
Suddenly, his heart started beating faster.
Now that he was more aware of his own feelings, he didn't know how to act in front of her anymore.
'Darn...' He thought, as though cursing himself.
'Now that I've realized it, my mind and heart are more chaotic when I see her.'
"Good morning." He replied, swallowing a breath. "Have you had your breakfast—"
"Can I go out today?"
Both of them spoke in unison.
"Oh." Yet again, they spoke at the same time.
"Where are you going?" He asked, gently raising his brows.
"I'd like to pay my father a visit." Cordelia replied.
Leon blinked. "Today? But you haven't gotten enough rest though?"
"I feel alright." She said softly, not realizing that she was smiling at his concern.
"But why so suddenly? Did an emergency arise?"
"It has been a a few months since I visited my father. So I'd like to take a short visit."
"...Are you planning on going alone?"
"No." She shook her head. "I can bring my lady in waiting if you allow..."
"Why not me?" He asked.
Cedric's and Cordelia's expressions were very evident, also alike. The shock was clearly seen on their faces how unexpected it was to hear that from him.
"P-Pardon?"
"I also haven't seen the Count for a while now." Leon spoke, slowly standing up. "I think I should also pay him a visit. He is my father in law, after all." He smiled
Cordelia swallowed a breath, blinking in disbelief. 'Leon is behaving strangely...' She wasn't used to the new him.
"What time do you plan on going?" Leon asked.
"Right now..."
•
After a short journey to the neighboring territory, Cordelia finally arrived at the very familiar estate. The home she grew up in, where made many childhood memories.
She walked passed the familiar corridor with Leon beside her. A sense of calmness filled mind as she saw the portraits of her family hanging on the wall. Though her father's estate was considered humble compared to Leon's estate, it was still a lovely home to Cordelia.
'How I miss spending my days running around this halls.' She thought.
Upon their arrival, they were quickly greeted by her old handmaiden, who raised her.
'They said that father would return later on the afternoon.' Thought Cordelia.
'Ah, then while waiting for him, I'll visit that place.'
"What is it?" Leon asked, stopping at his tracks.
"I want to visit a place near the estate." She said, turning to him.
"What place?"
"Just a small field a few walks from here."
'A field?' Leon wondered.
"If you don't mind, Leon, would you like to come?" Cordelia asked as she turned toward him with a unbearable expression.
"The flowers on the field would be in bloom at this time. It would be a nice view to see, what do you think?"
"I'll come with you." He said. He couldn't help but agree and say yes. It was as though he was bewitched.
AFTER a quarter of an hour walk outside the castle, Cordelia finally arrived at the very familiar path.
"Hah..." She heaved a breath.
"Are you alright?" Asked Leon, looking at Cordelia, who was in the midst of a struggle to catch her breath.
"Y-Yes..." She murmured. "Hah..."
"Pfftt—" A small chuckle left his lips as he watched her gasp for air.
"Is something fu— Ha... -nny?"
"No." Quickly came his answer as he shook his head, smiling. It's just that, this is the first time I've seen you so tired.
"If you're tired I can carry you."
"No." She replied abruptly.
"My, how prideful." He muttered. But she clearly heard what he said.
"Fine, if you don't want me to carry you, then the least you could do is keep up with my pace."
"Hey—!" Cordelia stared at his back with evident disbelief. She watched as Leon continued walking through the path, leaving her behind.
Having no other choice, she heaved a heavy breath before running to catch up to him.
"W- Hahh -ait for... haa." She heaved another breath. "—me..!"
"If you need help, just say so."
"Fine!"
Leon rose his brows as he turned toward her. "Fine what?"
"I could use a help..!"
"Why didn't you say so earlier." His lips turned into a wide grin as he bent down to pick her up.
A soft shriek left her lips, now being carried in Leon's arms like a princess.
"Tell me, princess, which direction shall we go?"
"S-Straight ahead." She murmured. Her face was bright and red. While her cheeks were burned.
As Leon walked further down the path, his feet suddenly halted into a stop with the clear and beautiful view of the field of flowers.
"Ah, here we are." She spoke in joy as she carefully placed her feet on the ground.
The windy breeze soothed her skin as the lovely view of the field of flowers enchanted her eyes. It was just like in her dream.
"Isn't the view beautiful?" She asked, turning around with a smile. But what greeted her was the deep confusion on Leon's face.
"Leon..?"
'This field...'
Where he was standing certainly gave him a feeling of nostalgia. It was a familiar scenery that was vividly engraved in his mind. He certainly couldn't forget.
'This is certainly that field.' He thought.
"Are you alright?" Cordelia asked, worried.
But instead of answering her question, Leon asked her his own. "How do you know this place?"
Cordelia blinked, confused why he had suddenly turned serious. "I used to come here all the time when I was a child." She spoke carefully, wondering what Leon was thinking.
There she gave the confirmation he was waiting for. "Why do you ask?" She added.
"....." Leon silently stared at Cordelia in utter disbelief.
"I also used to come here when I was a child." He replied.