"Leon?"

Rinna blinked as soon as their eyes met. He was standing not too far from them, holding several boxes with a calm look on his face.

She tilted her head, unsure for a second.

'Should I… go say hello?'

The thought passed her mind. She had told him clearly that day to forget what happened in the past. They were on friendly terms now, or that's what she thought. So greeting him in public was natural to her.

Her fingers tightened around her small side bag.

She took a small breath and stepped forward.

"Hey–" Eula noticed her, tried to stop her, but Rinna was already walking ahead.

Rinna had no reason to avoid him. A promise was a promise. She had told him they would start over from the beginning as a friend. If she ran away now, it would make her look childish.

Leon, however, was stunned the moment she approached.

'Is she stupid or what? What the hell does she think she's doing? Why is she coming here calmly when she just saw me—'

"Good afternoon," Rinna greeted politely. Her voice trembled only a little. A-"Are you here to shop as well?"

Leon glanced past her and saw Eula walking behind her with a tired face, and palm on her forehead.

Even Eula found it absurd and stupid. All the guards and assassins must be seeing this interaction as well.

'Just great. What is this girl thinking?' Eula sighed, as she stopped beside her little sister.

Seeing Leon, and the girl beside him, Eula simply greeted nodding just her head.

Both Leon and Layla follow through, Leon can see the curious glare in Layla's eyes.

He kept his voice as mild as possible before speaking.

"Good afternoon, princess Eula, princess Rinna."

"Ah," Layla beside him exclaimed at the mention of these names, "princess…?"

She stared only at Rinna, 'so, she's princess Rinna?'

Layla scanned the third princess top to down in one single sweep.

'Huh, she's indeed a beauty. No wonder Leon fell for her.'

Then something suddenly hit Layla.

'No wait. Isn't she irritated by him? Why is she even greeting him then?'

Layla looked at Leon's face. It was calm as usual, but she noticed a small line of sweat sliding down his cheek.

'He is nervous… is something really going on between them?'

Her eyes shifted between Rinna and Leon.

Layla felt her chest tighten for a second.

Eula, on the other side, was observing everything clearly. Her younger sister, who hardly ever approached any boy, was the one taking the lead right now. And the boy in front of her, who was extraordinary in strange ways, was speaking with her casually, as if they had known each other for years.

Eula's eyes widened a little.

'Do not tell me… is something going on between them?'

She refused to jump to conclusions, but the scene looked suspicious from every angle.

Leon felt a slight tingle on his forehead. He could feel two intense stares directed at him from both sides.

'Ah… I should have just stayed in my room.'

He did not want any misunderstanding, so he cleared his throat and tried to change the subject.

"I did not expect to see you two here. Are you here for window shopping?"

Rinna nodded lightly. "Yes. My sister and I were bored today, so we decided to have a little tour."

Her eyes slowly moved to the boxes in his hands. "You seem full today huh?"

Leon noticed her gaze and shook his head. "Not really. I was here with my cousin. She wanted to buy 'some' sandals."

"Oh?" Rinna looked at Layla, standing beside him.

Layla stepped forward and lifted her skirt politely. "I am Layla Valentine, Leon's cousin."

"Layla… I see." Eula narrowed her eyes just slightly. "Are you the daughter of Darius Valentine?"

Layla nodded with a bright smile. "Yes I am, and it is a pleasure to finally see you, princess Eula. I have heard a lot about you."

Eula accepted the greeting with a calm nod.

Rinna looked between the two of them, then back at Leon.

Layla caught her, she smirked and asked Leon, "hey why don't we take princess to that cafe you told before."

'Huh? Why?' Leon wanted to say, but didn't.

"A cafe?" Rinna blinked.

Layla nodded, "yes, a cafe, it's a very famous one, Leon told me it's famous for their apple pie."

"Apple pie…?" Rinna looked at Eula, "sister, I want to eat apple pie. Shall we join them?"

'Then eat by yourself. Why bother us?' Leon was having an urge to just say it to her face, but he held himself.

Layla continued with a gentle smile.

"It will be more fun than walking around on an empty stomach."

She was pushing it on them at this point, making an exuberant smile on her face.

Rinna looked at Eula to get her approval. Seeing her younger sister this proactive with someone other than her own family member made Eula genuinely think about it, and she couldn't help but to agree.

"Alright," she sighed, "but we would make it short ok?"

"Mhm." Rinna said, nodding with a smile.

Layla collapsed her hand and left Leon's side, and ran close to Rinna.

"Hello once again, I have heard a lot about you from Leon when we were kids."

"Oh…emm…" Rinna scratched her cheeks in awkwardness.

Seeing Layla acting this way, Leon scolded her for the first time.

"Hey, you are making her uncomfortable." He said, narrowing his eyes at him. "She's a princess, treat her that way."

"It's fine," Rinna waved her hands at Leon, "I would like it better if she treats me like a normal girl."

Hearing her say this, Rinna looked at Leon and grinned, as if telling him 'see that, aren't I awesome!'

With Rinna by her side, Layla walked ahead of them.

"..."

Leon just stared at her back, as she was whispering something with Rinna.

'What the actual hell, was she always this friendly?'

"Haaah…." He sighed, and filled behind them.

Beside him, Eula walked while maintaining her pace.

"Are they heavy?" Eula suddenly, looking at the boxes he was carrying.

"Hm?" Leon glanced at her, and replied. "They are."

"Do you want me to—"

"No."

"..."

They walked side by side. But the silence was killing Leon from inside, Eula was occasionally glancing at him.

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