"Do tell me," Glenn said.

"She said that the prince tried to force her to marry him and the queen has the power to enslave someone if you sign something she gave," Miyu said.

"You sound skeptical," Glenn said.

"No, I'm just not sure what to do," Miyu said.

"You said you wanted to be an actress again," Glenn said.

"Yes, but I mean should I leave the palace now? They haven't been mean to me yet. Not that I'm waiting for them to be mean but then where do I go? I don't have any relatives here. I don't want to live with Mia. We're not that close yet and she didn't actually offer to let me stay with her in case I move out of the palace," Miyu said.

"I offered," Glenn said.

Miyu smiled a bit.

"Yeah but I don't want to impose on you that much. You can't exactly just let a girl stay in your house and expect for nothing to change. People would talk about you and you'd never get a girlfriend if you keep on spoiling me rotten," Miyu said.

"What's a girlfriend?" Glenn asked.

"Oh. You don't use that term here? Well um . . . a lover! I think that's the term Mia used. A girlfriend is someone you spend your time with because you like her a lot and someone you do romantic things with like kissing. So, if you let me stay in your place, all the girls will think you're taken already and they won't try to approach you! Well, the good ones won't. Anyway, your bachelor image will be ruined," Miyu said with a serious face.

Glenn laughed.

Miyu frowned at him.

"I don't have a bachelor image. Only few people even know who I am and what they know of me might only be just my name and what I say I am. I don't need to uphold any reputation. I don't want any other ladies approaching me either and about the 'girlfriend' worry that you have, aren't you the definition of that already?" Glenn said grinning at her.

Miyu blushed.

"It doesn't work that way. I'm not your girlfriend," Miyu muttered.

"Then you should teach me. I do not know how it works in your world," Glenn said.

"You should be the one teaching me," Miyu said.

Glenn shrugged.

"We can teach other. Anyway, you don't have to decide now. My offer still stands," Glenn said.

"But what if they do try something on me like Mia warned and I end up regretting it because I should have escaped when I could," Miyu said looking troubled.

Glenn put his arm around her shoulder.

"You have me. They can't do anything to you. If you want to stay in the palace for now, stay. Enjoy your palace life and when you get sick of it or if they do try to harm you, I can whisk you away to my lair," Glenn said.

Miyu laughed.

"Do you prefer the palace gates or the wall?" Glenn asked.

The two of them had now reached the palace walls after walking for a while.

"I . . . usually prefer to enter the premises in a normal way but your way is faster and the cakes might already be there in my room," Miyu said.

"Hold on tight," Glenn said.

Glenn carried her princess-style again with Miyu's arms looped around his neck and her face buried on his shoulder.

Glenn leaped up the palace wall. Miyu's breathing hitched as she felt that they were on air already. Then she felt him descending and she buried her face even more on his shoulder.

She smelled the scent of flowers. They must be in the palace garden now which was just outside her window.

She opened her eyes and admired the garden surrounding her then she looked up and . . . admired Glenn's face.

"I'm going to jump again," Glenn said.

Miyu nodded and buried her face on Glenn's shoulder again.

Glenn leapt. Miyu opened her eyes slowly. It was like he was flying. Then he landed gracefully inside her balcony.

There were cakes already inside Miyu's room and they sat on the chairs with a round table between them.

"Didn't you eat cakes already earlier?" Glenn asked, eyeing Miyu in amusement as she gobbled up a strawberry cheesecake.

"Nah. We talked more than we ate. Here. Try some of this," Miyu said and raised her fork to Glenn.

Glenn was momentarily surprised but he leaned in and ate the slice on her fork.

"Mmm . . . That's good," Glenn said.

"So what did you boys talk about?" Miyu asked.

"Nothing much. Well, the boy obviously mistrusts me but his only concern was if I'm a threat to his beloved Saintess," Glenn said.

"And are you?" Miyu asked in between chewing.

"No. I don't have any interest in her at all," Glenn said with a shrug.

"And you only have interest in the second Saintess?" Miyu asked, still chewing.

"Exactly," Glenn said and winked at her.

"So what do you get for being so nice to me?" Miyu asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Your company," Glenn said smiling.

Miyu raised an eyebrow.

"You must be a masochist then. I'm not into that," Miyu said.

"That's what you say," Glenn said and winked.

Miyu glared at him. "See this fork?"

Glenn chuckled.

"You can't expect me to never be curious. You know, Mia even asked me if you're trustworthy," Miyu said.

"What did you say?" Glenn asked.

"I told her that's for you to prove," Miyu said.

"Yes, you're right about that," Glenn said and offered a cake piece to Miyu with his fork.

Miyu opened her mouth and ate the cake from his fork.

"If you ever hurt me, you're never going to see me again," Miyu said with a finality in her tone.

"I won't ever hurt you. I've been waiting for you for a long . . . long . . . time," Glenn said softly.

*

*

*

Hansel had been extremely busy in preparing for his master's winter expedition to find Sylvia. He ordered non-perishable food stock, camping items, winter clothes, and he personally looked for strong horses that would be able to withstand the icy cold winds of White Peaks.

Hansel was the only servant going with Lucien and Euphemia as the whereabouts of Sylvia must be kept a secret. He had never met Sylvia himself but he knew who she was to Lucien.

"Here, Sir. Is this satisfactory for you?" A thin old man with a long gray goatee wearing a simple black and white suit asked.

Hansel inspected the item for a while. Turning it over in his fingers and even raising it up a bit to see how it looked when it's against the light.

The shop owner waited nervously.

Hansel smiled.

"Yes, it's good. Here's my payment," Hansel said.

The shop owner smiled widely as he received a pouch full of gold coins.

"Sir, I believe this is too much. You have overpaid. Let me give you the excess," the shop owner said.

"No, it's fine. You did a great job. Keep all of that," Hansel said.

The shop owner looked at Hansel with utter gratefulness.

"I thought you were busy but you're just shopping."

Hansel turned, already knowing who it was.

"My lady," Hansel said.

Rubiella glared at him.

"You haven't even written me a letter at all or visited me! I've heard from shopkeepers that you're going on an expedition this winter and you haven't even told me!" Rubiella said, her voice rising.

The shop owner looked at the two of them nervously.

"My lady, I apologize. Let me explain. Let's go outside first," Hansel said.

"No! You cannot tell me what to do after ignoring me for days. After what you did to me! Shame on you!" Rubiella said angrily.

Hansel had a pained expression on his face.

She was right though. He had not contacted her for days and he had thrown himself in his work.

"I'm sorry. Please. Can we talk first? Privately?" Hansel asked.

Rubiella glared at him.

Hansel looked at her earnestly.

Rubiella gritted her teeth.

"Please, my lady?" Hansel pleaded.

"Fine," Rubiella said and whirled around angrily.

She couldn't resist his face. Argh. Even with those eyeglasses and his hair tied up, he was still so freaking handsome.

*

*

*

Rubiella and Hansel went to a nearby park. They found a bench with no other people around which was under a tree shade.

"Begin talking," Rubiella said, still angry.

"There is no excuse for my poor actions. I was incredibly busy with preparing and I know it shouldn't be an excuse. I should have wrote you or met with you again. I do apologize and I hope you still believe my affection for you is true," Hansel said.

"Affection?" Rubiella repeated.

"Yes, you are very precious to me. You have my heart, my lady," Hansel said.

Rubiella blushed at the cheesy lines he was saying.

"And if you do this again?" Rubiella asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Feel free to stab my heart," Hansel said.

Rubiella laughed.

"Are you no longer angry, my lady?" Hansel asked with a hoping look.

"Not anymore. You do have to make it up to me though. Could you bring me back a gift from your expedition?" Rubiella asked.

"Certainly, my lady. But would you like to accept one now?" Hansel asked.

Hansel pulled out a small black box from his coat pocket.