"I would like to ask for a leave"

Bowing my head down as I carefully placed the small silver flash drive on top of an elegant, and intricate marbled office desk, a beautiful young woman with curled, blonde waist length hair and emerald green eyes, had her bottoms perched on the comforts of a cushioned chair, her legs crisscrossed beneath and brows furrowed as she suddenly slams a set of brown files on top of the horizontal surface, exclaiming in an annoyed tone, "A leave? When our department has this many things to do?!"

Not wanting to infuriate the already quite furious young woman, Yuri remained silent, her head still bowed down, refusing to add fuel to the fire by speaking up as she patiently wait for the young woman's rage to tone down.

Celandine Zoe Lee… The infamous third child of Celandine Francis, a princess with a really bad temper, and the current manager of the ghostwriter's department in Sweet Haven Company.

"Don't you know that it must be at least 3 years before you could request for a leave?! The ghostwriter's department has the lowest income this year, and I'm pissed off at that Michael dude for insulting MY department in front of the other managers! So could you please just leave? I don't want to see your face when I'm angry! It just pisses me off more!"

… You're the one who don't know that I've already worked here for 3 years…

After a moment of silence, Zoe spoke up again, finally calm and more stable, speaking in a gentle tone, "I like your persistence for standing there even after I've told you those things. All righty then, I'll listen to your request. What is it that you want?"

Repeating what I've said from before, I answered, "I would like to ask for a leave"

Thinking for a moment, Zoe says, "I've already told you my answer for that. An employee here at Sweet Haven must work here for at least 3 years before you would be able to request for a leave. Its not like I can just let you people go. Remember, you're still on a contract with us. The more you disobey the rules, the more that you are likely to suffer the consequences, and even die. Don't get me wrong; I'm not saying this for your sake. Let's just put it simply that I'm only telling you this since you have the courage to stand there with that face of yours. Now, tell me your choice. Are you willing to give up your life for freedom?"

That's… Am I really willing to give up my life for freedom…?

Maybe that was the case… Maybe… Father gave up his life for us… for our freedom.

"Miss Zoe, I'm not meaning to talk back but I think that you've misunderstood my request. I've already been working here for 3 years…"

After a period of blank staring, Zoe finally replies, saying, "Oh? Is that so? Then, you must submit a file for leave first"

"I've already made a file for leave. Its in a separate folder inside that small silver flash drive…"

Blinking, Zoe plugged in the flash drive to her limited edition, silver Fineapple laptop, reacting once she sees the insides of the flash drive, saying, "This… You've finished all of your work for this week?"

"Yes. Since I'm hoping for a 3 days leave."

After skimming through the files inside the flash drive, Zoe spoke again, saying, "And the other folder that you're talking about… You want to go back to Peach Dew Village?"

"Yes… I'm also hoping to see my mother for my leave"

"I see. Well, I'm not interested with your family matters so you can just go leave and return once your 3 days are done"

Yuri nods in return. She was still bowing down her head so she can't really bow for a thank you…

"Now, leave. I'm sick at seeing your face now"

… Are all princesses like this?

Walking out of the office door, Yuri was greeted by the sight of Dennis approaching her.

"What a coincidence! Miss Yuri how is your day?"

Coincidence? I'm not in the mood to deal with coincidences like this…

"Ah, Dennis. I'm fine… thank you for the concern"

Smiling, Dennis asks, "Are you free this afternoon? There's a newly opened cake shop downtown and I have two 'sweets-all-you-can' coupons that has been given to me by the owner when I was passing by the cake shop… I was hoping that you could come with me after lunch this afternoon since the other coupon would be wasted if I go there alone…"

Sure thing. Why not?

… Is that what you thought I'd say to Dennis?

If that was my line, then a statue of myself might as well be put inside a cathedral since I'd be a saint if I said that to Dennis despite knowing that he's talking shit behind my back…

"I apologize but I have to refuse your offer. I am busy for the whole day, so I advice you to invite Jean instead of me since he's from the proofreader's department. Currently, as far as I know, Jean's manager is on vacation, so the proofreader's department has a lot of time in their hands since there won't be any work assigned by their manager except for what was left out before his vacation"

After a short moment of silence, Dennis spoke again, asking, "Did Miss Zoe gave you a load of work again?"

Shaking my head no, I replied, "That's not what I meant by being busy. It's a personal matter so I won't be able to tell you anyways."

Looking down, Dennis mutters under his breath, "I see…so you don't trust me anymore huh…"

Not really hearing what Dennis just said, I asked, "What? Did you just say something?"

Looking up to face me, Dennis smiles, saying, "It's nothing, I did not say anything… Ah! That's right! I still have to visit the financial department! I still have a lot of mails to deliver so I guess I'm off now, see you later!"

"Ok, good luck with your work Dennis"

Smiling, Dennis replies, "If you're the one wishing me luck… I know that I can do anything"

Suddenly confused, I was about to ask him by what he meant by 'he can do anything' but he has already run off to the far distance.

… He's weird for someone who hides his true colors.

Nonetheless, I should get going now.

I still have a plan at stake.

I have no time to eat sweets and cakes when a storm is up ahead…