Completely unaware of the shadows festering in Artur's heart, Leo and Rina were chatting idly beneath the shade of the tree. Their laughter mingled with the summer breeze—until Leo suddenly leaned closer, a mischievous glint in his crystal-blue eyes.
"So," he drawled, lips curving into a teasing grin, "care to tell me what happened between you and Artur?"
At once, Rina froze. Her pink eyes widened, darting left and right like a startled rabbit caught in the open. The reaction only fueled Leo's sadistic urge to tease her further.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, her voice a pitch higher than usual.
As expected, her flimsy attempt at denial only made Leo chuckle.
"Come on, I know you better than anyone. Something definitely happened. Better spill it now—because you know I won't stop pestering you until you do."
Rina exhaled sharply. She knew too well how stubborn Leo could be when he latched onto something. No matter how awkward this might make things between the three of them later… no matter if Leo got fired up and actually confronted Artur—because yes, he was absolutely the type to do that—she could only sigh in defeat.
"Earlier… Artur confessed to me—"
She never got to finish.
"Hahaha!" Leo burst out laughing so suddenly that Rina nearly jumped. "That idiot—he actually couldn't hold it in anymore and went through with it? Pfft—ahahaha! What a meaningless thing to do!"
His laughter rang out like thunder, unrestrained and so hearty that he had to clutch his stomach. Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes as he struggled to breathe through the fit.
Rina stared at him, dumbfounded. This was not the reaction she had imagined.
"Why are you laughing like that—as if I obviously rejected him?" she asked, bewildered.
"Because of course you would," Leo said matter-of-factly, still snickering as he wiped his tears. "There's no way you'd accept his confession. You don't feel that way about him at all. To you, he's nothing more than a friend… maybe a brother at best."
The certainty in his tone left Rina speechless. Out of all the possible scenarios she had imagined, this one hadn't even crossed her mind. For once, she was at a complete loss for words.
Then, without warning, Leo leaned back casually, a sly grin tugging at his lips.
"Jokes aside… how dare that guy covet my woman?" he declared.
Rina's entire face turned crimson in an instant. She looked as if all the blood in her body had rushed to her cheeks, making her resemble a ripe tomato ready to burst.
"W-who is your woman, you pervert?!" she shouted, her voice breaking with flustered outrage.
"Obviously, it's you," Leo answered without hesitation, puffing his chest out with exaggerated pride. "I've already decided—you'll be my first woman!"
The playful atmosphere shifted on a dime. Rina's pink eyes narrowed, glowing with a dangerous glint. Her aura flared as if a storm had suddenly swept through. The sharp glare she shot him was enough to make a lesser man shrivel.
"Do you wish to die, Leo? First wife? So you're planning to have multiple wives?"
Instead of being intimidated, Leo only smiled more mischievously, the corners of his lips curling in that infuriatingly smug way. His gaze all but said, Oh? Did I just catch you slipping?
Rina realized her mistake a beat too late. Her entire body stiffened as the implication sank in. In a panic, she covered her face with both hands, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.
"S-so you're not denying it anymore, huh?" Leo teased, leaning in just enough to watch her squirm.
"D-Die!!" Rina snapped, her embarrassment igniting into fury as she lunged at him with her fists.
But Leo, laughing all the while, easily dodged her attacks. Just like that, another of their wild little chases began—two silhouettes darting around beneath the sun, laughter and angry shouts chasing each other through the air.
"Seriously, she's way too easy to tease," Leo thought inwardly, the corners of his mouth curling into a mischievous grin. Behind him, Rina's furious footsteps pounded against the grass, each stomp echoing her frustration as she swung her arms wildly, face red like a steaming kettle.
Leo ducked low, slipping past her grasp as if time itself slowed down for him, strands of his white hair catching the sunlight. Her pink eyes blazed, her skirt swishing sharply with every movement, yet no matter how fast she lunged, his amused dodges always stayed one step ahead—like a fox effortlessly outmaneuvering an angry rabbit.
After chasing each other around until their lungs ached and their laughter echoed like bells across the estate, the two finally slowed down. Their playful skirmish drew to an end, and with tired but satisfied steps, they wandered toward one of the many grand gardens within the Roschild clan's domain.
The moment they entered, it felt as though they had stepped into another world. The garden was a dazzling paradise, meticulously crafted yet brimming with natural beauty. Cobblestone paths curved elegantly through vibrant beds of flowers—roses, violets, lilies, and rare blossoms that shimmered faintly in the sunlight as though dusted with magic. A soft breeze swept through, carrying a sweet fragrance that lingered in the air, almost intoxicating.
Water fountains stood like jewels amidst the greenery, their crystalline streams cascading with a music of their own. Birds perched on the branches of carefully pruned trees, chirping as if singing a welcome song. Every hedge, trimmed into artistic shapes of phoenixes and flames, reflected the fiery crest of the Roschild lineage, giving the place a majestic air.
But what made it feel truly alive were the little details—the way golden rays of sunlight broke through the canopy and scattered into motes of dancing light, almost like tiny fairies blessing the two children. Even though it was still day, faint sparkles floated in the air, resembling fireflies, as if the garden itself wanted to play along with Leo and Rina.
Side by side, they walked deeper into the heart of the garden, the playful echoes of their chase replaced by a gentle stillness.