Recently, I feel that I have had less opportunities to see Leo-sama. Our âOthello Meetingsâ, which we had every night until a while ago, have become scarce. Instead, a small bouquet of flowers would be delivered on the days when he doesnât come.
Suddenly losing something that had become a habit affected me a lot.
One day, Elma-sama, one of the concubines that I became friends with since the tea party, came to drink tea in my room.
âShane-sama, you havenât been looking well lately.â
âIâm fine, Iâm just a little busy with work. Thank you for worrying.â
Well, Elma-sama, who was blushing a little, looked really lovely when she was sipping her tea. Â Â She must have had some good reason for becoming a concubine at such a young age. Even so, she doesnât show her dark side at all. (?)
âBy the way, Iâve heard some bad rumours in the inner palace but donât worry about themâ
âIsnât that a bad thing? I canât go wrong with knowing.â (??)
âOh, is that so? Then, donât worry about it.â (???)
(????) Although Elma-sama interrupted herself impatiently, I was rather interested in continuing the topic.
âPlease tell me without putting on airs. Elias, do you know what the rumors are?â
I quietly asked Elias, who was holding back, but he hesitantly answered with ânoâ, âthat isâŠâ and other things like that.
âIf you know, hurry and answer me.â
âUm, that, itâs just a rumor, so please do not mind it⊠His Majesty the Emperor seems to have gone back and forth to the inner palace lately, and there are rumors that he had finally gotten bored with the Empressâ
Oh, that must have been difficult to say to me.
âSo there are such rumors? I donât really mind, so itâs okayâ
In order to restore the atmosphere that had sunk a bit, Elias offered the sweets she (Elma-sama) had prepared.
After eating it, Elma-sama returned to her room, but on the way homeâŠ
âI am your friend, so if there is something going on, you can talk to meâ She insisted while grasping my hand.
At the tea party, I replied that I didnât mind it, but honestly I had feelings that I couldnât understand. When I think about Leo-samaâs smile being directed at other people, such things makes my feelings sink further. As I thought, real women were better. With my thoughts so far, I was stunned by my contradicting feelings. (^)
So far, I acted cool so that Leo-sama wouldnât like me, but now I thought that I would like that he liked me more than the concubines. That evening, I thought so much about it that I couldnât sleep.
The next morning, like usual, flowers were delivered. It was to inform me that we wouldnât be meeting up this evening. When I saw that bouquet of flowers, I couldnât help but think of his comfortable low voice whispering sweet words to a woman. Â I was angry with myself.
Up until now, I had displayed the flowers by the window, but I had them arranged so they wouldnât stand out. When I looked at the flowers I received, bad thoughts would slip into my mind. It was the first time I had ever held been angry due to the flowers I loved so much.
Nevertheless, today I had to discuss some work with Leo-sama, so I couldnât help but feel depressed. I had to resolve myself to go into Leo-samaâs office for work even if I didnât feel like facing him.
As usual, I knocked on the door and entered the room, and there Leo-sama was, leaned back on his chair, looking a bit worn-out. Seeing that figure, I remembered how I wanted to help this person with work. And before I knew it, I realized how my feelings had changed.
With this realization, it gave me answers to the series of emotions that had me overwhelmed since yesterday. Ah, I like this person. That thought gradually calmed me down.
âOh, Shane, whatâs wrong?â
Leo-sama asked me, and I felt my face become red when our eyes met. Without a single word, I left the room out of embarrassment.
Even though I didnât run, my heart was beating violently. Â I sat down immediately while my hand held the left side of my chest.
I was feeling self-conscious about it, and the depressed feeling disappeared, but I didnât know what to do. (^^)