Sniffling, Mae let out a strained laughter.
"You know," She raised her head, pushing back the hair from her face with her right hand while using the left to wipe the tears off her face. "I actually thought I had a friend I could actually trust."
Leo looked with anguish, knowing fully well where this conversation was headed.
"But it turns out, it was all a–" Her words were muffled by Leo's hand over her mouth.
"Please don't continue." He held her stare, "It was never a lie–our friendship wasn't and wouldn't be."
Mae froze on his words, looking into his eyes, she couldn't remember when she had noticed how green they looked.
With no other option, a mischievous glint in her eyes, she brought out her tongue licking his palm.
"What was that for?!" Leo backed away in disgust and surprise, letting go of her.
"You deserve it!" Mae laughed it out.
"Please don't make things more difficult for yourself." Leo blurted out, looking down at his feet. He couldn't bear to face her squarely yet.
"Make what difficult?" She played dumb to his question, tucking back a stray hair off her face.
Internally facepalming, Leo let out a low curse word as he thought of a way to explain in simple terms.
"Okay here goes. I witnessed your reaction after you had left the throne room, you have every right to be angry but please do not make any irrational decision–for both you, your parents and I's sake." He related everything in one go.
The corner of her lips raised, Mae swallowed a laughter, "You really think I could make an irrational decision?"
Leo was caught off guard with the question posed to him, he couldn't help but look up instinctively. "Nooo... that's not what I meant." He defended.
"R...ight!" Mae shook her head, getting off her bed, she walked towards her closet, searching for something comfortable to wear once he left.
"You have to believe me." Leo panicked while closely following her, taking her action as someone who was crossed with him.
Mae shook her head once more, her face obscured by the closet door, "Could you give me some breathing space? Or would you like to sneak a peek at my underwear collection?"
Leo's face suddenly turned beet red in embarrassment, quickly taking a few feets backwards. "I do apologize, it wasn't my intention."
"Silly Leo, I've heard your plight and it's all forgotten and I do believe you didn't take our friendship for granted. So don't get yourself worked up too much, okay?" Mae gave an eye shut smile.
Like a load lifted off his shoulder, Leo let out a sigh or relief, now that he had fully explained what was at stake then and now.
"Thankyou." He said in a whisper, bowing in respect and appreciation. "His and Her Majesty raised a fine young maiden, whatever decision you take, I'd be in full support."
"Noted, can you please leave my chambers?" She shooed him away impatiently, her hands searching the clothes hung so intently.
"Uh! As you wish?" Leo responded, a little confused and disappointed with her reply.
Turning to leave, he hung his head low in despair, walking towards the door.
"Wait–" Mae called out, watching him halt his movements, neither walking away or turning towards her.
Feeling mischievous, she came up with a plan to mess with him, "Would you like to see me undress in front of you instead? Why not even now?" A devilish grin crept onto her lips before she bit her bottom lip expecting an answer from him.
Taking a black folded robe from her closet, she threw it on the ground, hoping it would create the desired disrobing effect she wanted it to be.
'Take a look, take a look. No you definitely can't!' Leo's body stiffened and this didn't go unnoticed by Mae who internally laughed at his inner struggle.
'Yes' was his initial thought to her question, it took all willpower not to turn towards her with his answer, but after a brief moment of rethinking, he dared not reply so foolishly.
'Is she trying to play tricks on me? Yes that must be it or else why would she suddenly say something preposterous?' He shook his head several times, trying to convince himself it was all a joke to get his reaction. But he was determined not to let that get to him.
"Soooo..." Mae played with her hair, twirling it around her index finger, a seductive look in her eyes, she was dying for him to look back and be faced with the reality she was actually fully dressed and not what he had thought.
Without a word, he walked towards the door slowly without looking back, shutting the door behind with much force, the windows shook.
Mae immediately jumped onto her bed, taking a pillow, she poured out her withheld laughter into it. Hitting her legs onto the bed, feeling ecstatic.
Leo on the other hand had his back leaning onto her door, his face looking upwards with a pained expression. He had tried to hide his feelings, but he couldn't help but feel disappointed she had resulted in playing naughty with him.
"It's the life of a forbidden love." He muttered to himself, his hand taking a handful of his shirt in grief.
Pushing himself off the door, he combed through his hair with his fingers, shoving his hands into his pockets, he walked away towards his quarters.
Back in her Chambers, Mae scurried towards the door, pulling it open swiftly, she poked her head out expecting to see Leo but her expression fell upon nothing but an empty hallway.
"So... He did leave." She gave a bitter sigh. "I didn't mean to scare him that way." She explained to no one in particular.
Closing the door after getting back in, she looked around her room, she needed someone she could vent out her worries to, with only one thought coming to mind at that moment.
"It's time to do a rendezvous!" She snickered, finally pulling out a dress from her closet.