"Leo?!" She hissed, careful not to be too loud so as to draw the attention of the guards at her door.
"You look surprised. Were you expecting not to get caught?" He whispered, amused at her expression.
"What are you..." She shook her head then corrected herself. "Why are you here?"
Leo looked down at her for a while, his thoughts drifted back to what he had found in the woods.
He was caught in a dilemma on if he should let her know now or later on.
"Princess Mae–" He began in a trance like behavior.
"Leo?!" She hissed covering his mouth before he could give away their location, hitting him on the shoulder.
"Oof!" He groan in pain, jolting back to reality.
"Who's there? State your place!" A deep voice interrupted them, it was one of the guards stationed at her door, who had heard him groan earlier.
Leo immediately looked at a panic stricken Mae with worry, he couldn't allow the guards to know she had snuck out–no he had to protect her at all cost.
Closing her eyes, she kept chanting quietly, "I'm doomed, in all my years I haven't been both embarrassed and caught sneaking out."
"Tch-" Leo chuckled at her silly tactics, ruffling her hair, he decided to take a bold step and come out of hiding, if he delayed further, they are bound to be found out.
With an air of confidence, he made sure to steady his heartbeat and breathing.
"Chief guard Leo!" The guard halted in his steps surprised, bowing to his superior; the other following suit where he stood.
"Barth." He nodded in acknowledgement.
"I hope you wouldn't mind me asking you a question, Sir?" Barth timidly responded, unsure if what he was going to ask would sit well.
"Sure." Leo responded, internally dreading the question already. "Ask away."
"Why did you come out from behind that pillar, Sir?" Barth looked over Leo's shoulder just to confirm if he was alone.
"That pillar?" He pointed behind him, laughing it off.
"Yes that pillar, Sir." Barth deadpanned.
"Well you know I was just relieving myself." He laughed once more, hoping it would reduce the embarrassment he would feel later on. He internally scolded himself for blurting out such a sick joke.
The two guards didn't at first understand what he had meant to say, a frown forming on their foreheads.
The other guard at the door decided to test his luck by asking, "Sir, you don't mean what I think you mean." He grimaced.
Leo burned a deep red in embarrassment, this was definitely not how he wanted to go about his day. Left with no choice, he slowly nodded his head to the guards' speculation.
Both guards gasped in shock, "Was that why we had heard a groan earlier?" Barth recalled, a devilish grin on his lips.
Inside, Leo boiled in untold rage at having to endure this embarrassment, he was clearly misunderstood but this was the only way to stop them without raising any suspicions on himself also.
"I would take over from you two. You can go take a break for a while and be back." Leo suggested.
"Oh, thank you Sir." The other guard enthusiastically obliged.
"Wait, Vin." Barth ordered, looking at his superior with those eyes Leo had wanted to avoid by playing dumb.
"Awww!" Vin whined, he had hoped he could take a quick break. "She hasn't made a single sound since we were assigned here, obviously we could make use of this and take a quick drink, don't you think so Sir?"
"Ah yes!" Leo nodded his head with a smile, trying his best not to lock gaze with Barth who was already starting to become suspicious of him.
"Sir, are you trying to send us away for another reason?" Barth voiced out his suspicion. He looked over his shoulder once again and this time his suspicion was confirmed, he saw the hem of a gown behind the boulder, there was definitely a female there and his superior was trying to hide it at all cost.
"A female? What female?" He gave a nervous laughter.
"Sir, perhaps you were relieving yourself with a female–a Court Lady?" Barth whispered noticing how intricate the design on the hem was, this was definitely not a maiden or servant girl. A wide grin on his face, his brows wiggling in understanding.
'Oh shoot! Did he see the Princess?' He turned his head towards the boulder, there it was Mae's gown a bit in view. He internally facepalmed at how cruel his condition was becoming.
"A Court Lady?!" Vin rushed to have a look but was stopped by Barth who took it upon himself to protect his superior's dignity.
"Let's get going, you were talking about a drink earlier, let's go have that." Barth dragged a reluctant Vin.
Immediately they were out of sight, his shoulders drooped in self despair. "Princess Mae, you may come out now."
He dragged his feet, walking away as if he didn't own his body anymore. His thought on one thing–How would he be able to face those guards the next day?
"Leo?" Mae called worriedly as he walked away without a set direction in mind.
'My reputation is over. A Court Lady? I'm relieving myself with a Court Lady?!' He sniffled, holding back tears. Never in his life had he imagined such a record would be engraved in his subordinates.
"Leo!" Mae called out louder, this seemed to work as he staggered to a stop.
Slowly he turned around in her direction, "Yes, Your Highness?" He let out a great sigh, his eyes void of the vibrance it once had.
Gesturing towards him to come closer, Leo looked behind him to confirm if this was actually meant for him.
"Yes you silly!" She laughed, folding her hands waiting for him to come closer as she had instructed.
Reluctantly, he walked towards her and stopped a few between them.
"Thankyou." Was all she could say after she had a clear picture of his face.