"Just spill it. I don't have all the time you know." Mae scoffed, pouting.
"I miss this." Leo felt a nostalgic wave at her behavior.
"Miss what?" Her curiosity sparked up at his words.
Leo pretended he had not heard her question but instead chose to leave abruptly.
"Where do you think you are going leaving me hanging like that?" She grabbed a hold of his shirt before he could get out of her grasp.
Leo's heart thumped at her action, his eyes clouded in sadness. These were things they had done normally before but he couldn't quite grasp why they now hurt so much. His hand shot to his chest, grabbing a handful of his cloth, he tried to steady his heartbeat.
Exhaling, he turned around, his action pulling her towards him as her grip was still firmly onto his shirt.
"Woah!" Mae staggered forward, expecting to meet the cold floor any second from when she inadvertently moved from her spot.
"Careful." Leo's hand had secured her in place before she could slip, by holding her waist.
For a brief moment, time seemed to slow down once again like the last time he had fallen on her, this time her safety depended on him.
"Are you alright?" Leo finally broke the eerie silence.
Gulping down her spit, she nodded her head. The ability of speech was lost at that brief moment.
Clearing his throat, he carefully let go of Mae once he was sure she had gotten her footing. "I apologize for causing that."
Before he could leave again, he felt a pull on his collar lowering him down. Now he was merely inches away from her face.
His face burned up at the close proximity, he tried to pull away but his body had a mind of its own.
"What are you doing, Your Highness?" He managed to say amidst his racing heartbeat and heated face.
Mae's eyes searched his, she had hoped to get an answer by staring at him right in the eyes, she knew he was hiding something and had tried to avoid interacting with her, coupled with the fact he had been more impulsive lately.
"Stay still." She held his face in place to stop him from struggling. "I'm not done with my observation yet. So I order you to stay still."
'How petty of you Mae.' Leo pouted at the order but obliged anyways, finally trying to stay still, yet his eyes darted elsewhere.
"Stop being so restless." She tapped his face, "Why do you feel nervous?" She asked oblivious to his dilemma.
"Princess Mae, please let me go." He begged, suddenly feeling anxious any guard could pass by sooner or later. Although he felt selfish at having to cherish this moment with no care who might see them, he wouldn't want the Princess caught in that situation.
"Why?" She blinked innocently, oblivious to the bigger picture. "Is this some excuse to escape once again?"
Leo internally facepalmed at her insistence, he needed to think of a way to speed up her successfully releasing him without going against her order in the long run.
"Princess." He spoke boldly as he normally did.
"Yes?" She replied in a bubbly personality, blinking repeatedly intentionally.
"Could you please let go of my collar? People could misunderstand our situation." Leo said with a forced smile, his eyes trailing to her hands which were still on his collar.
Finally understanding what he had implied, Mae let go of his collar as if it were a burning coal in hand earlier.
Even though it was for the best, Leo couldn't help but feel a tug at his heart the moment she let go of his collar in such a manner.
"Right." He commented, adjusting his clothing. "Since you are so curious, I'd give you the satisfaction of an answer."
"Really?" Her eyes shone with enthusiasm, the once awkward moment gone.
"Promise me you wouldn't take my words the wrong way." He looked hopefully into her eyes.
"Pfft! Of course not." She raised her right hand, mimicking taking an oath.
"In that case," he looked down the hallway and back, "let me into your Chambers."
"Again?!" She grimaced, staring him down and back up like he was a whole different person.
"You promised." Leo stressed, feeling a little disappointed she would show signs of reluctance.
Mae looked down with guilt, she knew whatever he wanted to say could be uncomfortable, but she couldn't shake the feeling things had changed unlike last time.
"I can't believe I get to be assigned to her Chambers!" Squealed a guard to another, their footsteps getting closer by the second.
"Would you shut it! That's the Princess you are talking about. Don't get any silly ideas except you have a death wish, do you get that?!" The other scolded with a hit to his head.
Due to the urgency of the situation, Mae pulled him in just in time before the guards finally reached her door.
"Did the door just close?" The guard observed.
"No, it just opened." The other replied sarcastically with the roll of his eyes.
Inside, Leo and Mae had their ears to the door, listening in on the two guards banter. Stifling a laughter, Mae covered her mouth with her hands before moving away to let off all pent up laughter into her pillow.
These were some of the moments she had missed fooling around with Leo.
Leo watched with unswayed attention, allowing her to calm her nerves before he spoke.
"Princess, as promised I would tell you what I meant earlier. And I hope you fulfill your part of the bargain." He whispered.
"As I said earlier, I promise and this time I mean it." She whispered in a like manner with a serious demeanor.
"Sit." She tapped the edge of her bed. "There's no way you are telling me what I want to hear with you standing there like a tree." She joked.
"I shouldn't dare." He countered, taking a chair instead. "I'd do so here, thanks."