4th Prince Henri started walking, so Prince Theo and I didn't have a choice but to follow him, "You don't have to say it twice, Laurana. Where there is food, there is Henri." We all chuckled at him and as I looked back, I saw the other princes walking after us.
"I've missed you, Laurie," Prince Theo leaned and whispered to me.
'Laurie.. laurie.. laurie..' I suddenly see flashes of images, memories rather of Theo calling me Laurie. It made me closed my eyes and held my aching head. One specific less distinct memory was when Theo was holding my hand and said, 'I ... Laurie.'
"Laurana? Laurana?" I opened my eyes and saw the concerned looks on their faces. Prince Theo asked me, "Are you not feeling well?"
"Yes-- I mean no, I'm fine. It's nothing, nothing to worry about." Then, I dragged them to start walking again. While we were walking, I leaned and whispered to Prince Theo, "I've missed you, too.. Theodore."
He whispered back at me, "That's not my-- wait, did you just call me..?" I nodded at him while he looked surprised with a hint of glee.
...
We simply drank white tea, ate sandwiches and traditional sweet snacks such as-- dried persimmons, rice cakes and fresh fruits. The princes shared how hard their training was and that it was the first time they successfully fought against thirty martial artists without anyone getting caught. They kept saying that I was their lucky charm and 4th Prince Henri added, "I think your presence is our reward."
"I still can't believe that you all agreed to do that training. I mean-- why? You didn't have to," I actually had an idea but I didn't want to jump into conclusions.
Prince Leopold who was sitting behind me patted me on the head-- well, yes, he chose to move his chair and sat behind me; even though we were at a circular table, he chose to sit there because the seats beside me were taken by 4th Prince Henri and Prince Theo. "You really don't know why?" I shrugged. "First reason, Emperor's order. Second reason, you."
"Me?" I pointed to myself with an expression that said 'really?'.
Prince Jihan spoke with his serious but beautiful voice, "To protect you." I was left speechless so I genuinely smiled showing how touched I was because of them.
A few minutes before we leave the garden, Prince Theo excused himself first. I was a bit saddened, was it because I missed him too much? I thought to myself, 'Is that possible?'
After I reached my chamber, I changed into my usual all-white night clothes and lay in bed; despite the fact that I'd eat dinner with my parents in the evening and it was only early in the afternoon. My eyes were about to shut tight when I heard a noise from my balcony. I brushed it off, thinking it was probably nothing. Then, another sound could be heard like a single quick tap on my balcony's door.
In an instant, I climbed down my bed and ran towards the balcony but stopped by the door to calm myself. While doing so, I realized what I was wearing, I ran and grabbed my white-as-snow winter coat that covered my entire body reaching the ground. Before I went out to the balcony, I waited for my breathing to stabilized. Still, to be sure, I brought my wooden sword.
Carefully closing in to the railings of my balcony with my wooden sword pointed forward and away from me, I peeked downstairs and saw him. So, I dropped my wooden rope ladder attached to the railings for him to climb up. I held back on asking him until he made it to the balcony, "Theo, what are you doing here?"
"Hi, Laurie," he has a serious expression but d*mn, he was still so handsome.
"Theodore?"
There was a slight change in his eyes like they glimmered, "How-- do you finally remember me?"
"Earlier, when you called me 'Laurie', I saw flashes of some memories of you calling me that. Then, I suddenly remember that I used to tease you by calling you 'Theodore' and continued doing so. Is that your real name..?"
It was so quick, he stepped forward and embraced me with one of his hands placed at the back of my head and the other at my back, "Please keep remembering me.."
I didn't know why but I hugged him back. I thought I stopped breathing, then my heart started beating so fast. We didn't let go for awhile and when we did, it was awkward but not in a negative way. I swiftly leaned on the railings and faced the forest ahead, "So.. Theodore, is that your real name?"
"No, I dislike that name; but I got used to it, of you calling me that," he also leaned on the railings but he was facing me. Without warning, he touched my forehead, "Do you have a fever?"
I removed his hand and hid the side of my face using my hair, "Aish, no. By the way, why did you excuse yourself ahead of time, earlier?"
"I went straight here so no one would be able to follow me and I ordered my male servant to go find the head eunuch," he tucked my hair into my ear while still not letting me out of his sight. "Why aren't you looking at me?"
I glimpsed at him, "That's not true."
"See, you're not looking at me again," he teased me for looking away after that single glance.
I pushed him playfully but with a lot of force, "Now, go back to the guest wing and get some rest."
"Yes, yes, I'll go. See you soon," he chuckled while he pretend that he was hurt. But, before he climbed down, he looked back at me.
"Whaaat? Byeee, Theodore," I couldn't help but let out a laugh at his antics.
"Bye, Laurie," I couldn't believe he had the audacity to winked at me, this prince.