"Y-your Highness..." Melina dropped the pruning knife and bowed to the king as he approached.
She had just woken up, still trying to understand why the mind-link between her and Kilgharrah disappeared.
Her mind was filled with so much thinking, starting from events that happened last night.
What if she was caught? She knew dark magic was a serious issue in Vlamunda and could lead to execution if one was caught. Yet, somehow she felt safe like she was certain no one will find her out.
"Melina..." Leon called out and the redhead was startled for a moment.
The king had just called her by her name.
"Yes, Your H-highness?" She replied with uncertainty.
Leon did not stop walking towards her. He only came to a halt when she moved back seeing him draw too close.
Her mind went back to the fateful morning before the war and chaos that ensued these two days. How she had foolishly grabbed his groin without thinking only to realize...
Her eyes frantically went to the between of Leon's trousers and her face flushed red almost immediately as she scolded herself.
She was becoming naughty.
Leon, however, didn't flinch. He observed where her eyes had gone looking and he knew what she was thinking but didn't mind it. That was the least of his problems now.
He was more bothered about how he reacted to her... everything about her.
He had been stressed since the war ended, so much frustration pulled at him but seeing her now, it brought a warmth he hadn't experienced since that day.
It was a peace he didn't understand.
Melina cleared her throat embarrassingly, seeing how the was simply staring at her, head to toe and this pulled Leon from his gaze.
He straightened and cleared his throat as well.
"Thank you, Your Highness... for fighting for our kingdom," Melina finally came up with something to reduce the awkwardness in the air.
Leon smiled subtly, "It is my duty... but I didn't do it alone." He added.
"I had all of you support me," His smile widened as he finished his statement and Melina lifted her head, her surprise shifting to a soft curiosity.
She didn't respond immediately, sensing something unspoken in his gaze. His eyes, usually so guarded, were open, and she could see a hint of vulnerability there—a rarity for a man who bore the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders.
"I see..." Melina raised a brow, not knowing how to reply.
Leon took in the stray petal clinging to a loose strand of her hair and without warning, he moved closer to her, so close that his breath fell on her face and Melina was caught off guard, she didn't have time to react.
"You have a-" He reached out, his finger brushing her temple.
He could smell her jasmine scent that always sent something tingling inside him. It was so strong, it messed up his senses.
Melina stood still, her breath catching as she felt the light touch of his hand near her face. She could feel her cheeks warm, acutely aware of his proximity.
But when he tried to lift the petal from her hair, it didn't come free. It was more entangled than he'd realized, and as his fingers gently tugged, her head tilted instinctively toward him, her breath hitching at the sensation.
"Oh—sorry," Leon murmured, a bit flustered but refusing to pull away. It was her scent.
His eyes met hers, and for a moment, they were mere inches apart. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the quiet space between them.
Melina's heart was pounding. She could feel the faintest warmth of his breath, the rare softness in his expression, the unspoken tension crackling in the air between them. Her pulse quickened as their gazes held, the unguarded intensity in his eyes drawing her in.
"There… almost got it," he whispered, his voice rougher than he intended. His fingers lingered a moment longer than they should have, his touch light against her skin.
She could hardly breathe, her senses entirely overtaken by their closeness and his presence wrapping around her in a way that felt as inevitable as it was impossible.
At last, the petal came free, and he held it up between them, almost reluctantly breaking their gaze. Melina let out a shaky laugh, her cheeks flushed.
"T-thank you, Your Highness," she said, avoiding his gaze as her cheeks stained pink.
"Hmm. Anytime," he said and paused, looking around in case of prying eyes.
Melina waited for him to move back but he didn't. Curious, she suddenly turned to look at him, surprised.
What else did he notice this time?
"I believe you would be coming tonight?" He asked when she locked eyes with him and for a moment, Melina squinted her eyes in confusion before realizing what it meant.
She was supposed to serve him from now on. That had been what Ms Carlos instructed her to do.
"Y-y-yes. Yes, Your Highness," she nodded repeatedly, trying to let him know she understood his words.
"Good," Leon said, smiling and Melina found his behaviour unsettling.
Why was he so cheerful with her suddenly? Perhaps he had ulterior motives?
She tried to observe his facial expression with hopes of seeing anything off but to her dismay, his smile appeared genuine.
Not that the King had ever done anything belittling to her but when it came to the elites, she was never sure of anything especially not when it was a king who held exclusive power.
Leon finally moved back, giving Melina the breathing space she needed as she exhaled in relief.
"I would be waiting then..." Leon's expression lit as he abruptly walked away, confusing the redhead who was left to her thoughts.
She looked at the garden when Leon's figure was finally out of sight as she realized she had barely pruned her required region.
It would be disastrous if she was met like this by Ms Carlos.
She had been doing her very best to stay out of trouble lately and so far, she was a bit successful. She would prefer to continue that way, she told herself and picked up the pruning knife again before hastily finishing with the garden and her other chores.
It was now afternoon as the sun shone, heating the entire palace up after the battle that had happened.
Leon had gone to foresee the ruins that was done in district 12 while also performing the formal burial rites for the fallen soldiers as well as compensating their families.
A tired Melina who had worked hours in the sun and was now red with sunburns decided to take a break as she entered the servant's quarters, sitting on the sundeck.
She used this opportunity to try mind-linking with the dragoness again but to no avail.
She bit her lip in frustration. The servants were everywhere in the palace. There was no way she could sneak into the event hall unless she cloaked herself and such magic would be dangerous with people like the priest and King Albert who were lurking in the shadows with an ability to sense dark magic.
She was staying out of trouble like she claimed.
She slanted her back on the wall, staring at the sky when suddenly, a shiver ran down her spine and she looked around like someone was watching her.
The figure, on seeing her alert hid in the shadows and Melina suddenly stood up to follow the person.
The person passed the corridors as quickly as possible and before Melina could get to them, someone else caught her attention.
Her mouth slightly parted in shock as he stood on a podium with another guard wearing a light armour, both of them swinging at each other until he managed to counter the attack and strike his opponent, slashing him on the chest and he fell to the ground.
The other guards in the background cheered and Melina's lips tugged up at the sight.
It was Tynan. Since the last few days were hectic, she had not sighted him in person and seeing him still on his training to become a knight was something she found impressive.
However, Tynan quickly sensed a presence and turned in her direction with narrowed eyes amidst the cheers but he saw no one there.
She hid behind a wall, not wanting them to see again as her earlier feelings for him were slowly dessipitating, it was only a matter of time before things changed and she could feel it.
She knew it.