Vincent liked to goof around when something was happening in their office.
He switched on the television by the cozy area of their conference room, and didn't intend to interrupt their discussion. Vincent only specializes in one field: weaponry and fighting.
He knew how to fight, of course. But he's the one who invented most of the things the Cassanos has.
He picked up one of the lollipops by the kitchen counter, took a seat down on the couch, and turned on the volume.
The daily news Vincent adored so much at mornings.
As he popped the lollipop in his mouth, he swirled his tongue right at it. Too sweet to even ignore, and Vincent liked the anchor's face.
He was about to compliment and critic her face, when the news suddenly flashed a Silver Notice.
Leo's voice was distant, but someone walked past behind the couch. A glass shattered, making Vincent jump out from his place, startled by what's happening.
He held his chest, turning to Randall, who looked horrified by the news. Vincent's lips turned white. The shards shattered on the floor, but Randall didn't care.
What's with the Telamur news reaching their land?
Leo, Jon Cho, and Etienne stopped discussing the runaways' locations right at the system when a noise disrupted them.
The leader unbuttoned his coat, went out of the conference table, and saw the two of them. Vincent was at the side of the television, and Randall… stared horribly at the news.
Leo glimpsed at the news, seeing Zella's face in it.
"That's your… that's Zella Albert, sir," Etienne pointed out. Jon Cho dropped his jaw.
"A silver notice notified to all fugitives has been discussed with President Tina Yunis. They released these notices to provide information about an Idris' citizen and the location they had. As for the Calvorite who have no Tempus Moneda, it is safe to say they don't have any recorded fugitives after 6 months of investigation," a muffled voice of a field reporter explained.
Vincent, who was just recovering from shock, turned to the news, and read the headline.
"How can we…"
"Stop, Randall." Leo had to cut him off. Randall's mouth has the power to ruin everyone's plans. He did, and his eyes landed on the floor.
Leo sighed, the silence have grown. The next seconds of the news ended with a flourish. A commercial of fruity juice flashed on.
"How could the Telamur news reached our land? How can it be?"
"T-this is the first time it happened, Leo," Vincent pointed out. Etienne stayed silent, racking his brain of the runaways' information, and agreed.
Jon Cho spoke up, "It's hard to escape this kind of thing. They placed us necessary to kill those fugitives as we should be with rebels. We're not… going to just let them off to the land, Leo."
His baritone voice emphasized the cruelest word Leo had ever used in his entire life. Jon Cho walked back down to Randall, asking their second-in-command if he's alright.
Etienne swallowed, pertaining, "Looking at the geo-locations of the fugitives and the information we got through the permitted system, they all came from Telamur. We didn't have the instructions to kill them, right?"
"We don't have, yes, Etienne," Leo answered.
"What's the point of not having an order when Jeremy commanded us to pile those fugitives in one place, and then what? They're not letting them go, I suppose," Jon Cho retorted.
Both of them have main points to consider, but the Cassanos were dealing with a lot of bewilderment lately… since the moment Zella Albert found the way to Calvorite.
"What about Zella Albert? Are we handing her over?" Randall turned to Leo. His eyes were emotionless.
Leo slipped in his hands inside his slack's pockets. Vincent, Jon Cho, and Etienne took turns glancing at the two of them.
"If we're going to hand Zella over, we'll be dead, Randall, you know that."
"She's the top-priority, Leo! If we didn't do that, what will happen to us? An inspection team might come in and help us to do that, then what? The mansion is not a safe place for her anymore," Randall retaliated.
Leo wanted to keep his mouth silent, but Randall was provoking him in every second that had passed.
Randall chuckled. "Leo, we need to think of a way to escape this thing. We're not dealing with rebels anymore, we're dealing with fugitives, and there comes your fake wife on the list. We are trying so hard to avoid the gun aiming in our heads, but it's getting closer. A few moments will pass, and we'll get killed."
Leo had never been that desperate at this time.
Zella Albert was innocent, and she doesn't know anything. Leo had to come up with a plan to hide her, but the walls were breaking.
Fate and coincidences kept on coming. The will to survive had never been this harder.
"Just so you know, Leo, we need to… think. We need to come up with a plan for her. I'm not going to question your plans, because… after all, I'm the one who brought her home. I'm the one who placed us in a tight situation like this," Randall concluded.
He left the tiny pieces of glass as he went to the door. His footsteps resonated, but no one moved. The remaining Cassanos stayed there, not moving.
"Let's call it a day. Go back to your offices."
…
"Randall." He walked past ahead, not even reconciling with Leo. His colleague stopped, turning halfway. Both of them stared into each other.
Randall raised his eyebrows, wondering what it was.
"I want you to command everyone to cut off any cable connection inside this mansion except the one on the conference room. We can't afford Zella Albert looking into the news, it would shock her," Leo commanded.
Randall's hopes fluctuated once again. This man had a knack to hide Zella inside their mansion even if it meant a bullet in their head.
"Leo, are you really going to risk the Cassanos inside the mansion? I mean…"
"Just do what I say. We fabricated her already. I don't want to just sit down on the bed and say the truth to her face. Will you want to do that? I bet you can't, Randall," Leo reckoned.
His jaw clenched, and Randall's fists balled. Leo pursed his lips, hissing, and wondering what they should do.
"Leo, I know you wanted to protect her against the death penalty verdict for her. It will not go away just by hiding her…"
"She's innocent, Randall."
"How could you know she is?"
It's the gut feeling. Leo just have to wonder why… a voice inside his head kept on telling he needed to lay low, and protect her.
Randall observed how his face creased, like a memory pass through his mind, reflecting on his own self.
Leo sighed, whispering, "I just know, Randall. Look at her verdict in the Telamur. She didn't even have evidences she was the one who killed her family. That sounded suspicious, right?"
"I know that, Leo. I've read everything about her. She's a commoner, and she has a family of rebels," Randall remarked.
"That's what made me want to hide her, Randall. I mean, look at her. She's too innocent to even drag inside the prison and deal with the death penalty." He sounded anxious.
Randall squint his eyes. Why did he have to be that worried and emphasize he wanted to protect her? Does that mean Leo is…
"Are you starting to like her?" Randall emphasized.
Leo widened her eyes with that question. "No! Why would I?!"
"Why are you being so defensive when I'm just asking?" Randall couldn't help but to tease him.
The leader of Cassanos who refused to talk about love has started to… well… looked up to someone and like them to the point he's going to get killed just by protecting her.
Randall smirked.
"I'm not! Why are you…" Leo pinched the bridge of his nose. Randall nodded continuously. Leo glared, wagged his hands, dismissing him.
Randall scoffed, knowing his moves were rather impressive. Leo never fell in love, now's the right time to do that.
"Go on! Go back to your office if you don't have anything right to say," Leo muttered.
...
Zella went inside a greenhouse full of blooming flowers. The maids toured her around the garden, but this is her favorite spot.
She came back, holding a straw hat in hand, and placed it on the top of her head.
The maid, name's Lavender, walked around, checking if the flowers are already in full bloom.
"Are you the one taking care of the garden, Ms. Lavender?" Zella asked in a skeptical tone.
Lavender turned to her, smiling, and nodded. Zella secured the straw hat's strap under her chin.
She hunkered down, admiring the dark pink roses on the line. Some of the flowers have darker petals, but some have light ones.
When Lavender taught her how to cut the stem, someone suddenly came inside the garden. Turning to the door, Leo was there.
Lavender hunched, "Mr. Luciano, your husband, is here."
Everyone said he is her husband. Zella was starting to believe in it.
"Mr. Leo Luciano, good thing you have time to visit the garden."