That night Leon forced himself to sleep.
Waking up early in the morning, Leon immediately prepared for the morning and went down to the kitchen.
A sweet and expectant smile bloomed from his cold handsome face as he smelled the familiar aroma of coffee and pancakes.
Opening the door, his eyes didn't wander around and only stared on the back of a pregnant lady who was focused on preparing breakfast.
She gained a little bit of weight, yet to Leon's eyes, she was still so skinny.
The way she was moving was quite vigorous even though she occasionally rubbed her back due to the weight of her large baby bump.
Her black silky hair was braided so neatly. The bangs around her face made her so alluring and enticing, especially when her dark midnight eyes would look straight into you.
Her serious face exudes maturity and genuineness, independence and hardwork.
'This is the woman who I am in love with…'
Leon thought in his heart with a warm yet nervous expression.
Eli noticed his presence soon enough, she smiled with her usual business smile and served him coffee, just like how she did the first time Leon spent the night in the cottage.
"Breakfast will be ready soon! Just warm up first with this." She added.
Leon touched the cup, it wasn't so hot, it wasn't luke warm. It was just right. Yet how much his heart was rejoicing, feeling that this cup was so special.
Taking a sip, he couldn't help but smile as he savored the nutty roasted flavor of the black coffee.
'How was it that the coffee tasted so sweet and nice when it was just a plain cup of coffee?'
A tingling sensation welled in his heart as the sip of freshly brewed coffee ran down his throat. Unconsciously, he gave a slight smile while obsessively looking at the cup with gladness.
"It seems that you've had a good dream." Eli said in a teasing tone while she rested her chin on her arm at the long table.
At first, Leon panicked because of how sudden Eli caught his attention. But he then quickly recovered his composure. With his signature deadpan face, he said straightforwardly,
"Indeed, I've had a nice dream. I want it to come true as soon as possible."
Eli looked at Leon with interest. For a cold and expressionless prince like him, he had things he desired to get so hastily?
"Curious?" Leon asked as he met Eli's inquiring gaze.
An ignorant and curious glow appeared on Eli's face, she nodded energetically with interest.
"It's just a simple dream… You, Me and Little Han, happily living in this cottage of ours." Leon said, hiding his nervousness.
He closed his eyes as he tried his best to nonchalantly sip his cup of coffee.
"Oh.. Well it's quite an idealistic dream." Eli commented, nodding her head with her business woman expression.
Leon froze, a tinge of disappointment appeared in his crystal blue eyes. However, he tried to retaliate and replied,
"Well it would be really nice. Little Han would grow up with both of his parents around."
"I agree to some extent." Eli acknowledged Leon's point yet she continued with a serious expression,
"But of course, it would only work that way if we are husband and wife. For now we are just co-parents."
"When will that happen?" Leon asked calmly.
Eli replied with an unperturbed manner while she was busy arranging the cutlery on the long table,
"The matters of marriage are complicated."
"Then let's simplify..."
Leon, who was warmly helping her arrange the table stared at Eli with his piercing blue eyes,
"I pursue your heart. The moment I catch it, give me your hand in marriage."
Eli froze. She looked at Leon with a shocked expression.
However, Leon just concentrated doing his part on finishing the arrangement of the long table.
Eli tried to digest what Leon had just said. From her ears, it doesn't sound like a confession. So she brushed it off as Leon's attempt to straighten things out for Little Han.
"You can't just pursue me with that intention." She finally replied.
"Give me a chance. I'll show you what my intention truly is." He looked at her with a determined and sincere expression.
Leon did not explain any further. He knew what's on Eli's mind. From the moment he knew her, he had quite understood how she thinks.
She was a realistic person, the only thing that could convince her were results.
Eli, seeing the look of determination in Leon's eyes felt helpless. Too much rejection would lead to a more complicated relationship, especially during the time they raise Little Han, she thought.
'Might as well give him a chance. Of course, it's not as if I am that easy to pursue.'
A woman who lived two lifetimes, saw the ugly side of marriage and grew up in a society where love is rare and marriage is vulnerable, wouldn't find it easy to enter into such a relationship.
"Then, do your best." She replied, nonchalantly.
Hearing her reply, Leon smiled with satisfaction.
Soon, the rest entered for breakfast and proceeded to go on with their assigned tasks.
After a while, Azayn visited the cottage, catched up with Kayden tearfully, and proceeded to discuss the matters of pregnancy with Eli.
Leon on the other hand, went to Olivier's side and helped him, Baobao and Wisey train their strength.
The trio felt happy and honored as Leon volunteered to help them. Leon mentioned that he only has today and tomorrow morning to help. He challenged them to learn his tips rapidly.
True enough, Olivier, Baobao and Wisey were spent with the rigorous training they had with Leon.
The training was simple, he just let himself open and the three should attack him until one of them lands a clean hit. He faced the trio using only his physical strength.
While they were having a break, they noticed that Leon had been absent minded.
At one moment his eyes would twinkle in delight, then he would rub his hair in distress on another. He would wear his cold expressionless face while thinking deeply, then heave a helpless sigh later on.
Curious about what's troubling his master, Olivier sat up and cautiously asked Leon with a concerned expression,
"Your Highness, is something troubling you?"
Leon looked at Olivier's worried face. He suddenly remembered that Olivier was also a well sought after bachelor in the capital.
"Olivier." He called out with a deep serious voice.
"Yes! Your Highness!" Olivier replied in full attention.
Leon looked at Olivier with sharp squinted eyes which made the other shudder in nervousness while saying, "How do you manage to catch a lady's affection?"
"Ehh?" Olivier was too flabbergasted to reply.
Baobao stared at the two cluelessly.
Wisey gawked in laughter.
Leon heard Wisey laugh and stared at her blankly. As if he had thought of a good idea, the way he looked at Wisey changed, as he asked politely,
"Wisey, do you know what Eli likes?"
Wisey then looked at Leon with a knowing look and replied, "You want to pursue Eli?"
"Uhn," Leon replied without hesitation, still looking at Wisey with an expectant look.
"Ohohoho.. With Eli's culture, you will have such a hard time." Wisey said in a challenging tone.
"I'll do my best!" Leon said with determination.
Baobao and Olivier just watched the two with a stumped expression.
Ignoring the two, Wisey puffed her chest up and said in a dignified manner,
"In Eli's previous world, before a couple decide to be lovers, there was a period of courting. Your Highness Prince, in this period you must put your best foot forward!"
Leon perked his ears up, got a paper and pen from his space pouch, and diligently took notes.
"When I say best foot forward, it means that you use your strengths and outstanding qualities to be of help to the girl you pursue!"
"Strengths and Outstanding Qualities.." Leon fanatically jotted down notes.
Olivier's mind was in chaos as he saw the dignified blood prince obediently listening to a barn owl about the ways to get a lady's affection!
Should the other members of the Crimson Blade see this, they would go crazy as well!
Wisey continued, "Respect is good when you address Eli, but sometimes you have to be straight forward! Women do not like playing mind games when it comes to love!"
"Straightforward!" Leon obediently echoed.
"Women like men who take the initiative! So even if they do not say what they needed, you should know it already."
"In Eli's culture, men should be as proactive as a mind reader!" Wisey continued her lecture.
"Mind reader!" Leon just took in whatever Wisey said without hesitation.
On a peaceful spring day, in a particular cottage located at the boundaries of the Silver Dew Forest, lies a barn owl and a lovesick prince, passionately discussing how to woo a lady.
Throughout the rest of the day, Eli felt so stressed about Leon's drastic change.
Ever since their conversation in the morning, Leon had started to address her as 'wife' rather than Eli, much to her shock.
When she asked why, Leon replied with great conviction.
"Women like straightforward guys!"
While she was about to take an afternoon break in the lounge, Leon frantically filled her cushioned chair with fluffy pillows, so much that Eli felt they should throw the cushioned chair instead.
He also stayed at Eli's side, watching her like a guardian knight. Whenever she sighed or stretched, Leon would nervously call out,
"Wife! Is there something wrong?!"
The worst happened the next morning, when Eli who was about to go to the kitchen to prepare breakfast, she heard a thumping sound outside.
Usually at this time, the bunch had yet to wake up so she wondered who woke up so early.
Walking out of the cottage, her eyes were left widened on what she saw,
"W-what are you doing?"Eli asked with shock as he saw Leon's handsome face.
His upper body glistened in the morning light, as he firmly held a massive axe. He was drenched in sweat which alluringly rolled in his six pack abs and dripped into his blood red hair.
"Wife! Good morning!" Leon replied brightly with his crystal blue eyes.
"The wood is ready to keep you warm for the winter ahead!" He proudly pointed towards the massive mountain of firewood he just finished chopping.
"Heavens! Did you chop every tree in the whole forest?!" Eli felt her head ache.
Rubbing her temples, she couldn't help but exclaim, "We are still in the middle of spring!"
