Riding the carriage, Eli silently watched the lively scene from the city as they went to the palace where Leon arranged for their dinner.
Throughout the time of their relationship, Leon has been someone who liked to surprise Eli a lot. From the time they entered the capital until today, Eli felt like Leon had been giving a lot in their relationship more than hers.
Realizing it, Eli felt anxious as she knew that love is always how to give and how to take. But then, she felt like she was always the one who receives the most in this relationship.
"What's on your mind? Are you still anxious about the gossip?" Leon did not fail to detect Eli's unease as his eyes never left her face.
"N-nothing… My mind just wanders from here and there." Eli shook her head to make Leon become at ease.
Leon scooted to the other side of the carriage seat and leaned closer to Eli.
His hands pulled her close as he rested his head on the top of her head, her scent was filled with the woody, vanilla-flavored scent of the books and scrolls in her office, and yet it still intoxicates him as long as it was Eli.
"I know you have something on your mind… would you want to share?" Leon did not intend to force Eli to tell him what bothers her, but he wanted Eli to know that he was just all ears whenever she needed someone to talk to.
"Sigh… I just feel like I was not giving enough in our relationship. That it was always you who gives and that I was not working hard enough to show you my feelings…" Eli looked at Leon's sincere expression and could not help but open up her heart.
"What happened today, the gossip that appeared out of nowhere made me realize that even more."
"That's not true… and even if it is I don't mind at all…" Leon shook his head gently as he caressed Eli's hand and kissed it tenderly.
"What was important to me is that we love each other… I won't demand anything from you other than your love. All others were just a bonus for me.
Knowing you are there for me, that I have you and Little Han wait for me at home, is all I need.
In fact, it was me who felt guilty, because I never let you experience the things that the other couples do out there. Even this date that we have, is something that was planned on the spot."
Leon consoled Eli and hugged her tight, in fact, he wanted to kiss her sweetly but he saw that they were almost at their destination.
"Eli, My love… Can we still start like how the other couples do?
Let's do those dates, picnics... I'll bring you to the opera, see the night festivals and bring you flowers... Would you want to experience those things with me too?"
Eli stared at Leon's question, but looking at his expression that genuinely wanted to give his best for the two of them, she let out a light chuckle and replied, "As long as my man wants to, I will happily oblige."
'My man…' Leon's heart skipped a beat, Eli was really someone who could easily stir his heart with just a word.
'Earlier, she referred to me as 'dad' now she was calling me his man.'
'Ha… I was supposed to be the one who would make her heart flutter at the moment, yet why was I the one getting flustered?'
Leon closed his eyes, trying to calm down and let the heat around his face subside. As he did, the carriage slowed down and finally came to a stop.
"Are we here?" Eli was about to turn to look into the window to take a sneak peek into the location but Leon covered her eyes.
"You must not peek… Would you close your eyes and allow me to lead you to the place?" Leon leaned closer and told Eli these words in a whisper.
The warm air from his words tickled Eli's ears sending her goosebumps over her body. His sultry magnetic voice tightened her chest making her hold her breath to ensure that she could contain her emotions.
None of them knew how one simple gesture from each other could cause a wave of emotions in their hearts and yet they were still anxious about each other's feelings.
"Lead the way, Your Highness." Eli smiled as she closed her eyes as Leon gently guided her out of the carriage with great care.
Upon stepping out of the carriage, Eli felt the gentle wind blowing around the two of them and the faint floral smell carried by the wind.
"Slowly…" Leon led her to the place, where the smell of flowers became much more evident and there was also a soft sound of flowing water from a distance.
When Eli could feel that they were no longer stepping on a cobblestone path but a soft grass patch, Leon's voice sounded, "We're here…My Lady can open her eyes."
Eli slowly opened her eyes and the first thing she saw was the calm lake that mirrored the full moon and the starry skies.
Around them were patches of flower beds that emitted a soft fragrance that made Eli's mood feel at ease and relaxed.
Down from the lake was a gazebo, because of the dark, she could not see what was there, but she could figure out that the dining area was there.
Leon smiled and snapped his fingers. In an instant, countless little sparkles of light appeared from around them and around the lake.
To see that it was magical was an understatement, it was marvelous.
The nearby trees that surrounded the forest were all lit up by a gold lantern which now turned the silvery lake into a colorful one.
"This… beautiful!" Eli's obsidian eyes perfectly reflected the golden twinkle around her surroundings.
She was even more impressed with how the lake transformed, it was like Leon brought the stars down on the ground!
"Do you like it, my Lady?" Leon held her hand and bowed, kissing it once again like a charming gentleman relentlessly wooing his love.
"Yes! I really liked it!" Eli did not hide her pleased expression, she smiled as she stepped closer to Leon hugging him in a cheery manner.
Leon froze at Eli's sudden gesture. Ever since Eli birthed Little Han, she rarely showed her childish and cheery side to people.
Perhaps, it was due to the fact that she had been pushed to grow her strength and fight that the people around her had almost forgotten that Eli was once a person who could also be optimistic at times.
But oftentimes, she was an overthinker, a habit that Leon was helpless in dealing with. However, he loved her entire being, even her weakness.
"Then, shall we head down for dinner?" Leon let out a light chuckle as he escorted her down to the gazebo, where neatly dressed servants were waiting to serve them a meal.
"Greetings, Your Highness, Third Prince. Greetings My Lady, Eli." The servants bowed elegantly as they respectfully greeted the two.
Leon did not sit right away as he was the one who pulled the chair out for Eli and took her scholarly robe, revealing a neat flowy dress underneath.
As she sat in her seat, Leon and the servants fell into a daze, for the dress that she wore fit perfectly in the flowery background. She was like the deity of the night, with her black obsidian eyes and smooth long hair trailing down her dress.
"Beautiful!" Leon could not help but utter loudly.
Eli was startled as Leon suddenly complimented her in front of the servants whom she was yet to know. "L-let's eat… I guess?" She tried to divert the conversation hoping that Leon would not try to tease her more.
And so, their magical dinner date started. As they were enjoying the food, a string quartet appeared and played a romantic nocturne livening up their night.
Meanwhile, back in the particular humble cottage in the Silver Dew Forest, a certain young master was sitting grumpily with his hands crossed like an old man.
He looked accusingly at Olivier, Baobao, and the rest as they looked so anxious and afraid of him, who was just not more than a year old.
"Little Master… His Highness and Madam were still outside, but don't worry, they'll come back soon…" Genos tried to appease the pouting young master who apparently has been waiting since the late afternoon for his parents.
"No no! Mommi! Daddi!" Little Han frowned and slapped his chubby little hand on the cushioned mat, demanding answers for his parents' whereabouts. And yet the adults were refusing to give him an answer.
This made Little Han more frustrated, as he could not express himself other than the words he already knew how to speak, "Mommi… Daddi… wahhh!"
"Ah… young master, please don't cry~~" Thus, the bunch had to endure another round of crying from the little master as he was still unable to see his parents even though it was already time for him to listen to mommy's music.
