Leo and Rina wandered into one of the Roschild family gardens. As they strolled under a flowery arch, the vibe completely shifted. It felt like they had stepped into this chill green paradise, surrounded by the sweet smells of roses, lilies, and a bunch of other flowers that made the air feel fresh and comfy.
A smooth stone path led them past hedges shaped like phoenixes, which was a cool nod to Leo's family. A light breeze brought along the sweet sounds of birds chirping and fountains splashing, making the whole place feel like something out of a fairy tale.
In the middle of all this charm was a white, round pavilion with a dome-shaped roof, covered in ivy. Inside, there were marble benches and a table that glimmered in the sunlight.
Leo flopped into a chair with a dramatic sigh.
"Ah! I'm so worn out!" he said, stretching his arms like he'd just run a marathon. "Running away from an angry girl with pink hair really takes it out of a guy!"
Rina, her cheeks still flushed from their playful chase, stomped her foot and plopped down across from him. She smoothed her skirt and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You kinda asked for that with your teasing, you know. Don't act like you're the martyr here," she shot back.
Leo just grinned. "But you loved it. Come on, admit it. You'd be bored stiff if I suddenly stopped."
"No way!" she fired back, her eyes shining with a mix of annoyance and shyness. "You're just so annoying."
Before she could say more, Leo clapped his hands twice.
Just then, two maids in black-and-white uniforms appeared, bowing slightly.
"What can we do for you, Young Master Leo?" one maid asked softly.
"Bring us tea and a mountain of cookies," Leo said with a playful gleam in his eye. "Especially the sweet ones Rina can't resist."
Rina's face turned bright red. "Leo! Can you not say stuff like that in front of them?"
The maids kept straight faces, though one looked like she was about to crack a smile as they bowed and left quietly.
With her arms crossed, Rina pouted. "You're so annoying."
Leo leaned back, clearly enjoying himself. "And yet, you're still here. That says something."
She quickly turned her head away. "Don't get too cocky."
The maids came back quick, balancing shiny trays. One held a beautiful teapot decorated with golden phoenixes and delicate cups. The other tray was stacked high with cookies of all kinds: some dusted with sugar, some buttery, some filled with jam, and others dipped in chocolate. The sweet aroma of the tea mixed perfectly with the floral scents of the garden.
As the maids set everything up, Leo caught one saying to another, "They look so cute together."
"Like a married couple," the second maid whispered, giggling quietly.
Rina's ears turned crimson, and she nearly fell off her chair.
"W-we're not like that!" she insisted, slamming her hands on the table.
The maids bowed again, trying not to grin as they left.
Leo laughed heartily. "Did you hear that, Rina? Even the maids see it."
Her eyes sparkled with frustration as she grabbed a cookie and bit into it fiercely. But as the sweet flavor hit her, her expression softened. "Mmm… this is really good."
Leo sipped his tea, grinning as he watched her enjoy the treat. "Just be careful, Rina. If you keep snacking on sweets, you might get as round as a dumpling. Then I'll be the only one interested in you."
Crumbs flew as she looked up, her cheeks stuffed with cookie. "What?! Do you want to get punched, Leo?"
He raised his hands in mock surrender, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm just messing with you! Even as a dumpling, you'd still be cute. A tasty dumpling."
"Leo!" she shouted, leaning over the table to pinch his cheeks.
"Ow! Please, not my good-looking face!" he yelled, still laughing.
After a moment, she let him go and slumped back in her chair with a huff. "You're such an idiot…" she mumbled.
Leo rubbed his cheeks, still smiling. "No one appreciates my honesty. I'm like a tragic hero, misunderstood by the girl I adore."
Rina froze, her cookie halfway to her mouth. Her heart raced, but then she saw his teasing smirk and realized he was just kidding again. Her face turned red, and she threw the cookie at him. "P-pervert!"
He caught it and popped it into his mouth. "Thanks for the snack!"
"You're unbelievable," she said, her eyes wide in disbelief.
This was their usual banter—Leo teasing, Rina getting mad, and their playful back-and-forth continuing endlessly. But you could tell, deep down, there was a solid friendship behind their antics. The garden around them seemed to soak up their joy, with sunlight dancing across their faces.
Just outside the garden, the two maids whispered to each other.
"Do you think they'll ever admit how they feel about each other?" one asked.
"Not anytime soon," the other sighed. "He loves to tease her, and she's way too proud to be honest about her feelings. But it's sweet to watch either way."
They smiled at each other and walked away, leaving Leo and Rina in their own little world.