Leo and Rina walked into one of the Roschild family's many gardens. As soon as they passed under an archway covered in flowers, the air changed. It felt like stepping into a peaceful, green world. The sweet smell of roses, lilies, and other flowers filled the air, feeling fresh and calming.
A smooth stone path led them past hedges cut into the shapes of phoenixes, the symbol of Leo's family. A gentle breeze carried the sound of singing birds and the soft splash of fountains. The whole garden felt magical.
In the middle of this beautiful place was a white, circular pavilion. It had a dome roof and was covered in ivy. Inside, there were marble benches and a table that shone in the sunlight.
Leo immediately threw himself into a chair with a loud sigh.
"Ah! I'm so tired!" he said, stretching his arms out dramatically. "Running away from an angry pink-haired girl really takes a lot out of a guy."
Rina, her cheeks already pink from their chase, stomped her foot and sat down across from him. She straightened her skirt and pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You deserved every second of that chase, you pervert. Don't act like the victim."
Leo just grinned. "You had fun, though. Admit it. You'd be bored if I stopped teasing you."
"I would not!" she said, her eyes sparkling with a mix of irritation and embarrassment.
"You're so annoying."
Before she could say more, Leo clapped his hands twice.
Suddenly, two maids in neat black-and-white uniforms appeared. They bowed gracefully.
"Young Master Leo, what do you need?" one asked softly.
"Bring us tea and cookies," Leo said with a mischievous look. "Lots of the sweet ones—the kind Rina loves."
Rina's face turned bright red. "Leo! Don't say things like that in front of people!"
The maids kept their faces calm, though one almost smiled. They bowed again and left quietly.
Rina crossed her arms and pouted. "You're so annoying."
Leo leaned back, looking smug. "And yet, you're still sitting here. That tells me something."
She turned her head away sharply. "Don't get ahead of yourself."
The maids returned quickly with silver trays. One held a beautiful teapot with golden phoenixes on it and delicate cups. The other tray was filled with cookies of all kinds: some dusted with sugar, some buttery, some with jam, and some dipped in chocolate. The rich smell of tea mixed perfectly with the garden's flowers.
As the maids set everything down, Leo heard one whisper to the other, "They're so adorable together."
"Like a married couple already," the other replied with a quiet giggle.
Rina's ears turned red, and she almost fell off her bench.
"W-we're not like that!" she insisted, slamming her hands on the table.
The maids just bowed again, hiding their smiles, and left.
Leo laughed loudly. "Hear that, Rina? Even the maids can see it."
Her eyes flashed with anger, and she grabbed a cookie, biting into it fiercely. But as the sweet taste filled her mouth, her expression softened. "Mmm… this is good."
Leo sipped his tea, watching her with a grin.
"Be careful, Rina. If you keep eating sweets, you'll get as round as a dumpling. Then I'll be the only one who wants you."
Crumbs flew as she looked up, her cheeks full of cookie. "What?! Do you want to die, Leo?"
He held up a hand in surrender, his blue eyes twinkling. "I'm just kidding! Even as a dumpling, you'd be cute. A tasty dumpling."
"Leo!" she shrieked, leaning over the table to pinch his cheeks.
"Ow! Mercy, Rina! Not my handsome face!" he yelled, though he was still laughing.
After a moment, she let go and sat back down with a huff. "Idiot…" she muttered.
Leo rubbed his cheeks. "No appreciation for my honesty. I'm a tragic hero, misunderstood by the girl I love."
Rina froze, her cookie halfway to her mouth. Her heart jumped, but then she saw his teasing smirk and realized he was just joking again. Her face turned red, and she threw the cookie at him. "P-pervert!"
Leo caught it and ate it. "Thanks for the snack."
"You're unbelievable," she said, her jaw dropping.
This was how they always were—Leo teasing, Rina getting mad, and their playful argument going in circles. But anyone could see the strong friendship underneath it all. The garden seemed to enjoy their company, with sunlight dancing on their faces.
Just outside the garden, the two maids whispered to each other.
"Do you think they'll ever admit their feelings?" one asked.
"Not for a long time," the other replied with a sigh. "He loves to tease her, and she's too proud to be honest. But it's still sweet to watch."
They smiled and walked away, leaving Leo and Rina in their own little world.
At the table, Rina took another cookie, trying to ignore Leo's smug look. Her heart was still beating fast from his joke, even though she knew he didn't mean it.
Leo drank his tea, watching her. He would never say it out loud, but he loved these quiet times with her—just the two of them, away from the pressures of their families and futures.
As Rina took another bite, getting crumbs on her lips, Leo thought to himself with a smile: She really is so easy to tease.
And so, in the heart of the garden, their laughter and warmth filled the air, as lovely and temporary as the summer breeze rustling the leaves above them.