Chapter 50 - Forty-Eight

The next days after that talk I ended up avoiding Leonel, especially staying alone with him, and every time that happened he would look down, knowing what I was doing and looking sad for it, but thankfully he respected my actions and didn't force the situation, even though I felt bad for doing it, is just that… it was too much.

Even worst, I didn't know how I would react if he didn't gave me space… and I really needed some time to organize the chaos that my heart and mind were, so I kept myself busy, training for the plan, ignoring the fact that… Leo had just somewhat confessed to me right? And not with a simple I love you, but in an even deeper level that I didn't know to be possible, like lovers from past lives or something, though he didn't came from another world like me apparently, just stayed in this realm.

So this mean that technically I'm here for a second time? Or even more that we weren't aware of?

Ugh, my brain.

In the end his words kept repeated in my mind, especially this part: Because you are not running away anymore, because you are not denying, because I believe that, now, I may have a chance.

Was I doing that? Giving him a chance without realizing it? Or he had his hopes up because of is rebirth? Because he could try again with a different me and a different him?

Worst of all, did I want to give him a chance? Us a chance? There was even a us?

God I don't even… I never thought of relationsh.i.p.s, really. Firstly when I was a hound I didn't feel attraction to others of my species; I think?; but as I never found one I don't really know for sure, though since my human memories started to appear more often I started to… be more attracted humans.

But to have a relationship? When I wasn't even human? Geez, that didn't even pass my mind!

"Pay attention number 13!"

I straighten my back at the same moment, holding in the wish to snap back at the instructor, looking aloof yet submissive as it was required to serve the nobles; to which she suggested were more than mere classes to behold.

She put them on a pedestal.

Bleh.

Today was the last day before we would attend the party finally! Only problem is that everybody was twice stressed and a pain in the ass for it.

Freaking nobles who had so many requisites as "everything need to be perfect".

But, well, what did I expect from those who lived in abundance while their people died of hunger and sickness outside these walls?

A dangerous mixture I tell ya! Many crowns had fallen for similar reasons.

Now, to end our clothes, and as a masquerade required, we choose the masks we were going to wear; animal themed; as the rest of the outfit was the same for everyone, consisting of black high heels with ribbons, a long silky skirt and a red tunic on the upper body, with cut sleeves to show off the shoulders, adding a golden line on the edges, making complex patterns like two snakes intertwined.

It was actually really pretty and contain, glad it wasn't something out of some old man kinks, like a sailor moon uniform or a bunny playboy vest.

That would kill the pride that I had left, uhm.

At least I got a cool mask; I choose – cough stole – the wolf mask. They were all in the same style, dark lines with a silver metallic shine to them, very cool.

When the night of the masquerade arrived, however, I could not avoid Leonel anymore, which made me more nervous and on edge than the plan itself for some reason.

We still haven't discussed about the conversation, nothing, we acted like that talk never happened, which helped and not at the same time; one part of me wasn't ready nor had even processed what he implied that night, but the other was always on edge waiting for him to bring the subject up.

Let just say that my nerves were a mess.

Now, with him by my side, silently waiting for the time of the party to come, I was nervous, and still I tried to focus on the task at hand, all the things I should keep an eye out and have learned beforehand.

Of course, however, that didn't work and my mind started overworking itself by overthinking.

Gosh, give me a break will ya?

But still… something was bothering me, well, actually a lot of things in that conversation were bothering me; the rebirth wasn't that difficult to accept being a reincarnated myself; but the part that he didn't say, that he only implied.

Did he… liked me? Did he loved me? Admired? I don't know, I don't know how your relationship was before, so how could I know? That lack of information was eating me alive; and maybe I was worried for nothing, right?

I needed to know.

"Leo…" I started, unsure, fixing my skirt and clothes, looking at myself in the mirror as I tried to fix my hair up so it wouldn't get stuck on the wolf mask. "I want to ask you something."

I didn't see him reacted as I had my back towards him, who stood by the window, but I could tell he heard me.

"The other night… What did you mean by that? I… I understand what you said about being reborn and we knowing each other before and all but… what, what was our relationship like? And what do you want it to be like?"

There, I said it. The relief I felt for finally getting the questions out in the air was soon substituted my anxiety and nervousness; Why the heck did I ask that? I shouldn't have been so direct, it gave the wrong impression that I wanted it to be something else.

"You know what, never mind, it was a dumb question, you don't need to-"

My brain froze once I hear him step closer, stopping right behind me, his heart beat so close, his smell clouding my other senses as it envelops me, his hands reaching out and passing over my shoulders in a rather smooth way, brushing up my neck until he started messing with my long black hair.

I held my breath once he starts talking: "What I want you ask… What I want, my little hound, is to stand by your side, to share a blanket on the cold nights, to make breakfast for you and bring it to bed, only to find you with a messy hair smiling at me, I want to share my thoughts and dreams with you, to stay together lazing around on a sunny day. What I want, my little hound, is you, all of you."

With that he gives an almost chaste kiss on the crook between my neck and shoulder, brushing his lips softly and walking away, leaving me bewildered by what he said, the blushing coming a little too late.

W-w-what was that.

I think the-there is no more doubt about his intentions I supposed…

I looked myself in the mirror, my hair held in a high ponytail, some strands of hair falling down lazily, giving me an untied yet casual look, s.e.xy in its own way.

Only to find you with a messy hair smiling at me…

His words weren't honey letters of love, but yet by talking about such trivial things, plus his deep tone of voice and the closeness made it all a lot more… intimate.

Licking my dry lips I focused on moving my hands, finishing up my preparations and going down with my wolf mask in hand.

Going down I avoid eye contact, only answering a hum when he asked if I was ready. Aeglos and my brother go out then, as Leo comes closer for me to touch his wrist so that my shadows swallow him, leaving him in the complete darkness of my shadow dimension.

The streets were full of people tonight, many who wouldn't participate in the masquerade, but enjoyed the festivity by wearing masks on the streets and playing games over the tents in the center of the city, as well as buying some miscellaneous and lots of food.

It was a very vivid night, with some people carrying poles that ended up in lanterns to illuminate the dark night.

They didn't seem to need a reason to celebrate, parties been very common in this capital city; which proves the contrast with the other cities. Here, the more you showed off, the more status you had, so parties were actually a show of power towards the other nobles, to promote yourself.

And starve the rest of the population. Who are they to cost some noble parties right?

Putting my mask on I mix myself with the crowd, slowly speeding my pace to not be late, reaching the castle gates, standing in line with the other female workers.

We knew some of the castle layouts as we trained beforehand there once, though I knew much more thanks to Leo. We were actually an extra group hired to serve in the gardens, the main hall and ballroom had their own staff, hired and maintained as fixed servants of the castle.

We lower our heads, none speaking as we were trained to do so; nobles didn't like to hear plebeians talking, as "we don't have anything interesting to say" they condemned before even letting us talk.

So why talk at all right?

I only got glimpses of the place as we walked in line, eyes down, feeling distress build up as we enter enemy territory and I had to keep my tattoos, ears, tail and color of my eyes hidden. We were stopped in the gardens were most would stay in this hot night, minutes before the party started to receive the last briefings, been reminded were to take the food from, how to serve, wada wada.

Biting my lower lip I held down the action of rolling my eyes. God how many times will they repeat that? With my mask hiding my third eye I can at least use it to look farther than I'm allowed, seeing the gardens beyond the hall we were in, and where the guests would be soon.

They had a huge and tide garden, with stone paths going everywhere, in circles, around flowers, statutes, arcs of stone, all with torches to light the way, while round bushes covered the walls in a methodic way, some almost drawing figures on the grass paths.

This was the lower part of the castle, where the nobles had access, another wall still dividing where the royal family lived, like a enormous living room for visits.

And damn this garden was huge, almost couldn't see the end of it. Most, however, would stay closer to the tables and the doors of the ballroom, where they could be safer from the elements.

Or drink in a more private area, dunno, and it doesn't matter really, the only thing that all this space made me think of is how long it would take for them to realize that one of the servants was gone?

Hopefully enough.

Passing through an azalea path, where spring trees curved up and made arcs of flowers on top, I took a deep breath and ready myself for the task at hand.

The party started slow, many nobles coming at the same time, officially late of course, making the boring service into a chaotic one in seconds.

I almost got caught up on serving that I just realized how long had passed once the royal family came.

I snicker on the inside, feeling Leo's distress in my shadow for staying in the dark for too long, making us more than ready to leave and put our plan in action.

But before I could do that I had my arm grabbed by someone.

~~~~

Do you guys realize that high heels is one word apart from high hells? Coincidence?! I think not!

Lol.