Chapter 162 - Development (5)

"You can come whenever you want, it would be better if I was there though," Alexandra replied. Her maids would panic if they saw the prince and she wasn't there. Yeah, she can imagine how they would react in that kind of situation. "Are you giving some cookies to our brothers too, Alexandra?" She heard Christian's voice coming from behind her and she turned her head around to look at him. His gaze was gentle and filled with warmth. Christian's eyes have the prettiest shade of blue, she admits. It looked so warm and tender, it resembled the sky. I wonder if our mother also has eyes prettier than this since Diana said that Christian's eyes were similar to hers.

"Yes. I already gave one to father earlier at his office before I went here. Although I also don't know if he likes cookies or not but he didn't say anything about it when I gave him," Alexandra responded as she recalled what happened earlier. He just accepted it and asked what it was then right before she left, she said some things about the fountain pen that she gave him. However, he just remained silent even when they left. She was wondering if he was angry or shocked by what he said while she was on her way to the library.

"I see," Was what her brother only said and silence dominated the place. Ah, I need to leave, Alexandra thought to herself as she realized.

"Then if you may excuse me, I still have things to do. I will see you later, Brother Gilbert and Brother Christian," Alexandra said as she bowed before she walked and Carlos followed behind her quietly. Arthur might be in the garden all ready and waiting for her, she doesn't want to be late although she was always late when it comes to her sessions or tutor which is embarrassing enough for her part. It already happened multiple times and she doesn't want it to happen to other people too.

Alexandra left the library with Carlos following behind her quietly. Right after I gave the cookies to Arthur, I should head towards the training grounds since father said that I can find Chandler there training. I wonder if somebody would help him train, maybe Calixander would help him sometimes, she thought to herself as she walked and made her way towards the garden where she and Arthur would usually meet.

The walk to the garden was quiet and peaceful just like always. Alexandra thought about many things as she walked. I wonder how he would react if he saw me there. Will he accept the cookies or not? I hope that he would but if he did, he would be stubborn and would act annoyed, she thought to herself and was lost in her thoughts as she walked.

Alexandra arrived in the garden where she asked Arthur to meet her. She roamed her eyes around her eyes darted at a small figure not far away from her, standing still with their back facing her. A cloak was draped over his shoulders and he was looking around. That must be Arthur, she thought to herself and smiled before she approached her silently from behind. She is not trying to creep up on him and scare him just to inform you.

Alexandra stopped a meter away from him and she called out to his name in a gentle tone of voice grabbing his attention. "Arthur," She said and his head turned around and looked at the person who was standing behind him which was Alexandra. "Oh, you're here. Good morning," Arthur said in his monotonous tone of voice and turned his body around to face her. Carlos was standing not far away from them and remained on-guard. "Have you been waiting for me to arrive? I'm sorry if I took so long, my chat with my father took longer than I thought and I went to the library to see my brothers," Alexandra said as she showed him an embarrassed smile as she scratched her cheek, her eyes closing in the process.

"Not really, I just arrived a few minutes ago. Sir Friyedor made me do some things first before I went here," Arthur replied and Alexandra just nodded as a response to what he said and he spoke once again. "By the way, why did you suddenly call and asked to meet me here? We usually would meet and talk during the afternoon before or after your tea party with your father," Arthur said, curiosity lacing his tone of voice as he spoke.

"Oh right, I have something to give you that's why I called you out here," Alexandra said as she smiled at him. Now, Arthur became more curious about what she is going to give him. "What is it?" He asked and Alexandra handed him a small bag with the cookies inside. Arthur stared at it for a moment with a curious look on his face before he took it from Alexandra's hand and guessed what is inside. Based on the small and the weight of the bag, this must be… cookies, he thought to himself and he looked at Alexandra.

His expression read: Why are you suddenly giving me this?

Alexandra let out a small giggle before she spoke, "Those are like payment or token for appreciation," Alexandra said but that didn't wipe off the curios look on Arthur's said, his eyebrows knitted and he blinked multiple times as if he didn't understand what Alexandra just said. Ah, that is the first time that he made that expression, she thought to herself when she saw the expression on his face. It was quite refreshing as he would always have either a blank or expressionless look on his face. Sometimes, he would show a shy expression which he would try to hide whenever she complimented him or became close to him.

His shy expression was really cute though, his cheeks would be tainted a deep shade of red and he would avert his gaze, trying to hide his expression with his hands or his arm. An unusual reaction which she would only receive from him. Compared to her brothers, Christian would smile at her and would have a bright expression on his face but that isn't bad. While her other brothers, nothing at all. Except for Chandler who would try to be angry or annoyed while blushing madly sometimes while pouting in speaking in a low tone of voice.

Moving on, Alexandra cleared her throat before she spoke once again, "For becoming my friend and teaching me, you are the only friend I have who is the near my age and I am happy," Although Harrison was around her age, he isn't really. He was acting and looking like one to regain the mana he lost because of a reason he wouldn't tell her. He was already an adult and she doesn't know how old he really is. It seems like he and Sir Friyedor are acquaintances or friends though.

"T-Thank you, you really don't have to do this, to be honest. Just spending some time and talking with me would already be enough but still, I appreciate it," He said and there comes his shy expression. His cheeks were tainted with a light shade of pink and he tried to avert his gaze but he can't, he would look at Alexandra's direction once in every 3 words he spoke. Cute, that's way too cute, she thought to herself and couldn't help but smile widely as she witnessed his expression. How could a boy like him have such a cute shy expression on his face? She asked herself and she let out a small giggle.

"I see, then I'll be looking forward to getting along with you more. I also want to know more about you. Let's become closer, okay?" Alexandra said as she smiled at him, her eyes closing in the process. She was emitting this bright and cheerful aura as she smiled. It feels like flowers suddenly appeared which surrounded and bloomed (even though they are already in the garden). Where is this sweet scent coming from? Probably from the flowers in the garden.

Alexandra said those words innocently as if she were saying it without meaning at all, she just wants to get along and become close with him. Arthur, however, took it differently and he blushed more. He covered half of his face with his mouth and looked away from her. Alexandra noticed this and an imaginary question mark appeared on top of her head, her eyes wide with wonder as she stared at his expression which she can't see because half of it was covered by his arm but his ears were red so she could easily tell.

Did I say something wrong?

"What's the matter? Did I say something wrong?" The situation was almost the same with her father when she said something about the fountain pen. He just remained quiet and still in his position even when she is about to leave. "N-No, it's just something about you said although there is nothing wrong about it. What are you trying to say?" He said, still blushing.

"Oh, what about it? I just want us to improve our relationship. From friends to best friends, don't you like it? Aside from that, you would be my childhood friend too!" Alexandra said with an excited look on her face as if she was pleased with the idea of it. Never had she ever, not even in her previous life, had a childhood friend yet a friend, so becoming friends with someone and become closer with them was making her excite and happy. Although she can't do that many things with him since he is a boy, she couldn't go outside the palace with him and buy dresses together or style each other's hair or talk about so many things. But it doesn't mean that she was disappointed, she was still happy and contented since she made another friend aside from Harrison.

That idiot still hasn't visited me yet even though it is already their vacation, he might be out with his friends, she thought to herself. Well, he has to deal with Elise for months and knowing him, he would spend his first week of vacation sleeping. Why did he even join the academy anyways? He said that he was trying to see something and wanted to test something, he also said that he is also looking for someone or something there. He has so many secrets, her thoughts continued to add up as silence conquered both of them.

--"…From friends to best friends, don't you like it? Aside from that, you would be my childhood friend too!"

Those words repeated inside Arthur's head as if it was a song stuck on repeat. It was loud especially at the part when she said best friends, it was like it went on slow motion and it rang inside his mind multiple times.

Bestfriends. Bestfriends. Bestfriends. Bestfriends.

It didn't stop and just continued to repeat, he wished that he could hit his head right now so he can stop thinking about it. Somehow, it felt like he was stuck on friend-zone or something.

"Oh, I have to leave now. Sorry, I still have to go to my brothers to give them the cookies. I had fun talking with you even though it was just short. I will see you again later," Alexandra said as she smiled before she turned around and walked towards Carlos. He smiled at the young miss before he followed behind her and they walked leaving Arthur behind waving at them goodbye as they left. He stared at the bag on his hands and let out a sigh before he opened it.

He fished one cookie out of the bag before he brought it to his lips and took a bite from it. The cookie was delicious and tasty, he wondered if Alexandra was the one who made it because that would make him happy and explode into tiny bits of pieces because of joy.