Remembering my task, I proceeded down the stairs, scared as the ledges teetered below my feet. Each stopped in the perfect amount of time to prevent me from launching myself to the next unreliable step too early.

One day I'll get used to it. Or not.

The walk to the floor below wasn't nearly as long or difficult as the one upwards, and I was already on the level's platform within a minute. I was thankful the royal family stayed near each other. From the end of the hall, I heard loud voices talking, amplified by the acoustics of the building.

"Leo, who are you talking about?" an angry voice I didn't recognize yelled. By its deepness, I guessed it belonged to Akiyoshi—assuming no one else joined the two.

"Oh, you know well! Shall I scream who even louder than you are?" a playful voice I recognized as Leo's asked, bold and mocking.

Who's the star of this conversation? I bet it has something to do with a royal family with whom we're in conflict.

Calming down at a realization, Akiyoshi said, "Touché, Leo, but my answer is of no relevance."

I moved closer to the entrance, and their bantering grew louder. It surely wasn't a conversation I was allowed to hear under any circumstances, yet I couldn't help but wonder what they discussed behind (literally) closed doors.

"Akiyoshi, I can tell you still like them by the fact you're avoiding my answer, and I know you'll be left hurting," Leo said sincerely and seriously, and that was the first time I envisioned him with a genuine and kind face rather than his usual snarky expression. "You can have almost anyone else—even the new advisor or another noble—though I'm sure Fifi isn't much your type."

The audacity.

I could practically see the snippy appearance return to Leo's face.

"Duh," Akiyoshi replied, anger sliding back into his voice.

Sufficiently surprised, I inched towards the room, still a few steps off. I was grateful the floor here was carpeted, sparing the embarrassment potentially brought upon myself if the fairy and prince noticed me eavesdropping. Subtly, guilt wrapped itself around my chest.

"You like sweet, sunny ones, anyway. Don't deny it, but you have to get over this. I don't care how long it's been."

Akiyoshi probably sighed next, and I was curious who he liked purely from the standpoint of the grief they caused. It was none of my business, anyway, but as a noble, I was naturally curious about the little details spreading around the kingdom.

"Why can't you—"

Knocking on the bedroom door, I cut off Akiyoshi's question. I couldn't stand the guilt any longer as it choked me, so I went ahead and opened it once he hummed.

"Why, hello again, Ophelia," he greeted, no hints of emotion adorning his face. I found that strange yet amazing given the heated conversation in which he engaged mere moments ago.

"Hello, sir." I leaned my head down. "Did I perhaps interrupt any discussions? I swore I heard my name while walking down the hall, but ah,"—I pulled on my ear—"I could always be a tad hard of hearing." I grinned at them—rather smugly if I said so myself.

Leo glared at me. He could tell I heard something. "How self-centered of you, Fifi."

I rolled my eyes. "Gee, thanks. I was just getting used to you, I thought."

"I'm sure you'll come around to me in no time," he said with an eerily tranquil grin, "but yes, you were mentioned in our short conversation about the state of the kingdom."

More like the state of the prince's love life.

I huffed. Akiyoshi interrupted before I spoke, though.

"Enough. Both of you. What did my father say, Ophelia?" he asked with piercing eyes.

"Would you like the good news or the bad news first?"

Akiyoshi sighed. "Give me the good news. I know the bad news means I'll be stressed. Dad's always like that."

Despite being complicit in his suffering, I smiled. "Well, I'm getting appointed as a new advisor."

The prince halfway grinned, that being the first time he showed the faintest ounce of interest in anything I said. (It felt like something I needed to commemorate: multiple smiles from the ice prince in one day.)

"Wonderful. I'm glad to hear that." A thought ruined his joyful features. "When… shall the banquet be held?"

At that, I rolled a piece of fabric between my fingers anxiously.

How should I break it to him?

"You see, that's the bad news."

"How so?" He gulped, choker bobbing on his neck.

Honesty had to be the best approach. "He wishes for the ceremony to be held in three hours."

Akiyoshi's eyes widened, and he stood to lean over the table and get closer to me. Nothing like a good parental order could rile someone up that much. The prince raised his voice, sandy complexion turning pale as the pink undertones made themselves clear.

"Pardon, but my father said what now?"