Traveling through the small forest of beech trees, (f/n) hadn't realized how dense the forest was. She had trouble seeing between the trees, and the undergrowth only made this worse. Sunlight had difficulty breaking through the tops of the trees and illuminated the path little due to some of the trees arching over it. She could hear animals scurrying about in the undergrowth, making her stay all the more on the path. Overall, she wouldn't want to be in here at night.

Thus, it was a relief when they finally left the confines of the forest. At least she thought that they had exited the forest, but she found that they were just in a large clearing. The undergrowth had grown over the path, however. Just beyond it, though, there were square grey stepping stones. These stones were placed in a checkered pattern. In the checker board pattern and in the places where there weren't stones, there were patches of green grass.

At the center of the checker board, a massive grey stone gazebo stood. Stones steps, in the same hue, led up to the structure, which had an oval entrance. Within the gazebo she could see a black wrought iron table and chair set. A royal purple cushion was on each chair. Surrounding this seating, there were hundreds of purple lilies and blue chrysanthemums. Purple wisteria vines covered the inner walls, while fountains were hidden in the flora. There must have been colored lights in the fountains, for the water came out in hues of blues and purples. In order to illuminate the beauty within the gazebo, there were holes, in the shapes of flowers, at the top of the structure.

As she continued to view the spectacle before her, Edgar stepped over the undergrowth. He went over to it before going inside. (F/n) followed shortly after, still amazed by what she was seeing. She gazed all around the inside of the gazebo and took in the all the details. Her eyes couldn't help but be seduced by the grandeur around her.

"So I take it that you like the garden," Edgar commented, taking a seat in one of the two chairs.

"How could I not? This is just so unreal," she answered, sitting herself in the other chair.

Her attention remained on the various flowers around her, leaving Edgar to admire her without her noticing. She looked so marvelous among the flowers, while there seemed to be sparkles in her eyes. They beamed with utmost wonder as though they were cut of the most perfect glass. Light shined on her parted lips like they were dashed with just the right amount of gloss. He was tempted to just pull her over onto his lap and keep her there the entire time. Not to mention his desire to comb his fingers through her soft (h/c) locks.

There was just one thing that bothered him. It was her attire. Her chocolate brown sweater, tan pants and black flip-flops didn't do her justice. They tried to steal away her beauty, and he didn't like it one bit. Perhaps, he should've disposed of some of her old clothes and bought her new ones. Technically, though, he could perform such a task at anytime. Maybe, he would get her some new articles of clothing this evening when he went into town. Softer colors would portray her enchanting characteristics more.

Turning her attention back to Edgar, she noticed he had a far-off look in his visible eye. This was hardly a good sign. Moreover, he had gotten after her for spacing out, and now he was doing the same. "Edgar, are you okay?" she asked, though, there wasn't any concern in her voice. Rather, there was a tinge of irritation.

He blinked a few times before nodding. "I was just wondering what seemed to be bothering you earlier," he answered, as he remembered why he had taken her here in the first place. "I want to make sure that my assistant is doing well."

(F/n) sent him a questioning gaze, but a smirk soon followed. "Oh really, it seemed to me that you were spacing out. Now, if I remember correctly, weren't you just getting after me about that? Being hypocritical isn't exactly a desirable trait."

"Ah, but you still find me appealing. You still blush whenever I catch you staring at me. Your cheeks still flush whenever I'm close to you. If anything, I would say that my personality makes you all the more attracted to me."

She leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms over her chest. "How do you figure that? You may know that I like you, Edgar, but there have been many times when I have questioned my feelings. I wonder if I could truly ever like someone like you. You're intolerable on many occasions. You leave a mountain of questions when there should only be a glass of answers."

Chuckling a bit, he replied, "Perhaps, but you have never removed those feelings; you have only questioned them. Until you have truly rid yourself of your emotions for me, you can't really argue on this point. Maybe, it was just my looks that drew you in at first, but my personality ensnared you and threw you into an inescapable cage."

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Edgar. That arrogance of yours may set the trigger and destroy anything that I feel for you."

Before he could answer, footsteps were heard. Both individuals turned their gazes to the entrance of the gazebo. The waiter from before was carefully carrying a tray. Once he entered the structure, he set the tray down onto the wrought iron table. He glanced over at Edgar, who signaled that he could go. With that, the waiter took his leave. Soon, his figure disappeared down the path, and his footsteps could no longer be heard.

Upon the tray were various small cakes, which sat on a rose pink glass plate. An accompanying rose pink glass teapot and teacups complimented the plate of sweets. Edgar continued to remain silent, as he poured the tea into the teacups. She could see the steam rising from the beverage. After he poured the tea, he indicated for her to take her cup. Picking up the delicate teacup, she brought it to her lips and blew on the tea. After a few blows, she took a sip and found it to be blueberry tea. A smile formed on her lips at the delightful taste, and she took another careful sip.

"Now, are you going to tell me what was on your mind earlier?" Edgar voiced, taking his own teacup into his hands.

"Aren't you going to respond to my previous comment?" she countered, placing her teacup on the table.

"I may, and I may not. You avoided my question for long enough."

"There, you're at it again. You're being hypocritical. Why should I answer your questions when you rarely answer mine?"

"So, you're not going to answer, then? Well, that's a shame. I wanted to know, so that I could do something to ease your mind. I suppose that this garden might do you some good, though," he muttered, staring down into his tea. He had a neutral expression on his face, but there was tinge of sadness in his visible eye.

Never could she understand how he could go from one emotion to the next. Just before the tea came out, he was provoking her and was acting like a conceited a**hole. Now, he was acting as though he only wanted to help her this entire time and that he was sorrowful that he couldn't. Was he just that good at acting? That must be the case because his words held no deception or ulterior motive in them. Even his visible eye contained no form of dishonesty. Still, she wouldn't let herself fall for his words again today; she had to resist the temptation.

"Stop acting like I'm the one at fault here. I appreciate you taking me to this garden, but I already answered your question before. I was spacing out, and there was nothing more to it. I'm not answering the same question again," she uttered, as she picked up a petit four with her left hand.

While she brought the cake up to her lips, she looked over at him. He took a sip of tea before lowering his glass slowly from his lips. His neutral countenance remained, and the gloom in his right eye had vanished. Instead, neutrality had taken over his visible emerald green orb. "Would you like to know a secret, (f/n)?"

"Hmm?" she responded, since she was still eating the bite of cake she had taken.

The sound of glass, hitting the wrought iron gently, reached her ears, and the sound of a chair moving across the stone floor of the gazebo came next. Footsteps followed in suit, and her eyes trained themselves on Edgar's movement. His steps were quick, and he was soon behind her. She wanted to move out of her chair and create some distance between them, but she wasn't fast enough.

Both his hands rested on her shoulders, while he lowered his head next to her left ear. "I heard you say my name in your sleep last night."

Such information, being revealed to her, almost made her drop the cake in her hand.

"Now, tell me if that doesn't say something about your feelings for me. Here's another secret, though. Having my name spoken in such a tender way, really made my heart soar. Then again, I expected no less from you, (f/n)."