It's been half a year since the bandits' base was destroyed. The lead bandit was banished to the Underworld by order of King Aldrich. But before he got banished, his last words were directed to Leo. "This isn't over yet, lion prince! I will return for revenge!"

Billie and Bashiri had returned to their respective kingdoms. But since they're destined to protect both kingdoms, every resident there was allowed to cross the border between Shinōkoku and Kung-guó.

Intellizo was still practicing alchemy in one of the Leone Kingdom towers. He was currently learning how to control the magic spells and use them in the right time.

Lariel went back to the orphanage to continue her usual routine, but she's unsure if she could be allowed to visit the Leone Kingdom.

As for Leo... well, we're about to find out.

That night...

Leo was currently lying on his bed thinking of what had happened ever since he first met Lariel. For some reason, she kept crossing his mind. And even though he closed his eyes tightly and shook his head in denial multiple times, an image of her kept running into his head. At the same time, some kind of feeling struck through him. He didn't know what he's exactly feeling, but it's somehow... desperate.

As he continued laying on his bed, a knock was heard on the door.

"Come in," he responded.

The door finally opened and it was revealed to be Solenan.

"Dinner is ready," he said to him.

"Alright. I'll be there in a minute."

With that being said by Leo, he stretched out his body for strength to get himself out of bed. After that, he rose into his sitting position, but his back was turned to Solenan.

It took Leo a few moments before speaking up, "Hey, Solenan."

"Yes?" he asked turning to him.

"Can we invite Lariel to dinner?" asked Leo. "I'm sure the orphans will understand."

It took Solenan a few seconds before he closed the door behind him in Leo's room. Then, he walked his way to Leo's bed and sat beside him. On his right.

"I don't suppose you have feelings for her, do you?" he asked him.

Leo nodded in response. "Yeah. Some kind of feeling makes me wanna see her again, run to her." He turned to Solenan. "You know what I mean."

Solenan let out a light chuckle. "Yeah, I do." Then, he placed his hand on Leo's right shoulder. "Let's ask your father to invite her, then you'll be more than happy to see her again."

His lips stretched out a genuine smile. "Yeah. Let's do it."

With that being said, the two rose from the bed and exited Leo's bedroom.

Back in the orphanage...

Lariel was seen sitting ontop of the roof, her legs rising and her feet making contact with the roof. Her arms were wrapped around her knees. She had just been thinking of all the adventures after she met Leo and the Royal Guardians in person.

For some reason, Leo kept coming to her mind. Her eyes were seen dropping and half-opened as her head looked down. She started feeling some kind of weird feeling inside of her. And something told her it felt... familiar somehow. She had seen a few romantic drama in theaters with the other teenage orphans.

Something familiar about the new feeling struck through her, but because of her mind spinning, it was unexplainable.

Nothing else occurred to her until she heard a familiar voice, "Thinking of something, Lariel?"

She turned her head to her left and saw Snow popping out of the trapdoor on the roof. She turned her head to the stars while resting it on her knees. She could hear Snow walking her way to the top of the roof, her footsteps approaching her and then, her presence on her right.

Snow's eyes were filled with concern as she saw how much Lariel was in deep thought.

After a while of silence, Lariel was the first to break it, "Snow?"

"Yes?" she replied turning to her.

"I've been thinking. After all the adventures I had with the Royal Guardians, will I ever see Leo again?"

Snow laid her right hand on her left shoulder. "I'm sure you two will meet again. Maybe either Leo will visit here or you'll visit the Leone Kingdom yourself." Then, a few moments later, realization hit her. "You like him, don't you?"

Lariel nodded in response. "Yeah. I do."

"I'm assuming it reminds you of your family? Especially your father?" asked Snow.

Lariel had opened up to Snow the week before she met the Royal Guardians in person. This made her even happier to make the world a better place by teaching children and young teens good values.

To answer Snow's question, she nodded in response.

Before anything else occurred in her, a carriage stopped by the orphanage.

"Looks like he's here or possibly one of the guards of the Leone Kingdom," said Snow slipping her hand away from Lariel's shoulder.

Lariel let out a light chuckle in response. "Well, let's see."

With that being said, the two exited the roof through the trapdoor and went downstairs to the ground.

At the entrance gate...

What Lariel and Snow saw before them was one of the guards in the Leone Kingdom. He was handing out the scroll to the two ladies.

"An invitation for Lariel the Lioness," he said.

"Okayyyy..." said Lariel, taking the scroll out of the guard's hands.

"What does it say?" asked Snow.

Lariel started unrolling the scroll. Once she read those words, her eyes widened in quite a surprise. "He's inviting me to dinner?" she asked with an appreciative smile. You can see a warm blush appearing on her cheeks. "What an honor."

"Hey! Can I come, too?" a new voice joined in. The trio turned their heads around to see Clifton pleading for adoption. "I want to ask the future king for adoption! It's been quite lonely ever since Sparkles became adopted a few months ago."

"Sure. We'll ask Leo once we get there," answered Lariel, smiling.

"Woohoo!" exclaimed Clifton, jumping up high several times joyfully.

After Lariel and Clifton bid their goodbyes to Snow and the other orphans, they hopped in the carriage and the guard rode the carriages way back to the Leone Kingdom.

In the dining room located in the Leone Kingdom...

Leo and Solenan were now sitting on their seats ahead of each other. In the middle of the table was a plate of roasted turkey. Surrounding it were pork chops, vegetables, milky and creamy soup and of course, the basic table setting for each of the family. Aldrich was now sitting ahead of what he saw before him was the main door.

He started noticing how they did not eat yet. A force somehow pulled him to wonder curiously on what's going on. And so...

"Why haven't you started eating?" he asked Leo and Solenan.

"We were waiting for the plus one to arrive," answered Solenan.

"A plus one? I'm assuming my only son invited them?" asked Aldrich.

"Yes, sire. He just wanted to see her again."

Aldrich turned to him with a teasing smirk on his face, "So, you invited the lady to join us for dinner?"

"She's not just any lady, father. She's smart, brave, kind and great at archery," Leo turned to Aldrich with a warm smile on his face. "You'll like her once you get to know her."

Aldrich let out a chuckle in response. "I'm sure I will."

After a while of waiting, the door opened to reveal the same guard who invited Lariel to stay for dinner.

"Sire, I have brought another plus one to dinner and he's asking your son for adoption."

With that being said by the guard, he swooped to the side to reveal Lariel herself. And on her right was none other than Clifton himself.

Once Clifton and Lariel were on Leo's sight, his lips stretched out a warm smile. A slight blush was seen igniting on his cheeks as he slightly looked away.

"Clifton doesn't want to feel lonely after Sparkles is adopted, which is why he wants you to adopt him," said Lariel.

He let out a happy chuckle in response, "Sure, Clifton. Just please, don't mess around the castle. Especially the dining room."

"Word of honor, your majesty!" replied Clifton bowing like how anyone did in fantasy stories.

Leo chuckled again. "Again. You don't need to bow."

"Okay, Leo."

With that being said, the other two sat on their seats and started enjoying dinner. Lariel's seat was beside Leo while Clifton's was beside Solenan.

After dinner...

After the nighttime routine, Leo was now in his bedroom with Lariel to keep company. Solenan was currently showing Clifton around in the castle. Right now, the two sat in silence.

A thought about Lariel staying in the castle permanently ran through his head. He was seen with his eyes looking out the window. His hands on his back indicated he was already in deep thought.

But little did he know, Lariel also wondered if she should stay permanently. Probably because of the new feeling that forced her to stay.

After a few minutes of silence, Lariel walked her way beside him. "You okay, Leo?" she asked in concern.

All she could hear from him was a sigh. He closed the curtains and locked the door. The lamp was turned on the whole time when they're in his bedroom.

After that, words managed to escape Leo's mouth. "You know... there's one reason I should say before I invite you here."

"What's that?" she asked him curiously.

His whole body turned to her, his eyes full of mixed emotions. Care, slight desperation and most of all... love.

Before Lariel could point things out, his lips pressed to hers. His hands were seen cupping her cheek in order to be comfortable in the kiss. After a few seconds, Lariel closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

The kiss lasted until they pulled away for breath.

Leo's right hand was cupping her cheek when he confessed, "Lariel. I have strong feelings for you. I've never had experienced like this until I met you. I love you for what we've been through together and most importantly, I love you because you're you. And so, I'm asking you. Will you be my girlfriend?"

You can't miss the tears of joy in her eyes while her lips began to stretch out from a shocked expression to an overjoyed one. Once she heard him asking her out, an exciting expression burst out.

"Yes!" she said as she wrapped her arms around him tightly, but not too tight for him to not breathe. "I'd love to, Leo! I'd love to!"

Leo was tensed when he felt her arms wrapped around him. Then, in a split second, his lips stretched out a warm smile and wrapped his arms around her, too.

Best. Night. Ever! they both thought in unison.

End of Book 2