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"You don't have to bring me a bunch of chocolates and flowers, Travis. " I said to him while we are in the garden.
"But I want to... Just let me be, Zelene... " he said while smiling to me.
"If that's what you want. " I sigh in defeat that makes him smile so widely.

Yesterday, me and Everard gets in an argument in which I didn't know how it exists. All I know is we have a serious talk that leads me into making him leave, that he just suddenly oblige to obey.

It doesn't make sense but he follows what I say and get out of my room. Maybe he really feels I'm not in the mood at that time and I'm actually glad in what he did.

"Thanks for the tea, Zelene. " he said to me when I slide the tea gently in his side. "I will sometimes bring our popular tea, I know how you love to drink tea. " taking my hand and smiles at me.
"You don't have to do that seriously, Travis. You already have given me enough. "

I don't know why is he doing all of this gentle things to me. But the way he treats me is making me feel safe and I like it.

"But I want to make you smile... " he said while looking at me in the eye.
"Why? " I ask.
"Because... " I feel him grips my hand then he suddenly takes it in his lips and kisses it. "Because I love to do it because I-"
"Zelene! "

I hear someone scream my name making Travis words cut in the middle of it. We both look at the source of the voice and see Everard standing meters away from us. While glaring at Travis which the latter did too.

"Travis... " I said gently but still he didn't look at me and still glare at Everard. "Travis... " I grip his hand slighter making him look at me and I smile.
"Sorry, Zelene... " he apologized.
"It's okay but please calm down... "

I said to him after that I stand up and walk towards Everard. Giving him a small curtsy as a respect and I called Travis name.

"Let's go to my room, Travis. " I saw him stand up and run towards me. "Please excuse us, your highness."

I bow to him before me and Travis leave but what I didn't expect is he suddenly takes my hand, and pull me towards him. Making me stumble and hug his waist for support.

Looking up and I saw him smiling at me but I push him. I need to get away from him, I don't want to fall for him that's the last thing I want to do for my past parents. Suddenly I saw how those hurts in his eyes make my heart in guilt. But I need to be strong...

"I'm sorry, your highness but me and Travis have an important talk that we need to finish. So we really need to excuse ourselves. " I look at him in the eye.

He suddenly closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before he speaks.

"If you have an important talk with him, then you have much more important business with me, Zelene."

Zelene? If I'm correct, we are not that close for him to call me by my name. I look at my side and saw Travis glaring at Everard. I hold his hand again for him to calm down.

"Control yourself, Travis... Can you just wait on the tea table? I will just talk to him for a minute. " I said while smiling at him.

Knowing how worried he is but, I want to say to him that 'I'm alright and you don't have to worry'. For a person like him, he will not believe me. He is such a worrisome person and I know what's the reason for that.

"Just wait for me there and I promise I will be back in a couple of minutes. " he suddenly hugs me and I hug him back.
"I will be there, just scream if this guy hurts you. I will protect you. " I chuckle and pats his back while still hugging each other.

And Everard already hurt me back then and that will never happen again. I promise it to myself. I hear a clearing of throat or more of a growl of anger from my back.

Everard pulls me from Travis and glare at him.

"You don't have any right to touch my fiance, Prince of Sarillae. " he is grabbing my wrist really strong making me flinch and Travis saw it.
"You are not his fiance! She already rejected you! " he snarled back at him.

I walk in the middle of Travis and cover him because I saw Everard will punch him, but he stops when I came in the middle. Everard looks shocked in what I did but I don't care. Right now this guy at my back is one of the people who makes my life meaningful. That's why I definitely protect him at all cost.

"Don't try to hurt Travis... Especially you are in my father's territory and especially in front of me. Travis is my childhood friend and I don't care if you are a king, if you try to hurt him. I will definitely lay my hands in your kingdom." I warn him.
"Why are you protecting that guy? Do you love him? " he is saying this with hurt in his voice.

I don't understand why is he reacting like this but a thought pops up in my mind. Yes, he is seeing my past self on me and he is thinking I'm Leanne.

Yes, I'm Leanne but she is gone...

"Your Highness... Don't mistake me for anyone, I'm Zelene and not that Leanne. "

His eyes widened in what I say but still, he fixes himself and looks at me seriously. Travis grabs my arm and put me on his back.

"Zelene, don't try to protect me because I'm the one who will protect you from this guy. I will never make him hurt you like he did to my grandparents. "