The atmosphere between Cecilia and Leo had shifted, an unspoken tension lingering in the air since the night she had awoken from her near-death experience.

What began as a marriage of convenience, a union forged by duty and political necessity, was slowly evolving into something more complex, more tangled.

Days passed, and Cecilia found herself drawn to Leo in ways she hadn’t anticipated.

There was a magnetism to him, a charm that was hard to resist, even when he infuriated her.

She could see glimpses of the man beneath the crown, beneath the mask of the prince, and those glimpses intrigued her.

Yet, every time she thought they were making progress, Leo would push her away with a jest or a teasing comment, making her question his sincerity.

One evening, as they were preparing for a formal dinner with visiting dignitaries, Cecilia stood before her mirror, adjusting the intricate braids of her hair.

Leo entered the room, already dressed in his ceremonial attire, his eyes catching her reflection in the glass.

For a moment, his gaze softened as he watched her, a flicker of something warm passing between them.

“You look lovely, Cecilia,” he said, his voice unusually tender.

Cecilia’s heart skipped a beat at the unexpected compliment, but she quickly masked her reaction.

“Thank you,” she replied, turning to face him.

“And you look rather... princely.”

He chuckled, a sound that was both endearing and exasperating.

“Is that supposed to be a compliment? I’m not sure whether to be flattered or offended.”

“It was simply an observation,” Cecilia retorted, though she couldn’t keep the corners of her mouth from lifting into a small smile.

As they prepared to leave for the banquet, Leo reached out and took her hand, surprising her once again.

“You know, Cecilia, for all our differences, I think we make a formidable pair,” he said, his tone shifting from lighthearted to sincere.

“I... appreciate your strength. More than you know.”

Cecilia’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes meeting his.

There was a vulnerability in his expression that she hadn’t seen before, a crack in the armor he usually wore so confidently.

But before she could respond, before she could explore the emotion that had settled between them, Leo grinned and added,

“Of course, I’d appreciate it even more if you could dance without stepping on my toes tonight.”

The moment shattered, and Cecilia pulled her hand away, a flicker of disappointment crossing her features.

“Perhaps if you led properly, I wouldn’t need to.”

Leo laughed, clearly enjoying the playful banter, but he missed the way her eyes darkened, how she turned away from him, masking her frustration.

It was these moments—these fleeting instances of sincerity, followed by a wall of humor—that made Cecilia’s growing feelings for Leo so complicated.

♡♡♡

Despite their personal struggles, the demands of the court didn’t relent.

The pressure for an heir loomed over them, especially from Leo’s parents and the high society of Rivendel.

Every interaction seemed to carry the weight of expectation, every glance filled with unspoken questions about when Cecilia and Leo would fulfill their duty to the kingdom.

But the conversation they had been avoiding—about bearing a child—came to a head one afternoon during a meeting with the Queen.

Cecilia had hoped to avoid the topic, but it was impossible to ignore the subtle hints and veiled comments.

“We understand that your union is still young,” the Queen said, her voice calm but firm.

“But the kingdom needs stability, and an heir would secure that. You both must understand the importance of this.”

Cecilia nodded, her mind racing.

She knew what was expected of her, but the thought of bringing a child into this world, into a marriage that was still so uncertain, filled her with apprehension.

“I understand, Your Majesty,” she replied, choosing her words carefully.

“But perhaps a bit more time...”

Leo, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

“We’ll have a child when we’re ready,” he said, his tone brokering no argument. “Not a moment sooner.”

His mother’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded.

“Of course, Leo. But do not delay too long. The kingdom is watching.”

As they left the meeting, Cecilia felt the tension between them, a tension that had been simmering since the day they had first been forced into this union.

She wanted to talk about it, to understand why Leo was so resistant, but she didn’t know how to approach him.

Later that evening, when they were alone, Cecilia finally gathered the courage to bring up the subject.

“Leo, about what your mother said today...”

Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“I know what you’re going to say, Cecilia, but I just can’t do it. Not now.”

“But why?” she pressed, her voice filled with both confusion and concern. “What is it that’s holding you back? Is it me?

Am I not...”

Leo’s head snapped up, his eyes locking onto hers. “Don’t,” he said sharply. “Don’t think for a second that this has anything to do with you not being enough.

Because you are.

More than enough.”

“Then why?” she asked, her frustration spilling over.

“Why do you keep pushing me away? Why do you make everything into a joke when all I want is for us to be honest with each other?”

Leo stared at her, his expression torn.

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Instead, he turned away, retreating behind the walls he had built around himself. “It’s complicated, Cecilia. There are things I can’t explain. Things you wouldn’t understand.”

Cecilia felt a pang of hurt at his words, but she refused to let it show. “Maybe I would understand if you let me in, Leo. But how can I, when you keep shutting me out?”

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with all the things neither of them could say.

Finally, Leo turned back to her, his eyes softening.

“Cecilia... I’m not good at this. At being a husband, or a prince, or anything that involves other people.

But I’m trying. Please... just give me time.”

Cecilia’s heart ached at his plea, at the vulnerability he rarely showed.

She stepped closer, reaching out to touch his arm.

“I’m not asking for perfection, Leo. I’m just asking for you. For us to figure this out together.”

For a moment, it seemed like he might let her in, that he might finally share the burden he carried.

But then, as always, he deflected with a grin.

“You know, for someone who claims not to like me, you sure spend a lot of time worrying about my feelings.”

Cecilia sighed, withdrawing her hand.

“And for someone who claims not to care, you sure spend a lot of time avoiding the issue.”

Leo laughed, but it was a hollow sound.

“Touché, my dear wife. Touché.”

♡♡♡

In the days that followed, the tension between them remained, though it was tempered by the slow, steady growth of their bond.

They argued often, sometimes over the smallest things—where to place a new piece of furniture, how to address certain members of the court, even what to eat for dinner.

Their arguments were passionate, but there was an undercurrent of playfulness to them, as if both were testing the boundaries of their relationship.

Leo found himself drawn to Cecilia’s strength, her resilience, even as he continued to keep her at arm’s length.

He admired her, respected her, and yet he couldn’t bring himself to fully open up to her.

It wasn’t that he didn’t care—if anything, he cared too much.

But he was afraid.

Afraid of what it would mean to truly let someone in, to let her see the parts of himself he kept hidden.

Cecilia, for her part, was growing more and more frustrated with Leo’s refusal to be serious.

She knew there was more to him than the carefree, teasing prince he presented to the world.

She had seen glimpses of it, in the way he had cared for her after the poisoning, in the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn’t paying attention.

But every time she tried to reach out to him, he pulled away, retreating behind his jokes and deflections.

Despite this, she couldn’t deny the feelings that were growing inside her.

She was beginning to care for Leo, more than she had ever thought possible.

But those feelings were complicated, tangled up in the frustration and hurt that came from his constant teasing, his refusal to be honest with her.

She wanted to understand him, to know what drove him, but he kept that part of himself locked away, out of her reach.

Their court duties continued, the demands of the kingdom pressing down on them both.

The pressure to produce an heir remained, but neither of them was ready to face that challenge.

Not yet.

There were too many unresolved issues between them, too many unspoken words.

But even as they struggled, there was a sense that something was changing between them, that the walls they had built around themselves were slowly beginning to crack.