Their feet slipped from the narrow rungs in perfect sync—two startled yelps, skirts fluttering, arms flailing as gravity pulled Mona and Lena toward the unforgiving marble floor.
But the impact never came.
There was only a blur—a sweep of motion as swift and precise as a blade through silk. Leon stepped forward like a shadow gliding through candlelight, his black-and-gold robe rippling behind him. His arms moved faster than thought.
In the very next moment, Mona and Lena found themselves cradled securely—one in each arm.
For a heartbeat, the world fell into silence.
Both girls had their eyes screwed shut, braced for pain, bodies trembling lightly. But instead of cold marble, they felt... warmth. A firm, steady strength beneath their backs. A heartbeat that wasn’t theirs.
Lena’s lashes fluttered first. Her breath caught as she peeked upward—
Bright, shining like sunlight through honey-colored glass, Duke Leon’s eyes grasped hers with mirthful warmth. Her lips parted a fraction. The warmth of his chest against her cheek, the smell of him—clean, warm, and exasperatingly male—cloaked her like an incantation.
Next, Mona blinked. Her eyes widened as she realized she was half-curled in his left arm, her own hand instinctively gripping his collar for balance. She turned to find Leon looking at them both with that familiar teasing half-smile.
"Y-you caught us...?" Lena whispered, her voice barely more than a breath.
Mona stammered, her cheeks deepening to a rich red, "W-we didn’t even realize when we lost our balance..."
Leon smirked, glancing between the two stunned maids. "Of course I did. Letting such beauty crash to the floor would be a crime, don’t you think?"
The words sank in slowly. Mona’s breath hitched. Lena felt her heart thump violently against her ribs.
A glowing blush spread across both their faces—deep red flooding pale cheeks and curling ears. Their gazes darted away shyly, but neither could stop the giddy flutter rising in their chests. Even their breath seemed caught in their throats, suspended somewhere between disbelief and embarrassment.
Rui, still by the coffee table with her skirt now decently tugged down, watched the entire scene unfold like a wide-eyed spectator at a theater. Her cheeks were already burning, but now they reached a whole new shade of crimson.
The manner in which Mona and Lena had lost equilibrium. the manner in which Lord Leon had grabbed them, arms spread wide like a bookworm hero, gold eyes blazing with serene self-assurance—it was the precise moment when, in a romantic drama, the love theme swelled. Rui blinked quickly, as if she were attempting to wake herself up from a nightmare.
She shook her head quickly—No no no, what are you thinking! —and rushed forward, her small hands flapping with urgency as she reached them.
"Sister Mona! Sister Lena! Are you both okay?" Rui asked with wide concern, voice light but sincere as she stepped to their sides.
The two maids, still nestled in Leon’s arms, blinked as if snapped from a trance. A shared jolt passed through them—and then they both panicked.
Their bodies tensed as they scrambled to sit up straight, trying to politely but desperately free themselves from Leon’s strong hold. In their flustered struggle, Mona’s hand pushed against his chest while Lena’s fingers hooked his shoulder—but the more they moved, the more uncoordinated it became. Their skirts ruffled, their breaths hitched.
Leon couldn’t help it. A low chuckle escaped him—warm, amused, and teasing.
"Easy," he said, the sound of laughter dancing in his voice. "I won’t charge you rent for staying a few seconds longer."
That only made things worse.
"L-Lord!" Mona squeaked, eyes wide.
Leon finally let them go with a grin, easing both women carefully onto their feet. He moved as if afraid to break something delicate.
As their heels touched the marble floor, both Lena and Mona stood upright again—but there was a lingering sense of absence. The warmth of Leon’s arms now gone left a strange hollowness, like they’d just stepped away from a fireplace into the cold air. Their legs were steady again, but their hearts? Still fluttering.
"I-I’m okay now," Mona murmured, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear and glancing away.
"M-me too. Thank you for catching us, Lord Leon," Lena added softly, her eyes still lowered but shining.
Rui looked between the two, blinking. Then she huffed, crossing her arms with a teasing pout. "You sure? You both looked like porcelain dolls about to crash into a thousand pieces a second ago."
"We’re fine, really," Mona said quickly.
"Yeah. all thanks to Lord Leon," Lena finished, her voice warm with lingering gratitude.
Leon chuckled again—softer this time, but still unmistakably amused. "Careful when you work ," he said, his voice like warm velvet. "If I hadn’t been here, the two of you might’ve gotten hurt."
Both maids bowed their heads, their cheeks still tinged with warmth. Embarrassment lingered on their faces, but beneath was something softer - something almost fluttery in their chests. His words weren’t just a warning; there was weight, quiet concern. It made their heartbeats quicken.
"We understand, Lord," Mona and Lena murmured in perfect unison, their voices barely above a whisper.
Leon nodded, satisfied, then turned his golden gaze toward Rui, who suddenly stood a little straighter.
"And Rui," he said, his tone dipping slightly—still teasing, but now edged with a gentle kind of authority. "Please be mindful of your posture when in the living room."
Rui blinked, confused for a beat. "My pos—"
Leon raised an eyebrow, not unkindly. "You’re still a young woman. It’s not safe to sit the way you were, especially in such a. visible angle."
Realization struck her like lightning. "E-eh?!"
She squeaked and tugged her skirt down again, even though it already covered her knees. Her face practically steamed. "I-I understood, Lord Leon. I’m so sorry and I give care next time!"
Leon offered her a small, teasing smile. "No need to apologize, Rui. Just... try not to do it again—unless you’re trying to seduce me. Or force me to indulge in you."
Rui’s face went up in flames.
"Wh—?! I—I wasn’t—!" she stammered, clutching the hem of her skirt and dragging to knees like it was her last lifeline. "I’m going to die... I’m really going to die from embarrassment..." Her voice trailed off into a flustered low mumble as she turned away, trying to hide behind the very air around her.
Beside her, Mona and Lena weren’t doing much better. Leon’s words had clearly caught them off guard too—their cheeks flushed crimson, eyes avoiding his gaze like guilty schoolgirls caught daydreaming. Leon didn’t miss it. In fact, he savored every bit of it.
He chuckled inwardly. So, innocent... so easily flustered. Their reactions were adorable.
But sensing the rising tension, he kindly shifted gears.
Leon gave them a final, approving nod. "By the way," he added in an easy tone, "where are the other two—Fey and Mira?"
Rui practically snapped to attention, relieved to latch onto the change of topic like a drowning girl to driftwood.
"Ah! Fey went to the storage wing to bring in the new flower vases," she said quickly, her voice still high-pitched from embarrassment. "And Mira—she’s upstairs, arranging the bedrooms, Lord! I think... I think they’ll both be back shortly!"
"Good," Leon hummed thoughtfully, nodding.
He exhaled softly, his golden gaze drifting across the living room. Sunlight spilled in through the half-set curtains, casting warm golden patterns over the polished marble floor. The air still carried the faint, sweet scent of fresh blooms from the nearby vases—mingling with the faint traces of laughter and lingering fluster from just moments ago.
Then his eyes returned to the three blushing maids. A hint of playfulness lingered in his voice as he said, "Alright, I’ll be going upstairs to freshen up. In the meantime, could you prepare some snacks for tea? Just call me once everything’s ready."
The three maids quickly straightened their posture, still flushed but now composed. In perfect unison, they bowed slightly and spoke with soft voices,
"Yes, my lord. We’ll call for you once the snacks and tea are prepared."
Leon gave a satisfied nod, a faint smile curving his lips. "Good."
With that, he turned and began making his way toward the grand staircase, his long black robe trailing behind him with quiet grace—its golden accents catching the last of the sun’s glow.