Chapter 15 Happily Ever After

"Y-your highness, I sincerely apologize! I didn't mean to interrupt. I saw your highness here and thought that I should bring some snacks so...." She hurriedly placed the tray on the table, bowed and ran. "Congratulation your highness!" She yelled before I could stop her and clear the misunderstanding.

Dan howled in laughter and clapped his hands like a seal While Ren's face was bright red in embarrassment. I fear that it will be a hot gossip in the next few days.

"Oh my what a show."

"I agree. I guess this is the new norm? The girls confess to the guys since the guys are all wimps." It was Lilliana, who was suddenly sitting beside Dan and eating a macaroon. Upon noticing that Lilliana was beside him, Dan choked on his tea. 

Serves him right for drinking tea without putting his pinky out.

Lilliana got surprised by Dan's reaction and immediately handed him a napkin. Dan's face was bright red like Ren's as he looked away to cover his mouth while coughing.

I suddenly had an idea. A brilliant one at that. 

As if reading my mind, Dan gave me a disapproving look as I started to drag Ren away, but not before grabbing a few macaroons in a napkin. "Ren and I would like to feed the fished in the pond. And no, you may not follow us. Bye!" I gave Dan a thumbs up before leaving.

Ren seemed to understand what I was doing and followed me without protest. Though he seems a little quiet. I thought he would have said something to his brother to tease him. "Wait." Ren suddenly stopped and pulled me to another path where we circled until we were behind the pavilion. He was hidden behind the bushes a bit far from the pavilion, but it was enough for us to see them.

"I can't hear anything."

"I can hear. A little." Ren says.

"But if you can hear them doesn't that mean they can hear us too?"

"Lilliana's lynx can't hear us, but my brother might. Fortunately, he is too flustered for him to notice us."

"Not fair! I wanna eavesdrop too."

Ren smirked beside me. "Well too bad you're not a wolf."

A wolf. That reminds me. I have Custard! I started to reach in to our connection and poked Custard to wake up.

'Master?' It was Custard. I could feel him yawn at being woken, but he did not complain.

'Hey. Sorry to wake you. You are still in the pavilion, right?'

'Yes, Master. I am with the other wolf prince and a female cat. I'll come to you soon.'

'No, no. Stay there. Is there a way for me to listen to what you are hearing right now?'

'Yes, Master. If you wish, I can share it with you.'

'Great! I'll be counting on you.'

'Okay, Master.'

I looked at Ren, who was currently giving me a look. I grinned. "It seems that I can hear what Custard hears clearly. I may not be a wolf, but I have a wolf." Ren gave me a look. 

"-thought you like Ren since you thought I was him, so it did not matter."

"You honestly think I am stupid enough to mistake you for Ren?" Lilliana says. "It is true that you have given me a false name when you saved me but my lynx bonded with you and not with him. I know the soul that I am bonded to."

"Then why-"

"Because you are too stubborn for your own good. You don't want to admit it and keep ignoring me. So I asked your brother for a favor. I don't want him to tell anyone of my plan. I simply acted that he was the one who saved me back then and pretended to be in love with him. All the while, he would pretend to be ignorant and play along."

"Well that play you and my brother were part of went too far to get engaged."

"There was a little bit of a misunderstanding." Lilliana laughed nervously. "But I cleared it all up to my parents and your parents before coming here. So Ren is no longer my fiancé. By the way, did you know that your parents agreed immediately? It would seem that Rose is actually-" 

Custard suddenly sneezed and temporarily cut off our link.

"What? What?" I looked at Ren. His mouth was hanging open in shock. I nudge him to get his attention. "What did she say?"

"I-I don't know. Your wolf suddenly sneezed and I couldn't hear it clearly."

Suddenly, the link was back. 

"-too dense. Both of them. You do not know the pain I have to go through everyday." Dan sighed.

Lilliana simply laughed. "At least they seem to get along in their own way." She let out a sigh. "By the way, I am leaving tomorrow." 

They were quiet for a moment, until Dan cleared his throat. "Lilliana I..." He didn't finish.

"It's fine, Dan. If you are not ready to say it. But I will say it first. I-"

"I love you, Lilliana." Dan cut her confession off with his own.

Ren and I both gasped and covered each other's mouth. I have the urge to gather all the flowers around us and sprinkle it at the couple at the pavilion.

I could see their silhouette a little and could make out Dan holding Lilliana's hand to his chest. "I hope you can feel the sincerity of my words. I love you and I am sorry for being stubborn and hurting you. I am sorry for not telling you this sooner. Truth is, I already made a bond with you a few days before the incident. That is how I found you."

"Well since we are being honest with each other, I guess it is only fair to say that I liked you before our bond was even formed."

"So all this time I was a third wheel? Wow, what a childhood." Ren says. I pinched his cheek. "Ow!"

"All I am saying is that I love you too, Daniel." And with that, the two silhouettes of Lilliana and Daniel's head drew until they were kissing.

"OH MY-" Before I could shout my glee and expose us to the two lovebirds, Ren slapped his hand to my mouth.

The two finally separated, but their foreheads were still touching. "Lilliana, I decided to come with you tomorrow. I would personally want to escort you home and tell both of our parents. I don't want you to bear the burden alone anymore."

"What of the selection for the future king?"

"Do you really think I can be king if you are not my queen?" Dan laughed softly. "I do worry about my brother. How will he react? And there is also the problem about his-"

"I understand, brother!"

Ren suddenly burst out from our hiding spot before I could stop him. He suddenly marched out to where the lovebirds are. I followed behind him.

Well, our cover has been blown. I guess it is futile if I still hide. Might as well go over and congratulate the two.

"I have a hunch that you two were close by." Dan leered at us.

"I am the older brother. I should be the one worrying about you and not the other way around. You go and do what you like. I will support you."

"Brother, it is natural that I worry because-"

"Go home. If you guys decide to get married right away then better send an invitation." Ren smirked as soon as he saw both Dan and Lilliana's face turning red.

"Can you stop it? Worry about yourself and hurry up! You don't even"

Ren placed a hand on top of his brother's head. "I get it. I get it. The wolf really did bite me in the ass and I ignored it. I understand. Thanks."

Dan's mouth was hanging open in shock. "E-Excuse me for a moment." Dan turned his back from us and screamed yet again to no one in particular. But I could tell that it was a happy scream with the "Finaly" he was shouting.

After he was done screaming he turned to face us with a big smile on his face. It was a very happy moment for everyone. Lilliana suddenly came close to me and grabbed my hands. "Rose, I cannot wait for us to become sisters in the future!"

"Oh! You mean Ren and Dan's parents really are planning to adopt me?"

All smiles faded and replaced with grim expressions. Dan was massaging his temples, Lilliana had a blank look of shock on her face, while Ren was stifling a laugh.

"Now I get how you feel all the time, brother."

"Well it is your problem, so you better hurry up and fix it before it is too late. That vampire has been acting cheeky so you better watch out."

"Am I missing some inside joke or something?" I asked. Ren and Dan did not answer and looked away. Lilliana smiled and placed both hands on my shoulder. "Well I do not blame you since you do not have a beast inside of you to bite you in the ass. In due time I guess."

"Well then, I have to go and meet up with the queen and file my resignation. Shall we get going?" Dan offered his hand to Lilliana as they both started to head back.

Watching them both walk away made me sad at the realization. Dan will be leaving, just like Fred. But at least he is doing it for love, so I guess I should be happy. But I can't help but feel sad. Ren is as devious as Dan, but in the end they are a different person. There will be another void starting tomorrow and it makes me sad.

Ren suddenly pinched my cheek. "What's with that face? Cheer up. They haven't left yet."

"Yeah, but I will really miss them."

"I will too. But if you ever miss Dan, then just look at me." He grinned.

"No. You can't be Dan. And Dan can't be you. Just because you're twins doesn't mean that you are the same person."

Ren looked at me softly as a smile slowly found its way to his lips. He grabbed my hand and kissed it. "How could I have been such an idiot when you are this adorable. And this is exactly why..." He trailed off as his face started to inch closer to mine.

"Ren? P-personal space?" I stuttered and moved back. Upon my reaction he grinned mischievously 

"...It's so fun to tease you!" He suddenly rubbed my head and started to run away.

"You dork!" I yelled. "If someone sees-"

"If someone sees that then it would be another issue. Yeah yeah. I'll handle the rumors so don't you worry. I'll beat up anything that gives you worry." He winked before walking back.

'Master?' I felt Custard beside me. He looked up curiously.

"Custard, I don't know what is happening, so never leave my side."