Blooming into someone.

After waking up the next day, I'd pretty much-forgotten everything about last night. I got myself out of bed and took a bath. I decided to wear new clothes. I specifically wore Levi's favorite suite of mine.

I planned on doing some serious mining testing but before that, I had to head to my job. My purse was near empty after yesterday's party. I was practically a poor person at the moment.

I'll have to ask Levi for some money or I won't even be able to afford tonight's food.

With a bunch of thoughts in my mind, I left my house.

After completing my 5 hour shift, I headed to Levi's house. After walking for a while, I arrived at her house or better to say her 'Mansion'.

Levi was a descendant of the Afoster family. This family had a rich history, having roots from the beginning of a proper society along with the other 5 major families.

The Afoster family could be easily recognized as having curly blond hair, blue eyes, and their known habit to be very sensitive. Even after the royal system ended, they had a Royal status along with 5 other families due to their legendary heritage.

I stood at the Gate while The house guard approached me.

I was well recognized by the Guard as I have been to the place many times. He knew what I was going to say. So he opened the Gate without asking me anything.

I entered and started walking towards the door.

Normally, a person with no royal status would have not been welcomed to a place like this.

But due to my long years of friendship with Levi and being a scholar of the highest-ranked institute in the country, I had their complete respect.

As for me, I was an orphan. With my mother dying after giving birth to me. Having no known trace of my father, I was raised by the orphanage under the Afoster family.

I learned to walk, speak, read and write in that orphanage. It was the place where I first met Levi as well.

Our first meeting is a conversation for another day. All that matters is due to my intellect I was able to get scholarships and study in high-ranked schools and further institutions.

I was in a great amount of debt to the Afoster family.

I entered through the door to Levi's mother 'Lisa Afoster' drinking tea in her cup and dressed like an empress.

"Hello, Mrs. Afoster, I am pleased to make your acquaintance." I said in a formal tone while bowing towards her.

"Oh hello Phoenix, How have you been? Why haven't you visited in a long time?"

she asked.

"Sorry, it seems life is catching up. I have a job now, and with living alone and everything. My time has been reduced by a huge part, I have been busy during weekends too." I told her my sad reality.

Personally, I wished I could visit this place again and again or even better just live here.

"Oh, that's sad. Well sit here and have some tea." she offered me.

"I would love to, But I don't have time. I've come here to take Levi. We have to work on a project." as much as it pained my heart to say it, I couldn't allow myself to be busy here.

I needed a breakthrough today.

"Is that so..?" she said with a grim look on her face.

Well, her relationship with her daughter was not the best. And her husband died only 2 years after their marriage. So she starves for familial affection.

"If I may, I would like to stay over here tonight." I had to say it. I couldn't find myself happy while she looked so sad and I also didn't have any money for dinner. So I killed two birds with one stone. Her face filled with joy and she immediately agreed to my suggestion. Seeing her happy made me happy.

"Where is Levi?" I asked as getting her was the main purpose for coming to the mansion.

"Oh, She is in her room. I'm afraid she has locked it up for some reason after coming back yesterday. She was really angry and as red as a Temerpino!"

(Temerpino: A Sweet, Bright-red fruit found in the continent of Riaz. Considered to be quite a delicacy among the Royal Families.)

"Perhaps, you did something?" said Miss Afoster with a grin on her face.

She was convinced that only I could do something like this.

"Yes, I teased her a bit too much. I am at fault." I said shamelessly.

I truly shouldn't have said something like 'My future wife' to her, even as a joke.

"That girl is too prideful! She can't bear to hear a single bad thing about her." Criticizing her daughter even after knowing that it was the other party's fault could explain why their relationship is sour.

"I'll go get her." having said that, I ran up the stairs and got to the door of her room. I checked the handle of the room and found It unlocked.

I opened the door and saw Levi. Sleeping on her desk with her head on the table and papers scattered throughout the room. Not wanting to disturb her, I quietly walked up to her table.

The table was filled with papers on our research, with calculations written throughout them. One page was more distinctive than the others, so I slowly pulled it out.

Seeing that single piece of paper made my heart burst with joy.

"So you really figured it out!!" I said loudly in my heart.

Written on it were all the approximate locations of fuel we were looking for. All the hard work and time were worth it. Even though we still didn't have the fuel yet.

I had complete peace of mind and was truly happy with all the emotions in my heart. I looked at the sleeping beauty. Suddenly looking very beautiful. My mind went blank and I instinctively started getting closer and closer to her face, as if I was going to kiss her on the cheek.

"You truly are lovely." I got even closer to her face. I felt like my heart was going to burst. My face became completely red.

"I WON!" it was Levi, she was acting to be asleep to get this reaction out of me. "Are you kidding me?! You've been awake this whole time!"

I have to say her acting skills are great. But it is not important at the moment. She was smirking at me, clearly enjoying seeing me flustered.

"Oh my god, You are so annoying!" I tried to diffuse the situation, She didn't react at first, but then she immediately got up from her chair and pushed me to the nearest wall.

"I'm annoying, huh? Well, this annoying girl was just about to get a kiss from someone recently. He might just be my future husband, you know?" she said in a confident tone. Clearly, she was enjoying my flustered face.

I could tell she could see me blushing like a toddler who just got candy. But using my words against me added fuel to the fire.

I couldn't back off.

"You are my type of annoying." saying this, I went for her mouth. She hesitated for a moment. I thought this was enough for her to back off...But seeing me like this, she persisted. I think it was due to her competitive nature, she started tilting her face to the side as if getting ready for a kiss. Both of us were almost sure that we were going to kiss. But then, we suddenly heard loud footsteps coming up the stairs.

...it was Levi's mother.

"Levi! Phoenix!! What are you both doing? weren't you going out for work?" hearing this brought us back to our senses.

Both of our faces were flustered. Looking at each other one final time, we quickly jumped apart.

Levi's mother reached the room and saw us both. Looks like she got the idea. She smiled teasingly and left without saying a single word.

We both looked at each other, awkwardness filled the room.

I decided to quit work that day because of the awkwardness and planned my overnight stay there.