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"Come forth into the light of things, let nature be your teacher." ― William Wordsworth
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Sakura watched the gardens from her window. Eliza and Lien were engaged in their tasks for the enchanted Prince, while Sakura remained in her room. The only order she had received was to rest her foot and stay safe. She was certain that her once injured limp was healed but the magical strings had not ceased from her leg. Even if it had accompanied her for some days, the huntress wanted to move around freely – she was uncertain if the magical flow could locate her but she had the odd feeling that the beast could feel her presence everywhere.

Staying in the room was not something she wanted to do every day. Needless to say that Sakura was growing lonely. She was used to be on her own for some time but the mansion's aura was casting a lonely feeling on her. Thinking back to the day where Arthur had openly told them of their curse, Sakura mused about all the years he must have spent hidden here.

"Ten years," she repeated his words before opening the window in her chamber. The weather was lovely and invited her to take a stroll in the rose gardens – this piece of nature had caught her attention since she had arrived at the mansion. She understood the master's weakness for roses; they bloomed beautifully and created a positive aura.

The huntress walked past the several doors in the building to reach the grand staircase near the main entrance. Only as she stepped outside, did Sakura feel small prickles that run up her leg. The woman did not need to look closely at it, for she knew exactly that the magic encircling her former injured foot was glowing differently.

Her feet stopped and her hand softly stretched above the magical strings, uncertain of what could happen.

"Where are you going?"

The voice behind her startled her immensely and she jumped aside whirling around quickly, only to stare at the master of the house whose face was veiled with his hood. Even if he was aware that Sakura had already seen his visage, Arthur made sure to not show it again.

"The weather felt nice . . . I wanted to walk through the gardens," the huntress answered sincerely. Arthur remained silent, before nodding. "I will accompany you."

There was no need to decline his offer but Sakura had the odd feeling that he had been staring at her leg – he probably thought that her foot had not healed yet.

Both walked in utter silence, although the huntress was aware of the looks he threw at her every ten seconds.

"Can you locate me?" She suddenly spoke the question that had lingered on her mind since she had received that magical treatment. To underline her point, Sakura motioned towards her foot that was still brightened by the glowing flow.

"Y-Yes," Arthur finally replied after thinking if he should tell her. It was the only mention he would utter; even if he could feel through his magic that Sakura had felt lonely. For him it was surprising to found himself caring if she was comfortable in his home; denying that he wanted her as happy as possible in his presence.

"I was wondering if you could remove the magic from it . . . The wound is healed."

Now that small request was a little difficult to accept; Arthur's only connection to her was through this and now he needed to consider her wish – of course he did not want to upset her in any kind but he felt uncomfortable doing it. For his own sake.

With one quick move of his bandaged hand, Sakura's leg was freed from the glowing strings. Although she could tell that the master of the mansion was not being enthusiastic in his intention.

"I know you don't trust me –"

The Prince quickly interrupted her, "I do trust you."

"But why would you let the magic stay on my limb, even if it has already healed?" The question was more difficult to answer, nonetheless the beast murmured its reason. "I was worried." Before Arthur could reconsider his spoken words, he stopped dead in his tracks, a cold shiver went down his spine: He had admitted that he worried about her. Loud and in front of her.

"O-Oh." Sakura was staring at him with widened eyes before a small smile graced her face. "Thank you . . . I know it isn't easy to trust a bounty hunter, so I thought you . . ."

"Would spy on you?" Arthur completed the sentence with a neutral look on his face – which Sakura could not see under his hood.

She nodded and the Prince waited to answer her, "I did not trust you when you broke into the mansion. Now it is another situation, considering that we forged an alliance."

"I understand."

The silence felt a little awkward as both walked side by side through the gardens. It was still very uncommon for Sakura to be in the presence of a Prince, who had threatened to kill her only a week before. How quick such things could change.

As small clouds created a dark veil around the mansion, the two were faced with raindrops that crashed rather forcefully to the ground.

"Quick," the cursed beast muttered, pulling Sakura back to the mansion. The entrance was warmer than the cold wind that had picked up as the cloudy sky appeared.

"The weather seems to change quite often in such a short time," the huntress commented, looking down at her wet clothes.

The Prince snorted and turned away from her; he seemed a little annoyed by her comment, "Wherever I go there is always rain . . . I wonder why."

A small chuckle escaped the petite woman's lips, causing Arthur to turn back to her with raised eyebrows. Even if his face was still hidden from her, Sakura could tell that he wore a confusing expression.

"I don't think the rain is obsessed with you." The huntress suppressed a laugh as she created the image of the beast being followed by rain in her head. She knew that the Prince was one of a kind and this topic of conversation amused her.

"Really? But it is cold and interrupts my walk whenever I venture the gardens . . . I don't know a person that likes such weather."

Sakura was astonished by his expression and smiled. "I do like it in a way . . . It shows us how powerful nature is; it brings life and is freshening. Your roses would not survive without water . . . and the forest would be grey without it. It is the essence of true beauty."

She had no idea how her words affected the man in front of her; for he had never had such a conversation with a woman before. Before his curse, the female attendants at the royal court where superficial and spoke of fashion, rumours and food. Not to mention the gossip that was their favourite theme of conversation.

But the huntress had a complete different approach of conversation and it was all due to her experience in life. From childhood on she had to survive, rely on herself or her sister. She had witness things none of the rich Ladies had, so of course her view on life differed from others.

"H-Have I said something wrong?" the words suddenly rang in Arthur's head as he was thrown back to the scene in front of him. Sakura watched him carefully.

"N-no! You did not, I-I was a little caught in my thoughts," he resumed, feeling embarrassed to admit it. A sudden thought entered his mind.

"Do you want to see the library?"

The petite woman nodded and the beast was glad to have found another topic they could talk about.

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