They stayed at another inn suggested by Daniel, which had a completely Eastern style, but with an even more romantic decor. Aleph wondered what Daniel expected him to do with Leticia before they reached the Autumn Kingdom. However, he pushed those thoughts aside and focused on enjoying the relaxing services of the hot spring.
Leticia, for her part, observed with curiosity the garments worn at the hotel, as the style was unusual for her, coming from the Winter Kingdom. After bathing, guests would wear yukatas—a type of Eastern robe—and walk normally in these clothes around the inn's premises.
After relaxing in the warm waters of the hot spring, Leticia returned to her chambers dressed in a delicate yukata. She found Aleph wearing a similar garment, in a dark gray tone. She stopped for a moment, observing him. The sight surprised her. He looked... different. More relaxed, more... attractive. It was the first time she had seen him like this, and the sight left her speechless. She tried to hide her interest, but a detail caught her attention: a gold necklace with a pendant that he wore under the robe. Curiosity overcame her. If the pendant had the symbol of the Autumn Kingdom, her theory about Aleph's true identity would be closer to being confirmed.
Gathering her courage, she approached him, reaching out her hand to touch the necklace. Aleph, however, intercepted her gesture, holding her hand gently and looking into her eyes with an unexpected tenderness.
"That attire would look even better if you let your hair down," he murmured with a soft smile.
Before Leticia could react, Aleph delicately removed the clip from her hair. The long black tresses slid smoothly over her shoulders, contrasting with the light fabric of the yukata. With a careful gesture, he brushed away the strands framing her face, his fingers lightly grazing her skin. The intensity of his gaze made her blush. Leticia looked away, embarrassed, trying to hide her face. Aleph, however, gently pulled her closer, enveloping her in an unexpected hug.
"I just wanted to smell the perfume of your hair," he whispered, his voice low in her ear.
Leticia's heart raced. The proximity, Aleph's scent, the tension in the air... it was all intoxicating. She feared he could hear the rapid beating of her heart. The hug lasted only a moment, but it was charged with an intensity that left her breathless. Aleph released her, murmuring to himself:
"I need to control myself..."
The words of the young women from the bookstore echoed in Leticia's mind: "This is the ideal moment. He is your fiancé..." She knew that expressions of gratitude could vary between kingdoms, and now, she felt she needed to act somehow. Mustering her courage, she approached Aleph again, touched his face delicately, and, looking into his eyes, leaned slowly toward him.
Aleph, surprised, stepped back, tripping on the sheet that was falling from the bed. The clumsy movement caused them to fall together, with Leticia supported on top of him. Leticia's face flushed intensely, and her surprise and embarrassment were evident. Aleph, feeling the softness of Leticia's body against his and the gentle scent of her hair, was on the verge of losing his self-control. He sat up, leaving Leticia kneeling before him on the bed. Confusion took hold of him. "What is she going to do now?" he thought, confused and apprehensive.
Slowly, Leticia leaned in, placing a soft kiss on Aleph's cheek. He gripped the sheet tightly, trying to suppress the desire to wrap her in his arms. The gesture, though simple, had caught him completely off guard. His face flushed, and he murmured to himself:
"This... this can only be a dream..." he murmured, stunned.
Leticia quickly pulled away, having reached her limit of embarrassment. Before she could get up, however, Aleph stopped her. He held her by the nape of her neck, his other hand enveloping hers, and leaned in toward her, his lips coming dangerously close to Leticia's. He hesitated, as if fighting an internal battle, and then whispered in her ear:
"Why... why did you kiss me?"
The deep, seductive tone of his voice, so close to her ear, made Leticia's heart pound.
"To... thank you," she replied, almost inaudibly.
"Thank me?"
"For everything you've done for me," Leticia explained, finding the strength to meet his gaze. "That's what the girls at the bookstore told me... that it was a way of... showing gratitude."
"I see..." Aleph said, his voice laden with an emotion Leticia couldn't decipher.
He abruptly got up from the bed, grabbed his overcoat, and left the room without looking back. She remained there, paralyzed and confused.
"Why did he get angry?" she asked herself, anguished. "Did I do everything wrong?"
Aleph, outside the inn, punched the wall, feeling frustration take hold of him. The sight of Leticia, with her innocent gesture and the softness of her kiss, was still clear in his mind. He knew he shouldn't let himself be carried away by this kind of feeling.
"What was I about to do?!" he thought desperately. "I can't fall in love with Leticia! I can't... even if I'm already... completely in love."
Daniel was approaching the inn when he saw Aleph punching the wall hard, frustration stamped on his face. Worried, he approached cautiously.
"Aleph, what happened?" he asked in a soft tone.
"I've reached my limit," Aleph replied, his voice hoarse with emotion, before quickly walking away.
"I warned him that holding back like this wouldn't work out..." Daniel thought, shaking his head, understanding what was going through Aleph's mind.
Entering the room, he found Leticia sitting on the bed, her cheeks flushed, her expression lost in thought. He realized something had happened between them and wanted to understand. Leticia, hesitant, recounted the incident with Aleph.
"I... I did something wrong, didn't I?" she asked, her voice low, almost hesitant.
Daniel scratched his head, thoughtful. He understood Aleph's frustration, but he didn't think Leticia had acted incorrectly. She had just... chosen the wrong word.
"I wouldn't say it was wrong, Leticia," Daniel explained. "Your way of acting isn't incorrect, but... it really depends on the situation."
He paused, trying to choose his words carefully.
"Instead of 'to thank you,' you could have said 'because you're special' or 'because I like you.' Sincerity is always the best option. Read the books you bought; they might help. But remember: the most important thing is to be true to your feelings."
Daniel looked at the books on the table, their suggestive titles promising to unravel the mysteries of love. Leticia, following Daniel's advice, dove into her reading. With each page, with each new definition of love and passion, a deep and liberating understanding washed over her. Upon finishing the last chapter, Leticia buried her face in the book, her heart beating out of sync. Finally, she understood. She was in love with Aleph.