Princess Seraphina smiled again, and Leo got the distinct impression that his protests were having the opposite effect of what he intended. "You know, most people who accomplish extraordinary things try to take credit for them. You're the first person I've met who seems determined to convince everyone that your achievements are accidents."
"Because they are accidents," Leo said with complete honesty. "Very fortunate accidents that keep happening despite my best efforts to be unremarkable."
"Perhaps," Princess Seraphina said, leaning forward slightly in a way that made Leo acutely aware of how close they were sitting, "the universe has plans for you that you haven't recognized yet."
Leo felt a chill run down his spine.
The universe did indeed have plans for him, and those plans involved him becoming increasingly entangled in the main plot of his own story. "I don't want the universe to have plans for me," he said desperately. "I want the universe to ignore me completely. I want to be so forgettable that the universe forgets I exist."
"That would be a terrible waste," Princess Seraphina said softly. "The world needs people like you, Leo. People who act without thinking about the consequences, who help others without expecting recognition, who make things better just by being themselves."
From his pocket, Sir Reginald provided unhelpful commentary in a voice so quiet that only Leo could hear it. "She's quite taken with you, giant. This is either a wonderful development or a complete disaster, depending on your perspective."
"Complete disaster," Leo muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Princess Seraphina asked, tilting her head with the kind of curious expression that made her look even more beautiful than usual.
"I said... complete... tea... disaster," Leo improvised desperately. "If I spill tea on myself. Which I might. I'm very clumsy with... tea-related activities."
Princess Seraphina laughed again, and Leo realized that even his attempts to seem clumsy and accident-prone were being interpreted as endearing character traits rather than reasons to avoid spending time with him.
"You're not clumsy," she said with obvious affection. "You're just... careful. Thoughtful. The kind of person who considers the consequences of their actions."
"I never consider the consequences of my actions," Leo protested. "I just stumble through life making mistakes and hoping they work out for the best."
"And yet," Princess Seraphina observed, "your mistakes always seem to help people. That's either remarkable luck or something more meaningful."
Leo was beginning to realize that no matter what he said, Princess Seraphina was going to interpret it in ways that made him seem more interesting and admirable than he actually was. It was like being trapped in a conversation where every attempt to be self-deprecating was transformed into evidence of his noble character.
"Your Highness," he said finally, deciding to try a more direct approach, "I think you might be overestimating my... positive qualities. I'm really not the kind of person who would make a good... friend. Or companion. Or whatever it is that you're thinking about."
Princess Seraphina studied him with the kind of intense attention that made Leo feel like she was seeing right through his carefully constructed explanations. "What kind of person do you think I'm thinking about?"
Leo felt his face growing warm. "I... well... someone heroic. And noble. And possessed of the kind of admirable qualities that would make them suitable for... royal social situations."
"And you don't think you possess those qualities?"
"I know I don't possess those qualities," Leo said with complete certainty. "I'm cowardly, self-interested, and primarily motivated by a desire to avoid responsibility and attention."
Princess Seraphina was quiet for a moment, sipping her tea while she considered his words. "Leo," she said finally, "do you know what I find most attractive about you?"
Leo's heart stopped. "Attractive?"
"Your honesty," she said with a smile that made his heart start beating again, but much faster than was probably healthy. "Most people try to impress me by pretending to be better than they are. You're the first person I've met who seems determined to convince me that you're worse than you are."
"Because I am worse than I appear to be," Leo said desperately. "Much worse. Catastrophically worse. The kind of worse that would disappoint anyone who got to know me better."
"I'd like to find out for myself," Princess Seraphina said softly.
Leo stared at her, taking in the sight of a beautiful princess who was looking at him with the kind of warm, interested expression that belonged in romance novels and fairy tales. She was everything he had written her to be: intelligent, kind, brave, and possessed of the kind of natural grace that made ordinary people feel clumsy and inadequate by comparison.
She was also, apparently, interested in him in ways that would make his carefully planned life of anonymity completely impossible.
---
[Romance Points: +100]
• System Note: The princess is officially smitten. This is either wonderful news or a complete catastrophe, depending on your goals.
---
[New Achievement Unlocked: Accidental Romantic Interest]
• Description: You've attracted the romantic attention of royalty while trying to be boring. This is either impressive or deeply concerning.
• Reward: The affection of a beautiful princess and all the complications that come with it.
• Side Effect: Your attempts to be uninteresting will now be interpreted as mysterious and intriguing.
---
"I think," Leo said quietly, "this is going to be a problem."
"What kind of problem?" Princess Seraphina asked, though her tone suggested she was more amused than concerned.
Leo looked around the Royal Gardens, taking in the sight of elegant flowers, ornamental fountains, and the kind of romantic setting that belonged in stories about people who were much more interesting than he wanted to be.
"The kind of problem," he said finally, "that's going to make my life significantly more complicated than I ever intended it to be."
Princess Seraphina smiled. "Sometimes," she said, "complications are exactly what we need."
As Leo made his way back to the academy after tea, he couldn't help but reflect on how thoroughly his plan for romantic anonymity had failed. He had intended to be boring and forgettable, and instead he had apparently become the object of royal romantic interest.
"Well," said Sir Reginald from his pocket, "that went about as well as could be expected for someone who was trying to convince a princess that he's unworthy of her attention."
"She thinks I'm being modest," Leo groaned. "She thinks my attempts to seem boring are evidence of my noble character."
"Perhaps," Sir Reginald suggested, "you should consider the possibility that she's right."
Leo sighed. "I don't want to be right. I want to be wrong, boring, and completely forgettable."
"I'm afraid that's no longer an option," Sir Reginald said gently. "But look on the bright side—if you're going to be memorable, being memorable to a beautiful princess is probably better than being memorable for accidentally destroying things."
Leo had to admit that was probably true. Unfortunately, he was beginning to suspect that being memorable to a beautiful princess was going to lead to exactly the kind of high-profile romantic complications that would make destroying things seem simple by comparison.
---
[New Quest Issued: Navigate Royal Romance]
• Description: A princess is interested in you romantically. Try to handle this situation without causing a diplomatic incident or becoming the subject of royal gossip.
• Reward: The possibility of a meaningful relationship with someone who actually likes you for who you are.
• Failure Penalty: Romantic drama, royal complications, and the complete destruction of your anonymity.
---
"I think," Leo said to Sir Reginald as they approached the academy, "my problems are about to get much more complicated."
"Undoubtedly," Sir Reginald agreed. "But at least they'll be interesting problems."