BLACK and WHITE

Chapter six: Curiousity

~xxx~

Days passed, and Blue oversaw the restoration of the glasshouse, curious about Leo's sudden interest in botany. Meanwhile, Leo retreated into his own world, his smile growing wider and more enigmatic.

One evening, as Blue was leaving the glasshouse, he noticed Leo standing alone in the garden, surrounded by the sweet scent of blooming herbs. The air was heavy with the fragrance of rare flowers, and the sound of soft music drifted through the air.

"Young Master, what's going on?" Blue asked, approaching him cautiously, extremely careful with his choice of words. "You've been acting strange lately."

Leo's smile grew even wider. "Just enjoying the beauty of nature, Blue. Don't worry about it."

But Blue's eyes narrowed. "There's more to it than that. It looks more like you're hiding something from me."

Leo's gaze locked onto Blue's, his eyes glinting in the moonlight. "Perhaps," he said, his voice low and mysterious. "But some secrets are meant to remain hidden."

Blue's mind raced with possibilities. What is his Young Master concealing?.. And why is he so determined to keep it a secret?...

Blue's eyes lingered on Leo's enigmatic smile, his mind racing with possibilities. But Leo's gaze had already shifted, his attention focused on a specific herb in the garden. Blue followed his gaze and noticed a rare, glowing plant with delicate white petals and a soft, ethereal light emanating from its center.

"Luminaria," Leo whispered, his voice filled with reverence. "The herb of light and hope."

Blue's curiosity was piqued. "You seem particularly interested in this herb, Young Master. Why's that?"

Leo's eyes sparkled with intensity. "Luminaria holds the power to illuminate even the darkest corners of our souls. It's a reminder that hope always exists, even in the bleakest of times."

As Blue watched, Leo gently touched the herb's petals, his fingers seeming to absorb its light. A soft hum filled the air, and the music in the garden grew louder, as if the plants themselves were responding to Leo's touch.

Suddenly, Leo's eyes snapped towards Blue, his gaze piercing. "Blue, I need you to do something for me. I want you to ensure that Luminaria is always present in our garden, thriving and strong. Can I count on you?"

Blue nodded, intrigued by Leo's fervor. "Of course, Leo. I'll make sure it's well taken care of."

Leo's smile returned, his eyes gleaming with a knowing light. "I knew I could rely on you, Blue. Now, let's tend to Luminaria together. Its light will guide us through the darkness."

Blue's eyes widened as he gazed at the exotic herbs surrounding Leo. "What are these?" he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Leo's smile grew wider as he began to explain. "These, my dear Blue, are rare and precious herbs. Some of them have the power to heal, while others...well, others have more sinister effects."

Blue's eyes scanned the plants, his mind racing with questions. "What do you mean?"

Leo's gaze locked onto a particularly unusual-looking herb. "This one, for example, is called 'Moonpetal.' It's said to have the power to manipulate memories."

Blue's eyes widened in shock. "Manipulate memories?"

Leo nodded. "Yes. And this one," he gestured to another herb, "is called 'Shadowroot.' It can create powerful illusions, making it difficult to discern reality from fantasy."

Blue's mind reeled as he tried to process the information. "And the cure?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Leo's expression turned serious. "Ah, the cure. That's the most elusive of all. It's said that only the rarest of herbs, 'Luminbloom,' can counteract the effects of these plants."

Blue's eyes scanned the garden, searching for any sign of the mysterious Luminbloom. "Do you have it?" he asked, his heart racing with anticipation.

Leo's smile grew enigmatic once more. "Perhaps," he said, his voice dripping with mystery. "But that's a secret for another time, Blue."

Blue's eyes sparkled with curiosity as he gazed at Leo. He had always known that his Young Master was intelligent, but he had never seen this side of him before. The way Leo's eyes gleamed with a quiet intensity, the way his smile hinted at secrets and mysteries, it all drew Blue in.

As the days passed, Blue found himself growing more and more fascinated by this new aspect of Leo's personality. He began to notice the way Leo's eyes would light up when he spoke about botany, the way his fingers would gently touch the petals of a flower as if it were a precious treasure.

Blue realized that he had been so caught up in Leo's tyrant persona that he had never stopped to consider that there might be more to his Young Master than met the eye. And now, he was determined to learn more.

"Young Master, may I ask you something?" Blue said one evening as they strolled through the garden.

"Of course, Blue," Leo replied, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

"What's behind this sudden interest in botany?" Blue asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Leo's smile grew wider, and he leaned in closer. "Ah, Blue. I'm glad you're interested. You see, I've always believed that the art of botany is a lot like the art of manipulation. Both require patience, subtlety, and a deep understanding of the delicate balance of power."

Blue's eyes widened in surprise. He had never thought of it that way before.

Blue's eyes lingered on Leo's enigmatic smile, his mind racing with possibilities. Was this all a pretense? Was Leo hiding something behind his charming facade?

Unable to draw a conclusion, Blue decided to observe more, his gaze lingering on Leo's every move. He noticed the way Leo's eyes sparkled in the moonlight, the way his black and white hair curled slightly at the nape of his neck.

As the night wore on, Blue found himself drawn into Leo's orbit, his curiosity piqued by the secrets Leo seemed to keep. He knew he had to be careful, though - Leo was a master manipulator, and Blue didn't want to become his next pawn.

"I'll keep watching," Blue thought to himself. "I'll uncover the truth behind Leo's smile."