CHAPTER 373: CHAPTER 373 MAZE

Bella felt like a princess.

Inside the room, a golden dress was laid neatly on the bed, delicate and sleeveless, shining faintly under the lights. It fit her perfectly, hugging her softly when she finally gathered the courage to wear it.

When she stepped out, Leo was standing near the railing, phone pressed to his ear, speaking in that calm, deep voice that always made her heart flutter. He leaned one arm casually against the edge, his dark shirt sleeves rolled up, his expression serious.

But the moment he heard her steps, he turned. His words stopped, and his gaze lifted to her.

He ended the call quietly. "We’ll talk later," he said into the phone, lowering it slowly, his eyes still fixed on her.

"How do I look?" Bella asked softly, her voice shy as she tugged at the edge of the golden fabric. The memory of his hands earlier, the warmth of his touch, made her heartbeat race again.

Leo blinked once, his usual composure slipping for just a second. He nodded slowly, giving a small approving hum, but his mind was far from calm. She’s too beautiful, he thought, fighting the sudden urge to ask her to change just so he could breathe again.

Bella bit her lower lip, hiding a small smile. "You’re not saying anything," she whispered, pouting faintly.

He reached out, brushing a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, his voice low. "You look perfect."

She turned pink at that and looked away quickly.

A few moments later, he guided her toward another hallway. They walked down the stairs and through a grand corridor until they stopped before a tall red-bordered door. Leo opened it for her, and Bella stepped in, only to gasp.

The room ahead was breathtaking. Gold designs twined across the walls, and the ceiling shimmered faintly like sunlight on water. The floor reflected everything in a soft, glowing light.

"Where are we going?" she asked again, her eyes wide with curiosity.

"Maze," Leo said simply, glancing at her amused expression.

Bella’s excitement instantly returned. "Maze? Like those mirror mazes?"

"Exactly."

"Why would a palace have a maze?" she asked, completely puzzled.

He chuckled, walking beside her. "According to old records, the King of Rose City built it a thousand years ago. Why? You’ll have to ask him."

Bella frowned playfully. "That’s unfair."

He only smiled, eyes glinting.

She didn’t understand what he was planning. If this was a date, why had he bathed her first? Why bring her here, of all places? But even through her confusion, she couldn’t deny how much she was enjoying it. Everything felt mysterious, and Leo himself was half the reason why. The quiet confidence in his every move, the secretive curve of his lips, it all made her heartbeat skip each time he looked at her.

Finally, he opened another small door inside the golden room, and Bella froze.

Before her stretched a glass maze, endless mirrors gleaming under soft light, reflecting her face and Leo’s from every direction. Wherever she turned, she saw him. His tall figure beside her, his steady gaze following her even through the reflections.

Every step she took, their reflections followed, hundreds of Leos and Bellas shimmering in the glass.

"Leo," she whispered, her voice echoing faintly in the maze.

He smiled faintly, stepping closer until she could see his reflection behind every mirror, surrounding her completely. "Stay close," he said, his tone deep and smooth.

And as they walked together through the maze of glass and light, Bella’s heart pounded louder with every mirrored glance.

She blinked as the endless reflections stretched before her. Each step made the world shimmer, a hundred versions of herself and Leo moved in every direction, repeating every motion like an illusion caught between dream and light.

"Leo, are we lost?" she finally asked, her voice small, echoing softly through the maze.

He chuckled under his breath. "Why would you think that, Bunny?"

"Then why can’t I see the way?" she asked, turning in slow circles, her reflection overlapping his in the glass.

"There is a way," he said, reaching out to gently rub her head, his fingers brushing through her still-damp hair. "You just can’t see it because this maze was built to trick the eyes, not the mind."

"Oh," Bella muttered, still confused but trusting him completely.

Leo smiled faintly as she followed him again. Everywhere he looked, the mirrors reflected her, his little Bunny glowing in golden light, surrounded by a thousand versions of herself.

Finally, when they reached the end, Bella stumbled slightly. The world beyond the glass blurred, spinning for a moment before clearing again.

"Whoa," she murmured, swaying, and Leo immediately caught her by the waist, steadying her against his chest.

"Easy," he whispered, his breath brushing her hair. "The eyes play tricks after so many reflections."

She blinked, dazed but smiling. "Okay... so where are we going now?" she asked, her voice still light from laughter and dizziness.

Leo only smiled. "You’ll see."

He guided her toward the door at the end of the maze, pushing it open, and Bella’s steps slowed as her breath caught.

Beyond the doorway stretched a grand balcony bathed in molten orange. The setting sun poured light over everything, gilding the marble floor and the carved pillars that framed the view. The horizon burned softly with clouds dipped in gold and pink, and the entire palace seemed to glow under the fading sky.

"It’s beautiful," she whispered.

But as she walked closer, something else caught her eye, the far wall of the balcony carved entirely from polished gold. It wasn’t just decoration. It was a story, told in art.

She stepped nearer, her heart fluttering. "Leo, look at this."

The carvings showed a man bathing a woman beneath a veil of falling water. Beside them, another scene showed the same man guiding her through a maze of mirrors. And at the end, the two figures stood together, facing a vast setting sun, just like the one shining before them now.

"Leo," Bella’s voice was barely a whisper. "This is..."

He said nothing, only watched her with a soft glint in his eyes.

"Look behind," he murmured.