The Alchemists

L seemed to think for a while. She then went into her room and changed into a loose dress and a long coat. Fortunately, the weather was still a bit cold so she could still wear a coat to conceal her pregnancy.

Next month the weather would be too hot and she would no longer be able to leave the house by hiding her protruding tummy with a jacket or coat. She decided he had to finish all her business before that time came.

"I want to go to Splitz's office. They will announce me as Virconnect ambassador tonight," L told London, who was checking his messages and e-mails on his phone.

"Now? Why didn't you tell me from a few days ago?" he asked in astonishment.

"You don't need to take me. Pammy will pick me up."

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. L immediately opened it and invited Pammy who was waiting at the door. The manager brought a very large flower arrangement.

"I brought flowers from Mr. Schneider yesterday. You forgot about them in my car," Pammy commented as she walked in and then placed the flowers on the table.

London put on a happy grin to hear Pammy's words. It turned out that L didn't care at the slightest that London Schneider showed interest in her. She even left his flowers in Pammy's car.

"Mr. Schneider?" He pretended to ask in a curt voice. "Which Mister Schneider are we talking about? Why did he give you flowers? Does he like you?"

Pammy answered London's question with a proud expression. "Mr. London Schneider. His younger brother said Mr. London Schneider is Miss L's number one fan! That's so nice, isn't it?"

L seemed embarrassed to see the reaction of London who was surprised.

"Hmm ... that means your wish is slowly coming true ... Now you're famous, and there's a very wealthy man who likes you," murmured London, staring at L with a sharp look. "You must be very happy now."

L looked down, didn't reply to London's words. She took a very large flower vase and poured water into it and helped Pammy arrange the flowers from London Schneider in the vase.

"Let's go now." She then pulled Pammy's hand and walked out of the apartment.

London could only sigh. He still can't read L and couldn't understand what the girl was thinking.

***

After that night's events, not many things happened. The relationship between the two was still civil but London felt that L kept her distance. London realized that it was his own fault. If he wasn't drunk back then and slept with L, maybe the girl would have no reason to stay away from him.

Now, even though he took care of himself and no longer drank wine nor other alcoholic drinks at all, L already didn't trust him.

After she became Virconnect's ambassador, and how the May Festival made her the trending topic in Europe for days, because the Schneider family came just to see her performance, L's popularity soared and she became one of the most famous budding singers in Europe.

On the one hand, L was happy to get her wish. But on the other hand, she became increasingly cooped up at home. She could not come out without fear of being recognized, coupled with the condition of her growing belly, she could not go anywhere.

This made her stressed and depressed. Meanwhile, London had to go to Singapore to visit Aleksis, who was about to give birth.

"I have to go to Singapore, for maybe one or two weeks. I can't leave L alone with her condition," the thought frustrated him a little.

***

That morning, as usual, London woke up by the sound of L singing. He smiled to himself for a few moments, then opened his eyes. It's been a month and a half that he stopped using his regular alarm.

Why listen to L's recorded voice as his alarm if there he could have the original next to his room, singing every morning. London felt very lucky!

If only this could go on forever, it would be very nice, he thought.

Ah, by the way... this reminded him of his failed proposal. He must make up to it with a decent proposal worthy of L. He had thought about it and decided that tonight was the best time.

Later in the day, Doctor Muller would come back to check L's condition, and they had agreed to find out the s.e.x of their child today. He would then invite L to a special dinner, then propose to her in a romantic way.

And....

He will make L give him an honest answer by mixing Veritaserum in her drink. Rune gave him an early gift by making Veritaserum so that London could find out L's true feelings about him. Rune and Uncle Aldebar had both confirmed that the ingredients are safe for pregnant women.

Last month, when his proposal failed, London got the feeling that L actually L liked him and most likely want to marry him. He could see it from how much the girl actually cared about him. L was just too proud to show her true feelings.

If he proposed to her again, and do it properly, he hoped L would accept him. If L was willing to marry him, then all their problems were solved. London did not need to be stressed thinking about the reason to invite L to Singapore.

Once L accepted his love, he would immediately reveal his identity as London Schneider, the heir to the wealthy and powerful Schneider family.