Unknowingly to Lyn, a confrontation that would affect the fate of the Empire was taking place.

A certain man with short maroon-colored haired stood hovering over, a girl who was terribly wounded. "You.. Even if you"re the King, you can"t do this!!"

This girl crouched down in front of him is his wife"s daughter — the First Princess of the Mist Kingdom, Princess Lethia.

"Directly attacking me like this is..the same as declaring war. Or don"t tell me you don"t know that, dear father?" Lethia said mockingly.

While he"s always treated Orthez children equally, this one has always caused problems for him. When he first became the King, the one who hindered him the most was Princess Lethia. Daichi walked over and brushed his hand across the wound on the girl"s cheeks.

"What?"

"You"re lucky it"s me who came here, and not your beloved. Then again, I made sure I distracted him. I"d never let you get hurt peacefully. Getting injured by Zepher means, you"ll be at ease. That"s why I"m here."

Manic laughter pa.s.sed Lethia"s lips, "I see, so you"re taking revenge."

"Naturally, I"m no saint. I wonder what your mother would think if she found out how you badly wanted to dispose of me before I took the throne? A young girl with such malicious thoughts," he lifted his blade up and cut the girl"s cheeks. She winced in pain, even though it was a small cut. It was a direct one. Daichi was confident with his skills with a blade.

"Even if she found out, she wouldn"t care! Do you really think Mother loves you? In her heart, there is only the previous King!"

Daichi"s lips curve to a bitter smile. "I know." He knew, of course, he did. No matter how much Orthez loves him. The love she has for him will always lose out to the previous King.

"If you know, then why do something so stupid? Because Lyn is your daughter? Shouldn"t you focus more on your wife."

"Indeed," Daichi nodded. "But, for me, both are important. Besides, I didn"t come here to kill you, so relax."

"..."

"I mean, I have to thank you. It"s because you took such a drastic and foolish action, that Lyn is serious about the throne now."

At that comment, Lethia"s eyes widened. "No…"

___

Inn

Lyn was looking over the reports s.h.i.+oka gave her. But, occasionally, she would glance over at Kazuya, who laid on the bed. The procedure was very painful since he lost loads of blood. Naturally, he would collapse. He"s so handsome; Lyn ran her hands through his brown locks. Since he is always talking too much and acting like an idiot, it"s difficult to tell if he is good-looking. But, when he is sleeping, Lyn can see the real him.

He looks so childish..

However, Lyn bent down and pressed her lips against Kazuya"s. He really has done his best for her. In these reports, s.h.i.+oka gave her, Kazuya"s name is on nearly every page. He"s secretly been helping s.h.i.+oka and Zenith out. No, doing these jobs means helping her.

Kazuya, she will get stronger. So, please...

…..

"You got that done quickly."

Lyn didn"t say anything and deactivated the blade in her hands.

Her eyes went wide when Rhys extended his arm and pulled her into her arms, "It"s fine." He doesn"t say anything and gently caresses her hair. For her, that was enough; right now, this is enough.

Rhys doesn"t say anything as they make there way down the mountain path, and she"s grateful. She"s tired, so so tired; she just wants to rest. It"s a quiet night, but indeed after fighting hours in the forest, she can"t help but shudder.

Kazuya, it"s cold. So very cold, if he were with her now, then she wouldn"t be experiencing this. If she closed her eyes, perhaps the image she has of him wrapping his arms around her and feeling that warmth would… No, what is she thinking? She"s silly. But in the end, if he were, he would most likely not have allowed her to do something like this.

After a while, though, Lyn broke the silence between them. "Rhys?"

"Yes?"

"Isn"t it troubling for you to do this every day? You"re helping my brother out."

"It is no problem."

"Is that so?"

Rhys sighs, "In the first place, it"s strange that I have to babysit the leader. I"ve learned that these days that it"s best not to bother looking for him, he will show up eventually even if you leave him alone."

Ahh, it seems like he"s finally gotten used to her eldest brother"s pace. "Besides, I believe I found someone even more troublesome to watch over." Despite the harshness of his words, Rhys hand is gentle and warm.

"Indeed, I believe you should watch over that person more too."

Rhys is similar to her lifeline now.

Lyn is grateful that he has been meeting with her right after her job ends. Although she does not allow him to a.s.sist with her work - he is always nearby. Lyn could sense it whenever she"s in the middle of fighting, his presence. Maybe it"s because of that connection that whenever she feels like she is about to lose herself, all she has to do is remind herself that Rhys is there. That there is somebody, who is waiting for her.

It took all her strength to control herself regardless. But she"s grateful towards Riku. Because without her waiting up for her, then she would have lost control of herself already.

..

Kazuya is frequently busier these days, which is why he had not been waiting for her at the usual place. However, that does not mean that he completely dissolves himself in his duties. Even before she enters her chambers, she already knows he"s there. But she also knows that he"s already fast asleep.

Lyn made her way across the room on to the couch, where he was asleep. She already told him to use the bed already - this is his palace after all. Yet he quote said that it would not be appropriate. Trying to act all proper in the strangest times, he truly is strange. If he"s going to fall asleep, at least lay down on a proper bed.

It was hard for her to explain to brother Zepher, that she would be staying in Xi town for awhile.