But, can she really say that she has the strength to carry the whole Empire on her shoulders?

Lyn"s thoughts broke off when she noticed something, Rhys kept rubbing his shoulders; it wasn"t just one injury, "Take your s.h.i.+rt off . "

"How brave Lyn, stripping me alread--" Lyn cut him off when she lightly hit his shoulders, and Rhys yelped in pain .

"Take it off," Lyn repeated .

Rhys exhaled deeply and did as she commanded . There was a grave wound on his right shoulder, his skin swollen pink . Lyn frowned as she reached over and touched it, Rhys flinched .

"How did you get this?"

"The idiot"s sword sheath is made out of gold or something; it hurt like h.e.l.l when he charged at me with it . "

Her sweat fell, "Wait, why the sheath?"

"It"s funny; he thought he was charging at me with his sword . But realized he hadn"t taken the sheathe of seconds later . "

What an idiot, Prince Ereland"s image is downgrading in her eyes .

. . . .

At some point, Lyn realized Kazuya had returned . But he didn"t enter the inn immediately; he hung around outside . Seeing that he was with his a.s.sociates from the Sound Kingdom, Lyn continued patching up the rest of Rhys wound .

"You know, you keep staring at him . If you want to touch him, just say so," Rhys said with an annoyed look on her face .

Lyn blushed, "He"s working, I can"t possibly be so unreasonable . "

"Really now, then I"ll satisfy you instead," Rhys moved to wrap his arms around her . However, before he could do so, she was pulled into a familiar pair of arms . Kazuya stood in the doorway, with a bright smile on his face .

"What"s up Lyn? Did you need me?"

"I want to cuddle," she thought and snuggled into his arms . Kazuya must have understood since he held her tightly . He gently patted her hair, and turned to Rhys, "I stationed Yuzuhara and the others around the town," Kazuya explained pointing to the group that was going of in separate directions, he looked back at her, "You don"t have to worry about the Prince . He isn"t hara.s.sing the townsfolk tonight, because of his injuries . "

"See, I"m helpful," Rhys said .

Lyn rolled her eyes, helpful? When that guy"s wounds heal up, he will stir trouble again . Maybe, even more, this time . Still, even if Rhys didn"t do that . Prince Ereland would still increase his hara.s.sment towards the townspeople . Though, she has to admit if it weren"t for him, those twins would probably be dead by now .

"There"s something else, Lyn; he seems to be very fond of you . "

Eh? Lyn looked at Kazuya, confused . For a moment, Lyn thought she heard things . But sure enough, Kazuya just said Prince Ereland is "fond," of her .

Kazuya wore a troubled look on his face, "I don"t get it either, but part of the reason why he backed down tonight was because of you . I overheard him speak with his guards, "The Princess is here, so we cannot act so brutish," "

Uhh, Lyn didn"t know what to say to that . It certainly sounded like Prince Ereland stopped because of her . But why would he? It"s not like the two of them are close .

"Wow, Princess, you"re popular . "

"No, no, no," Lyn shook her head, "Absolutely no, we only met a few times in the past," and those meetings were not long nor were they pleasant either . Why would he be so fond of her? "Maybe, there"s something wrong with him . "

Rhys laughed, "That"s how you conclude this?"

"I barely speak whenever we do see each other . "

Kazuya, however, wasn"t amused and his hold on her tightened . A dark shadow seemed to have crossed over his face, Lyn paused . Is he that concerned over this matter? "Kazuya, I"m tired . Let"s go rest now?" she tugged on his sleeve .

"Yeah . "

. . . . . .

Following morning, Inn Gardens 5:00 am

In the end, Kazuya didn"t say anything, and the two of them just went to sleep . Lyn was not able to rest very well since it was the first time he didn"t sing her to sleep . Okay, so he sucks at singing, but normally Kazuya would do that or tell her a story, or tell her how much he loves her . The last one, though, she keeps telling him to stop doing since it"s embarra.s.sing for her .

"You suck . "

Lyn"s eyes twitched in annoyance, as she ignored the voice from behind her . Today she decided to wake up early and get some practicing done . Who would have thought that Rhys was awake too? For the past hour or so, she had been practicing; however, she was missing a lot more than usual . Her thoughts remained on what occurred the other day . It was not Prince Erelands arrival that unsettled her, but

"Gee, your so helpless today," Rhys stood up, and soon Lyn found him right behind her, "Remember where you"re looking," feeling his breath on her ear . She leaped back and immediately held the bow up and took a defensive stance .

"D—don"t get so close to me," she stuttered . After what happened before, she will not her guard down .

Rhys deeply sighed, "Look, Princess, what do you take me for?"

"A pervert . "

"Yeah, yeah . But really, do you genuinely think I"d touch you in a place like this? There"s no mood; it"s boring," Rhys said . A place like this? Lyn looked at her surroundings again . Despite how desperately they tried to cover it up, the inn garden was hardly what one would call beautiful .

So, "Setting" is vital to Rhys?

"That"s better," he smiled and let her go .

He really tried nothing . Maybe she"s overly self-conscious for nothing . After a few more successful shots, she catches a glimpse of Kazuya who was stepping down from the porch . Her eyes brightened, and she made her way over to him .

"Morning my cute and adorable Lyn . "

Ah, he"s back to normal? Thank goodness .

"Morning," she reached over and ran her hand through his messy hair, "You should at least brush your hair properly . "

"Today, I left it that way on purpose . "

How foolish .

Lyn gently pressed her lips on his cheek, "That"s your punishment; don"t be so lazy . "

Kazuya laughed, "Your red as a tomato . "

"It"s because I"m hot," Lyn protested . But she knew how stupid it was . This may not be the central area of the Snow Kingdom; however, it"s still part of it . It was anything but "cold," however considering how she"s been training and breaking a sweat . Kazuya said nothing more; he reached over and touched her forehead .

"Did you eat breakfast?"

"Not yet," she shook her head, "I was waiting for you," Lyn added . The moment she said those words, Kazuya smiled warmly at her .

"Let"s get something to eat first and discuss our next plan . "

. . .

- Breakfast Hall -

Considering the commotion that happened a few days back . Instead of having the food delivered to their rooms, the three of them made their way to the breakfast hall . They slowly walked, so by the time they reached it, the breakfast hall was open . After picking out their food, they brought to their table and sat down .

"So, Prince Ereland is supposedly staying in the government quarters at the edge of town . It"s quite far out from everything, so even if we were to cause chaos, he wouldn"t notice for a while," Kazuya explained as he bites into the slice of bread . Kazuya"s plate today consisted of western dishes, like bread, beans, sausages, and eggs . That surprised her . Usually, unless it was meat, Kazuya mainly ate eastern meals .

"Kazuya, you have a plan already?"

Kazuya smiled, "Well, I came up with something . " Lyn nodded as she continued to eat her noodles . Kazuya is impressive, "My Lyn is amazing too," she blushed, realizing that he could read what she was thinking .

"You two quit with the flirting, don"t you get tired?"

"Hmm, I wonder, what do you think Lyn?"

"Don"t drag her into this," Lyn thought . She could see Rhys sending her harsh glares from across the table . Before she could open her mouth though, she caught a glimpse of Kazuya"s expression . Kazuya asked Rhys that question normally, but Lyn sensed something wrong again . It can"t be, it"s just her imagination, right?But, can she really say that she has the strength to carry the whole Empire on her shoulders? Lyns thoughts broke off when she noticed something, Rhys kept rubbing his shoulders; it wasnt just one injury, Take your s.h.i.+rt off . How brave Lyn, stripping me alread-- Lyn cut him off when she lightly hit his shoulders, and Rhys yelped in pain . Take it off, Lyn repeated . Rhys exhaled deeply and did as she commanded . There was a grave wound on his right shoulder, his skin swollen pink . Lyn frowned as she reached over and touched it, Rhys flinched . How did you get this? The idiots sword sheath is made out of gold or something; it hurt like h.e.l.l when he charged at me with it . Her sweat fell, Wait, why the sheath? Its funny; he thought he was charging at me with his sword . But realized he hadnt taken the sheathe of seconds later . What an idiot, Prince Erelands image is downgrading in her eyes . At some point, Lyn realized Kazuya had returned . But he didnt enter the inn immediately; he hung around outside . Seeing that he was with his a.s.sociates from the Sound Kingdom, Lyn continued patching up the rest of Rhys wound . You know, you keep staring at him . If you want to touch him, just say so, Rhys said with an annoyed look on her face . Lyn blushed, Hes working, I cant possibly be so unreasonable . Really now, then Ill satisfy you instead, Rhys moved to wrap his arms around her . However, before he could do so, she was pulled into a familiar pair of arms . Kazuya stood in the doorway, with a bright smile on his face . Whats up Lyn? Did you need me? I want to cuddle, she thought and snuggled into his arms . Kazuya must have understood since he held her tightly . He gently patted her hair, and turned to Rhys, I stationed Yuzuhara and the others around the town, Kazuya explained pointing to the group that was going of in separate directions, he looked back at her, You dont have to worry about the Prince . He isnt hara.s.sing the townsfolk tonight, because of his injuries . See, Im helpful, Rhys said . Lyn rolled her eyes, helpful? When that guys wounds heal up, he will stir trouble again . Maybe, even more, this time . Still, even if Rhys didnt do that . Prince Ereland would still increase his hara.s.sment towards the townspeople . Though, she has to admit if it werent for him, those twins would probably be dead by now . Theres something else, Lyn; he seems to be very fond of you . Eh? Lyn looked at Kazuya, confused . For a moment, Lyn thought she heard things . But sure enough, Kazuya just said Prince Ereland is fond, of her . Kazuya wore a troubled look on his face, I dont get it either, but part of the reason why he backed down tonight was because of you . I overheard him speak with his guards, The Princess is here, so we cannot act so brutish, . Uhh, Lyn didnt know what to say to that . It certainly sounded like Prince Ereland stopped because of her . But why would he? Its not like the two of them are close . Wow, Princess, youre popular . No, no, no, Lyn shook her head, Absolutely no, we only met a few times in the past, and those meetings were not long nor were they pleasant either . Why would he be so fond of her? Maybe, theres something wrong with him . Rhys laughed, Thats how you conclude this? I barely speak whenever we do see each other . Kazuya, however, wasnt amused and his hold on her tightened . A dark shadow seemed to have crossed over his face, Lyn paused . Is he that concerned over this matter? Kazuya, Im tired . Lets go rest now? she tugged on his sleeve . Yeah . Following morning, Inn Gardens 5:00 am In the end, Kazuya didnt say anything, and the two of them just went to sleep . Lyn was not able to rest very well since it was the first time he didnt sing her to sleep . Okay, so he sucks at singing, but normally Kazuya would do that or tell her a story, or tell her how much he loves her . The last one, though, she keeps telling him to stop doing since its embarra.s.sing for her . You suck . Lyns eyes twitched in annoyance, as she ignored the voice from behind her . Today she decided to wake up early and get some practicing done . Who would have thought that Rhys was awake too? For the past hour or so, she had been practicing; however, she was missing a lot more than usual . Her thoughts remained on what occurred the other day . It was not Prince Erelands arrival that unsettled her, but Gee, your so helpless today, Rhys stood up, and soon Lyn found him right behind her, Remember where youre looking, feeling his breath on her ear . She leaped back and immediately held the bow up and took a defensive stance . D—dont get so close to me, she stuttered . After what happened before, she will not her guard down . Rhys deeply sighed, Look, Princess, what do you take me for? A pervert . Yeah, yeah . But really, do you genuinely think Id touch you in a place like this? Theres no mood; its boring, Rhys said . A place like this? Lyn looked at her surroundings again . Despite how desperately they tried to cover it up, the inn garden was hardly what one would call beautiful . So, Setting is vital to Rhys? Thats better, he smiled and let her go . He really tried nothing . Maybe shes overly self-conscious for nothing . After a few more successful shots, she catches a glimpse of Kazuya who was stepping down from the porch . Her eyes brightened, and she made her way over to him . Morning my cute and adorable Lyn . Ah, hes back to normal? Thank goodness . Morning, she reached over and ran her hand through his messy hair, You should at least brush your hair properly . Today, I left it that way on purpose . How foolish . Lyn gently pressed her lips on his cheek, Thats your punishment; dont be so lazy . Kazuya laughed, Your red as a tomato . Its because Im hot, Lyn protested . But she knew how stupid it was . This may not be the central area of the Snow Kingdom; however, its still part of it . It was anything but cold, however considering how shes been training and breaking a sweat . Kazuya said nothing more; he reached over and touched her forehead . Did you eat breakfast? Not yet, she shook her head, I was waiting for you, Lyn added . The moment she said those words, Kazuya smiled warmly at her . Lets get something to eat first and discuss our next plan . . - Breakfast Hall - Considering the commotion that happened a few days back . Instead of having the food delivered to their rooms, the three of them made their way to the breakfast hall . They slowly walked, so by the time they reached it, the breakfast hall was open . After picking out their food, they brought to their table and sat down . So, Prince Ereland is supposedly staying in the government quarters at the edge of town . Its quite far out from everything, so even if we were to cause chaos, he wouldnt notice for a while, Kazuya explained as he bites into the slice of bread . Kazuyas plate today consisted of western dishes, like bread, beans, sausages, and eggs . That surprised her . Usually, unless it was meat, Kazuya mainly ate eastern meals . Kazuya, you have a plan already? Kazuya smiled, Well, I came up with something . Lyn nodded as she continued to eat her noodles . Kazuya is impressive, My Lyn is amazing too, she blushed, realizing that he could read what she was thinking . You two quit with the flirting, dont you get tired? Hmm, I wonder, what do you think Lyn? Dont drag her into this, Lyn thought . She could see Rhys sending her harsh glares from across the table . Before she could open her mouth though, she caught a glimpse of Kazuyas expression . Kazuya asked Rhys that question normally, but Lyn sensed something wrong again . It cant be, its just her imagination, right?