Lyn observed Kazuya carefully; he keeps making those expressions for a while now . How much time has pa.s.sed? Since Kazuya"s smile became so rare? Why does she see such a clouded expression on his face these days? But even the rare times he smiles these days, it"s only his fake smile . Unconsciously Lyn leaned closer and closer to Lyn, which did not go unnoticed by him .

"Hmm? What is it, Lyn?"

"Nothing," it"s nothing, at least nothing she can talk to him about . If Lyn brought up her concerns regarding him wearing a fake smile these days, then he would simply do a better job at hiding it, and that is something she does not want him to do . Kazuya is very good at hiding things after all .

Kazuya leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead, eyelids, nose, and lips, "Nothing, huh?" he repeated, "But you look anxious . "

It"s because it"s about him, "Kazuya, can we go to town and investigate ourselves?" Lyn asked . Maybe she can speak about it with him, but not with Rhys around . Rhys will make things worse .

"Actually, there"s a martial arts tournament . Prince Ereland especially invited Rhys and me," Kazuya pulled out two envelopes from his pocket .

Lyn looked at the envelopes in disgust, "He"s inviting Rhys, after that unreasonable excuse of a fight yesterday?" While Rhys won the fight, he sustained wounds from the unjust methods of Prince Ereland . Even the whole sheath attack, Prince Ereland used the girl"s as hostages at first, and Rhys had to be careful with his every move .

"Rhys didn"t get that hurt right? He should be fine . "

Ah, that"s right . Kazuya only saw the hand injury, before Lyn could say anything; however, Rhys stood up, "Guess that"s an excuse for me to eat more, maybe I"ll empty the place . "

Kazuya grinned, "Now you"re talking . "

While the two stood up to get more food, Lyn"s gaze fell on the invitation . Curiosity got the best of her, and she opened Kazuya"s one up, Lyn"s gaze darkened as she read the contents . "This isn"t a simple invitation," she thought . But Kazuya left it here so casually, so that means he doesn"t intend to keep this from her, correct?

. . .

- Stadium - 9:00am

Prince Ereland must be an idiot . He did not come over to personally greet her, but he sent his head knight down indicating she was a distinguished guest of his . The reactions from the rest of the villagers were a mixture of disgust and uncertainty . Lyn is relieved that they do not all dislike her since she did form quite strong bonds with them . Still, everybody is cautious towards her . n.o.body will approach her as they did before . Prince Ereland so-called plan is for her to be isolated and backed to a corner . So, she can ask him for help .

Lyn rolled her eyes at that thought . Why is that man so obsessed with her? They"ve barely spoken a few sentences with each other, besides isn"t he a lot older than her? He"s older than the creepy guy from the Stone Kingdom . Feeling somebody look at her, Lyn looked down and found Kazuya waving .

She shyly waved back, "Such an idiot," Lyn thought, but Lyn called out, "Kazuya, good luck!"

This earned the attention of the other contestants and the crowd, while a martial arts tournament is different from a Joust . One thing has not changed . If the highest rank female bestows their favor on a particular individual, then that person acts as their representative . Lyn wanted to make it clear to everybody, that nothing is going on with her and Prince Ereland, and that she intended to support Kazuya . Sure enough, once she did that some villagers started to cheer for Kazuya too .

Her lips curve to a smile; she didn"t have to look over to know that Prince Ereland was fuming in anger . Lyn"s gaze landed on the seat beside Kazuya and frowned . Huh? "Rhys isn"t here, where did he go?" Lyn thought . Maybe he"s in the bathroom? He did eat all that food . Lyn tried to rea.s.sure herself that was it, but as seconds turned into minutes . She felt herself getting more worried so, Lyn slipped away, it"s an urgent situation .

Where did he get to? After she walked around for a while, Lyn arrived at the changing room area and heard a sound . Oh, it"s his voice, he"s in here . Lyn opened the door indeed to spot Rhys there; he"s here . But what is he doing? Lyn peered at him carefully, Rhys was leaning against the desk, her back facing away from her but she noticed a box of medical supplies opened . Ahh?

She burst into the room then, "Are you okay? Rhys??" Lyn asked .

"Quit shouting, you"ll attract too much attention," Lyn does so and made her way over . Rhys lifted his sleeve up .

Her eyes widened at the sight of the injury, " Y—your hand," she stammered . If it were just a simple bruise, she wouldn"t be so worried . But this wasn"t a simple wound; the swelling seemed to worsen the more Rhys moved his hands . From the looks of it, the wound had reopened, since she could see the color of blood, "It"s getting worse! What"s going on?"

"It"s nothing . I just practiced a bit, and strained my hand," Rhys explained .

Lyn"s eyes widened, realizing what he meant . "It"s because he was helping her with training .

"But in such a state . How can you fight?" Lyn questioned, she shook her head, "You"ll definitely lose . Why didn"t you tell Kazuya?"

"I was going to actually, even I"m not that suicidal . But," Rhys trailed off, "I saw the look in his eyes, and couldn"t say no . "

Lyn paused, and she immediately understood what he meant . She understood that feeling . Whenever she saw that look on Kazuya"s eyes . It motivates a person to try their best to live up to his expectations . Still, it"s a bit surprising . Rhys cares for Kazuya that much? Lyn could never figure out why two completely different people like Rhys and Kazuya became friends . But, there is no doubt that the two are very good friends who have each other"s backs . It"s quite envious .Lyn observed Kazuya carefully; he keeps making those expressions for a while now . How much time has pa.s.sed? Since Kazuyas smile became so rare? Why does she see such a clouded expression on his face these days? But even the rare times he smiles these days, its only his fake smile . Unconsciously Lyn leaned closer and closer to Lyn, which did not go unnoticed by him . Hmm? What is it, Lyn? Nothing, its nothing, at least nothing she can talk to him about . If Lyn brought up her concerns regarding him wearing a fake smile these days, then he would simply do a better job at hiding it, and that is something she does not want him to do . Kazuya is very good at hiding things after all . Kazuya leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead, eyelids, nose, and lips, Nothing, huh? he repeated, But you look anxious . Its because its about him, Kazuya, can we go to town and investigate ourselves? Lyn asked . Maybe she can speak about it with him, but not with Rhys around . Rhys will make things worse . Actually, theres a martial arts tournament . Prince Ereland especially invited Rhys and me, Kazuya pulled out two envelopes from his pocket . Lyn looked at the envelopes in disgust, Hes inviting Rhys, after that unreasonable excuse of a fight yesterday? While Rhys won the fight, he sustained wounds from the unjust methods of Prince Ereland . Even the whole sheath attack, Prince Ereland used the girls as hostages at first, and Rhys had to be careful with his every move . Rhys didnt get that hurt right? He should be fine . Ah, thats right . Kazuya only saw the hand injury, before Lyn could say anything; however, Rhys stood up, Guess thats an excuse for me to eat more, maybe Ill empty the place . Kazuya grinned, Now youre talking . While the two stood up to get more food, Lyns gaze fell on the invitation . Curiosity got the best of her, and she opened Kazuyas one up, Lyns gaze darkened as she read the contents . This isnt a simple invitation, she thought . But Kazuya left it here so casually, so that means he doesnt intend to keep this from her, correct? . - Stadium - 9:00am Prince Ereland must be an idiot . He did not come over to personally greet her, but he sent his head knight down indicating she was a distinguished guest of his . The reactions from the rest of the villagers were a mixture of disgust and uncertainty . Lyn is relieved that they do not all dislike her since she did form quite strong bonds with them . Still, everybody is cautious towards her . n.o.body will approach her as they did before . Prince Ereland so-called plan is for her to be isolated and backed to a corner . So, she can ask him for help . Lyn rolled her eyes at that thought . Why is that man so obsessed with her? Theyve barely spoken a few sentences with each other, besides isnt he a lot older than her? Hes older than the creepy guy from the Stone Kingdom . Feeling somebody look at her, Lyn looked down and found Kazuya waving She shyly waved back, Such an idiot, Lyn thought, but Lyn called out, Kazuya, good luck! This earned the attention of the other contestants and the crowd, while a martial arts tournament is different from a Joust . One thing has not changed . If the highest rank female bestows their favor on a particular individual, then that person acts as their representative . Lyn wanted to make it clear to everybody, that nothing is going on with her and Prince Ereland, and that she intended to support Kazuya . Sure enough, once she did that some villagers started to cheer for Kazuya too . Her lips curve to a smile; she didnt have to look over to know that Prince Ereland was fuming in anger . Lyns gaze landed on the seat beside Kazuya and frowned . Huh? Rhys isnt here, where did he go? Lyn thought . Maybe hes in the bathroom? He did eat all that food . Lyn tried to rea.s.sure herself that was it, but as seconds turned into minutes . She felt herself getting more worried so, Lyn slipped away, its an urgent situation . Where did he get to? After she walked around for a while, Lyn arrived at the changing room area and heard a sound . Oh, its his voice, hes in here . Lyn opened the door indeed to spot Rhys there; hes here . But what is he doing? Lyn peered at him carefully, Rhys was leaning against the desk, her back facing away from her but she noticed a box of medical supplies opened . Ahh? She burst into the room then, Are you okay? Rhys?? Lyn asked . Quit shouting, youll attract too much attention, Lyn does so and made her way over . Rhys lifted his sleeve up . Her eyes widened at the sight of the injury, Y—your hand, she stammered . If it were just a simple bruise, she wouldnt be so worried . But this wasnt a simple wound; the swelling seemed to worsen the more Rhys moved his hands . From the looks of it, the wound had reopened, since she could see the color of blood, Its getting worse! Whats going on? Its nothing . I just practiced a bit, and strained my hand, Rhys explained . Lyns eyes widened, realizing what he meant . Its because he was helping her with training . But in such a state . How can you fight? Lyn questioned, she shook her head, Youll definitely lose . Why didnt you tell Kazuya? I was going to actually, even Im not that suicidal . But, Rhys trailed off, I saw the look in his eyes, and couldnt say no . Lyn paused, and she immediately understood what he meant . She understood that feeling . Whenever she saw that look on Kazuyas eyes . It motivates a person to try their best to live up to his expectations . Still, its a bit surprising . Rhys cares for Kazuya that much? Lyn could never figure out why two completely different people like Rhys and Kazuya became friends . But, there is no doubt that the two are very good friends who have each others backs . Its quite envious .