He will tell her anything. He will grant whatever her heart desires, whatever she wishes. Rhys would do anything for this girl. But, there was one thing he couldn"t grant her. The happiness of being together with another man. A man that isn"t him. Lately he is troubled by it greatly. He wants to help Kazuya, it"s better if she goes to him. Kazuya may not have the same status as him, but he will make a better King than him. The person who she chooses will end up as the King of The Mist Kingdom. Does he want that?

The answer is no, he doesn"t want the throne or to be King. No matter how much he loves Lyn, he can"t become her king. All he can do for her is give her the love he couldn"t give her properly back then.

"Like you I have been cursed."

At that the girl seemed rather startled, "Cursed?"

Rhys nodded, as he placed his hand over his eye. "Yes cursed. Because I was unable to protect the woman I love. "That woman is you, "I cannot say anything more about it." Because if he does, there"s a chance she will remember. And that wouldn"t be good for her, especially in the state she"s in.

"I understand, I won"t ask anything more about it. But instead can I ask you another question?"

"What is it?"

"Can you tell me what your other name is?"

Indeed it really seems as though they summoned her and asked her to question him. Ltn like himself isn"t the kind of person who would do something like willingly obey orders, unless she"s doing it for another person. And considering the circ.u.mstances at hand, there"s only one other person she"s doing this for now. That"s fine, because he also intends to protect her " normal " every days until she truly regains her powers. "It is Bing Lee."

"Lee," Lyn trailed off. Her gaze softened and she reached over to caress his cheeks. "Am I the only one who knows?"

"Yeah."

"I"m glad."

Rhys wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly, "Hey Lyn, spend the night here."

"Spend the night..."

"I won"t do anything weird to you, but I just don"t want you to leave me right now," he muttered. Besides it"s not like Kazuya will return. The girl looked very cautious but she nodded. "Thank you Lyn."

..

He found it very amusing how nervous she got right until they both got dressed into nightwear. She really insisted on changing in the bathroom, rather than behind the screen. This little girl is very smart it seems. His gaze fell on the lose strand of her hair that exposed her milky neck. "Even from the back she looks beautiful." Lyn had turned around so she didn"t face him. However, Rhys didn"t mind.

Is she naive or just ...? Rhys paused and shook his head, don"t think such things. Didn"t he purposely crush her reply back then? Rhys knew Lyn liked him, he wasn"t an idiot - that"s why it"s easier to tease her. It"s because he knows her feelings very well.

Rhys continued kissing her neckline and Lyn kept panicking. Eventually the girl turned around, with a red stained face. "Don"t make me get my knife out."

"It"s futile to pretend Lyn, be honest."

Just today, he wants to see her honest feelings.

"Please Rhys, don"t keep doing this," Lyn mumbled quietly. "You know how dangerous Silver is. If you keep getting involved with me, it will ruin my - no his plans."

"I refuse to and cannot do so," he told her, brought her into her arms so that she could not move any further.

Rhys knew how quickly her heart beated so fast that anybody who heard it would understand. Lyn"s feelings for him, this girl loves him. "Those people, know of my status and my interest in you. If they know that you are allied with me, they will have my head. All of this pain and suffering would have been for nothing. I would rather not suffer such a fate. But my social obligations aside, I will not return you to them. You, do not belong to such a restricted place."

Lyn whimpered, and he felt her tighten her hold on him. "Why?"

"Because you are mine to protect," he answered simply. "You are mine and mine alone to love and protect."

"Rhys, I really can"t return..."

"Ssh my love, the night is young," he quickly got on top of her. She"s so beautiful, but she is only a child. He must wait before he can touch her properly, before he can give her everything she deserves.

"Rhys, what are you doing?"

"I will kiss you until you fall asleep, I will give you the love you deserve. But I can"t give it to you fully now," he gently kisses her neckline and Lyn shuddered. "You understand don"t you my love? You deserve this, to be loved and treasured."

"Kazuya loves me."

"He does, and he treasures you. But he can"t treat you like a woman, like I do," Rhys muttered. "Lyn, you deserve so much more and I shall be the one who gives that to you."

At that comment Lyn averted her gaze. "But I don"t think we can keep doing this. What will other people say if they see us kissing all the time?"

"It"s not like your starting anything my love," he traced her lips with his fingers. "Besides, it"s only a kiss."

Lyn looked very uncertain, and he understood full well what she thought. Yes, he is taking advantage of her kindness, naivety and good will. But, so what? It"s not like he is a good guy. Besides Lyn is very beautiful today, he wants to see her like this more.

"I don"t understand," Lyn started. "Why do your actions stir my heart, why do you provide me so much comfort during these times? Why is it even when I long to see Kazuya and be with him, you"re face comes to mind. I must be going crazy Rhys, I can no longer make sense of my own feelings."