Two hours later

"We should rest here until the rain let"s out . "

It"s a good thing they found shelter, but his gaze fell on the Princess whose clothes hugged her body tightly, she ended up getting soaked after all . It rained rapidly 5 minutes after they walked back . Her predictions are way too accurate, even though there was no sign of a storm . However, when you look at her like this, she really has grown into a woman . She is no longer a child . The girl who was so small when they first met is only an inch or so shorter than him .

She"s always been the beautiful type, but now she"s grown, she"s stunning . Before you know it she has grown slender arms and legs . Before you know it, the aura of n.o.bility practically surrounds her like a barrier . What was it that Pupillam said?

" Sneaking out has become a lot more difficult for the Princess now . Although I"m relieved, she seems to be quite upset about it, not being able to venture out as much as before . The surrounding aura now is without doubt n.o.bility; the surrounding air differs completely from before . She always stood out before, but now just her presence alone is enough to make people kneel down . "

Ah, that"s right . No wonder Lyn always wears a cloak with a cape whenever she goes out . But even then she hides when there are too many people . The Lady has become a woman who understands the position she"s in . To be the person that unites all the elite families . To accomplish that, though, you must sway over the correct people . Lyn understands that she cannot avoid conflict, and that"s why she"s avoiding it .

"That cloak, it"s the one your brother made for you a long time ago is it not?"

"Ah, yes, I"m surprised you know about it," Lyn peered at him before she clapped her hands, "You"ve resorted to stalking on my brother . "

Rhys eyes twitch in annoyance, "You, really are a brat . "

Lyn rolled her eyes, "But, how else would you know that?"

"I"ve been talking to his fiance during meetings . She mentions you a lot . "

"Gabrielle?"

"Yeah, her," he didn"t know her name . But she"s been talking to him a lot . When she first approached him, she didn"t say much but simply said she would help him during meetings under her fiance"s request . Rhys didn"t know what the First Prince was up to, but he figured that he might as well go along with the flow . Before he knew it, their conversations mainly centered around Lyn .

"I see," Lyn paused before she swiftly changed the subject, "So, anyhow Pupillam said it"s too battered up for me to be walking around in and indeed the color is fading already . "

"Should I ask for another one to be made for you?" he"s made some good connections in the Mist Kingdom since arriving . A good tailor for one .

Lyn shook her head, "No, I shall keep this one . For me, it holds a lot of precious memories, after all . "

Rhys didn"t know what it was, but he found his hand reaching over until it landed on top of the girl"s hair, "That"s right,"

"Rhys your always going to treat me like a kid, aren"t you?" Rhys drew his hand back and scratched his cheeks, causing a chuckle to escape her lips, "I do not mind it since it"s coming from you . Since I"m treated with respect a lot more these days, it"s refres.h.i.+ng for someone to treat me like a child . "

Even the way she speaks now is refined and elegant .

"Is that so?"

Lyn nodded .

----

40XX

"Don"t treat me like a kid . Your only two years older than me!"

"Though if we were dogs, you"d be an adult and I a child but even with that knowledge… . "

"I"ll show you! I"ll become a real beauty when I grow up, and I"ll make you speechless . "

---

It was a long time ago . Rhys wasn"t quite sure himself if it was Lyn at first . But, eventually, he slowly formed the pieces . Right, the reason the elder gave him the job before was because he met the girl before .

Even back then Rhys has never thought Lyn was s child . Never once has he seen her as one . From the very moment they met, he fell in love with her . In his eyes, she has always been a woman . A woman whose heart he wishes to capture, but there is no longer any chance of that happening . That time he said goodbye and let her go, Rhys knew that no matter how much his feelings changed; he would no longer be able to go back on his word .

Rhys wonders if Lyn knew . That even before they met each other under the cherry blossoms, they already met once before . It was when they were far younger even to recall it . But it did happen, amid war .

"Say, do you think Kazuya will take long?"

Rhys frowned at her words . They"ve only separated for like 30 minutes . Why is she asking for Kazuya already? Rhys sighed and shook it off, "Hm, he should be back soon . He just saw an old friend," though Rhys found it suspicious that they"d b.u.mp into anybody Kazuya knew all the way out here .

"Kazuya really gets along with people . "

"The complete opposite to you it seems," he meant it as a joke, but when Lila nodded, Rhys frowned, "Your circ.u.mstances, it can"t be helped, even if you are a kind person . Everybody who learns of your existence has their opinions about you," he paused . Lyn has been closed off from the rest of the world for so long . The only contact she had with other people other than her family and her fiance family is the few times she went to Town .

"Even so," Lyn muttered, "I know I"m probably not very approachable . When I first met Pupillam and the General, I had no intention of becoming attached to them, and yet I did . That"s when I realized it, ah these people are not normal . They will contribute to fate . "

"And yet you knew you needed companions . "

"Mmm, of course, I knew . Even if I am strong, I cannot handle everything on my own . Who knows what would befall my family if things became too dangerous . But apart of me wished I found no one, it seems like that wish could not be granted . I slowly found others, feeling connected, and being drawn to others one by one . I thought I could help everybody, but even that, backfired . I did not want you all to involve yourself in such affairs . Even though my purpose of approaching you all was to use you all, I could not do it…!"

Rhys fully knew of Lyn"s intentions from the beginning . When he finally heard of how Kazuya and her started to get along . He directly confronted her; he found it suspicious . Why did she bother meeting with him again after that kiss happened? An average person would stay away, but she didn"t . That"s why he asked her during one of their training sessions . Lyn didn"t hesitate and inform him; she even laughed about it .

"I didn"t think you"d be the first to figure it out; I guess we are alike?" Rhys liked the sound of that, the two of them being similar . Though he doesn"t quite get what she was talking about it . Rhys always knew that the reason why she stuck with him sought Kazuya out was because she was using them . He knew all this and allowed her to use him .

"I"m sure even your aide and the General figured it out . "

It did not matter, though, whether she was using him or not . In the end, they all decided to remain with her .

"I also knew that . I knew despite you all realizing it that you remained with me . Truly I"m grateful," Lyn trailed off, "You see Rhys, I really don"t care about my status as a Princess . The reason why I"m slowly gathering companions is so I could fulfill a wish, a dream of mine . "

"A dream?"Two hours later We should rest here until the rain lets out . Its a good thing they found shelter, but his gaze fell on the Princess whose clothes hugged her body tightly, she ended up getting soaked after all . It rained rapidly 5 minutes after they walked back . Her predictions are way too accurate, even though there was no sign of a storm . However, when you look at her like this, she really has grown into a woman . She is no longer a child . The girl who was so small when they first met is only an inch or so shorter than him . Shes always been the beautiful type, but now shes grown, shes stunning . Before you know it she has grown slender arms and legs . Before you know it, the aura of n.o.bility practically surrounds her like a barrier . What was it that Pupillam said? Sneaking out has become a lot more difficult for the Princess now . Although Im relieved, she seems to be quite upset about it, not being able to venture out as much as before . The surrounding aura now is without doubt n.o.bility; the surrounding air differs completely from before . She always stood out before, but now just her presence alone is enough to make people kneel down . Ah, thats right . No wonder Lyn always wears a cloak with a cape whenever she goes out . But even then she hides when there are too many people . The Lady has become a woman who understands the position shes in . To be the person that unites all the elite families . To accomplish that, though, you must sway over the correct people . Lyn understands that she cannot avoid conflict, and thats why shes avoiding it . That cloak, its the one your brother made for you a long time ago is it not? Ah, yes, Im surprised you know about it, Lyn peered at him before she clapped her hands, Youve resorted to stalking on my brother . Rhys eyes twitch in annoyance, You, really are a brat . Lyn rolled her eyes, But, how else would you know that? Ive been talking to his fiance during meetings . She mentions you a lot . Gabrielle? Yeah, her, he didnt know her name . But shes been talking to him a lot . When she first approached him, she didnt say much but simply said she would help him during meetings under her fiances request . Rhys didnt know what the First Prince was up to, but he figured that he might as well go along with the flow . Before he knew it, their conversations mainly centered around Lyn . I see, Lyn paused before she swiftly changed the subject, So, anyhow Pupillam said its too battered up for me to be walking around in and indeed the color is fading already . Should I ask for another one to be made for you? hes made some good connections in the Mist Kingdom since arriving . A good tailor for one . Lyn shook her head, No, I shall keep this one . For me, it holds a lot of precious memories, after all . Rhys didnt know what it was, but he found his hand reaching over until it landed on top of the girls hair, Thats right, . Rhys your always going to treat me like a kid, arent you? Rhys drew his hand back and scratched his cheeks, causing a chuckle to escape her lips, I do not mind it since its coming from you . Since Im treated with respect a lot more these days, its refres.h.i.+ng for someone to treat me like a child . Even the way she speaks now is refined and elegant . Is that so? Lyn nodded . ---- 40XX Dont treat me like a kid . Your only two years older than me! Though if we were dogs, youd be an adult and I a child but even with that knowledge… . Ill show you! Ill become a real beauty when I grow up, and Ill make you speechless . --- It was a long time ago . Rhys wasnt quite sure himself if it was Lyn at first . But, eventually, he slowly formed the pieces . Right, the reason the elder gave him the job before was because he met the girl before . Even back then Rhys has never thought Lyn was s child . Never once has he seen her as one . From the very moment they met, he fell in love with her . In his eyes, she has always been a woman . A woman whose heart he wishes to capture, but there is no longer any chance of that happening . That time he said goodbye and let her go, Rhys knew that no matter how much his feelings changed; he would no longer be able to go back on his word . Rhys wonders if Lyn knew . That even before they met each other under the cherry blossoms, they already met once before . It was when they were far younger even to recall it . But it did happen, amid war . Say, do you think Kazuya will take long? Rhys frowned at her words . Theyve only separated for like 30 minutes . Why is she asking for Kazuya already? Rhys sighed and shook it off, Hm, he should be back soon . He just saw an old friend, though Rhys found it suspicious that theyd b.u.mp into anybody Kazuya knew all the way out here . Kazuya really gets along with people . The complete opposite to you it seems, he meant it as a joke, but when Lila nodded, Rhys frowned, Your circ.u.mstances, it cant be helped, even if you are a kind person . Everybody who learns of your existence has their opinions about you, he paused . Lyn has been closed off from the rest of the world for so long . The only contact she had with other people other than her family and her fiance family is the few times she went to Town . Even so, Lyn muttered, I know Im probably not very approachable . When I first met Pupillam and the General, I had no intention of becoming attached to them, and yet I did . Thats when I realized it, ah these people are not normal . They will contribute to fate . And yet you knew you needed companions . Mmm, of course, I knew . Even if I am strong, I cannot handle everything on my own . Who knows what would befall my family if things became too dangerous . But apart of me wished I found no one, it seems like that wish could not be granted . I slowly found others, feeling connected, and being drawn to others one by one . I thought I could help everybody, but even that, backfired . I did not want you all to involve yourself in such affairs . Even though my purpose of approaching you all was to use you all, I could not do it…! Rhys fully knew of Lyns intentions from the beginning . When he finally heard of how Kazuya and her started to get along . He directly confronted her; he found it suspicious . Why did she bother meeting with him again after that kiss happened? An average person would stay away, but she didnt . Thats why he asked her during one of their training sessions . Lyn didnt hesitate and inform him; she even laughed about it . I didnt think youd be the first to figure it out; I guess we are alike? Rhys liked the sound of that, the two of them being similar . Though he doesnt quite get what she was talking about it . Rhys always knew that the reason why she stuck with him sought Kazuya out was because she was using them . He knew all this and allowed her to use him . Im sure even your aide and the General figured it out . It did not matter, though, whether she was using him or not . In the end, they all decided to remain with her . I also knew that . I knew despite you all realizing it that you remained with me . Truly Im grateful, Lyn trailed off, You see Rhys, I really dont care about my status as a Princess . The reason why Im slowly gathering companions is so I could fulfill a wish, a dream of mine . A dream?