A few months back - Wind Kingdom - Central Town, Main Castle -So much for having a pleasant conversation, a deep sigh pa.s.sed his lips. The last person he expected to come here was this man, then again Allen supposed thanks was due.
"You"re talking about the time when I dispatched all those troops to the azora region? I won"t deny that they weren"t affiliated with us," Allen spoke, his usual calm tone. One that was filled with authority and serenity. Just like his brother had always taught him. Just like he had always seen around him.
"I don"t intend to paint a pretty picture here your majesty. Thanks to how you dealt with those two groups. My family was able to gain a lot of reputation. It truly helped a lot," Andou trails off, " It"s just…."
Allen watched his gave fall on the flower in the vase on his desk. It was a flower his fiance Lyn gave him back when he last saw her. He was not one who cared much for plants, but he took great care for it since it was something she gave him.
"Did you know that the black rizeria flower is the original variety of the rizeria. Something so beautiful that it even has a song about it. If you turn the words around it means poisonous flower," Andou turned to him then, " These sayings all have a meaning on the surface and an opposite meaning. That opposite meaning is usually the real meaning. But can we really choose which meaning is the real one?"
"What are you trying to get at?"
"I was in the area the other day and saw what had happened. I already heard about her from her Mother, but Princess Lyn really is something. Yet, because we can"t choose this meaning. Surely you know that this world can"t just be beautiful."
Allen"s gaze darkened then, and he clenched his fist as the brown hair girl"s image appears in his head.
Andou continued, "Princess Lyn, she is beautiful, she"s honest, and she loves you. But to that beautiful person can you really reveal to her all that you"ve done? About how you destroyed miraba and ressa"s existence.
Allen grits his teeth, " It"s not necessary to tell her."
Andou merely shakes his head and gives him a sad gaze in return, "Your majesty if you want to rule the world and live in the same place as her. The meaning of the things you"ve done and the back meaning of the beautiful black flower. You must accept them all", at this point the shadow users voice seemed pained. " Until you do so, it will keep on haunting you. The one who can teach you that isn"t Princess Lyn, it is yourself," by that point he was hugging himself with his own arms, preventing himself from shaking. "Your majesty. You are a good person. So I want you to be happy from the bottom of your heart."
--
Present
"Allen? Hey Allen, are you listening to me?"
He quickly snapped his attention back to the girl beside him, "I am, what"s wrong?" he was fully aware of how close she was and tried to move away. But Lyn suddenly clutched onto his arm.
"That"s my question; you look rather pale. Do you want to get some rest?"
"I think I need it."
Lyn smiled, "Okay, let"s go!"
....
"Let"s go?" Allen thought it was unusual, but he did not expect this situation. "My dear Lyn, what do you call this?"
"Um, a lap pillow?"
Yes, he can see that. But Allen doesn"t quite understand why she is letting him sleep on his lap. In all the years they have been engaged, it"s only during the last few months where things have changed slightly. She is younger than him, young and pure. So Allen never thought to touch her. Despite his families insisting on seeing grandchildren. Allen paid it no attention. Why would he lay his hands on a young girl? Though the age difference is not a lot, if they were animals, then she would still be a mere infant and him a grown-up. He cannot allow himself to do anything with her unless it is with her consent.
Most people, most men in elite marriages, would take advantage of the situation. However, Allen was not like that, "Your legs will hurt," Allen said.
"I"m fine! I"m healthy these days," Lyn exclaimed, "I think I"ve even grown some muscle with all the training I"ve been doing lately."
Muscle... Unknowingly his lips curve to a smile, and Lyn pouted, "Ah, don"t make fun of me! I"m serious about this, you know."
Allen smiled, "I am glad that you are getting stronger dearest," he genuinely is. While he does worry about her whenever she goes training, in the end, a part of him is relieved while he wants to continue s.h.i.+elding her from the horrors of this world. What if an unexpected situation came up? What if something happened to him, and he couldn"t protect her anymore? The Wind Kingdom right now is the strongest as it has ever been; he does not doubt that n.o.body can oppose them. But, unexpected situations tend to occur.
Prince Ralph came all the way out here not just to speak with him, but to personally deal with the conflict in this area. But it seems like he is leaving the situation here in Suri Town to Lyn.
"Allen, does it bother you? That I"m in a relations.h.i.+p with Kazuya?"
Allen flinched at the girl"s words; he didn"t think she would be so blunt and straightforward about it.
"I mean, it shouldn"t right?" Lyn trailed off, "I do understand that we are engaged, but it"s just an engagement set up between our parents."
The girl"s words stung in more ways than one. Of course, he understood that this engagement being nothing more than a mere set up. Their families don"t actually expect them to fall in love with each other. The primary purpose of this Union is to establish a connection with the Kingdom they think could be a potential threat to them.
With the current status of the Empire, his Wind Kingdom is on top - but the elders have always feared the Mist Kingdom. Allen understood why the present Mist Kingdom royal family has Queen Orthez. "That woman, is a monster in disguise," she"s the best Queen anybody has seen in the Empire in such a long time. With beauty, status, talent, and intelligence.
Allen took a deep breath before responding, "If that is what you think then so be it," he trailed off, "But remember, the truth is not what it seems."
"Then, are you saying you see me as a woman?"
..Allen looked at her with a troubled expression. For the last few minutes, she had been casually playing with his hair. Anybody who walked in would see this scene as romantic, but it only made Allen feel nervous. Now she"s asking him something as ridiculous as this.