*UNEDITED*It"s unusual. Why would Pupillam who was previously so overprotective of Lyn start hiding away? It makes little sense to him. As Allen pondered on these thoughts, somebody exited the store carrying some metals. Allen recognized the girl immediately, despite her battered looking clothing. "Pupillam."
"P--Prince Allen?" Pupillam mumbled confused.
Allen frowned when he saw her current condition. Why is she dressed this way? Her family business is the best in the country. While the girl is not an elite, she is not poor. She does not lack money. Now that he thought about it, this place looks strangely desolate since the last time he came here.
...
"A threat?"
When he saw the state of the shop outside, Allen already suspected something. But now that he saw the inside, it seems his suspicion is correct. Pupillam didn"t deny anything and immediately told him everything that happened. It turned out
"I fear greatly for the Princess safety," Pupillam sighed. "I understand it"s stupid for me to get worried. But, this time I genuinely couldn"t do anything."
"They threatened your family?"
"My older brother, made a deal with some strange people when he was drunk. It backfired - and now all the money used for the business is funding these other people"s organisation."
"What type of organization is it?"
Pupillam paused, "At first I thought it was a random group of strays. However, the previous night I heard their leader speaking. Do you know of the man that tags along with King John?"
"His a.s.sistant?"
"No, the other one."
Allen thought for a moment, "Lucas?"
"Yes, it was him."
Isn"t Lucas a member of Junlan church? It"s strange, the members of the church would never do something like this. But at the same time, "Junlan church is neutral." A neutral group can be equally as bad. They won"t side with anyone and if anybody asks them questions, they will answer them right away.
"This is troublesome," Allen muttered. He didn"t think Lucas would get involved. Though the members are free to give a particular side more aide. "It would mean he broke the laws of the church. Threatening your family, blackmailing your brother - and using your families money."
"Prince, I don"t care about the money. But, my mother, please get her back."
At that comment his gaze dimmed, "Where is she?"
"They took her away, I haven"t seen her since then," Pupillam looked like she was on the verge of tears. "Please Prince Allen, since you found out, please help me. I cannot trouble the Princess with this."
Now Allen finally understood why Pupillam stayed away. This woman will do anything to ensure Lyn is safe, even at the cost of sacrificing her Mother. "You made a deal so they wouldn"t touch Lyn, you volunteered yourself. But your Mother replaced you."
"Yes," Pupillam nodded. "I was foolish and naive. I didn"t think she would do that. Then I recalled something the Princess told me. "No parents hate their children." Indeed, I understand full well now."
No parents hate their children? She said something like that despite everything? Allen clenched his fist. It seems like he really doesn"t know anything about Lyn.
"I shall a.s.sist right away."
"How is the Princess?" Pupillam asked. Ever since the girl saw him, she probably wanted to ask this question. "I want to meet with her as soon as I can. But maybe for us two it"s better not to see each other. During this time apart, I realized many things.
"Yes. Actually she"s ---" before Allen could even finish his speech, the doors burst open and in came a frantic looking Naoki "What are you doing?"
"A thousand pardons. But the main town is..."
His eyes widened in alarm when he hears the report. Allen knew this would happen eventually, but he didn"t think they"d attack before the agreed time. "Where"s Lyn?"
Naoki bit his lip, "Princess Lyn got caught up in the fray. She was in town with Rhys."
________
For some reason Lyn felt like something was missing. Like there was something important that she had forgotten, she didn"t understand what it was. Yet her feelings told her that it was important. Every single time she fell in love, something would always go wrong. It wouldn"t last long, it would end always come to a end. In the end she probably won"t ever truly understand it, the meaning of love.
The meaning of being close to others, being friends - relations.h.i.+ps. Previously, she never once thought she needed them. Lyn always believed that she didn"t need anyone, that it was okay to stay by herself. Yet..there was indeed someone who taught her the meaning of being close to others. Someone...she couldn"t remember. But that was fine, even if she doesn"t have those memories, the present is more important.
The present? Is this what she wanted? After learning
"Rhys," Lyn called out weakly.
"Lyn, do not move. It"s okay."
She frantically shook her head, "No, your not," she muttered. How could he be okay? Right now he is covered in blood.
Lyn didn"t know where it came from - that magic beam of light that resembled something she knew. But it came so suddenly, and Rhys reaction was slow. She got slightly hurt but the one who took the brunt of the damage was him.
"Lyn," Rhys mumbled. "Stay over here, and don"t move. Those people are coming now," he pulled out his brush and a few scrolls. "Stay right here... No, I can"t leave you," he looked very conflicted.
What is this idiot thinking? He"s the one who is hurt the most, why is he thinking about her for? When Lyn saw the amount of blood that came out from Rhys, she felt like her heart had stopped beating.
Rhys bent down and kissed her eyelids, causing her heart to speed up. "Rhys...don"t be a fool right now."
"Your crying because of me, I like it."
Is he serious? Lyn looked at him dumbfounded. Why did he have to get himself hurt for? Is it worth it? To protect her? Does he have to go this far?