Chapter 36 - Princess Lyn P8

Earlier

Allen bolted out of bed as a bead of sweat trickled down his face, not just a single one but several. His face covered in cold sweat. He placed his hands on his forehead and lets out an audible sigh. Dreaming of the past now was hardly what he would call ideal. Back then, two years ago. The him of two years ago is completely different.

His drastic change was because of the case back then. Allen recalled the emotions he had then. Back when he first heard the news; he felt as though the world around him suddenly lost even more meaning. Even now he could still recall quite well, that frantic page boy from the Shio family. ' The Clan is destroyed' ' Burned down.' When he heard those words, he had a mixture of different emotions.

Usually when one hears such news one would break down. It should have done that; indeed he may have felt that doing that would have been better.

If he did that, then the emergence of this heavy feeling may not have existed. It may have disappeared much sooner. Yet the fact of the matter stands, that he had not been able to do anything about it. He had not been able to do anything about the massacre that had occurred.

The Second Prince of the Wind Kingdom recalled it quite well, receiving that message and then the next day arranged to secure the manor into his property instead. A castle being burnt down - with hardly anything left would end up being torn down. Especially with no relative left to claim it or fix it up, which is why he took it upon himself to take the manor. His family had indeed found the investment useless and a waste of money.

However, Allen reminded them exactly who Queen Orthez was and despite having knowledge of the events did not do anything. When he said those words, he saw the instant look of guilt wash on their faces. At least it shut them up and kept them silent. He did not want to hear it; he did not want to listen to it - did not want to admit that she died.

That she did, he refused to believe it even when he saw the condition of the manor. When he secured the area, Allen got rid of the annoying pest that is the public and put up a sign of no entry.

It was only a part of the castle that was burned down, and yet people immediately made assumptions of the families death. What actually happened then was Queen Orthez transported them to a temporary dimension, but Lyn remained underground. When he heard that news, Allen did not hesitate to retrieve the girl.

"Prince Allen," he hears a knock at his door disrupting his thoughts.

"Speak."

"King Daichi wishes to meet with you."

.. ... ....

Present

Year 4014 Mist Kingdom (Shio Town)

The man that sat opposite him is the 38th King of The Mist Kingdom, Daichi. In contrast to his wife Queen Orthez, The Mist Kingdom King came from a reasonably regular background. He is also part of the elite, but his ranking in the elite circle is quite low. Because of his attitude, many people often mistook the man as a commoner. King Daichi invited him to a bar in the next town, not the central town. While the journey here was a bother, he supposes it's difficult to drink in broad daylight in the central town.

"Drink up; I hear you and Lyn have been getting along. I expect to see grandchildren soon."

"Your daughter is only sixteen," Allen said. "You expect grandchildren out of her at this age?"

Daichi wore a massive grin on his face, which indicated Allen's words are correct. Allen deeply sighed.

"I shall not force myself upon your daughter."

"I certainly hope not," King Daichi wore his usual grin, but his tone suddenly turned menacing.

"For a family who locked their daughter away, you're very protective of her."

King Daichi sighed, "I think you aren't up to date with the news. It was Orthez and Andrew who decided on that. I refused and when Shaarya.

"Lethia?"

The elderly man's expression turned complicated, "It's hard to get a read on that child," Daichi took a drink of his sake, "At least with Andrew, even though he is dedicated to the Kingdom. I can tell when he uses his sadistic torture methods that he's human."

"... If you're aware of your eldest sons ways.."

Daichi laughed, "It's okay; he resembles Orthez in that manner."

What a crazy family. Allen, however, kept that comment to himself.

"But Lethia is another story. Sometimes I get this feeling she dislikes Lyn."

Allen stopped drinking, for the last few minutes while the man spoke he silently took a few drinks. He always drank in a somewhat reasonable manner. But when he heard King Daichi's words, and concerns he drank more massive amounts. The observant King nodded.

"It is only natural to worry. It's never good when there's bad blood between siblings."

"Are you certain?"

"Recently somebody was trying to steal the item right? The one that helps with Lyn's condition?"

Allen nodded; he immediately put two and two together. His eyes widened in alarm, "Are you telling me..?"

"I'm not certain, but the people that Andrew interrogated all said that they met with Lethia. Of course, word of mouth is not completely trustworthy. Many wish to create a discord between family members. However, Lyn's case is different; only a few people knew her existence. It's easy to narrow it down."

"Did you do a scan?"

Daichi nodded, "Orthez will personally do it. Though Andrew tried to keep the matter under wraps, nothing passes her ears. She was livid that nobody told her sooner, but she didn't get angry and instead said she would deal with the matter."

Lyn's situation is genuinely complicated. This is why Allen wished to marry the girl as quickly as possible. The sooner he marries her, the sooner he could take her away from this place. Allen observed how even though the girl is quite reserved in front of his relatives. There is something different; there's light in her eyes. She laughs and smiles more — a smile benefiting a young girl of her age.

"I understand what you're thinking Allen. But this situation won't last long."

"You plan to reveal her identity?"

"Part of the reason is yes I agree with what your thinking about her getting married to you as quick as possible. I don't want Lyn to be here when things go astray," King Daichi paused. His expression grew grim, "The anti fraction is causing quite the casualties lately. Orthez is having a difficult time dealing with it alongside her usual work. And amongst the Empire Council, there's a traitor."

The first half didn't surprise him, in every Kingdom, there are anti groups that cause problems for the people. But the second, "Do you need help? I can ask my father to.."

King Daichi shook his head, "No, don't. If you do, the Wind Kingdom will get caught in this mess. Then it would be meaningless for Lyn to become your wife, you knew right? Part of the reason why we pushed for this alliance aside from the mark."

"I'm aware. But sixteen years have passed already, and no signs of real conflict have occurred. So I thought," Allen paused when he saw the man's expression, "Forgive me, I do understand the situation. But with the way things are lately, I wonder if you are not better of making an alliance with the Sound Kingdom."

Allen did not mean to seem bitter, but at the memory of Lyn hugging that man in front of him bothered him greatly.

"The Sound Kingdom eh, you mean the young lad named Kazuya?"

Allen nodded.

"You see, that's actually not a bad idea."

"...."

The King laughed at his reaction, "Calm down; I just said it's not a bad idea. You and Lyn have been engaged since birth, no matter what happens. Nobody can change that."

At least not quickly, Allen wanted to say but kept his mouth shut. The doors to the restaurant opened, Allen recognized the people who just entered which prevented him from responding to the King.

Though him and the King sat in a secluded area hidden by some curtains, Allen saw her immediately. She wore a cloak covering her hair, as she clung to Kazuya's arm.

"We're eating here?"

Kazuya smiled, "Relax, I come here all the time. It's safe."

Lyn nodded.

"Hey Master, the usual table please."

"Right this way."

It surprised Allen when he saw them, and he turned to the King who noticed too, "Oh? What a coincidence. Maybe we should join them."

Allen's eyes widened in alarm, what?

Before he could get a word in edge-wise and voice his thoughts, King Daichi already called out, "My dear daughter." It was not loud enough to expose her identity, but loud enough for the girl to hear.

Lyn's eyes lit up immediately when she saw her father, "Daddy---" the girl's tone changed when she saw him. Lyn awkwardly looked down at her feet, "Allen too."

Kazuya bent down and whispered something in Lyn's ear which made her laugh, "Okay! Um Daddy, Allen. Can we eat with you?"

"Sure."

Just like that, it was decided.