Chapter 84 - What does he want from her?

- Brothel - XX Town Year 4014

"Wh—what are you doing!" Lyn exclaimed.

Kazuya and her were on the way back when right at the entrance of a brothel they see Rhys. Despite not being used to such places, Lyn marched right inside to lecture him. Ignoring the looks she got from other people.

"Hm? As you can see, waiting for you," Rhys answered casually. He didn't seem bothered that she just marched up to him and disturbed what he was doing. The girl he was with though looked very annoyed until Rhys produced a bag from his overcoat and gave it to her. The girl's eyes lit up, and she walked away with it happily.

Lyn hits him, "Idiot! I was worried something happened, and yet here you are fooling around."

"Places like this are the best places to gather intel. Besides, I was thirsty too," Rhys said, as he gathered the rest of his clothes.

Then go find a teahouse, there are plenty here. A deep sigh passed her lips, "Kazuya? You talk to him, this guy never listens."

"Kazuya?"

"Isn't this place a bit odd too?"

Rhys smiled, "Hm, as expected. Yeah, this place stood out as an unusual one. While I did benefit from it too,"

Lyn exhaled deeply, this man is impossible.

"Did you hurt your wrist? There's blood," Rhys asked.

"Ah, a little."

Rhys walked over and took hold of her hands before he bent down and licked the blood - that's right he licked it. Like it was the most natural thing in the world to do. A trail of blood was about to vanish into her sleeve, but he caught it with his tongue and licked the inside of her wrist.

Lyn felt her body tremble, "Um…?" Lyn whispered. She was trying to comprehend the current situation, "Eh?" Lyn felt her face grow hot, "W—what---wha—wha?" He said something before that licking wounds is more useful. But, Lyn didn't take him seriously. Now she wishes she did.

Kazuya who was in his trance since earlier finally snapped out of it, he frowned, "Ahhh, Rhys! What are you doing to Lyn?"

"Treating her wounds."

"She's a girl; you can't do that."

Rhys rolled his eyes and sighed, "Kazuya, why do you still remain naive on such matters? This is an effective way of treating wounds," a sly smile tugged on the edge of Rhys blood stained lips, and Rhys mouthed the tender flesh on her hand.

"Rhys, please," Lyn cried out, and Rhys eyes shot open like they doused him in ice water.

She knew her face was still stained red, but she brushed that aside.

Lyn felt her lower lip quiver, unable to think rationally at all. She could push him away like she usually did, but instead — "Wahhhhh!" Lyn exclaimed and mustered some strength to hit him in the process, drawing her hand back.

Rhys looked at her stunned, and Kazuya burst into laughter, "That's my Lyn, she's amazing," Kazuya praised her, Lyn softly laughed as she extended her hands out and Kazuya walked over to hug her, "Yup, yup, good girl."

A deep sigh escaped Rhys lips, "Gosh, you two have gotten more annoying than before," he rubbed his sore cheek with her hands and Lyn looked over with a guilty expression. Did she really hit him that hard? Rhys picked up his pipe; he tapped it against the table before in hailing. Smoke covered the space in front of him as he said, "We have to be careful."

That's true; there are ears everywhere. The people in this town give unusual vibes because they are living in fear.

....

11:PM - A few hours later, back at the Inn-

When Lyn recalled how pained Rhys looked, she knew she wouldn't be able to get some rest. So after she packed up some medical supplies in a box, she quickly left her room and hurried down the hallway. It was dark, and the inn was trying to save money since the only lights that were on were the small bulbs that dimly lit the hall. 'Well, not everybody has money,' Lyn thought. Even over here in the Snow Kingdom, where people are supposed to live a luxurious life, there are traces of poverty.

It didn't take long before she reached Rhys room, Lyn extended her hand out to knock on the door, but it suddenly opened, "It really is you," he looked utterly dumbfounded to see her.

He knew she was coming? She shook her head, not now. "Does it hurt?" Lyn asked as she looked at his cheek

Rhys exhaled deeply, "Princess, you know you probably shouldn't visit a man so late at night."

Lyn flushed, "But I'm worried, it hurts right? Let me apply some medicine, and then I'll leave," he seemed hesitant but eventually nodded. Rhys opened the door and led her inside.

"Ah, you cleaned!"

"Because I had women over earlier."

Lyn frowned, why does he have to sleep around when they are on an vital retrieval mission? Kazuya explained it earlier and said it's a way for Rhys to get information, but she didn't like it, "Your using those poor girls, and lying to them."

"No, I'm just telling them what they want to hear and consoling them."

Was he consoling them? Lyn looked at him puzzled, but Rhys didn't explain it any further and sat down on the couch. Ah! She walked over with the med kit in her hands and took a seat beside him. It was a fairly small couch, so Lyn didn't think much of him getting closer to her. She settled the kit on the seat and started to take out the various items out.

"Rhys?"

"About earlier, did you like it?"

Liked what? When she saw the expression on his face though, her cheeks turned red, "I--idiot! Don't you remember the reason why you got that injury? Why are you making it worse for yourself?"

Rhys seemed amused though, "But, you have to admit for a naive Princess, your learning a lot."

"Don't call me, Princess."

"Then, Lyn."

This is more brutal than she thought it would be. Then again, usually Rhys would call her Lyn in a sarcastic tone. This is the first time he's addressing her in a normal manner, so Lyn felt a bit weird about all this. A deep sigh passed her lips; she wonders exactly what this man wants from her. Why does he act this way towards her?

Lyn picked up a cotton bud and poured the ointment on them and began to dab at Rhys cheeks, "I really don't understand you, Rhys," Lyn murmured, "I do know you're a kind person despite being a pervert and all that. However, once in a while, you would get that look in your eyes. Exactly, what do you want from me? The way you act towards me isn't normal."

For a while now Lyn felt something was odd about the way Rhys treated her. He treated her so differently from other women. Is that normal? It isn't. At first, Lyn thought it was because she was a Princess, but lately, Lyn felt like it wasn't like that. Her thoughts broke off when he caressed her cheeks, "You can't tell?"

Lyn shook her head, "I can't."

"It's because I like you."