Chapter 525 - Tale of Rain Part 7

With First brothers instructions, the security around Lyn's place gradually increased. Of course it was not obvious enough to alert anybody's attention. While some of the guards found it odd nobody questioned it. Nobody in the palace has actual loyalty to the King, to his father. They only obey him because of the title. If one of the capable Princes, one of his brothers started a revolt they would support it. 

His gaze fell on the girl who was telling him about the flowers she saw blooming on her walk the other day. "Say, what is he like?" Rhys muttered.

He only met that Wind Kingdom Prince once, so he had a vague impression of him.

"Ah, I haven't met him yet."

She hasn't? That is very odd but it is good for him. As long as they dont meet, Lyn won't be closer to any other guy except him.  

"So uh Rhys, why am I sitting on your lap?"

"You don't like it?"

Lyn laughed. "Well it is fine but aren't I heavy?"

"A bit too light." He thought this when they first met, she is a bit skinny. Since she came here she has gained a bit more weight but her arms still look so thin that they could break at any moment. 

He pointed to the refreshments. "Eat, I don't like sweet things."

Her face seemed to brighten when he said that. It looked like she had refrained from getting any because she was being considerate of him. The more he watched her the more Rhys could not help but think how pretty she was. The others talked about him getting a wife before but Rhys never paid attention to it. He is only a child. Why would he have such thoughts?

But after he met Lyn that changed. Everything has changed since he met this girl.

Rhys extended his hand out, intertwining a strand of her black locks on his fingers. He brought it to his lips. Hair as dark as the night sky, how mysterious. The women in the west where the Mist Kingdom is all have light coloured hair and eyes, but Lyn is different. The Rain Kingdom is on the border of the West and East so there is a mixture of people in the lands. There are many women with dark hair among his fathers harem and yet it is not like this. The hair of those women are frizzy and unkept. 

Unknowingly he was getting closer to Lyn without realizing.

By the time he noticed it her entire face seemed to turn red like a tomato. "Uh.."

"Sorry." Rhys quickly apologized.

Lyn only laughed and she shyly looked down. "Say do you uh like me?"

Like? He loves her.

Rhys paused for a moment. Huh? What did he think of just now? Why did he say something like that? Besides why is she even asking him this question.

"If I do…" Before he could even finish his sentence her already red face turned redder. "Lyn?"

She quickly scrambled of his lap and walked towards the door. "I..I am going back to my room, I feel sleepy." 

Why is she behaving so weird? What an odd girl?

…..

The next few days felt like pure torture to him. Since Lyn came everything has changed for him. The days he used to find so meaningless and dull brightened up. But now that she was avoiding him Rhys felt himself getting bored and irritated again. His temper before meeting Lyn was quite bad. Maybe it was because he saw how superficial the world was but Rhys disliked his duties as a Prince. The people around him only seek benefits, they do not get to know him as a person. As a noble, living this lifestyle is normal and yet Rhys disliked it a lot. Unlike other nobles who hide their emotions Rhys did not do that.

He was in a very bad mood as he exited the meeting. Another talk about getting a wife again, how annoying. Do those people have nothing better to do than think of his prospect marriage candidates? He is only young, is there any need to rush?

Besides, he doesn't want any of those Princesses. The one he wanted-- Rhys paused when he saw her standing by the large painting at the foyer. She was looking at the picture with great interest.

Rhys walked over and hugged her from the back. He brought his lips to her neck and Lyn muttered. "Rhys?"

He likes how she knows it is him even without looking.

She turned her head slightly to confirm. "Uh let me go?"

"I missed you." The words left his lips quicker than lightning. 

He planned to lecture her for avoiding him for so long, but instead such sweet words left his lips.

A guilty look appeared on her face and she swiftly turned around. She wrapped her arms around his neck. "Sorry." Her soft voice sounded like petals slowly falling down. "I was just embarrassed."

He pulled her away slightly to get a better look at her face. "Embarrassed?" He repeated.

"You're very popular." She muttered. "Actually I heard of you before I came here. So when my father said you would look out for me I was a bit cautious but I was curious too."

"Where does the embarrassed part come in?"

"Somebody like you said those words..about uh.."

"About liking you?" Rhys finished for her.

She nervously nodded and Rhys sighed. He still isn't quite sure himself. Indeed he is young. He will still meet plenty of girls in the future. Who knows if his feelings for Lyn will fade over time? But what is important is right now, right now he does not want to let go of her. He wants only her.

Rhys extended his hands out and stretched her cheeks causing her to pout. 

"What?!!"

"I am not going to rush. We are both young and you already have a fiance." Rhys paused for a moment. It is still painful for him to accept that she already has somebody. "If you meet him and decide you don't like him then you can come back to me."