Chapter 549 - Subconscious fear

"Are you saying we met before?" Lyn managed to find her voice. Otherwise, why else would he speak to her this way?

Souma chuckled. "Oh, how you jest Princess. How could you have forgotten me? We even danced together."

Did they dance together? Perhaps it was before her confinement. Lyn does recall meeting many people and holding a small gathering. Even though by that point, the rumors about her as a cursed individual were everywhere. But she did not have very good memories of that event.

Just the mere mention of it made her recall a distant past, and she felt her body shudder. The Princess is so beautiful, exactly like a doll.

Now that she thought about it, some nobles were oddly obsessed with her appearance. After that day, mother seemed very disturbed too. 

"Ah, I believe so."

His eyes brightened. "I knew you would not forget me; how could you forget? That day we unknowingly wore matching colors, and people paired us together. You seemed so bashful and shy when we danced together, and even our little terrace getaway." He stood up, and she tried to step back, but Souma grabbed her shoulders.

There was a crazy look in his eyes. 

"Princess Lyn, I am special to you, right? You never forgot me all these years? You even heard I was here and asked them so I could escort you today."

What on earth is this man talking about? Lyn wanted to tell him that was not true. But she was afraid of what would happen if she went against him. This is so strange. She encountered many dangerous and life-threatening situations for the past year or so, but she stood her ground.

Ever since Kazuya and Rhys came here, Lyn found the number of times where she is in a bad situation increasing. But it was merely a matter of timing. Whether or not they came here, it seems she would have eventually had to deal with such situations. Since they came here, they have saved her every single time.

It seems today was no exception.

Lyn lost her footing and was about to fall when a pair of strong arms wrapped around her. She ended up falling into somebody's warm embrace. 

"Are you alright?"

Lyn tilted her head to confirm who caught her. Her gaze softened when she saw who it was. "Rhys." 

"You--" Rhys immediately understood the situation and pulled her into his arms, so she was no longer faced, sir Souma. 

Lyn had not realized how frightened she was until Rhys held her, her face drenched in sweat, and she trembled badly.

"What is the meaning of this, sir Kujou?"

"Wh-what are you talking about? Moreover, get your hands of the Princess; she is not somebody you can just touch."

Rhys deeply sighed as he lifted her face and cupped her cheeks. Lyn felt that she already knew what he was about to do. But she was too drained of strength to stop him, and in the next second, Rhys was kissing her deeply. 

"I can't touch what is mine already?"

Lyn wanted to hit him. The way he licked and teased on her tongue in the last second--ah, this man! She felt her entire face turn red. Why is Rhys so carefree? He does not hesitate to display such affectionate acts meant in private in public. Then again, she knew commoners treated it as usual. Is it because he was raised away from nobility for long? 

Even though she lived in a closed-off part of the palace, she still learned the appropriate manners for a Princess. So is this the reason why she finds it wrong? No- she met Rhys gaze. There is something different about this man.

Rhys leaned forward. "Should I do it again?"

"Q--quit it, idiot."

"Yours---" Souma trembled. "Princess, you know, sir Rhys?"

Has this man not heard of the rumors? The academy is not a closed-off place, so she is sure people here already knew about her and Rhys. "Yes, he is mine."

"T--that is--" Souma trailed off, his gaze dimmed as he looked at her directly. He looked at her with a vicious look in his eyes that said, how dare you? 

Lyn flinched at his hostility. Why is he like this? Even if they met when they were kids, what led to him becoming this possessive over her? It did not make any sense to her. 

Right at that moment, a guard appeared and went over to sir Kujou. Souma frowned but nodded. "Apologies, Princess, but something came up. I shall return soon-"

"Ah yes."

"But before I leave, I must say something. What of your fiance?"

"Uh."

"Ah, the royal family custom. Indeed encouraging multiple spouses is wise, but the academy is a bit different. I encourage you chose one for appearance's sake." Despite this formal explanation, Lyn sensed the mockery and bitterness. 

Rhys looked at the man in disbelief as he mumbled pathetically before adding. "If your trying to intimidate me, then there is no need to-"

"Then I will stick with Rhys," Lyn answered firmly.

She doesn't know if the academy actually has such rules, or maybe he is just making that up since he is bitter. But Lyn knew it would be best to answer the question sure enough, whatever strength Kujou Souma had seemed to have vanished. The man could no longer reply, but she sensed blood l.u.s.t.

In the next second, Kujou had grabbed his sword and headed towards them. But before he could get closer, somebody knocked that sword off his hands. A man with black hair wearing a similar uniform to kujou, except he had a blue eastern haori cloak around his shoulders.

"Kujou, what on earth are you doing attacking the guest?"

"I--I did not intend, forgive me, sir Ryuuko."

Ryuuko sighed. "You shouldn't apologize to me but her idiot." The man turned around, and that was when Lyn confirmed her thoughts.

"S-suoh?!" Lyn exclaimed.

Ryuuko looked surprised but quickly regained his composure. "Kujou, I will take over, you head back."

It looked like the man wanted to argue, but one glare from Ryuuko or Suoh, and the man quickly left. Lyn blinked, puzzled at the scene. Even though Kujou Souma acted all high and mighty just then, moreover, this person, is he Suoh? His hair color is different, and even his eyes.

"Now, what do I do? You actually came here, Princess Lyn." Ryuuko said, confirming her thoughts and erasing her doubts.