Chapter 27 - The Fiance appears? Allen's abrupt visit

Year 4014 Mist Kingdom

For him to rush to her side the moment he arrived - the people around them always saw it as being part of his duty. Nobody realized that the First Prince of the Wind Kingdom Allen held genuine feelings for her. There was no reason for anyone to think that judging from his behavior when the two do attend formal gatherings together. Even today, he calmly strolled into the girl's grounds with his usual cold demeanor.

When Allen saw Lyn's surprised and panicked expression, he frowned and looked around the area. Allen noticed movement behind the curtains; but he did not walk over. Instead, he reached over to embrace her, "Have you been well?"

"Ah — y—yes," Lyn stammered, "Quite well."

Allen nodded, "You've become frail, are you sure your eating?"

"I am fine.."

"Forgive me for this sudden visit," Allen trailed off, 'I couldn't wait to see you,' no more like 'I heard about the rumors regarding another man by your side.' Both were true, but Allen would not tell her those words. Sensing discomfort from the girl in his arms, he pulled back and walked over to the couch and sat down, "Sit."

Lyn nodded and followed. Allen looked around at the girl's room, since the last time it looked a lot more colorful. Or rather, he couldn't miss the adornment of dresses hanging on the racks. When he last dropped by here, she did not have this many clothing.

"Have your tastes changed?" Allen asked. Since he first met her, Allen knew that the girl liked wearing plain clothing. Rather, the dresses that hung on the racks looked to be quite expensive.

For people like them to waste money, it's not unusual. But Allen knew his fiance as a woman who liked plain clothes and saved as much money as possible. When he asked her before she claimed it was just in case a disaster struck.

"Oh— no, um.." Lyn trailed off and murmured, "Those were a gift."

Allen recalled the reports he received, and the frown on his face deep ended. He immediately guessed the gifts were from the man in the reports. So they've gotten that close to each other? When Allen first heard the news, he was busy with the main council affairs. Because of his father's increasingly poor health. Allen has been attending the meetings in his place; his schedule is packed with countless work. He has no time to leisurely take a five-minute break, let alone a trip to another kingdom. So why did he come here, despite everything? It's due to those unsettling reports. At first, he intended to ignore them- rumors are rumors. Amongst the elite, all kinds of toxic rumors appear.

If one listens and believes everything they hear, it would drive them mad. Only a few people knew of Lyn's existence, so Allen thought nobody would gossip about her. That was his mistake; he turned to the black hair girl; she seemed distracted, and he followed her gaze. She kept staring at the curtain. Allen already knew the man in question was there, but he would not make a fuss about it now.

"I shall remain here for a few days. But in order not to cause a fuss I won't be staying at the central castle," Allen informed her, he watched as her eyes widened realizing. She seemed startled, "Is that an issue? You have spare chambers in the next wing correct?" Though this area was quite small, Allen was aware of the structure of the building.

"I don't mind Allen, sorry I'm just a bit tired. I didn't prepare for your visit either." Lyn apologized. He disliked it when she's this formal with him. She didn't hesitate to call him by his first name the moment they first met.

Allen nodded, "I apologize for dropping by so suddenly. Nobody has informed me of your sleeping hours, and since the sun is still up, I didn't think you would be asleep."

"I was a little tired."

"Are your studies keeping you busy? The amount of books in here has increased," Allen noted looking over at the girl's shelves.

The girl remained distracted, so he reached over and caressed her pale cheeks. She's always been a fair beauty, but today he could tell there was something wrong. Is she ill?

"Allen?"

"I believe you should rest," Allen concluded after looking at her for a few minutes.

"I slept for three days; I should move around."

She slept for three days? Allen frowned when he recalled the report from the First Prince. The first thing he does when he arrives is to visit his fiance so he can have time to speak with her, updating his news and hearing stories personally from her. But from time to time, the First Prince sends him a report on Lyn's situation.

Allen always kept his relations with the girl's family on a formal level; nobody saw behind his mask and facade. However, the First Prince seemed to notice the truth. Otherwise, why would he feel the need to send those reports every single time?

Allen didn't hesitate as he lifted her off the ground and carried her towards the bed, "You must rest."

"Allen.."

"I shall be nearby if you need me, so close your eyes."

He does not know how to display kindness openly. Even expressing words of concern is difficult for him. Who is to say his actions are genuinely kind?

....

A little while later

Allen knew he was tired, but he did not expect to drift off. When he looked up and saw the bed empty, he frowned and got up. Allen walked towards the bed and placed his hand on the sheets; it was still warm indicating she only just left. With haste, he turned and left the room. It didn't take him long to find her; the girls' quarters may seem large. But there are limited places she can go to, anyway.

His fiance was not alone, standing beneath a large tree - there she was with the man he heard from the reports. This must be him; it fits the description: maroon hair, unusual eyes, and that annoyingly stupid grin. Despite the man smiling, however, his fiancee seemed frantic as she repeatedly told the man not to get angry.

"Do-don't get mad Kazuya; it's just for a little while. Allen does this often, but he won't stay awhile since his work keeps him busy," Lyn explained.

Allen almost blew his cover to laugh, this time around dear, he left his work. So even if they called him back, he won't until he sorts things out here.

The man named 'Kazuya' is silent for a while, and Lyn gently called out to him, "Kazuya?"

"Will I still be able to meet with you?"

"Yes," Lyn laughed softly, "Um don't worry, it's not like anything will change. We can still see each other."

"Yeah, you'll be lonely without me around."

"Dummy."

Allen watched as the two 'embrace,' he frowned watching how tightly the guy held on to Lyn. Is it common for a man and woman to hold each other as often as they do? Certainly not. Though he still had little information on the man named Kazuya and how he acts with Lyn. It's not too hard to guess that hugging each other is not new for them.

"Kazuya?"

"Few more minutes," Kazuya murmured as he buried his face in the girl's black hair.

"Alright, um can I borrow your hand too?"

Kazuya laughed, "Feel free Princess, it's all yours."

Allen turned and left then; he didn't need to see anymore. He already determined precisely how close their relationship was in those few minutes. He sighed deeply; it seems like he will have to take action regarding this matter. His marriage with Lyn is political, so Allen never expected the girl to harbor any feelings for him.

Yes, for Allen this marriage wasn't just a political one. He genuinely held feelings for the woman named Lyn. The moment Allen realized he was in love with his fiance was during the early stages of their engagement.

When Allen realized he fell for her, he knew things would become complicated. A political marriage is a political marriage, while there are those cases where both parties love each other. Those cases are rare, most times the marriages involve both parties getting into other relationsh.i.p.s, eventually. It was not unheard of to keep a mistress or lover or two.

For Allen to court, the girl was something unheard of. If he openly displayed his affections, he knew he would only scare her away. He wanted to bet on the passage of time. The more Allen visited her, the closer he expected for them to become. Indeed, for a while, it certainly appeared to be like that. The two of them getting along well with each other.

However, after the incidence that occurred when she was fourteen years old things changed between them. Everything reset, everything Allen worked hard to build with her vanished, and she looked at him emotionlessly. Allen recalled that day all too well, when the words, "Who are you?" passed the girls lips, he knew things would never be the same again.