Chapter 90 - Signs Of Corruption

The last thing Lyn expected after spending such lovely moments with Kazuya, was to see an awful sight. When they returned, the river bank surrounded by people. That sight shouldn't be unusual, but earlier people were spread out, they weren't bundled together like this. What's more, they were all stiff and wore a frightened expression in their face. Lyn made her way through the crowd, and there she saw Rhys glaring at somebody harshly, sword in hand. Ah?

Her gaze fell on the people behind Rhys, two girls - sisters from the looks of it that. Faces were swollen and bruised up. The man opposite Rhys was somebody she recognized.

Lyn recalled the information she and Kazuya received before and clenched her fist. So, it's true?

"Lyn, don't,"

Lyn shook her head, "He knows who I am. I'm sorry Kazuya, but I'll have to," even if her status in the Mist Kingdom is dodgy. She's still a Princess, and she has every right to intervene in a situation like this. This man may have power, but against her, he is nothing. Lyn confidentially made her way through the crowd.

"Pull back Prince Ereland."

The man who just moments ago had an insane look on his face turned to her, "Princess...Princess Lyn?" he seemed dumbfounded, his eyes filled with confusion.

'Is it that surprising to see her outside?' Lyn thought.

"Yes," with her reply, the crowd immediately burst into chatter.

"Did he just say, Princess?"

"That girl?"

Lyn removed the cloak she had been wearing this whole time, while she mainly wore plain travel clothes. Kazuya bought them for her, so they were made of high-quality material. Everybody looked stunned, they did not say anything though. What could they say? The people in this town clearly dislike royalty, they probably did not expect the girl who brought them this peaceful evening is a member of the royals they hate so much. Lyn, however prepared for them to find out anytime, even if she is hated. It does not matter, at least she returned the smiles to their faces.

"Oh? Interesting," Ereland's lips curved to a smile, "Now what could you possibly be doing all the way out here, especially with your circ.u.mstances. Did you escape? That's no good."

"Do you think I'd be capable of escaping my brother?" Lyn shook her head, "Times have changed since you were last in the Kingdom. It seems like you've forgotten your etiquette in the process too."

"With all due respect Princess, I am simply punishing what's mine. These two came begging to be bought by my head solider, so instead, I took pity on them and took them off his hands," Ereland explained, "I did a noble thing, wouldn't you say so?"

Pity? Noble? Lyn looked back at the girl's who were on the ground. One of them managed to get up and tried to lift her sister, "Sister, eldest sister, don't die. Please don't die," she sobbed.

That's a noble deed?

"I've heard of nobles purchasing and abducting females from the slums lately. One would think that they are doing something good by providing these people with a stable job, with shelter and warm meals. But, it seems like your amongst the few who have other ideas."

Ereland's face broke out into a sweat, 'Bingo,' Lyn thought. Initially, she was just saying it as a bluff, but it turned out she was right after all. Before Lyn could say anymore, however, a voice called out to her.

"Lyn," Rhys reached over and brought her towards him, "Who is this guy?"

"Prince Ereland."

"Prince, pfft, with the way he beat women, I thought he was a common street thug," though Rhys laughed. Lyn could sense the deadly around surrounding him. His arms wrapped around her, so she caught a glimpse of his hand.

"Ah, you hurt your hand?" Lyn asked.

"Yeah, I used my fists first. But then I decided it would be quicker if I just cut him."

Lyn, however, wasn't paying much attention to his words; it was swollen all over. Lyn got a brief glance at the Prince face earlier, the man's eye swollen, including his cheek. Rhys must have punched him repeatedly. It's a good thing they didn't manage to hurt him, "Let's go back. I'll treat your wound."

Rhys lips curve to a smile, "In my room?"

"No stupid, the lounge," Lyn murmured.

"Princess Lyn, who is this man?"

However Lyn didn't bother looking back, she looked over at Kazuya who had chased after her. She made eye contact with him; he seemed reluctant but nodded. 'Take care of the villagers,' no doubt everybody present here will get in trouble. But if Kazuya is around, this man's men won't be able to do anything.

....

- Inn- Lounge -

"So that's what happened," Lyn said. Rhys had just finished telling the events.

"That was the guy the women in the brothel mentioned, huh? Already made a promise to beat up his face once I saw him. So even if he didn't come here boasting about beating those girls up, I would have walloped him."

Lyn sighed while she didn't like the fact that those twins got hurt if he didn't show up with them, then Rhys would have hit the man with no reason. "Don't be so careless, how can you protect me?"

Rhys sighed, "Kazuya was with you, thought I didn't need to follow."

She looked down at her feet when he said those words. Why does he have to make things so awkward for?

Her thoughts broke off when Rhys shrugged the bandages from his hand, "Ah, why did you--" her sentence fell short when Rhys placed his hand in front of her, "There's a quicker way remember?"

Lyn shook her head, "How can you be so shameless," she murmured, "Even if I weren't in a relationship, I'm still a Princess. Don't you know what price you have to pay demanding things of a royal family member?"

"Price, huh, well, I can pay."

"Please be serious."

"I am."

"Then, quit being so shameless," Lyn exclaimed, but that only caused Rhys to stare at her with a more serious look than before. Lyn ignored him and continued to dress his wounds instead.

"That person is going to be problematic."

"Ah?"

Rhys sighed, "Well, I don't know how much you know about human trafficking. But, there are many twisted members of the elites out there who have nothing better than to do than gambrel their money away," he trailed off, "Not surprised?"

"No," she murmured, "I figured it was like this," while they confined her for so long. During the rare times, she went out to Town; Lyn learned a lot. When she finally built a rapport with some people, she found out many things that she wouldn't have known better, "It seems like it's the same down here too," she had to admit she was a bit disappointed. But why is she so surprised, "The Empire is corrupt."

Her dream, her goal - she shouldn't limit it to the Mist Kingdom.