Chapter 108 - Meeting

-Rhys Room-

"You want us to ambush him and kidnap--"

"Ridiculous," Allen cut in before Beth could finish her sentence. As blunt as he was being, Lyn had to agree. Kazuya spent these last two days and a half investigating, he followed Prince Ereland this whole time, and this is what he comes up?

Lyn rubbed her forehead and sighed, "Kazuya," she reached over and tugged his sleeve, "Don't joke around, please."

Kazuya grinned, "That's the thing, I'm not joking."

It would be better if he were joking. The people who hadn't spoken up started muttering. The ones gathered here are Kazuya, Rhys, and the other three members of the Sound Kingdom. Kyou is lurking around outside; he hasn't appeared before Kazuya yet, and the majority is Allen's group. Thankfully Allen didn't bring so many people, while he arrived in that carriage and that made him stand out a bit. He didn't come with that many people, so the other villagers didn't pay much attention to him. There were a few looks, of course, they'd look. Allen stood out; even if he disguised himself, noble aura is something one cannot erase.

Kazuya isn't joking, but his plan is very reckless, not even she could agree with it. Lyn racked her head up to think of something; she ought to say something at least. Her status as Kazuya's girlfriend means she ought to speak up for him, but Lyn was having a hard time thinking up an excuse.

To her surprise, Rhys cuts in, "Guess I'll take the vanguard."

Everybody stares at him dumbfounded, after that long silence, the most unexpected person cuts in and just casually accepts the job.

"I knew I could count on you. You'll be with Lyn and me."

"Oi, you're doing that on purpose."

Kazuya laughed, "But I think we work well together."

"Che."

Lyn looked at the two curiously, when she saw their smiling faces. Her gaze softened, it seems like the two of them are back to normal now. She didn't know when it was, but at some point, the relationship between the two became strained.

"So, I have a question," Beth spoke up, breaking the confusion.

"What is it?"

Beth turned to her, "I think we've all figured out that Prince Ereland is only acting up like this because he wants Princess Lyn's attention, correct?"

Eh? But wait, wasn't he after the Snow Kingdom Princess too? Lyn frowned, and was about to say something when Rhys interjected, "And your point is?"

"Why don't we just use her as bait to lure him out, then go through all this trouble with an ambush that will most likely alert the Snow Kingdom authorities?"

Rhys looked towards Beth angrily, and he even walked over to her side. He yanked her hand, "Oi, what crazy thing did you just suggest?"

Everybody on Allen's side frowned then and started rioting, but Allen raised his hand to stop them, "On what basis do you think to send Princess Lyn, who has no power whatsoever in the middle of that chaos?" Allen spoke calmly, but Lyn sensed the atmosphere grow heavy. Allen's title as the coldest person in the Empire isn't just for show. Normally he would wear a smile on his face when speaking coldly, but today he was not smiling. He wore an indifferent and yet that look was deadly enough to send Beth stumbling slightly.

Lyn watched as Rhys caught her, and her eyes widened slightly at how easily he held her. Rhys deeply sighed, "Prince Allen, why Beth has gone overboard, you don't have to scare her."

"Pardon me," Allen replied, "But, I simply wish to hear the reason why she thinks sending my fiance in the middle of a pack of wolves is such a good idea."

'M--My?' Sure the two of them were still engaged, but this was the first time she heard Allen use such a possessive sounding term. Kazuya uses it too, but he always adds the words cute and adorable, so it doesn't sound too bad. But it's different now.

Lyn recalled how differently Allen had been acting since he first came, bit by bit; she started to notice things about her fiance that she didn't know before. While he always treated her with kindness and did not look at her with contempt like the others did. His kindness felt like an obligation. She was always under the impression that he was simply acting kind to her because of her Eldest Brother's orders. Lyn genuinely believed this, and that's why while she cared for him. She kept him at arm's length only, close enough to reach out, but further enough so he would not take over her heart. She couldn't rely on him; she couldn't tell him anything.

However recently she's starting to think, 'Perhaps, I made a mistake,' Lyn thought. Indeed, watching him stand up for her like this is making her think otherwise. His kindness is genuine, is it not? And his feelings, does he like her and see her as a woman?

Her thoughts broke up when Kazuya squeezed her hand, ah?! "Indeed, you make a point there and believe me; I don't think anybody in this room is happy with that suggestion. Beth herself probably didn't mean to say it. But, it's better she brought that up then have somebody mess up the plan on a later date."

Lyn immediately understood what he was trying to get at. Could it be, that Beth brought up this subject so the soldiers won't act carelessly later on when things go wrong and try to use her? So that's it, Beth - and most likely the other two, Fukami and Yuzuhara don't think it's wise to let Allen's men onto the plan. She understood why they maybe Allen's men but they are still soldiers. They claim to be loyal to their master, but people can bribe them.

Allen nodded, "The rest of you other than Naoki, leave me."

"But Prince Allen..."

"Leave, you heard the Prince," Naoki cut in. The man wasn't as domineering as Allen, but his voice had a certain sharpness that frightened others. Once Naoki said those words, the group of soldiers all stood up and left without another word.

"I apologize for not sending them away; I did not think they would impede in the meeting too much."

"Don't worry about it; we do need your men's help, so, naturally, you brought them along. But," Kazuya nodded, "Lyn's safety is priority."

"I can fight too," she interjected though she doesn't mind people protecting her. Lyn knew with her current skills; she still wouldn't be able to contribute to the battle too much. However, she doesn't want to sit around and do nothing. She isn't completely useless now, "I can fight with my bow; that's safe, right?" Lyn directed this question at Rhys.

Rhys nodded, "Yeah, I will give my approval. Just make sure you use that bow," she immediately understood what he meany, despite his vague wording.

It seems like she can finally put her skills at use, the skills she learned that is.

....

After the meeting was over, Lyn found herself being carried away by Kazuya. He insisted that she get some rest and Lyn had to agree since earlier she felt very drowsy and had a slight headache. The rest of the meeting was a bit hectic, but since Rhys already voiced out his opinion, it eased the tension in the air. Allen's group seemed convinced when Rhys spoke up for Kazuya too.

Kazuya laid her down on the bed, and tucked her in with the blanket, "You didn't say much at the meeting, do you not like the plan?"

"It's just, a bit careless, the whole kidnapping thing," it goes against her morals too. No matter how bad a person is, kidnapping them through an ambush makes her feel uneasy, "But, I do understand why. That man will not have a civilized conversation with us."

That's why Kazuya came up with this plan because he understands full well what

"There's that, and this is a matter of my personal feelings."

"Personal feelings, what do you mea--," Lyn's sentence fell short when she saw the look in his eyes. Ah, he looks so serious again. Why does Kazuya keep looking at her like this?