Chapter 176 - I'll miss you

Lyn was very reluctant to leave it like that, or rather the moment Kazuya let go of her hands, she felt uncomfortable. Lyn buried her face in his back, "Is that all? You're not going to do anything," she trailed off shyly, "I know we did something earlier. But you won't do it again?"

When lovers who won't be meeting for a while meet again, isn't this parting kind of lackl.u.s.ter?

Parting, Kazuya will only be gone for a short while and yet... She felt Kazuyas hands brush across her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"When…when I was talking to you about leaving… I finally recalled it. That the reason I came to this place was because I wanted to see you again. I was honest about those things I said to you. About wanting to discover new places and spreading my music there. But when I thought about how you nor the others would be there anymore…"

The tears rolled down from her eyes.

"I felt lonely, so lonely."

Kazuya reached over and ran his hand on on her hair. Lyn immediately felt her heart go lighter, and Kazuya drew her into his embrace, "You can't help it. You've already gone through so many separations, and now that everyone's together again. You don't want to be separated anymore."

"I understand it quite well, how your feeling now. I would be reluctant to separate too when you finally found what's important..." Kazuya trailed off, "I know this is the wrong time to say it, but you're adorable."

Lyn suddenly felt Kazuya in closer and nipped on her earlobe before he moved over and pressed his lips on hers. The entire time Lyn was completely stunned, but, she wrapped her arms around him. When he Kazuya finished, he knocked their foreheads lightly with each others briefly before backing away.

When Kazuya looked up at her, her tear-stained face replaced with an embarrassed one. "H--hey, don't get embarrassed."

"O--oh, I'm sorry?"

Gosh, what are they up to, acting like a stupid couple.

"I'm just going to say this. But I too will feel incredibly lonely without you beside me."

"Kazuya.."

"Yeah, don't tell the others about this though.."

At that, a light chuckle escaped her lips, "Roger. Mr."

"Don't you think I'm a pretty handsome Mr?"

Lyn rolled her eyes and then recalled the kiss. He used his tongue; it felt so strange. He's done it before, but isn't something different this time? Why does she feel so nervous about this?

"Kazuya say, can we sit down over there?'

Kazuya nodded and brought her to the area she mentioned. It was a quiet area under the hedges; over here people wouldn't be able to see them.

"Somehow…we always end up this way, huh? Were elites and yet we end up on the ground all the time."

Kazuya is an elite? Lyn paused to ask but shook her head, not now. She can ask him these things when he returns.

"Aha, that's true. But isn't it peaceful this way? I feel like I can talk to you better now too… Ah don't get me wrong, I could speak to you just fine then…"

"You're rambling."

"Be quiet."

Kazuya laughed, his gaze softened, "What a selfish person you are."

"That's fine, isn't it? My personality isn't good."

"I like it though," Kazuya's lips curve to a smile, as he drew her closer, "My cute and adorable Lyn, I'll miss you a lot. Be good, okay? Don't flirt with Rhys."

"Who is flirting with Rhys. Idiot."

"I'll come right back. And if you want to see me so badly. I'll come flying."

"Mmm, I got it," Lyn trails off and smiles, "Be sure to practice writing those letters Kazuya."

"Got it."

...

Allen's Mansion

"Princess Lyn, Ralph is already in the kitchen," one of the servants said.

Lyn nodded and murmured a quick thank you before going inside. Lyn quickly checked her reflection in the mirror before entering the kitchen. Lyn spotted blue hair wearing an apron, already cutting away some ingredients.

"Have fun?"

Lyn sighed, "Don't eavesdrop!" now she understands why the servants were looking outside the window. Geez, why does this man do these pointless things?

"Let's get started."

She nodded.

"Something good happen?" Lyn asked as she finished tying her apron.

Ralph averts his gaze, "If you already know, then don't say anything." Indeed she did know since Allen asked her opinion about it beforehand. She could spot the identification badge by the door. For a mage to get an identification badge, it's complicated. Many in the Empire look down on mages after all.

Lyn tied her hair up, and she lifted the potatoes and came to a sudden halt, "I can only make food fit for a bar and western cuisine, you know?"

Any other recipes fail and turn out into a disaster. But there's no way she's letting mentor know that. After all, this man has always had a rather bad habit of teasing her unnecessarily.

Ralph grinned, "It's fine, it's fine I prefer that kind of food anyway. "

Somehow that doesn't surprise her; it suits his image far too well. Though most people would say that Ichinose Ralph gives off a more elegant image, those who know him well, understand that his outer image and the real him are completely different. For the first few minutes, nothing but chopping sounds and sizzling from the frying pans was heard.

"Tapioca is tastier if you dip it in flour rather than sauce.." Ralph explained.

Ahhh somehow, she's getting this sort of empty feeling. Even though she should be more of an expert on cooking bar food than him, he's getting ahead of himself. Lyn pouted, it feels petty getting all competitive.

"Why don't you tell me what you'd like to eat? I'll make it."

Ralph smiled, "I see, how about some shrimp? With boiled potatoes?"

Lyn got the necessary ingredients ready when her mentor suddenly started to list a lot more things. Her eyes twitched in annoyance, "Are you really going to eat all that?"

"Of course."

"Make it yourself."

"How hurtful, I wanted a pretty girl to make me food."

"Go to your fiance," Lyn deeply sighed, "Did you see Allen? He usually greets me when I come back."

A chuckle escaped her mentor's lips, "Are you truly asking that question, Princess Lyn? Surely you understand the feelings of your own fiance?"

"I don't," Lyn murmured. Why is Allen acting all jealous now of all times? She doesn't understand at all. She sighed and turned back to the food. "Still, I wonder how many peoples coming.. We should make a lot." If you include her side and Allen, that's already quite the group. Plus Prince Zenith and his knights.

"Hmm, I don't think you have to worry about that, out of Prince Zenith guards only three are coming…"

Is that so…?

She wonders if Rhys is coming too. Beth, she - this entire time hasn't been around because she's been investigating. Who would have thought that the tracks she so carefully hidden were dug up like that? She must have really overexerted herself. Still, she hasn't seen Rhys in quite some time. After what he did, Lyn no longer knew how to face him.

It's not like she dislikes Rhys. But, Lyn wasn't sure how to talk to him anymore. She's afraid that if they speak to each other, he will get the wrong idea. Lyn thought she had been doing a good job pushing him away from her life, but it seems like that wasn't the case. Maybe it's okay if she goes to see him for a bit. She's a bit worried about him.

"I wonder which Knight our fair maiden is thinking about now."

Her eyes twitched in annoyance at her mentor's comment, "Hold it, now that we're on this topic. Explain it to me, what's with my current predicament? Why do so many people like me all of a sudden?"

"Now Princess Lyn isn't it obviously because of your charms--" Lyn immediately threw another knife in his direction.