Chapter 356 - Intentions

The atmosphere was clearly tense, but Lyn didn't seem to notice. Or maybe she was deliberately ignorant. Either way, Lyn rushed over to him. "B—r-" he stopped her in mid-sentence, and she corrected herself. "Husband."

At that comment, he noticed the boyfriend guy flinch, and he chuckled. "As you can see, my wife is here now, so.."

The medics understood and quickly left the room. Lyn sighed, "Brother, what were you thinking? It's not like you to have your guard down."

"Indeed."

Zepher did not understand it himself. If it were the past him, he would have smelled that trap a long time ago. But, the current him? The others have the right to be worried; he is acting strangely. But he can't help it; whenever it comes to Lyn, he ends up being irrational. It was the same back then too. His memories of what happened that day in the church were a blur. Zepher didn't understand how he ended up in a church.

He knew though that before all that, he was hunting down the people after Lyn. They knocked him out, and when he woke up, he was in the church. He did strike somebody, though, so it was natural that he had blood in his hands… The guy he fought with was amongst those dead bodies in the church. So, it looked like he was the one who did it.

Lyn was carefully examining the wound, and light emerged from her fingertips. His eyes widened in alarm, realizing, "Wait Lyn.."

"It's okay, he knows."

Zepher frowned at this comment, this boyfriend she trusts him that much?

"Lyn," Kazuya called out. "I'll call Rhys; he can help."

"Ah-huh, please do."

With those words said, the guy quickly left the room. Zepher said nothing, but Lyn did, "That was Kazuya, my boyfriend."

"Are you trying to anger me?"

"You have to acknowledge him because he's the genuine boyfriend."

His eyes twitched in annoyance; this girl is doing it deliberately, isn't she?

"You care about him that much?"

"I do."

"When you said you were sick…"

Lyn sighed, "Brother, you can't expect me not to see him. You saw how bad my health was getting if I didn't see him anytime soon. It would be more problematic for you."

So, the reason why she was acting up was because of this guy? It was hard for Zepher to believe. Lyn's health deteriorated because she missed this guy so badly. Still, planning something like this. A dark aura surrounded him, and Himuro immediately kneeled down. Lyn does the same.

___

"So, all of that was an act, huh? You two have a lot of guts; it seems even though you promised me, Lyn, before we left. If you saw someone you knew you'd tell me right away. And Himuro, how dare you give me a false report? You were supposed to tell me everything happening with Lyn. As her guard, you shouldn't let anybody outside our circle approach her. I wonder what punishment I should give you two."

Himuro looked absolutely terrified, but Lyn wasn't like him.

"If you wanted to keep me cooped up at home, then you wouldn't have allowed me to come with you." She knew her brother had the means to keep her locked away if he wanted it.

"So, you don't mind being locked up."

"Uh, that's not what I meant.."

Zepher sighed, "Since your acting this way, then so be it. I'll do just as you say. As for you, Himuro. Punishment X."

"Wha--"

"I'll teach Lyn slowly."

Lyn gulped, teach? What is he going to teach?

Himuro glanced back, "Lord Zepher, don't be too harsh! She isn't well these days," but Himuro's words were lost since somebody else escorted him out of the room.

Zepher extended his hand out, and Lyn looked away frightened. Just now, she said those brave words, but --but now they are alone. Still, Lyn stood up and made her way over.

"Lyn, I'll make things clear to you even if you don't stay on the island. You'll still stay with me. I've already gotten hold of evidence to prove my innocence from that case years ago and submitted it to Mist Kingdom officials."

Ah? That's...

"I'm waiting for a reply, but I will most likely be permitted to stay in Mist Kingdom lands. I have a house in the mountains, we will move there instead," Zepher trailed off. "I have no intention of stopping you from interacting with other people anymore. I understand that you have things you want to do. I'm not the only one who shares this mindset; your family do too."

It pained her when she heard those words. But, she considers him family too. Is he really going to continue treating her not as his sister anymore? It felt lonely. He still shows her he cares, but...

"But, I must confess that I debated about it a great deal. What to do with you. At some point, I thought keeping you locked up like a glass cage would be better. So, please understand my reasons, Lyn. I'm worried about you. I don't want any harm to befall you. I'm sorry Lyn, I know this isn't making much sense. Perhaps I was too hasty confessing my feelings to you."

Lyn closed her eyes briefly, "I'm aware of it, bro- no," she shook her head. "Zepher, you were too hasty. We hadn't met in so long, and your behavior was very unusual. But for me, that didn't matter too much. I just wanted to stay by your side. But, you have to understand brother. Even before I came here, I was already making my own plans."

"Your own plans, is it dangerous?"

Lyn laughed awkwardly, "Let's just say, it's the reason why those around me are so frantic," she took a seat beside him.

"It's okay, Lyn, you know, to take your time, you don't have to rush."

"I know, but I'm worried about the current state of the Empire. I can't just leave things like this."

Zepher sighed, "Do you have to care about the Empire so much?"

"I want to be the Queen brother." This was the first time she was declaring it to someone who wasn't Kazuya, brother Andrew, Rhys, or Pupillam. "I will take the throne."

She already made up her mind a long time ago on this matter.