Chapter 524 - Tale of Rain Part 6

"Heartbroken and dumped at age nine." 

"You two—" Rhys eyes twitched annoyed.

"Well jokes aside, what do you think Tetsu?" Ryan slung his arms around the first brother's shoulders.

"It is not impossible to break that engagement. Queen Orthez is only particular about it because she can see the worth in that young man. Rhys in order for you to win you just have to show you are better."

Lyn said something similar but Rhys wondered if it would be that easy. His thoughts broke off when he heard a sweet voice call his name, he looked at the source and found Lyn rushing over to him. Rhys immediately stepped forward and caught her.

"Hey don't run like that."

Lyn laughed. "Sorry, but I thought you would leave and not see me." 

Like that is possible. The moment he spotted her he would have rushed over to her side. The girl must have been looking for him since sweat clung to her face. He wiped it away with his sleeve. "Did you need me for something?"

The servants aren't bullying her again, are they? It seemed they noticed how fond of her he was. Since nobody knew her actual identity aside from his brothers the others looked down on her. If they just stopped at rumors he would have left it but not too long ago he caught one of them about to hit her.

"Sleep with me."

Rhys almost dropped her when he heard those words. Huh? What? An illusion? A test?

His brothers who were engaged in conversation suddenly looked over.

"You work fast," Ryan commented. 

Isaki looked horrified and his face color turned pale. He dramatically placed his hand on his forehead and rubbed his temple. He held onto the railing like he was about to faint. "Wait wait, he is only nine and she is six. It wouldn't work."

His eyes twitched annoyed when he heard his second and third brother. What on earth are these two suggesting? Then again Lyn keeps saying such misleading things.

"What's wrong?" Rhys turned to her.

"I'm scared of ghosts."

See? He knew it would be something else. This little girl ends up saying misleading things all the time. "Right ghost-" Rhys paused as something came to mind.

There should be no ghosts around here. With his high level dark magic, why would spirits or the dead linger here? But from what she just said and the fact that she is now trembling she must have seen something.

Rhys looked over at his brothers who turned serious.

"Little Lyn," Isaki said with his usual kind smile. "What did you see?"

Lyn quickly described how she felt that somebody was standing by her bed, and the next second hands were on her neck. The rustling sound of chains. 

How on earth is that a ghost? If it were a ghost they wouldn't be able to touch. Also the sound of chains? His gaze grew darker when he heard those words. 

Tetsuki suddenly got up. "I see some rats have snuck in."

Is this what Lyn's father was worried about? He did mention that they have to promise to keep her safe, and if possible away from anybody who could harm her. So far Rhys has made sure that no members of his father's harem saw her. But it is difficult to keep her completely out of the public's eyes. Besides the servant's gossip a lot. It is hard to be with her twenty-four-seven when they have their duties as Princes.

"Oh dear me."

Ryan chuckled. "Should I come?"

"Do as you wish, but do not get in my way."

It seems he can leave this matter to his first and second brother. Isaki turned to him. "I will stay with you two and inspect the room too."

"Yeah."

.....

It did not take them long to reach the room perhaps because brother made them go through a strange pathway.

"I can't detect any spying spells but there are some parts in the room that seems strange. It feels like some things have been moved." Isaki commented.

So in other words somebody tampered with the items in here making it easier to break in. Rhys felt very frustrated. How come he did not notice? He spends every single day with Lyn but he did not realize it at all.

"It's probably dark magic," Rhys mumbled.

"Dark magic that can escape you?"

"Even I have my limits. But it is weird." Even if it were spells he did not know, he should be able to detect it. His gaze fell on Lyn who was pretending to sleep. He will check the room properly when she is actually sleeping.

Rhys walked over to the girl on the bed and sat down. "Are you okay? Sorry that you ended up frightened."

Lyn bit her lip. "Is it my sister's?"

It seemed like she overheard the conversation and learned it wasn't a ghost. But what did she say? "Your sister...the First Princess?"

"Ah-huh. Back in the palace sometimes I would wake up and felt that my body was being held down by something heavy. Sometimes I would catch a glimpse of my sister's seal but in the next second, they are on the ground begging. I am knocked out before I process what happens but it is a very scary experience…"

Rhys clenched his fist tightly when he heard those words. One does not have to be a genius to figure out what was about to happen there. The First Princess is crazy? She must be crazy, why would she ask somebody to do that to her six-year-old sister? He knew that they were not completely related since the Queen has multiple partners but even then..such an immoral thing is it possible?

It seems he will have to report this to first brother and have him investigate. Lyn has not been here long enough for people to have grudges against her so indeed it must be somebody from the Mist Kingdom.

"Rhys?" Lyn said worriedly.

Rhys laid down beside her and her eyes lit up. She snuggled closer to him and he held her hands. "Get some rest, Princess. I am here, nobody will harm you."

"Rhys, do you have a fiance?" Lyn suddenly asked.

"No—" He paused when he saw the bright smile on her face. It seems like he was doomed from the very moment that he met her. She really does look cute. Gah, he must be going crazy. What kind of nine-year-old child has such impure thoughts?

Does such impure blood run in the family? Look at his father chasing after women at such a young age. 

"Okay, good."

Rhys blinked when he heard her response. Good? Why is it good? Could it be that she also… Rhys shook his head. Lyn is young, she has no idea about such things yet. She probably only thinks that his presence is comforting or something. 

Her upbringing seems very unusual too so for her to crave the warmth, love, and attention from another person would not be strange. But no matter how much he tried to convince himself, Rhys felt that there was something wrong.