Chapter 543 - Lieutenant Teo

When the darkness vanished, Teo saw it again. A woman with long black hair. It was the Princess, he could recognize her from afar. But the person he saw looked slightly older, she was beaten and bloody.

A swarm of vultures swooped down and picked at her skin.

They clawed at her legs, his neck, and his face - anywhere they could reach until there was nothing left.

The place turned black once again and several masks covered the place, with expressions filled with mockery. As a single mask went up to him, with a huge twisted grin.

"You're so transparent. That persons real nature, that person's real nature…"

All the masks slowly drew closer and closer to him.

"It's your fault that--"

"It's your fault."

"Your fault.."

Teo awoke in a cold sweat, and breathed heavily. He pressed his hand to his damp forehead, eyes wide. Tears streamed down his cheek- tears he knew he hadn't cried on his own.

He shivered and wrapped his arms around himself and bolted up.

He glanced at his surroundings, that's right. He is no longer in that place anymore.

Teo sighed deeply as he stood up and got himself changed into a pale indigo coloured kimono and made his way outside.

When he saw the bucket next to the outside faucet, he slowly turned the tap until it was filled with cold water.

He threw the ice cold water on his head and repeated the process once the water ran out. The voices from before had yet to leave, they mocked him repeatedly.

'Ahaa..it's your responsibility to face me.'

His gaze darkened. "Be gone!"

When he heard a rattle sound from behind him, he froze. Who is it? Who is it during this time?

"What's wrong, lieutenant? A cat?" He turned to the source of the voice and found a sleepy looking Princess. "Which do you want for breakfast. ? Mackerel? Or sardine? I heard water…are you taking a bath?"

He did not reply to that and commented on the girls expression.

"You sure have a weird looking face on."

"I'm still sleepy." Lyn responded in a complete daze, as she stepped outside. He automatically spotted the bright yellow towel in her hands. Did she perhaps notice him from her bedroom window and went down?

Just as she was about to hand the towel over to him, he poured the remaining bucket of ice water over her.

"W--w--wha--what do you think you're doing !!" Lyn exclaimed, shivering.

"That woke you up though didn't it?"

"It was so cold! I thought my heart would stop too! That was mean!"

Come to think of it, she isn't fully recovered yet is she?

"I see I am sorry." Two apologised, as he wrapped the yellow towel around her hair and began to scrub it.

"Ugh..that's mean! You're not sorry at all are you!"she shouted.

Teo could not help but laugh, although she is younger than him. She certainly does act quite child like and it is far too simple to tease her.

When he saw her just then the darkness around him seemed to vanish. Yes, just a single glimpse and when he saw her concern for him made everything disappear. "I am."

"You're laughing ! You're not sorry at all!" Lyn grabbed the hose in her hands and aimed the water at him.

Teo casually dodges it and she grits her teeth in frustration. "Aah hold still."

…

After that the two of them sat down on the decking. 'Quite some time has passed since he last saw her have fun.' Since Kazuya left the Princess has acted strangely.

"Word is on the street that you have been seeing Rhys a lot recently."

Teo decided to be upfront and confront her about this. If he is to guard the Princess properly, there are certain issues they need to discuss first.

The Princess is still young, so there are many things she doesn't know.

He didn't want to bring it up so casually. But Teo knew that if he brought it up seriously then she would casually avoid it.

His eyes went wide when he saw the girl's sudden flushed cheeks. Huh? This reaction…

"Aah…." She laughed softly. "It's okay, we are only discussing some work."

Discussing, and yet she reacts that way?

However, quite some time has passed since he saw that expression on her face. A genuine expression that is so he supposed he could let it slide. But no that's wrong, no matter how you think about it.

"Let me clarify things."

"Okay..?"

"Where do you go when you have your meetings?"

"His apartment."

His face colour paled at her words.

She is too blunt. What if someone overhears them right now?

"Next question, who comes with you?"

Surely she isn't stupid enough to just walk in there alone.

"Nobody."

Just now he secretly prayed to himself that she wouldn't say that. He prayed very hard just now. "Although I hesitate asking. The time of your meetings?"

"Night."

The final blow. Of course it's night time. Of course, there is not enough room in the girls schedule for those two to meet unless it's then.

"Um lieutenant? What's wrong ?"

"No I am just thinking how much of a failure I am as your guard." Teo murmurs.

He can just imagine it now, if they meet at night he wouldn't be surprised if they've engaged in indecent activities.

What if the anti fraction already have and are just waiting for a single big shot that exposes everything?

"If it helps he calls Pupillam to pick me up?"

"You should have said so sooner!" Teo exclaimed.

Normally he is calm and composed. But when he is around this person that rationality disappears in an instance.

"Um, sorry?"

But if that's the case then Pupillam knew of their relationship. She must approve of it to a certain degree otherwise she would have told her to stop by now.

"Lieutenant?"

"I want you to tell me something. What relationship do you have with sir Rhys now? Are you two…."

Lyn's eyes went wide but only for a split second. Maybe he should have paid more attention to that look of hers then. Yet it was far too late for him since her expression changed almost immediately.

The black haired girl shakes her head, her violet orbs softened. "You misunderstand. Although saying were friends is strange too. Even though I can't describe our relationship. I, even now, only love one person. Even though he isn't here right now he's the only I love."

"I see…I apologise for misunderstanding."

Her words sound sincere. Of course there. People know that no matter how fond the Princess is of Sir Rhys, the one she still likes is that man.

"No it's quite alright. In fact I feel quite refreshed now that I've told you. I know that a lot of people have been wondering about it after all and yet I haven't had the chance to explain." Lyn trails of. "When you constantly have to do work as a Princess and make stupid appearances you never have time for anything."

Teo couldn't miss her tone when she said 'stupid.' There was genuine disgust in her voice.

His sweat dropped. "You have it rough after all."

"Right I do? That's why nobody should complain when I go anywhere to relax."

Teo immediately understood the meaning of her words. 'So that was the reason why.'