*UNEDITED*
What is this girl trying to do to him? Drive him crazy so he actually does something to her? She's so bold touching him like this. Doesn't she have any idea what will happen if he took advantage of this moment? He could do so easily, and she won't be able to do anything about it.
"You will leave after the war is over," Lyn muttered.
"I will, if you don't choose me."
There would be no need for him to remain here. He would go somewhere far away, somewhere far from the Empire.
"Rhys, you know I can't ditch the throne."
"We don't have to talk about that now, let's talk and well do other things," Rhys muttered in her ear.
"Do you want me to stab you so badly?"
"So scary," Rhys immediately noticed something. "So, why are you getting closer?"
"Obviously to hit you," Lyn wrapped her arms around his neck. "I told you before I am very tired Rhys, I'm so very exhausted."
"Yes you did.."
"If Kazuya does not come back for me, would you take me away?"
"Your contradicting your words."
"Because I'm tired, and you," her lips lightly brushed against his. "You do not accept my reply."
"Yeah."
"I wonder why even now you and I remain unchanged," Lyn mumbled.
Rhys closed the remaining distance between them and kissed her. Screw all the rules, he's had enough with holding back. Rhys felt bad for Kazuya, he felt so guilty during that time he was with Lyn. Kazuya was having a hard time in the Sound Kingdom and couldn't go back to her. Rhys knew this and didn't relay the information to her.
He mislead Lyn into thinking that Kazuya didn't care about her anymore.
...
It may because of the events as of late that Rhys repeatedly thinking back to that particular time period. To that particular moment. When the King first suggested it, Rhys had honestly thought he was kidding around. After all who could take a King who was always smiling so seriously? No wonder the majority of his people had so little faith in him. That happy go lucky king always did seem to be so carefree. Rather the way he asked him,
'I love your honest nature. So would you stay permanently, as Lyn's bodyguard?
'Your majesty , I find nobility a terrible bother. If I served at the castle I won't be able to fool around..'
'Rhys.'
'You hate weapons, don't you? Then see if you can find such a precious rarity as a guard who can protect without a weapon.'
Was the meat bun supposed to be a bribe? Or was it the compliment? Either way back then, he really didn't want anything to do with nobility let alone the royal family. He could remember how negative his thoughts were, he had always seen nobles as individuals that probe each others intentions and drag each other down as being ridiculous. The King as much as he respected him as a individual, he really was a happy go lucky man with no sense of danger.
But the main reason he didn't want to remain in the castle permanently then was because of Lyn. Back then her innocence was contagious. That bright smile of hers too. It felt like he would lose his mind if he remained so close to her. Back then he didn't realize how deep his feelings for her were.
Rhys didn't think he could give up absolutely everything to be with her. But, that's how things were.
Although he figured he had some sort of soft spot for her he didn't realise his feelings. But when he did Rhys knew better than to reveal it. The Princess who already had somebody she loved, and a complicated family situation. She only saw him as someone who he could count on and rely on for help, he wasn't someone whom she would ever look at.
He didn't want to get any closer to her. He wanted to remain away and yet he ended up accepting becoming the Princess guard. That dammed second son of whatsoever is definitely to blame. Then again even if that situation didn't happen he would probably have ended up accepting it regardless.
Even before the King had asked him, Rhys planned on guarding her. He saw how often she got herself in to trouble. He couldn't leave her alone, he can't leave the job of her guard to someone else. Even though he said those words to the King he already thought such selfish things.
Apart of him had already been bound to that destiny. The day he saw the Princess tears. At first he believed her to be a selfish and egoistic Princess just like all the others and yet when he saw her in the balcony that day crying.
Rhys understood right away that he had been wrong. Come to think of it, he already silently swore to protect her then didn't he?..
His gaze fell on the girl fast asleep on the mattress. Marks all over her neck and shoulders. 'Well, maybe he overdid it.' Still, Rhys couldn't get the image out of his mind. Lyn and him, what kind of future awaits them? Surely it isn't anything pleasant.
'Kazuya will die,' the girl's words echoed in his head. Rhys needed to find out more about this.
"Rhys?" Lyn called out.
His gaze softened when he saw her stir awake, "Hey there sleepy head, awake now?"
Lyn nodded and she wrapped the blanket around her. "Can I get some new clothes?"
"I'll fetch you some, lay back down and rest."
"You know," Lyn trailed off. "You're a hopeless guy."
"I only kissed you, I kept my word."
"A decent man wouldn't kiss a married woman."
"Would a decent married woman come all this way for a guy she apparently doesn't like?" Rhys countered.
A deep sigh escaped Lyn's lips, "As usual, we end up bickering."
Rhys looked away when she said that. Indeed, why do they always end up fighting? Are they that incompatible? Rhys always thought Lyn was his destined woman. Ever since he fell in love with her, he never thought of anyone else. Weren't those emotions enough?