In the end the two of them were slightly late for the morning assembly. Rhys was already preparing himself for Pupilliam's lecture. But, the moment Lyn and him stepped into the Queen's audience chamber, he noticed not only Pupilliam and Teo's presence there. However, it seemed like the other knights were gathered too. The mage Kristy, Lan, and even the assassin who had been sent to the academy was around. Not only that but his master and some other high ranking officials were there.
What is going on here? This is not the first time he has accompanied her to the morning assembly. But, normally there is not this many people. Did something happen? No, if something happened then Kazuya would be here. However, there was no sign of his friend.
It takes him a few minutes to realize there were two people kneeling down on the ground. Lyn quickly went over to sit on her throne, dragging him along with her. While he cannot sit on the King's chair, Lyn making him stand beside her is enough to clarify his position.
"You two may rise."
No matter how many times he attends these meetings, her cold and formal demeanour surprises him. Ark starts of by giving a report on the current situation, and a few nobles stepped in to further inquire. The meeting felt like it took forever but it was actually finished fifteen minutes earlier than usual.
When master and the other nobles left, the only ones left were the Knights. It was only then when Rhys noticed that during the entire time Lyn hadn't addressed the blue haired man who came with the head Knight.
'She made him stand the entire meeting, and didn't talk to him. Are they on bad terms?'
Rhys already figured out the guy must be one of her knights. Lyn should have seven personal knights.
"Get closer." Lyn instructed.
Is she going to discipline him? Rhys paid close attention to the rumors the past five years and heard that Lyn was very strict with the regular knights. This guy may be part of her personal knights, but originally there had only been six. This must be the guy who rose to the ranks from vice general of the regular knights.
Raven takes a few steps closer when Lyn speaks up. "My souvenir, where is it?" Lyn asked.
Huh? Rhys looked at the sight puzzled. He continued to watch Lyn, and noticed that she wasn't angry. There was no trace of the icy exterior from earlier either. Instead she was looking at the man with pouty cheeks and sulking like a child.
Raven laughed and Lyn continued to pout.
"Did you not get me one?"
"I got you what you asked for. Here." Raven hands her a rose coloured bag, and Lyn's eyes brighten.
"Thank you so much Raven!"
Rhys watched as Raven ran his fingers through Lyn's hair. "Your welcome."
He immediately felt his blood boil at the sight before him. Who is this guy? Although Lyn shares a close bond with her personal Knights, he is getting a bad feeling about this.
A thought crossed his mind. Is this the other guy Lyn mentioned to him? Although he confronted her about it, and she admitted it. In the end he could never get a name from her. The past few days they spent together, he wanted to bring it up multiple of times. But, when he thought of her distraught expression and how she reacted he decided against it.
A knight, but he appears to be a noble too. That crest in the middle of his cloak must be a crest to a high ranking family. Although he knew her current Knights were a mixture of nobles and commoners. Most of her personal knights came from ordinary backgrounds.
His thoughts break off when he noticed Lyn walking over to him.
"What is it?" Rhys asked kindly.
"Share the first bite with me?"
Rhys could only stare at her speechless. Damn why is she so cute? He truly wants to give her a kiss, even if it is a small one. It seemed like the girl had read his thoughts, since she was about to put her arms around his neck. This moment is interrupted by coughing.
"Queen Lyn." The man named Raven called out. "I have a report to make. While on my travels, I noticed that the mana concentration points across the Kingdoms have been altered by dark magic."
At those words not only did Lyn frown but he did too. The mana concentration points? That's where the source of magic from each individual in the Kingdoms generates. If what this person is saying is true then there would be an issue.
Lyn sighs deeply. "I'll check on the main tree and if there is truly a problem. Raven, you'll be in charge of dealing with it. We cannot allow any disruption in the flow of magic."
Watching Lyn give out orders, Rhys couldn't help but be impressed. He knew even without seeing the expression on the Knights faces how much they respected her. She really is cool.
He felt the girl briefly turn to him as though to ask if he would help. Before she could say so however, Ark interjected.
"My Queen, my magic isn't bad. If it is just proving assistance, I will be more than enough."
"Are you sure? I heard reports of your last battle. Didn't you exhaust your mana so early on during the fight? I am afraid you won't be of much use to me."
Seeing the lightning bolts between them, Lyn suddenly left his side and pushed the two apart. "Enough, don't fight." Lyn trails off. "Alright, I will assist. Ark, I also heard what happened. I think you should get your sword checked by master just in case there is an issue."
"But-"Ark seemed like he was fighting some type of internal battle.
Rhys didn't understand what was going on, but there was something about Raven that was familiar. Wait, blue hair and grey coloured eyes? It takes him a moment to realize who this person actually was. Isn't this person the one he asked Pupilliam to search for?
He quickly glances over at Pupilliam and notices her averting her gaze and he sighs. Even without words, the girl's reaction confirmed it. So, that's why she behaved that way when he mentioned it. This is the guy Lyn slept with?
8Unedited*