After that meeting, Kazuya didn't think she would meet with him again. So when he spotted black hair from the corner of his eye, as he approached the tree, he's surprised. Kazuya hurried his footsteps and arrived at the area where the tree was, sure enough, there was the girl sat by the steps near the tree. Today she wore a thick cloak over her dress.
"Princess Lyn," Kazuya called out, his tone filled with uncertainty. He was unsure whether he ought to call out to her or hidden away. While the princess is sharp, it's clear she's had no military training yet. Otherwise, she would have long found him yesterday.
Lyn looked up, "Oh you're here, sit. Would you like some meat buns?" the girl asked casually, as she extended a bag out towards him, "I stole them from the kitchen, so they ought to be good, " Kazuya sweat fell from his face when he heard those words. It seems like this woman isn't the average princess. He already knew that when he learned of her circumstances though, living in a place like this, she must be lonely. Maybe that's why she came here to meet with him.
...…
A few hours later
For the last few hours, the two of them walked around the grounds and chatted before making their way back to the stone steps by the large tree.
Lyn laughed, as Kazuya talked about some tales regarding people back home. He was mainly making fun of people he knew, but Lyn found everything he said funny. Kazuya always thought people nagged him regularly back at home. But now he's grateful to them; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to make her laugh like this. There was something about the girl's laughter that made his heart skip a beat.
Kazuya averted his gaze from the girl; she's cute. When he first saw the girl's portrait, he was too focused on the lonely look in her eyes. But now he sat next to her and spent time with her like this, he can assess he was wrong about her character.
It's such a waste for her to be here, she has more potential with a blade than any of her siblings do. He still isn't sure how much she knew about the outside world. But surely she will make a better successor to the mist kingdom throne? Otherwise, why would his people back home, insist on this mission so badly? Kazuya's thoughts broke off when the girl inched closer to him, "Wha-what?" he stammered.
"I was thinking; your eyes are an unusual color."
Oh, it's about his eyes, stupid heart. Don't beat so fast just because a cute girl gets close to you, "This color isn't common here?" Kazuya asked, his eyes were a deep maroon brown. He didn't notice it until she pointed it out, but he noticed nobody with his eye color. It's no wonder people stared at him, "Is it because I'm from the east?"
"Ah, I have eastern blood too."
Oh right, the girl's father is the 44th King Daichi. He's curious why the 38th Queen Orthez chose a man from the east. But he supposes that's a story that this Princess wouldn't know of. Her whole life seemed to revolve around the certain areas she can enter in the palace. How many people does this girl know? How many knew of her existence. The more Kazuya thought about it, the more complicated his thoughts became.
This girl has done nothing wrong. It's not her fault she was born with a cursed mark.
"Ah yes, I should invite you too --" Kazuya cut Lyn off as he grabbed hold of her wrist, "What are you doing?" She seemed confused but didn't pull away. If he were to ask her about the mark even casually, she would definitely report him to someone. Even if she's neglected, she still has guards and people who watch over her silently. Not now, he can't ask her about it now.
Kazuya let's go of her hand and shook his head, "It's nothing," Don't be too hasty Kazuya, "I only met her yesterday, "he murmured. He only met her the other day, so what's with these overprotective feelings? Kazuya noticed her staring at him and snapped out of it as he asked her, "What did you say just now? Invite?"
Lyn nodded, "Yes, you see once in a while the castle is open to the public. While you would have invited anyway, I'll formally invite you to go, so they don't restrict you too much."
"Open to the public?" At that moment, Kazuya recalled something. It seems like it will start then, the plan. The Princess is too naive, "There are privileges if you're invited formally?" he repeated.
"Mm, I don't know many people so it's not like I could use my invites on anyone," Lyn pulled cards out of her pocket. It was enough for ten people, enough for their infiltration group. Kazuya almost laughed out loud, this coincidence, he's never seen it before. It's like somebody is telling him it's okay to attack. Before he met her, Kazuya agreed to the plan. He didn't think much of it. But after spending this short time with her, Kazuya is hesitant. However, he has no way to refuse, Kazuya took the cards from the girl's hands, and she laughed softly, "It would be good to see you there."
He wants to be there, but because of her and not because of the mission.
"Say, Lyn, aren't you lonely?"
She doesn't answer him right away. But Kazuya noticed traces of the innocent and childlike expression from her face had vanished; instead, she replaced it with a forced smile, "I don't have the time to be lonely," Kazuya didn't expect that response, judging from her attitude. He expected for her to deny it stubbornly, Lyn stood up and walked over towards the tree, "There's no time to be lonely when I'm secretly training and learning the things I ought to know about the world. I've learned a lot and seem to be up to date with everything. But I can't put any of this knowledge to good use; I can't help anybody."
Kazuya clenched his fist as he listened to the girl's words. That's right, a girl like her. Someone like her should never have had to hold and carry such a heavy burden. Why does she have to walk down such a thorny path? It made little sense to Kazuya. What did she do to deserve something like that? Kazuya stood up and hugged the girl from the back.
"Kazuya?" Lyn said puzzled, unlike the kiss she didn't react much. She probably doesn't understand his intentions.
Intentions? He had them. He had them from the beginning. To sum up his mission here it's to seduce her. But, since yesterday - and these last few hours, Kazuya's opinion had shifted, "Lyn, let me cherish you," he whispered in her ear.