Chapter 3 - Let me cherish you (2/2)

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.