Chapter 9 - Visiting the Market P2 (1/2)

Somebody ought to call the princess out for being naive. Kazuya's gaze fell on the hand Lyn tugged along, people can easily misunderstand when a grown man and woman of sixteen are holding hands like this. He understood that she lacked specific knowledge because of her upbringing. But there should be a limit. Well, it's not like this situation is too bad. Kazuya doesn't remember the last time somebody held his hand like this.

”Kazuya, look look! There are so many beautiful dresses,” Lyn happily exclaimed. The girl pointed to various stalls lined up on the side. For a Princess, this reaction should be standard.

But now that he thought about it, the princess seldom owned any fancy clothing. The clothes Lyn wore are made of the finest silk, yes, but the designs are dull and bland like someone made them to disguise her beauty.

”Should we get you some?” Kazuya asked. He wouldn't mind seeing her wear brighter colors than those bland colors she usually wears. They would look nice on her.

Lyn's cheeks reddened, ”Oh, I'm just satisfied with looking,” She seemed surprised with his request, but Kazuya noticed her looking at the dresses with bright eyes. She's still a young girl. She has the right to get excited about these things, whether or not she lived in exile. Kazuya squeezed her hands.

”I'll buy you some so that you won't be wasting money or anything.”

”Ah, thank you.” Lyn thanked him. Kazuya nodded, and they went to the nearest stands.

....

It's not written in his job details for him to get along with her; he merely had to seduce her. There's plenty of other ways to do that. But his gaze fell on the happy Princess who browsed through the various clothes. He wanted to show her life as a regular girl. If she can't live as a proper Princess, then Kazuya could at least show her how ordinary people lived. It's unfair for those people to deprive her of even that much.

Honestly, he's surprised when he saw her room, he figured out it was small from the outside but what was with that? Even his place in the Sound Kingdom is larger than the girl's area. Queen Orthez is the one who made this decision, at least according to the reports. What made her feel the need to lock her daughter away like that?

Maybe Queen Orthez knew more about the cursed marks than they did. Unfortunately there was no chance to ask her directly. Even Kazuya knew to be wary of Queen Orthez. The fact that she had never greeted him showed she had something in mind. He should tread carefully with her.

”Kazuya?”

Kazuya looked up when he heard her call his name, ”What is--” he paused in mid-sentence, eyes go wide. The girl had changed into one of the garments she had in her hands earlier; it was a western style peach color off flowery shoulder dress. The color complimented the girl's porcelain white skin well. Kazuya's cheeks turned red at Lyn's sudden transformation. Hiding her beauty indeed; who knew clothes would transform her so much? This is bad, Kazuya noted that some men in the store gazes drifted onto Lyn.

He frowned and turned to the shopkeeper, ”Excuse me, do you have a jacket? A cloak?”

The woman giggled knowingly, ”Sir, this dress does come with one.”

Kazuya averted his gaze, ”Thanks, we will take that one too.” he mumbled. Kazuya found Lyn watching him, a puzzled look on her face.

”Aren't you going to tell me whether you find me pretty or not?”

Kazuya almost dropped the pouch where his money was, what's with this girl. There has to be a limit to her being clueless. No wait, she doesn't understand, does she? Lyn isn't feigning ignorance or anything like that. Kazuya bends down and whispered in the girl's ear, ”I find you more beautiful than anyone I've ever laid eyes on.”

He thought she would brush it off like she usually would, but the girl's cheeks turned a rosy red. Huh?

Lyn pulled away, ”Um, I want to keep looking.”