Chapter 251 - Let me know (2/2)

”If I have to escort that man to another round of drinking, my brains will melt,” Rhys groaned. He was not unwilling to be relegated into being a mere bodyguard. He's done plenty of guard duty of a similar nature before. With the Sound Kingdom's current economic situation, he couldn't afford not to accept such tasks.

But, what bugged him was continually being surrounded by nobles. Nobles from the council.

One of his companions, a man named Kyo Mikoto roared in laughter.

They were all in a noisy restaurant in the area. A crowded place was always better because people would have a hard time eavesdropping here. Even if people heard conversations, they wouldn't know who said it.

”You need to let loose a little, Rhys,” the lavender-haired guy suggested. Mikoto slapped his back, ”Luxin agrees with me, right?

”It is not in our mandate to make light of the… the situation we are in,” Luxin replied rather truthfully, as was his nature.

However, the very fact that the three of them were there in the cold winter's night, drinking together, said much about the current… stagnation of the Mist Kingdom.

Rhys, however, stopped paying attention. His attentions were turned towards a teenager who seemed to be younger than Lyn wandering back and forth. Instantly, he thought that the child was an utter idiot. What kind of person walks around unarmed this day and age? Then again, he shouldn't judge people too much.

Rhys eyes fell on the wakizashi itself. He had seen it before…

The teenager soon finished eating and signaled for the proprietor to pay for the dinner he had just eaten.

It didn't take long for Rhys to realize that the teenager was not a boy, but a girl. This girl...is smart dressing like a man. While the Mist Kingdom is more guarded these days. She would have been easy prey if her gender was revealed, whether she was in the capital. Judging from the bags, the girl traveled a long way.

This was not the reason why Rhys was so drawn to her. There was something familiar about the girl's unusual purple hair, her deep-colored eyes.

It was as if his body had betrayed him. He stood up suddenly and almost grabbed the girl.

If Mikoto did not shout because his abrupt movements caused him to spill his tea. ”What's wrong with you, Rhys?” Luxin demanded. ”You seem to be… out of it.”

'Out of it,' is quite the understatement.

Rubbing his temples, Rhys groaned. ”I must be seeing things,” he replied. ”I thought I saw a girl bearing the Shotsuuren…” Now that he looks again, he could no longer see the mark. It must just be his imagination.

”Why don't we find a brothel? You seriously need women and more alcohol. Isn't the palace stuffy?”

Just as Rhys was about to answer, he spotted somebody familiar. Isn't that Lyn? Rhys immediately stood up and made his way over. He grabbed the cloaked person's wrist, ”Ahh? Let--!”

”It's me.”

The girl slowly turned around, and sure enough, he confirmed his suspicions. ”Rhys?'

”What are you doing here? Where are your guards?”

”You see, Kazuya is really unwell lately. So I thought I'd buy some medical herbs and help him out. I heard that there's a new person in town selling good quality herbs for a good price.”

”So you snuck out?”

Lyn looked down at her feet, and Rhys sighed. Why is she so troublesome?

”I'll come with you --,” Rhys paused. ”My companions and I are here; let us join you.” It would be wrong of him to be alone with her now. Rhys wasn't sure if he could control himself if he were to be left alone with her now.

….

”That's the Princess?” Mikoto mumbled. After Rhys briefed the two on the situation, he expected them to refuse. But it seems like Mikoto tagged along out of curiosity, ”I heard she was supposed to be ugly. How come she's a beauty?”

His friend seemed genuinely confused and kept looking Lyn up and down. The girl was hiding with a cloak. But one could still see her face. Rhys shot him a glare, ”You're making her uncomfortable, stop looking.”

”Gahh,” Mikoto cursed. ”The rumors must be true, after all.”