Princess Lyn: Fleeting Dreams 127 Fear

Underground Bar (Surri Town)

When humans see things that are out of the norm, there are only two options. One is to ignore it and pretend that it never happened; the second is to face it. The first may seem relatively easy, and indeed a large portion of people forget it right away. If it's something completely out of the un-natural, they will choose to erase it from their memory, or merely dismiss it as a dream.

On the other hand, the later on the surface looks to be the most extreme. To face something out of the ordinary, may seem like the most extreme challenge. But one could easily challenge that by saying that depends on the extent of the unnatural.

In this case, the ordinary people here have chosen to face it and mix with the 'unnatural. ' A place where those with dark magic and regular humans can be together should be a happy place for her. But since she stepped in here, the scent of blood has not left her.

She does not have to look around, to know that there has been a feast of great magnitude prepared here. What's more, they do not even try to conceal the blood; it's as though they want to bask in it, this disgusting smell.

"Welcome lady," somebody immediately greeted her the moment she entered the bar.

Although they spoke calmly, Lyn could sense it. The fear hidden in their voices, why wouldn't they be scared? The weapon she was carrying in her hands was the Rose scythe. Activating, it causes an electric shock for her, and yet Lyn somehow found a way to use it.

"We have not had the honor of your presence since the soiree last winter; what might bring the lady here to our small and dirty establishment on this fine evening?" despite the fear, there was a hint of sarcasm in the person's voice.

"This evening, roughly two hours ago. There was a fool who attacked Kazuya, the Sound Kingdom amba.s.sador," Lyn recalled the words Allen said to her, she wanted nothing more than to rush to her side when she heard of the ambush in the mountains, "Of course that person was killed in the end. Blood would not need to be shed, had that man conducted himself properly. That man, was a member of this group correct?" Lyn said her tone deadly and yet calm and composed.

"I-- I did not give him any instructions."

Fear, she can sense it in their voices and their body language. They are afraid of her; everyone in this establishment is afraid. Of course, they fear her. Her eldest brother did such a good job, ensuring that n.o.body in the camp back then messed with her. So he twisted the rumors about her powers slightly. Lyn sighed, it feels like she is deceiving people. But it's not like she wanted to do this.

"With all due respect, Princess. "An older looking woman stepped out of the curtain, "The people who hang around you and serve as your friends aside. But many people dislike your relations.h.i.+p with the amba.s.sador."

"You wish for me to take my marriage seriously."

"Indeed," the older woman said.

"I see. Can I take this to mean that you are threatening me? You'll reveal my existence and discard your loyalty?"

"No, my lady," the older woman answered, "Regardless of your status, we would not oppose you."

Right, because her eldest brother would be after them too. Lyn sighed; it did frustrate her at times that she had to rely on his power. But, there is no choice.

"May I also say, something Princess?"

"Now look here, don't say anything unnecessary," the elderly woman said.

Lyn already knows that the one to leak out everyone's thoughts is this girl. This young and naive fool. However, not only does she want to prove that she doesn't discriminate by status; but to prove she can maintain composed.

"What is it?"

"So to put simply," she trails off, "Many people think that our beloved Princess with the rare mark, shouldn't hang around with somebody from an enemy nation. They don't want to risk a child being both from you two, let alone marriage. That's why many people are standing in your way."

Lyn thought she already But she said it, so casually, without any hint of remorse of any kind. What empty and cruel words, they don't have a hint of compa.s.sion in them.

"Quiet!" A frantic voice. Panic and fear mixed in, but they already did the damage — a deadly aura wrapped around her.

"It seems like there is no longer any need to speak," Lyn commented.

A stream of red and violet came out of her fingers, forming a vast ax blade surrounded by b.u.t.terflies. "If you're just going to say such nonsense, then you may as well end your lives here today."

Before Lyn could take a step forward, somebody grabbed her hand, "You're as frightening as always. The young daughter of Orthez," there stood a man with grey hair and azure-colored eyes.

"s.h.i.+oka."

"Put down you're blade, and the rest of you go back to your business."

"Y--yes, sir."

Lyn glared at him, "What are you doing?"

"No need to get your hands dirtied, when you're attending such a grand ball tonight."

Lyn deeply sighed, seems like he already knows everything, "Buy me some food. I'm getting hungry."

...

The two of them sat in the bar counter, and Lyn played with the straw of the drink in her hands.

This man called s.h.i.+oka is an information broker that her eldest brother introduced her too during the camp. Though she seldom met with him when her brother stopped training her. Once in a while, Lyn would receive letters from him.

To conduct their business in the very same place where she had just threatened to kill them all if they were to go near Kazuya again; hardly seemed appropriate. Even now, she can still feel it. A deep fear has been engraved in her skin, the fear of everyone in this room. The words of a princess can truly shake the world. Even if she hadn't been born this way, she is sure that this fear would still be engraved into people since her very presence brings fear. That is something that will never change.

"I hear my wife has been causing you problems, my apologies. " s.h.i.+oka said, pouring the bottle of wine, the red color immediately drew her attention; and yet she takes a sip.

"Aside from clinging to Kazuya, she doesn't do anything too extreme. So I hardly noticed it."

"I see. Swinging your cursed blade around like that though, is it wise?"

Lyn sighed, "The guardian blade and the cursed one seemed to fuse, and merge with the rose scythe."

"Oho? That's why there are b.u.t.terflies now. But that's interesting; your guardian blade made such a choice? Even though she's as stubborn as you."

"You'll be surprised how much she's changed. " She must have been doing a lot of thinking in the years Lyn didn't activate it, "I'm happy they don't know about Shaarya."

Shaarya was her sister, the Third Princess of the Mist Kingdom.

"So you say, but take today's example. They hurt Kazuya, so, now you have an excuse to attack them. "

"Your wrong s.h.i.+oka, I don't need an excuse. This isn't the first place I've gone to, to threaten them. By now they should all be receiving it. 'Don't lay a hand on or complain to Kazuya. ' I went around to so many people threatening them with these words. After all, there are too many huge idiots out there, who won't understand that I'm furious unless I say so."

"How frightening. But indeed, that is what makes you interesting," s.h.i.+oka reached over and cupped her cheek. "A pure Princess like you that has been raised in complete isolation since you were younger; and yet you paved your own path from that point onwards and were exposed to the light." His fingers brush across the nape of her neck, "Tell me, you who have been exposed to the light now is fighting for the light or darkness? Which one do you prefer? "

"Neither. I shall fight for both. For the light and darkness to co-exist is something that will still take a long time."

"You don't have to worry about the after-effects, it most likely won't happen in our generation. One huge battle is enough."

"War between other Kingdoms is still possible when my brother rules."

s.h.i.+oka sighed, "This talk always bothers me. Andrew is a great guy, and all. But are you not interested in the throne at all?"

"No, I'm not," Lyn immediately replied. There is no need for her to think about this at all. She genuinely isn't interested in the throne. She didn't need it at all.