Sword of Lycoris Part 28

Nobles who on the surface acted like an average noble and followed traditional values. But, in private and when they are around people they trust behave just like any normal person.

"The reason I accepted Cordelia was not because she resembled Lyn. Although I cannot deny that is why I chose her amongst the list of candidates." Allen trailed off. "I just accepted her, because I believe it is time."

"To get over the Queen?"

Allen nodded. "-and to move on. The age of having separate Kingdoms is coming to an end. Soon the lands will be unified as one under the Empress and Emperor. While the titles of Kings and Queens will still remain as will the title of the individual Kingdoms. We will now be more unified."

"So, it's for practical purposes."

"Yes. While that maybe cruel to her, we will have plenty of time to figure out whether I will gain feelings for her. It isn't impossible, she will be the woman I spend the rest of my life with, anything could happen." Allen paused as his gaze fell on the sky. "But, for now the one I am in love with. The one my heart belongs to is still Lyn."

Pupilliam felt the sorrow and yet conviction in King Allen's tone. Everybody is moving forward, and what about her? Will she continue remaining by the Queen's side as her aide? Ever since she got this role, she has never thought of the possibility of leaving and taking on another position.

'My future is by the Queen's side.' and yet recently she has become unsure. The more Lyn speaks about becoming the Empress, the more she understands.

'I will not fit in.' Lyn becoming the Empress and unifying the lands, means those part of her council will be high ranking individuals from all the Kingdoms. It will not just be the Mist Kingdom officials anymore. The Mist Kingdom officials have gotten used to her being by Lyn's side since she was a Princess. But, it will be different when Lyn becomes the Empress.

Her status will get in the way. Lyn will not discard her, Pupilliam understood the girl's personality very well. She will insist that her current order of Knights don't change. However, even Lyn will not be able to do anything about the voices of disapproval and the burden of keeping her by her side.

'I do not want to be a burden and cause her problems.' Pupilliam paused in mid-thought. It feels like Lyn has said something similar before.

"You should also decide what you want to do. The Empress court will not be friendly to those with low status."

Pupilliam sighs. "I didn't realize you were so good at reading people."

"I am not. But I spent many years by Lyn's side and she always spoke about you. So, it's easy to draw a conclusion."

"Likewise, she always spoke about you."

"In the end, the one who will remain by her side until she grows old is neither you or I. Nor is it that fool who is always smiling."

"Do you think I will leave her?" Pupilliam asked.

"I am in no position to tell you what you can or not do. Had I married her, I certainly would have had the say to send you away and I intended to do so. Forgive me for being blunt, but I do not think there is a future for you in the court Lyn desires."

Pupilliam shakes her head. "Do not apologise. I also think the same. Even if the Queen wants me to remain by her side. It will become increasingly difficult to do so. That's why I have to decide soon."

"There is a time limit. After this war with the Snow Kingdom is over. Lyn will have more than proven what she is capable of."

"I am aware."

When they reached their destination, which was a small shack close to the location of the sword. Pupilliam is surprised to see the Queen there already. Lyn's eyes brightened when she saw them and rushed over clasping her hands.

"Pupilliam!"

"Queen." Pupilliam addressed her. "You found this place quickly."

Lyn laughed. "Yes, Rhys is very good at this type of work."

Even though the Queen stayed overnight with sir Rhys in the village, Pupilliam didn't question it. In the past she may have, but those two have been apart from each other for a long time already. This is enough of being overprotective.

Rhys suddenly appears behind the Queen and drapes his scarf around her neck. "I told you to keep it on, it's cold over here."

"But, what about you?"

"Your health is more important my Queen."

Speaking of scarfs, wasn't the Queen making something like that not too long ago? Shortly after the Queen and Rhys became a couple again, she found the Queen loitering around the throne room late at night knitting and sometimes seeing her knit outside in the gardens. The Queen isn't good at crafts, so for her to even attempt to make a scarf is courageous.

"What did you find?" Allen asked.

"The person we are looking for is dead. I found a rotten corpse in the bedroom. It seems he was attacked in his sleep.

The information they gathered was somebody rumored to have survived the encounter, at the cost of his limbs. But he made it out there alive. It seems he only survived temporarily for him to die now.

...

They spend the rest of the day investigating the area and the surroundings, but unfortunately came to a dead end. Before they knew it, it was already night.

Setting up camp near where a person was killed wasn't a good idea, but Lyn insisted that it's better to stay in this area. 'The body wasn't rotting that much, that means he was only just killed. Whatever killed it may come back.'

Pupilliam sighs deeply. She wanted to say that was exactly the reason why they should stay away. But, then Rhys signalled to her that he would be with Lyn the entire time, so she didn't say a word. Rhys has certainly challenged whether she trusts him completely with the Queen is a different story though.

Sometimes she fears that there is still a chance that Rhys will leave the Queen. What if he learns about the presence of another man in Lyn's life? Would he be disgusted with her? Pupilliam didn't want to take any chances. So, when Rhys brought up that person that time in the alleyway, she kept her mouth tightly shut.

*Unedited*