The Guarded Princess

VI

After the incident in which the castle had gone into a state of frenzy with the disappearance of Lucy, the security had been slightly increased and the guards that guarded the greenhouse had also increased. Each time someone visited or when she stepped out of the greenhouse, Sinbad was notified of it and not only that, she was allowed to stroll in the vicinity of the greenhouse but other than that, the guards had to accompany her if she was alone. Though, most of them saw this as typical security measures for a royal princess of her standing.

One or two days had passed since then and Lucy remained in her greenhouse, tending to the various plants that grew there. Kouha continued to visit her, along with Aladdin and Kougyoku, despite the severe scolding from Kouen. Pisti and Spartos would also visit and tell her interesting stories that had happened during the day, something that Lucy found absorbing. Kouen, too, had also increased his visits knowing how bored it could be when alone. Moreover, he wanted to be with her and didn't want her to feel anymore lonely than she had been when he had first found her.

Lucy sat on her bed in the greenhouse and hearing the faint voice of the guards at the entrance, she perked up, her earrings and jewelry dangling with a soft clink against one another. She turned around, her long golden hair and veil swaying along with her as she smiled.

"Kouen."

Walking towards her was Kouen whose eyes had softened as his shoulders loosened up a little. As always, he held a hand to her head and pulled her close, his forehead touching hers as he sat down on her bed, shifting the mattress down slightly.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, Kouen. There's no need to ask that all the time."

"You've always been the type to bottle everything in and say everything's fine," Kouen let go of her and flicked her forehead. "If I didn't continue pestering you like this, would you ever tell me?"

"Ow," Lucy swayed back as she shut her eyes from the impact before rubbing her forehead. "You really know me well, Kouen."

"Knowing you for one year was enough for me to know everything about you, Lucy," he smiled pleasantly. "To me, you're like an open book. No matter how many years we haven't seen each other, I still know you."

Lucy stared at him and the ends of her lips curled upwards in a genuine smile. Her honey brown orbs softened, a look of warmth in them that she hadn't shown to anyone else.

"The same goes for me as well, Kouen," she brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "No matter what kind of mask you put on as the Emperor of the Kou Empire, you'll never be able to hide your real intentions from me."

"Oh?" he grinned. "You knew?"

"Did you really think I wouldn't know that you became the Emperor?" she laughed. "I heard from Kouha and Kougyoku. It seems that in the years that I've been gone, the Kou Empire's Imperial Palace had gone through some changes."

"Yeah," Kouen said, his eyes hardening. "Regrettably."

"At least the one who had been running behind the scenes has been dispelled from this world," Lucy said. "Though things have changed, it's a good thing that the relationship between everyone hasn't changed. With the death of Gyok-, no, Arba, the corruption has disappeared and I'm glad that Hakuryuu has returned to the person he had been."

Kouen smiled, his eyes holding pure happiness. "Yes."

"Moreover, Sheba's staff has been returned to her," Lucy said with relief, the rukh gathering at her hands in a golden light before revealing the staff that Gyokuen used to hold in her hand. Lucy held it up to the sunlight and smiled. "It shall be returned to its rightful owner."