The Guarded Princess

LXIV

Tomoyo clenched her hands as she bit her lower lip in frustration. She furrowed her eyebrows together in vexation at her own weakness and inability to do anything. Masrur and Kaede, who weren't even citizens of the Kina Kingdom, were there fighting and even Lucy, went out of her way to protect her to the point where she put herself in danger. She wanted to do something, anything.

Lucy watched her shake with disgruntlement and it was then that she knew exactly what to do. If they had been led to the Kina Kingdom, then there must have been a reason and right now, she found it. Curling the ends of her lips into a smile, she reached out and took Tomoyo's hand.

"Tomoyo," she called out to her.

Tomoyo looked up at her and seeing Lucy's smile, her eyes widened in surprise as she saw the rukh flutter around her. Despite what was going on right now, somehow, everything around her seemed to brighten.

"Come with me."

"Huh?" she blinked her eyes

"Be my companion in this journey," Lucy said with a smile. "I want you to become one of the people that will support me and follow me through until the very end. I want you to be by my side and be one of my retainers!"

"Lucy-sama..." Tomoyo said but her eyes wavered. "But, someone like me who can't even fight...there's no way I can become someone like Masrur-sama or Kaede-sama."

"Tomoyo, do you love the people of your Kina Kingdom?" Lucy asked.

"That's a given!" Tomoyo immediately answered, her eyes lighting up with fierceness. "For the sake of the people of the Kina Kingdom, I would be willing to give anything! They're the people that I wish to protect!"

Lucy smiled. "Then isn't that enough?"

Tomoyo stared at her.

Lucy reached out her other hand and bent down onto the floor, her honey chocolate eyes meeting her light pink ones. She clasped her hand over Tomoyo's gently and Tomoyo stared at her, enchanted by her mature beauty. Her furisode and shawl fluttered beside her as she gave a fond smile.

"The feelings that you hold for your people, isn't that more than enough? Each one of us has our reason for coming together but the one thing that they all share is their desire to protect something or someone important to them," Lucy said. "Tomoyo, have confidence in yourself and hold your head high with pride. You are a royal princess and more than anything, deep down inside, you have the power to change."

Her words resonated inside her mind as they sank in. From when she was little, she had always admired and respected Takeruhiko and his subordinates for their power to protect those around them but more than that, she envied that they were able to stand in a position that she could not. She wanted to be strong enough to be able to protect everyone but she was never able to work up the courage to change herself. When she met Lucy, she compared her to herself and realized just how similar yet different they were. Even if the entire world was against her, Lucy still chose to walk her own path despite the fear of leaving those dear to her. She could see it. She could see the small indication of fear and loneliness located in the depths of her eyes and in the hints of her smiles.

Tomoyo gave a small smile. Lucy-sama really is amazing.

She wished to protect those around her and wished to break out of the cage that she herself put her in. She didn't wish to be cooped up in the castle and just wait for the days to pass. She wished to go out and explore the world with Lucy. She wished to walk by her side and give her the feelings of encouragement and support that she had given her. She wanted to serve her for right now, she knew what her dream was. Seeing Lucy, Masrur, and Kaede, she long knew what she wanted. She wanted to realize the same dream as them: to see the scenery of tomorrow with Lucy.