The Guarded Princess

LXXXIV

Sitting on the table of the balcony that overlooked the grand garden, Lucy sat there as she held a cup of lavender tea in her hands, enjoying the tray of food and snacks that were laid out. Tomoyo sat across from her as she happily enjoyed Lucy's company with an elated smiled on her face.

"Sorry for having you go through all that work. It must've been rather troublesome," Lucy smiled apologetically.

"Not at all, Lucy-sama," Tomoyo returned with a soft smile. "If it's Lucy-sama's request, Tomoyo will do anything willingly. Moreover, the matter of being troublesome lies not within the request itself but rather the people," a tick mark appearing on her forehead as she twitched her and gripped the cup tightly just from remembering them. "They're persistent and overconfident beyond belief. What makes them think that they're able to stand up to the Celestial Empire?"

Lucy laughed. "That's because Tomoyo is strong," Lucy reached out and patted her head.

At that gesture, Tomoyo perked up as she looked down with a flushed face. She closed her eyes and her lips curled up into a smile as she continued to enjoy Lucy's soft and gentle touch on her head. Her luscious blonde hair fell down onto the marble floor in wavy heaps as her white dress and cape flowed out on the side. As the two sat there in each company, footsteps came by and noticing who it was, Lucy softened her eyes and smiled.

"Masrur."

Tomoyo stood up immediately and bowed. "Masrur-sama."

He walked up to them and as always, he reached out to Lucy and held her hands in his. Lucy gladly took his hands and the two gazed into each other's eyes in a loving manner and Tomoyo couldn't help but smile in adoration. The look that Masrur had in his eye for Lucy never changed and it was as if his affection and infatuation for Lucy grew every single day without ever dwindling. His maroon pink eyes shone with light and with a clear gaze in them, they reflected Lucy in her entirety. For Lucy, too, she held him dearly and the endearment in her honey-chocolate eyes couldn't be faked for her feelings were sincere and only with him, did she truly look happiest.

"They've returned," he said, giving the report.

"I see," Lucy lowered her gaze before lifting her head again and smiling. "Thanks for your hard work, Masrur."

He smiled fondly at her and nodded his head.

"They finally went back, huh?" Tomoyo furrowed her eyebrows. "It was about time that they realized their impudence. Just exactly who do they think they are for thinking that they can impose on us and get what they want?"

Lucy chuckled nervously. "Well..."

"This time I have to agree," Masrur added. "They were a bit too conceited and not to mention, they did overstep their boundaries. Forcefully gaining access to the Celestial Empire...if the world was to know about this, it would definitely incite a war."

"And a war we should incite," Tomoyo narrowed her eyes. "To dare think they can see Lucy-sama and gain what they want by using her," she gritted her teeth. "It's absolutely unforgivable."

Lucy took the two's opinions into account and gave a soft smile. I really don't deserve you two, she said, seeing how much they cared about her and the Empire.

"And Lucy-sama," Tomoyo turned to her and crossed her arms, causing Lucy to flinch and turn her way with a questioning look on her face, a question mark appearing above her. "You're way too lenient and generous in this matter! How many times have they shown a lack of proper respect towards you? To insult the Six Kings which Lucy-sama had personally appointed as her trusted aids, it's beyond insolent," Tomoyo stated before pointing to Lucy. "And Lucy-sama, the fault mainly lies within you."