When Kazuya asked the shopkeeper for a cloak in that first clothes shop, he should have asked for two. No, that's not the issue here. Cloak or not, Lyn stood out. Now he understood why Queen Orthez made such a decision. Though he shouldn't agree with the Queen, now Kazuya wanted nothing more than for Lyn to revert to wearing those plain clothes.

Then again, he doubted that made much of a difference too. The Queen kept her locked up because she understood that her daughter's elegance and grace is not something mere clothes can conceal.

That made sense if he thought about it in that manner. Though Kazuya connected the pieces slowly, Lyn standing out too much and drawing too much attention is bad, is it because of the mark? But seldom people should know about that too, "Arghhh! I just don't understand." Kazuya exclaimed frustrated.

The nearby passengers looked at him like he was a crazy person. Realizing he spoke out loud, Kazuya looked down. Don't be an idiot now Kazuya. Thankfully, the people stopped staring, and Kazuya looked up and noticed Lyn walking back towards him.

Lyn stood out like a sore thumb, so it was easy to keep track of her. Kazuya felt unusual whenever she let go of his hand. When Lyn first insisted on it, he wanted to tell her what it looked like to other people. Two grown men and women holding hands. But she defeated him with that smile of hers.

She rushed over to him wearing a bright smile, "Kazuya, there's a nice fountain at the center of town! The park's undergone a lot of construction since the last time, let's go," Lyn said, as she grabbed hold of his hand again.

Kazuya looked down at their inter winded hands, "Lyn."

"Yes?"

He wanted to ask her why she holds hands with him like this. But Kazuya supposes with her personality; he won't get an answer. Kazuya shook his head, there's probably no special meaning to it, "Since you're so small if you keep rushing off you'll get lost."

Lyn pouted, "I'm not a child."

"I know," Kazuya replied. He knew that if she were simply a naive and innocent young girl. Then he wouldn't be this interested in her. Something came to mind, and Kazuya smiled, as he momentarily drew her close, "I wouldn't kiss a child."

"D-don't be stupid!!"

Kazuya laughed at the girl's reply; she's so amusing.

........

When he and Lyn looked through various furniture stands, Kazuya spotted somebody from the corner of his eye and told Lyn he would look on the other side for a bit. The Princess noticed nothing and nodded. Kazuya walked over to where his friend was, a deep frown formed on his face, "What?" Kazuya wasn't pleased that Rhys interrupted his time with Lyn.

Rhy's was one of the leaders back in the Sound Kingdom; the man was only four years older. But for his age, people considered him doing well. Sadly, though his slanted eyes and the scar on his right eye which he sustained in a huge fight, caused people to misunderstand him.

Though they hid, the passing buyers looked at Rhys and whispered. Kazuya remembered when they first got to the Mist Kingdom border. It was difficult explaining to the guard that this guy was one of them.

Rhys rolled his eyes, "What are you doing Kazu, seducing the Princess should be simple. But instead, you're playing a game of house with her."

"Shut it, she--" Kazuya paused, "--is unlike those girls you sleep around with."

"Is that so?" Rhys didn't press the issue, but Kazuya found his friend looked over at Lyn, "She's a key part to our plan, so don't screw it up. I don't care what method you use. But gain her trust, make sure she believes you before you tell her anything, got it?"

Kazuya stares at his friend for a few minutes, before he finally said, "Rhys, for now, don't mention that stuff."

The man frowned, "Kazuya, you can't be serious." Rhys shook his head disappointedly, "That woman is merely a chess piece in our plans. You can seduce her all you want. But don't fall for her; otherwise, our plan will fall apart."

Shouldn't that be a good thing, him falling for Lyn for real? Kazuya doesn't reply straight away, and he felt his friends growing anger. After a while, Kazuya spoke up, "Lyn differs from her family members. She has done nothing wrong," Kazuya said. Honestly, when he thought of the original plan to seduce her but later on abandon her. It made Kazuya sick to the stomach. Being betrayed by somebody like that won't make anyone feel well. If he's felt this way just at the mere thought about it, what would Lyn feel?

He couldn't do it.

Rhys paused as though he considered the words Kazuya just said, before he commented, "I do agree that the Princess is different than the rest. But we really can't be too sure; she's still Queen Orthez, daughter."

Queen Orthez, huh? Anybody related to the Queen is their enemy. However, Lyn, he can't associate her as one of those people. Kazuya tapped his fingers against the wall, but he was becoming increasingly restless. Rhys tossed him a cigarette and Kazuya thanked him. He tried to quit smoking, knowing the damage it possesses to your body. But it is hard to stop once you got started. Once the cigarette was in his hands, he felt a sense of relief and quickly lit it up.

"It's hard to quit," Kazuya murmured.

Rhys laughed, "Dude, don't bother trying anymore. It's useless."

The smell will stick to him, will Lyn notice? She clinged to him a lot after all, "Did you call out to me to ask?" Kazuya changed the topic. He didn't want to talk about the subject regarding Lyn anymore or wait for Rhys to bring up his secrets.

His companion nodded, "The thing is, the Mist Kingdom Main castle is large. Even with our group of ten, I doubt we can infiltrate the place in one go."

Kazuya's face was grave hearing those words, "We have to check every corner somehow," Kazuya trailed off, as he took another puff from the cigarette, "I don't think we will get another chance to explore the castle."

"Then, there's another suggestion the others came up with him," Rhys seemed to hesitate to tell him but eventually spoke up, "And that's to have the Princess show you the way."

Kazuya glared at Rhys suggestion. It's not like it never crossed his mind. At least initially anyway, however, he changed his mind once he saw what the girl's powers were. Traces of dark magic, no it's dark magic.

Considering Lyn's situation, there is no way anybody could have taught her those spells, leading him to one conclusion, Lyn's dark magic is natural. He had yet to tell Rhys regarding the girl's powers. Kazuya knew Rhys would tell the others in a heartbeat and they'd scheme something up.

"I know you think it's dangerous for her. And yeah, it will be. Even if she shows us around naturally, people will be suspicious. That's why we will have to rely on you for this side plan, while we stick to the main one," Rhys nodded to himself, not getting an immediate response. Rhys thought he understood and continued to speak.

Kazuya, however always thought how stupid the side plan was. No, the whole project itself is ridiculous. Lyn isn't as stupid as they all think she is. In fact, recently he noticed that she's picked up on his suspicious actions. Though Kazuya does spend most of his time with her, there are occasions where he is late. Events where he is planning away with his friends. Yet she always treated him normally, no matter how late he dropped by.

"The original plan hasn't changed, we strike at exactly 20:00 hours. The opening starts at 8:00 am, so we have eight hours until then. But those eight hours won't go to waste. In that time, we will set up our defenses just in case we are to get caught."

Kazuya remained in a daze as Rhys went through the plan from the top. He didn't need to listen to it again; he already knew it word from word. His thoughts remained on Lyn; the Princess knew something already.

But why does she still treat him normally? Is it possible that it did not matter whether or not he was the enemy? That would be too naive, and from what he's learned about Lyn's character, that logic didn't suit her.