"It's so beautiful. Don't you think so too?" Lyn asked him, whilst holding up the bouquet.

Since that day Allen figured it would not be wise to let her out of his sight. Even though he was the one who ended up attacked, it was an attack to provoke her. Which is why it leads to this, lead to her aide Pupillam, and the other two to attend the wedding in her place? Even though that was the purpose of why they came here.

Allen doesn't reply right away before making remarks. He cares little for such things and didn't hesitate to express his thoughts.

"Then, what about me? Do you think I'm beautiful?"

Allen could only stare at her in disbelief, out of all the things she says to him this is far the most shocking one. Why ask something like that at this stage? "..." Also, what does that have to do with their conversation?

"Answer me."

Upon seeing his chamber's doors, he opened it right away and made his way inside, "Who cares"

"Ah! Just so you know, you've never told me whether I'm beautiful or not. So I used this to my advantage!"

Is she really saying that? "I know, goodnight."

"Hey!" Lyn exclaimed.

But by this point, he already closed the doors of the chamber and sighed.

Carlo commented, "King, just now I bet you thought ' ugh how troublesome when it should be obvious already.'"

"You guessed correctly. Is there any need in me telling her something she's aware of and something that should be obvious?"

Carlo shrugged, "The Queen is oblivious and from what I've observed though, she enjoys receiving such compliments despite it being obvious as we all think."

She does, huh? Perhaps, it will not hurt him attempting to do so.

.

.

It was shortly after Carlo fell asleep and left his chambers when he heard a knock on his door. Allen does not have to look up to know who it is, but when he does, he's slightly surprised at the black hair girls' choice of night ware. Although it's only natural for her to have night ware like this now, she's a grown woman, the sight would make her prey to any men seeing her dressed that way.

Allen frowned slightly at the thought, he hoped that she did not cross paths with anyone on the way here. "Um, can I stay beside you tonight? You, won't do anything will you?"

Allen raised his eyebrows, in amus.e.m.e.nt, " I won't so come here."

Lyn nodded and made her way over, she positioned herself beside him, as she leaned her head on his shoulder, "Have you come to play games again Queen."

"Eh, it wasn't a game. I wanted to know am I beautiful?"

"Surely there's no need for me to say it." There's no need because from their first meeting he had thought so.

"No need, huh? I see you're the same, as bashful as Kazu."

His eyes twitch in annoyance at that comment, "Surely you cannot put me in the same sentence as that man."

"But, it's true. Though he caved in after people told him."

Even now whenever Lyn spoke about her husband, she gets that look in her eyes. Truly, until that man returned to her side she won't be able to smile properly will she? Even now Allen understood that.

Allen intertwines a strand of the black hair girl's locks with his hand, "I am not fond of you underestimating me Lyn."

"That is true. Your prideful nature gets in the way, however, I do not dislike guys with pride." As she said this, she carefully brushed his bangs away from his face, "Your hair is longer now..."

"As busy as I am, finding an opportunity to cut it is difficult."

"Then, should I?" Lyn offered.

"… the amount of trust I have for you cutting my hair is the same as I have to trust you in the kitchen."

A burst of light laughter escaped the hair girl's lips, " It appears so. But the kitchen thing isn't the same anymore. I've learned how to cook properly."

"You have?"

"I had to didn't I? I can't always rely on the servants around the mansion to help. Besides, I'm 'preparing myself' for when my husband returns."

Oh, she's… truly is a grown woman now. Her manner of speaking, her actions. He could tell how much she grew up. It would happen, but these changes surprised him.

He brushes his hands against the girl's hair, "Allen?"

"… I like long hair." he murmured.

"Aha. It makes me look more like a Queen doesn't it?"

Allen nodded in agreement, "But you are a unique Queen."

"Unique, huh? Say, Allen, there's something I have to ask you."

"Hm?"

"Rather than ask it's more like I want to confirm something." she took a deep breath before she spoke up, "… The candidates for this worlds empress.."

So that's what she wanted to talk about. No wonder she pulled that expression, " It as you say. If you think of all the factors that lead up to choosing a candidate, you more than exceed the requirements."

Lyn laughed softly, "Aha I exceed the requirements, huh? I see I see."

"… It would be easy for me to arrange for the support to be on your sister If you do not wish to."

Besides being an empress and Queen are on a different scale from each other.

Lyn shook her head, "No there's no need. I'm fully prepared already. But, there are things I still regret. Back then I could have saved a lot more people if I came out that I was royalty, a princess. Though I've never been the person who would use my authority as a princess. For that situation, it's different. Had I used it, then perhaps I could have prevented a lot more deaths."

"….Had you revealed yourself as the princess then your own life would have been at stake."

"That's true and at the same time, I was afraid to do so. But have you never heard of the saying 'that it's easier to do something for the person you love rather than the whole world?' Had I done it for Kazuya then perhaps the outcome would have been a lot different."

Allen looked at Lyn's expression, he saw nothing but regrets and yet her gaze is filled with nothing but hope. "Are you frightened?"

"I don't know. Truthfully the feeling of being scared... I've forgotten it already"

"Not even of your own death?"

"All humans must die someday. It's just a matter of when."

So that's how she sees things. He supposes that part of her has not changed. "… and yet you are shaking."

The woman shuts her eyes, " I don't know what's wrong anymore. I don't know why I'm like this. ," she trailed off, " I want to see… him…"

Allen pulled the black hair girl in his arms then and said nothing. He's never been the type who would know how to comfort someone. However, he isn't a guy of many words; for Lyn, that part of him has always been enough.

===