Book 12.1: Chapter 11


    Your Highness, I wish to be a member of the Shadow Squad.


    Troy gently held Lucias hand. He stroked the first few wounds she had on her. When the two of them met for the first time, they tightly held each others hands. A childs hand shouldnt be such a heavy and cold metal weapon. Troy raised his head up. He felt sorry for her. The pain on her hand showed in her eyes. No, it showed even more pain than the wound on her hand.


    Troy softly asked, Why? If its the Shadow Squad isnt it very tough?


    Its all right, Your Highness. Its because I want to protect you. Didnt we make a promise on the tree? I want to protect you so that nothing like that will happen again.


    Lucia lightly shuffled over to Troy. The two of them sat on the tree branch on arge tree in the flower garden. The tree was the same as the tree they snuggled up on in the forest. The shade provided by the lush tree was particrly soothing. It was also Lucias favourite ce. Nobody would disturb them here. They wouldnt need to do anything, but spend time together in bliss.


    Lucia lightly leaned on Troys shoulder. She tightened her grip on his hand. In a soft voice, she said, Because Im scared Im very scared, Your Highness We have already been together for a very, very long time. I want to see you when I wake up each morning. I cant imagine life without you by my side. Im very scared. I dont know what to do if youre not here So, I dont want to let that happen again. I want to always be by your side. I want to always protect you. That way, Ill always be able to be with you, too, right?


    Mm Lucia, Ill be all right. I dont have many friends. I grew up in the pce. It was always Mom, who was by my side protecting me and loving me, but youre different. Youre my only friend and the only way for me to see the outside world from here. Lucia, I need you. I wouldnt be as happy without you, and I wont gain as much. My best find is still you.


    Lucias face turnedpletely red, but she stayed next to Troy. She never took her shoulder off his. She clung to his arm to feel his warmth and gentleness. She, too, didnt know why she was happy when she was with him, but it was the first time she found herself so infatuated.


    Why am I bing more and more reluctant to leave Troy? I dont know. I just know that I feel very happy andfortable at his side. His gaze, his warmth and his gentleness seem to have be my goal in life. Troy isparable to the first time I saw that flower. I was attracted by it, so I plucked it and brought it to my side. Simrly, I dont want to ever let him leave, thought Lucia.


    Luciater found out that the flower was called Holy Spirit Flower. Legends say that it was a ce where elves resided. Those ces that operated under the system of spirits could give kind children the best present. Lucia wasnt an adult yet, but she was no longer at the age where she believed fairy tales for children. She believed this one, though, as it delivered to her the best present she could ask for. At the time, the pair of hands covered in mud that gently held hers was the best present she ever received. Their romance started at that moment. It wasnt as exciting as a hero saving a beauty story nor was there any sweet talk. It was purely two childhood friends who shared everything with each other and ran around in the flower garden hand in hand. Their cheerfulughter contained overwhelming pure beauty.


    At the time, the two didnt know what love was, nor did they know what marriage or politics were, and they sure didnt know what bloodlines meant. They just wanted to always be together, for they liked each other and were friends.


    After a moment of silence, Troy bit down on his lip. He didnt dare to look straight at Lucia; instead, he looked at the sunset ahead while Lucia was by his side. In a soft voice, he said, Lucia, I want to tell you something. I hope youll seriously listen to me.


    Surprised, Lucia looked up to see Troys cheeks, which appeared redder than the setting sun. Puzzled, she asked, Go ahead, Your Highness. Is something the matter?


    Mm Lucia Mm I might have fallen in love with you.


    Troy looked away. Shy, his lips trembled. Lucia sluggishly looked at his face. His deration rattled her. She didnt know what to say. Her heart began to race, sending her nervous and scared blood throughout her entire body. As a consequence, her body froze stiff, and she didnt know what to do.


    Aaaahhh I I


    Lucia looked nkly at Troy. Her face gradually melted in with the sunset. She opened her mouth over and over, but she couldnt find the words to speak. It was as if the cat caught her tongue. She didnt know what this fallen in love with you meant, but she grew incredibly nervous and shy enough to not dare look him in the face.


    Troy licked his lips then tightly held her hand. He struggled to say, I asked, Mom. She said that if two people can go through hardship together and stay together in bliss, then that is love. Therefore, I feel that Ive probably fallen in love with you Lucia I dont know what to do after falling in love, either; but nheless, I think were to get married after. Then, were supposed to be together, have children and then well be able to be together forever, I think


    Lucia silently listened. She was surprised she wasnt nervous or shy. She listened to the future he illustrated through his words. As she listened, she began to imagine the future when she was a wife and a mother. The future was a little far for her; as a matter of fact, she didnt know how it was meant to look. Regardless, Lucia could feel bliss and satisfaction fill her entire body. Though she didnt understand what the future was, she knew that it was her most blissful future.


    Dumbfounded, Lucia responded, Then what should I do Your Highness? What should I do? If youre talking about love, then I might have fallen in love with you, too So so what should I do? What, exactly, should I do?


    I I dont know, either But I read in books that we should get engaged Mm Get engaged first, I guess I need to tell Mom I need to tell Mom


    Mm Mm


    Lucia turned her head. Her face was so hot that it melted her mind, putting her at a loss for what to say and do. She had never been involved in engagements and whatnot. She wondered what it was for, and what shed get. She didnt even have the chance to ask her parents yet. She, herself, didnt know what marriage meant; however, since they could be together forever, she assumed it would be fine


    Lets go, Lucia. Lets go have dinner. Lets ask Mom this evening. If Mom agrees, I want to get engaged. Itll be nice if we can go ahead. Lets go, Lucia.


    Ah Mm Okay


    ========


    Ten minutester


    <strong>*ng!*</strong>


    Vyvyan wore a dumbstruck expression. She dropped the soup spoon straight into the soup, sttering the milk-coloured soup in front of her. She wore an iparably awkward expression. Her entire worlds foundation was shaken before her smile even had the chance to disappear. The world in her heart was crumbled.


    You cant! You cant! You cant! You cant!! Vyvyan shouted without even spending a moment to think. She outright refused Troy.


    Disappointed and upset, Troy asked, Why, Mom? I love Lucia. Since I love Lucia, shouldnt we get engaged?


    Troy was on the verge of tears, rendering Vyvyan a little flustered: No Thats not what I meant Umm Its not Mommy Mommy Mommy Its not that Mommy is saying you cant Its just Mm You two are still a bit too young, right? Youre still too young, Son. Its fine for you two to get married But youre still too young, arent you? Youre too young


    Is that so?


    Troy looked at Lucia with a hopeless look. Lucia looked back at him feeling disappointed. The two of them had their hands sped together underneath the table. Vyvyan huffed and puffed. The two of them were looking at each other, so they didnt notice her eyes turning blood red. Vyvyans rationality couldnt suppress her desire to kill Lucia. She did her best to not kill in her sons presence.


    It seemed that the Shadow Squad would have another corpse for sure.


    So, can we get married once were older, Mom?


    Of course. Once Luciaes out of the Shadow Squad, you can get engaged. Youll be old enough by then, so youll be okay to get engaged.


    Vyvyan smiled. Her lips and hands trembled. If she could kill with her gaze, Lucia would have died many times over already. Unfortunately, Vyvyan couldnt just kill her, so she had to rely on the Shadow Squad.


    I cannot let that womane out alive! Vyvyan told herself.