The Guarded Princess

IV

It's been two days since Lucy had arrived at Sindria and over the course of it, she had gotten much used to the new atmosphere around her. In the beginning, she hadn't realized how much her title meant but after finding out about it, she had begun to get used to it. The servants and soldiers held her with much regard and according to Ja'far, they seemed to be treating her with even more respect than Sinbad himself. Though, it must be because he told them to. Moreover, she also had the title decreed by Kouen, which added further importance to her status.

However, during those days, much time was spent in the greenhouse for after seven long years in slumber, though her outer appearance might not have changed much, her inner state was still unstable and had not yet begun to properly work, leaving her body fragile. Despite that, her eyes had begun to brighten themselves with the light that they used to carry before.

"Lucy-nee!" Kouha ran up behind her and threw his arms around her. "Missed me?"

Lucy chuckled and turn around, her bracelets and rubies clinking against one another. She had been dressed in Sindria's royal attire with a white top and white bottom, golden accessories, and rubies lining the bottom of the top and the waistline of the bottom. A long white cloth lined with detailed golden patterns and tear-drop shaped rubies hanging from it hung from her waist, Sindria's crest imprinted on the bottom center. She wore flats with the same gold pattern on the side with golden bracelets on her ankles and wrists, rubies also dangling from it. A long transparent veil that reached a little above her knee covered her head, lace lining the edges. Three tear-drop shaped ruby hung at the center of her head.

"I did," she answered, turning away from the lilies that she had been tending to in the greenhouse. "You visit me almost every day so it almost seems out of your place when you're not here, Kouha. But," she knitted her eyebrows together in worry. "Are you sure you don't want to hang out with everyone else?"

Kouha smiled and took her hands. "I visit you because I want to be with Lucy-nee," he grinned. "There's nothing else that beats being with you."

"Kouha..." Lucy stared at him. "But, make sure you help out your brother with his work."

"But I'm not good with all the political stuff," Kouha whined. "I'm more of the carefree type," he winked, sticking his tongue out with a proud face. "And by being like this, it makes the cold and stiffening atmosphere around En-nii and the others so much lighter."

Lucy chuckled. "That does seem to be true."

"Anyway, forget about En-nii and them!" Kouha changed the subject. "Lucy-nee is also bored with staying in this greenhouse all day, right?"

"That is true but..." she averted her eyes. "The others will worry."

"It's fine, it's fine!" Kouha reassured her. "Lucy-nee's body seems to be fine and moreover, we're still walking around the castle. Nothing will happen and people can still find us!"

Seeing the excitement in his eyes, there was no way she could refuse. "Then maybe if it's around the vicinity of the greenhouse, it'll be fine."

Kouha brightened up and threw his arms around Lucy, his face resting on her shoulder. "I did it!"

Lucy smiled softly at him as he released her from his embrace and held tightly onto her hand, wrapping her small hand in his. He led her out of the greenhouse and as they exited, the guards bowed their heads. Kouha didn't pay much attention to them as he dragged Lucy along but as they began turning around the corner, Kouha skidded to a halt and Lucy looked on in question.

"Aladdin!" Kouha exclaimed. "What brings you here?"

"Kouha!" Aladdin widened his eyes in surprise. "And Lucy-neesan, too! What are you two doing out here? I thought Lucy-neesan was supposed to be resting in the greenhouse."