The Guarded Princess

LXXVI

Time had soon arrived for the banquet and the hours drew closer to their departure. With Lucy, Hakuyuu, Hakuren, and Judar being gone, the others were left in charge and it was decided that if anything were to happen, each of them would bring down their army from the clouds in full force. After all, it was Her Majesty that they were talking about. For those who wished to wrong her, they would never forgive.

Despite the nearing hours, they remained unfazed for to them, it wasn't something to worry over. Rather, they were more focused on Lucy herself for once more, she was sleeping under the cherry blossom tree, its petals glowing with life as it balanced out her inner state of being. As Lucy sat on the cushioned throne, Hakuyuu watched her with a melancholy expression. Every time they watched her like this, they couldn't help but be tormented by grief. Normally, Masrur would've been accompanying her but right now, he still had Masud to take care of and Lucy had asked him for Masud to not see her like this to which he complied. As the petals continued to cascade down onto the marble floor, making the place seem like an eternal paradise with Lucy at its center, Hakuyuu looked up and walked over to her.

Moving the dress-like cloth of his Chinese-styled imperial clothes back, he knelt down onto the ground on one knee and taking her hand, he smiled. Just as he did, Lucy slowly opened her eyes and gazing into his light blue ones, she slowly smiled.

"Hakuyuu," she said his name.

He nodded his head and clutched her hand tenderly. "Did you have a pleasant dream?"

Lucy smiled. "Mn."

"That's good to hear," he smiled. "May I know what kind of dream it was?"

Lucy nodded her head, willing. "It was a beautiful and happy dream," she answered and Hakuyuu listened to her in interest. "It was a really happy dream. A dream where we were still children playing happily in the Palace of the Kou Empire without a care in sight."

"Is that so?" he remarked, just glad that she had dreamt happily. "Then that must have been indeed a nice dream. Hakuryuu, Hakuei, Kouen, and the others must've been there as well."

"Yeah," she nodded her head but smiled at him. "But, Hakuyuu and Hakuren were the ones that appeared the most. If so, I wish I could've dreamt a little longer of the times we still played together."

Hakuyuu widened his eyes, his heart pounding in his chest upon hearing those words. He would've thought that it was going to be Kouen who dominated her thoughts but no, it was him. After hearing so, there was no way he wouldn't have a grin perched upon his lips. Taking her hand in his, he chuckled as his cheeks were painted a faint, rosy hue.

"But, right now, we're doing exactly what you've dreamt of," he looked into her eye with affection. "And the time we'll be together will last forever. So, there's no need to dream of something that's already been granted," he pressed his forehead against hers.

Lucy laughed in her sweet voice as her cheeks were painted a red blush. "Mn!" she agreed happily.

Seeing her smile, that was enough. He stood up but continued to hold onto her hands as he said, "Hakuren's still preparing but we'll be departing soon for the Kou Empire."

"I got it," she nodded her head before asking with a rather dejected expression. "Did I sleep long?"

"No. Not at all," he shook his head with a soft warmth in his eyes. "If you want to, you can sleep for a little longer. There's no need for us to hurry since no one is expecting us."

Lucy shook her head and Hakuyuu helped her stand. "I should start getting ready soon. It's better to be there early than late. That way, no one will notice us even if we do arrive," she said and took her hand as her blonde hair trailed down to the ground beside her in wavy curls. "Besides," she grinned. "There's nothing better for us to do right now."