Book 12.1: Chapter 11
“Your Highness, I wish to become a member of the Shadow Squad.”
Troy gently held Lucia’s 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 other’s hands. A child’s hand shouldn’t 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 it’s the Shadow Squad… isn’t it very tough?”
“It’s all right, Your Highness. It’s because I want to protect you. Didn’t 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 a large 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 particularly soothing. It was also Lucia’s favourite place. Nobody would disturb them here. They wouldn’t need to do anything, but spend time together in bliss.
Lucia lightly leaned on Troy’s shoulder. She tightened her grip on his hand. In a soft voice, she said, “Because I’m scared… I’m 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 can’t imagine life without you by my side. I’m very scared. I don’t know what to do if you’re not here… So, I don’t want to let that happen again. I want to always be by your side. I want to always protect you. That way, I’ll always be able to be with you, too, right?”
“Mm… Lucia, I’ll be all right. I don’t have many friends. I grew up in the palace. It was always Mom, who was by my side protecting me and loving me, but you’re different. You’re my only friend and the only way for me to see the outside world from here. Lucia, I need you. I wouldn’t be as happy without you, and I won’t gain as much. My best find is still you.”
Lucia’s face turned completely 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, didn’t know why she was happy when she was with him, but it was the first time she found herself so infatuated.
“Why am I becoming more and more reluctant to leave Troy? I don’t know. I just know that I feel very happy and comfortable at his side. His gaze, his warmth and his gentleness seem to have become my goal in life. Troy is comparable to the first time I saw that flower. I was attracted by it, so I plucked it and brought it to my side. Similarly, I don’t want to ever let him leave,” thought Lucia.