NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 161.1
The next day, my ban from going out was finally lifted. It was temporary though. I was allowed to visit the royal palace to meet my friend, Princess Lavigne.
“My father has become your fan.”
“…Again?”
“Huh?”
“Oh, nothing. What are you saying?”
“Thanks to you, he took a hefty amount from the foreign envoys and even received a letter of repentance before sending the foreign nobles back to their home countries. He’s been in high spirits like he hasn’t been in a long time.”
The king is more opportunistic than he seems.
That said, reality is dirty. Those people weren’t punished in the end.
‘Should I become a dark hero too?’
I don’t plan to secretly kill people like Collen, but I do want to go around shooting bad guys in the back with a slingshot. A magic bullet gun would be nice too.
I decided to change the topic.
“Anyway, congratulations on your engagement, Lavigne. I already told you in a letter, but…”
“Why say that again?”
Lavigne shrugged.
Lavigne had a grand engagement with the heir of a powerful local noble family. I heard it’s a family with great influence in the East?
Being the wife of the great lord suits Lavigne well. I genuinely wanted to congratulate her.
“Is the wedding next year? I should start picking out a wedding gift now.”
“Really?”
Lavigne’s face lit up.
“Do you want something specific?”
“No, not really. I didn’t expect you to offer since you’re always busy.”
“You’re not mocking me, are you? It’s not like I’m always busy. Do you have any gift hints?”
“No, just pick something nice. It doesn’t have to be expensive!”
“Are you really Lavigne?”
Have you grown up because you’re getting married? Lavigne scoffed, her eyes shining mischievously.
“What about you? You should find a fiance soon. My situation was just delayed because of my high status.”
“Huh?”
Why did the topic change all of a sudden?
“Do you have a secret lover? Oh, right! You’re close to the Guild Master of the Information Guild, right?”
“How do you know about him?”
“Well, it’s trendy among noble ladies these days to buy information about their husbands’ infidelities from the Information Guild. I heard the Master is a young and handsome foreigner. Aren’t you a regular there?”
Kien? Are you talking about Kien?
“Well, I’ve never thought about him that way.”
“So, you’re not in any relationship with him?”
“Why would you even ask that?”
I was bewildered. Lavigne clicked her tongue.
“You’re hard to read, Leticia. I thought maybe I’d get some useful information for my brother, Cedric.”
“What are you talking about?”
Just hearing Cedric’s name made my heart race.
“What did Cedric say about Kien… the Guild Master of the Information Guild?”
“Oh… I guess you don’t know.”
Lavigne looked very suspicious. As I tried to ask more, Lavigne said something that almost made me spit out my tea.
“Did you go all the way with Cedric?”
“What do you mean by ‘all the way’? I’ve been with him to many places… like crime scenes, the morgue, undercover investigations…”
“Come on, I know.”
Lavigne, why are you opening your eyes like that?
“I mean like a kiss. Or promising the future…”
“Are you asking about your brother’s business? It’s kind of creepy. Besides, wouldn’t it be weird if I dated your brother?”
Isn’t it odd for a friend to date someone’s sibling? Not that I have intentions to…
“Why? It’d be great if we became family. I’m getting married and moving away, so naturally, I’d want my best friend to become my family.”
“…”
“And if that happens, I’d be your best friend over Angel. How great would that be?”
People in this world always have some quirks…
“It’s all about you, isn’t it? But thank you for caring about me…”
Lavigne nodded with a pleased expression.
“So, will you finally accept Cedric’s feelings? He’s been bothered by so many suitors. He only has eyes for you.”
I haven’t even received a confession from him yet. What’s there to accept?
I decided to just stay quiet. Saying something might spark Lavigne’s interest even more.
“It’s not like that.”
“Is it not…”
Lavigne’s eyes sparkled.
“Did something happen between you and Cedric?”
Lavigne’s intuition was eerily sharp. If there was an event to talk about… it would be just one.
“Cedric and I decided to go on a date.”
As I tried to respond, I found my cheeks reddening without realizing it.
“What? What is it?”
“Nothing at all.”
The night I met him on the balcony. The next day, Cedric sent me a fairy tale book.
It was a precious-looking book with shiny gold foil decorations, with each page beautifully colored. A note was tucked into the last page with the date and place of our date written on it.
‘But why is the date a month away?’
A month later, in front of the fountain at the main square.
That was the date.