NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 166.1
Everyone, be it the inquisitors or the members of the information guild, wanted to say that. However, there was no one who could dare to.
After all, this is a kingdom and the king is above the law. Kien reluctantly led them into the information guild, grumbling all the while.
‘This cunning devil, he got information that Leticia is coming here.’
Watching the king enter the main entrance, Kien glared at Cedric sharply.
He muttered under his breath.
Cedric gave a slight smirk and coldly met Kien’s gaze, ignoring him.
“Oh, what is this place? A business place? There are so many documents.”
“Just a small business company,” Cedric explained kindly.
The members of the information guild had long turned pale.
‘That document must not be seen!’
The document the king was keenly observing was an analysis of the palace’s structure. The other documents next to it were VIP documents that compiled the weaknesses of high-ranking nobles.
Kien felt like grabbing his head.
‘Is this chaos to confuse things before Leticia and I meet?’
He was always unpredictable. A master strategist indeed.
* * *
When I arrived at the information guild, I was shocked.
“What happened? Was there a fight?”
Familiar faces. It was the members of the information guild and the inquisitors. They were lined up in the alley, seemingly having a standoff.
“Why are the inquisitors here?”
Then, the door of the information guild opened and an unexpected person appeared. That chubby face…
“No way, Your Majesty. This is an unexpected meeting!”
“Um… your…”
I closed my mouth suddenly, noticing the king’s commoner-like attire.
‘Did he sneak out of the palace?’
If so, I shouldn’t recognize him.
‘Cedric!’
And right behind him was Cedric. My eyes widened.
‘It’s been a while.’
I was genuinely glad. I stopped smiling. Cedric just nodded slightly without smiling back. His face was expressionless.
‘Is he busy? Should I not acknowledge him in front of the king?’
First of all, Collen didn’t allow meetings with Cedric.
‘He really is the prince.’
I felt a bit saddened.
‘Normally, Cedric would have already approached with a smile.’
Suppressing those feelings, I politely asked the king:
“What brings you here?”
“Just touring around to observe the ordinary lives of my subjects. One has to study the lives of the commoners.”
“…”
Here?
‘Did the information guild become a place where ordinary people work?’
But I decided not to think too deeply. Is there anywhere the king can’t go in this country?
“I see…”
“They are very diligent young men. The future of this nation looks very bright.”
“…”
What did he see exactly?
The king then whispered to me:
“But why haven’t you visited the palace? I wanted to bestow you a medal or something…”
Was it for tying up foreign nobles like dried fish?
Is he planning to award me with a certificate for collaboration in extortion for the country’s benefit, dubbing me ‘The King of Extortion’?
“I prefer to do good deeds without letting my left hand know what my right hand is doing.”
“Indeed, you seem to have been well-educated at home.”
The king commented with satisfaction.
“Are you leaving now?”
“No, I still have some places to visit. Cedric, my ordinary son, what’s next on our itinerary?”
“‘Fantasy Afternoon’, a clothing store.”
“…”
‘Fantasy Afternoon’?
‘Oh, that’s the assassins’ guild.’
What kind of itinerary is this?
I’ve never felt this sorry for the people of my backstreet. Let’s not think too deeply about it.
“Have a good covert tour.”
Go, fight!
Cedric walked past me while the king was boarding his carriage.
‘Ah…’
Cedric briefly held my hand. The king, while boarding, was whispering to one of the escort knights and didn’t see us.
The inquisitors turned their flushed faces away. I was equally flustered.
It felt like I was doing something wrong in front of my boyfriend’s parents. Cedric subtly intertwined his fingers with mine.
‘His hand is big and hot.’
Thick knuckles and a large hand. The touch of Cedric’s hand, the only rough part of him. I don’t know why it feels so strange.
I tightened my grip on such a hand of his, intertwining our fingers even more. My toes clenched, and saliva filled my mouth for some reason.
“Cedric?”
The king called Cedric.
Just before the king turned his head, Cedric pulled away his hand. It felt as if the heat that started from our hands spread throughout my body.
‘After all, he’s a sly fox.’
Cedric kept a poker face. However, I clearly saw a slight smile in his eyes.
“I will go now.”
“Alright.”
The king boarded the carriage first. Cedric whispered to me quickly.
“I want to respect the princess’s father, so we can’t talk today.”
“…”
“I’ll see you on the night of the crescent moon.”
I nodded, ignoring my unusually warm body temperature. Cedric gently tickled the palm of my hand one last time.
I bit my lip lightly.
Cedric boarded the carriage and left.
My head was pounding. When I entered the Information Guild, I could only think of Cedric.
Really… why?