– 6 –
It was another moment where my plan to pretend not to know each other and bury the memory deep under the underground rocks of oblivion hit a snag.
This guy named Eden seemed to have no intention of coolly saying ‘goodbye’ and walking away.
With his romantic appearance and seemingly pure celestial face, meeting him in front of this carriage and his actions right now didn’t feel ordinary at all.
I mean, why would a prince, of all people, come alone to someone else’s empire’s night market, linger in front of a high-quality adult picture book carriage?
But why he was here didn’t matter.
What mattered to me now was not just forgetting that he saw me here, but figuring out what he wanted from me.
“Your Highness, is there anything I can assist you with to ensure you forget any unnecessary memories forever?”
Eden nodded at my words.
“I have a pretty good memory, so I don’t usually forget things forever.”
Why is this guy acting like this towards me?
“I see… You have a good memory…”
“It seems you haven’t heard about me. I remember everything, especially when it comes to beautiful women, I tend to remember even the smallest details. For example, reading preferences or other discernible tastes?”
What the hell?
Discernible tastes!
“Remembering too much isn’t always a good thing, Your Highness of the Darkus Empire.”
This… this foreign prince!
I should probably tell Calix about the trouble you might cause later!
“That’s right, Miss Kailyn. It’s best to forget what should be forgotten. I’ll let you know how you can help me forget next time.”
Next time? What are you going to see again? Let’s just not see each other again!
“I don’t think we’ll ever see each other again.”
“Well… you never know. Who would have thought this place alone would be a meeting ground for a prince from another country and a lady of the empire?”
Oh, just cut it!
Is it because your preferences are similar to mine that we met here?
It seemed difficult to shut this guy up anyway.
Well, there probably wouldn’t be another encounter between him and me.
Kailyn and Eden have no connection anyway.
It seemed like it would be beneficial for me to just break up quickly.
I glared at him and spoke calmly.
“Ah… Yes, anyway, I hope you enjoy the sightseeing. I have company, so I’ll be going now.”
He chuckled strangely at my farewell.
But he also lightly nodded in return and didn’t try to detain me any further.
As I distanced myself from him, I couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease about unexpectedly encountering him in such a place and failing to shut him up properly.
And what made me angry most of all was that I couldn’t buy the book.
The book was so damn good…….
*****
After parting ways with Eden, despite Abby asking multiple times why I didn’t buy the book, I couldn’t muster the courage to return to that carriage.
It felt like he would appear again as soon as I tried to choose a book.
Why did he come to the night market when he wasn’t even from the Everetian Empire?
Ugh! Let’s stop thinking about it. I should go for a walk!
Resentful of the situation two days ago, I decided to change my mood.
Many of the highest ranking officials in Everen owned mansions along the Letian River as capital residences.
Not only the good scenery, but they were also centrally located, with easy access to the Imperial Palace.
Naturally, one of these riverside mansions belonged to the Duke of Brockburg, a nobleman who owned estates in the capital.
There was a promenade along the riverbank, so I often took walks there.
Although Kailyn’s body had greatly improved, she had been frail from the start, requiring care and attention. Now that I was possessed, I had to be diligent about my own health.
Holding a sun hat in one hand, I came down from my room on the fourth floor and was heading towards the entrance. As I passed by the first floor parlor, I saw that a guest had arrived and without even thinking about it, I glanced into the parlor.
Oh my goshh!
I almost screamed in shock.
It was the last person I expected to see.
Eden!
Eden Darkus, the Crown Prince!
What was he doing here!!!!
It’s ridiculous.
Eden, my father, and even my brother Luke were all engaged in conversation.
But when did he come to our house, and why?
I already knew that Eden had visited the Everetian Empire for negotiations related to the trade of iron ore from Aolium Mountain, the largest iron ore mining site on the continent.
I was aware that my father, who was a negotiator, had been handling these negotiations for a while.
But if it was an official matter, it wouldn’t have been negotiated in a private residence like this…….
It appeared that Eden’s familiarity extended to the point where he would visit my father’s house, a detail even I, as the author, was not aware of.
I passed through the living room as quietly as I could and walked towards the entrance.
Let’s not meet, let’s pass quietly.
However, as I was about to pass the living room without even holding my breath, a loud voice caught me.
Making it impossible to slip unnoticed.
“Kailyn, you’re just in time!”
Ah… no help.
As usual, my father wasn’t helping.
I answered in a crawling voice, trying my best to keep my rotting expression on my face.
“Y-yes… Father.”
“His Imperial Highness Eden Darkus, Crown Prince of the Darkus Empire, has graced us with his presence.”
My father even kindly explained it.
Yes, father!
I know who that person is. I know it very well.
“I am honored to meet His Imperial Highness, the Crown Prince of the Darkus Empire.”
I politely bowed as if I were meeting someone for the first time.
conveying a message through my eyes that said, ‘This is our first conversation, Your Highness.’
However, Eden responded by blatantly ignoring the message in my eyes that was so simple and difficult to understand.
“It seems we meet again, Miss Kailyn.”
Ugh, do you really have to pretend to know me like that?
Father and Luke think of me as the pure and innocent Kailyn!
My father and brother’s eyes widened, surprised by Eden calling me ‘Miss Kailyn’ and the nuance that we had met before.
What should I do? What should I say?
Should I mention our previous encounter at the royal banquet?
However, Eden’s explanation was faster than my concerns.
“A few days ago, I ran into Miss Kailyn on the book cart street of Everen Night Market. At that time, Miss Kailyn read a high-quality book….”
“Wait!”
I urgently interrupted his words.
What the hell is this guy doing to me!
“Lyn?”
Both Father and Luke simultaneously called out my name, blocking Eden from speaking.
They both surprised by my sudden and rude interruption of Eden’s speech.
“Ah… Haha! That’s right. A few days ago, I happened to meet Crown Prince Eden Darkus on the street. We got acquainted and decided to address each other by name. Isn’t that right, Your Highness?”
Hey, you jerk!
Could you please cooperate!
I glared into his eyes with a fierce expression that I couldn’t hide.
Eden smiled and said, not paying attention to my fierce gaze.
“Indeed, that’s right. Miss Kailyn’s words are all true.”
Father and Luke looked a bit puzzled at first but then nodded in understanding and their expressions relaxed.
Phew…
I sighed.
Why did he come to our house?
I hate this guy.
But for now, since he seemed to have stopped talking, I relaxed my expression a bit.
Even so, I had no intention of staying there any longer with him.
It’s better to say nothing and get out of there.
Holding the sun hat in my hand, I said.
“I’m just about to go for a walk, so I’ll take my leave now. Please continue your conversation.”
As I was about to bow and leave, I noticed something square and neatly wrapped in Eden’s hand.
What is that?
It looks like… it really looks like… a book.
A book…
That book?!
Oh my gosh… that jerk!
My gaze shifted from the square object to Eden’s face, and I couldn’t help but see him wearing the most ugliest smile in the world with that beautiful face of his.
He spoke with a voice mixed with amusement.
“Ah! So you were about to go for a walk. I brought this as a gift because I was impressed by your reading a while back. Since you’re heading out, I’ll just leave the book here in the parlor for you.”
In the parlor? That book?
What is this guy really up to!!
At the moment when I was about to break into a cold sweat due to embarrassment and anger, Luke spoke.
“A book? Kailyn isn’t particularly fond of books… What book is it? I’d like to read it too. Lynn, can I read it first? You can take your walk, I’ll probably finish reading it before you’re back.”
Huh!
This is insane.
I immediately took off the sun hat.
“Oh, Luke! I changed my mind. I’m not going out. I want to read the gift His Highness brought first. After I finish, if it’s interesting, I’ll let you borrow it, big brother.”
Swiftly, I approached Eden and almost snatched the book from his hand.
“Miss Kailyn must have been very curious about the book.”
At his smirk, I glared at him, now openly. Eden still didn’t care at all.
I held the book tightly to my chest and remained in the parlor until Eden left the Duke of Brockburg’s mansion.
I couldn’t bring myself to leave because I was anxious about what sudden action or remark Eden might make.
Finally, he bid farewell to Father and Luke and stood up to leave our house.
I quickly followed suit to see him off.
Although Father and Luke exchanged puzzled glances, I felt compelled to ensure Eden’s mischief was contained, so there was no other choice.
