TBKBS 06

Chapter : 6

It was yet another moment where my plan—to pretend we didn’t know each other and bury the memory deep under that underground spring—went awry.

For some reason, this guy, Eden, had no intention of coolly saying “goodbye” and turning away.

He had a face that screamed romantic and pure, but the way he acted here in front of this cart, and the way he behaved toward me now, felt distinctly off.

Why, in the first place, would the Crown Prince—of all people, and alone—come to someone else’s empire’s night market and linger in front of a high-level adult picture book cart?!

But why he was here didn’t matter.

For me, the priority was figuring out what he wanted from me instead of just forgetting that he saw me while smiling at me in such a suggestive, leisurely manner.

“Your Highness, is there anything I can do to help you forget unnecessary memories forever?”

Eden shook his head at my question.

“I’m actually pretty good with my memory. I rarely forget anything permanently.”

Why is this guy like this toward me?

“Oh… I see. So your memory is excellent…”

“Perhaps you haven’t heard about me. I remember everything, but especially about beautiful women—I remember even the smallest details. Like reading preferences, and other tastes I can infer from them.”

What kind of guy is this? Inferred tastes, really!

“Remembering too much isn’t always a good thing, Your Highness of the Dakkus Empire.”

This… foreign Crown Prince!

Later, I might just tell Calix ahead of time about the trouble you’re going to cause!

“Exactly. Miss Kaelin, it’s best to forget what should be forgotten. I’ll tell you later how you can help me forget better.”

Later? What now? Just… let’s not see each other again!

“I doubt we’ll meet again.”

“Well… you never know. Who would have thought that a foreign Crown Prince and an imperial princess would meet here?”

Ah, just… smash!

You just happened to meet me here because your tastes are similar, right?

It seemed impossible to shut him up.

Honestly, there would probably be no reason for Eden and I to meet again.

Since Kaelin and Eden had no connections anyway.

For me, the quicker we parted, the better.

I glared at him and said sharply,

“Ah… yes. Anyway, enjoy your sightseeing. I have company, so I must go now.”

‘Heh.’

He gave a suggestive smile at my farewell.

But even after lightly nodding and turning away, he didn’t try to stop me.

Even as I distanced myself from him, I felt uneasy—having run into him in such a place, and not being able to shut him up properly.

And what made me the angriest? I couldn’t buy the book.

That book looked absolutely amazing…

After parting from Eden, even though AB asked me repeatedly why I hadn’t bought the book, I simply couldn’t bring myself to approach the cart again.

I had a feeling that if I picked up a book, he would appear again.

Why would someone who isn’t even from the Everetian Empire come all the way to a night market here?!

Ugh! Forget it. Time for a walk!

Still fuming over the situation from two days ago, I decided to cheer myself up.

Many high-ranking officials in Everlen owned riverside mansions along the Letian River for use when in the capital.

The location was scenic and convenient, both for getting to the city center and for accessing the imperial palace.

Of course, the Duke Brockburk’s capital mansion was one of these riverside estates.

There was a walking path along the river, so I often took strolls there.

Even though Kaelin’s body had become much healthier, she was originally frail enough to need rest for recuperation. Since I was possessed by Kaelin, I needed to take care of my health diligently.

Holding a sunhat in one hand, I went down from the fourth-floor room toward the entrance, passing the first-floor reception room, where I happened to notice guests and casually glanced inside.

‘Oh my!’

I nearly screamed in shock.

What I saw was utterly shocking.

Eden!

Eden, Crown Prince of Dakkus!

Why the heck!!!!

Ridiculous.

There he was, conversing with my father and my brother Luke—three of them together.

When, why, and how did he come to our house?

I already knew from the setup that Eden visited the Everetian Empire for negotiations regarding iron ore trade from the continent’s largest iron mine, Mount Aolium.

I also knew my father, being a prime minister, handled the negotiation process, as had been the case for years.

But if this was official business, why would negotiations be held at our private home?

It seemed that even I, the author, had no setting for Eden being close enough to visit my father at home.

I carefully tried to suppress my footsteps, passing quietly through the reception room toward the entrance.

Don’t run into them. Just go quietly.

But as I tried to pass with my breath held, a loud voice stopped me.

Making it impossible to pass quietly.

“Kaelin, you came down just in time!”

Ah… my father isn’t helping.

I struggled to suppress my scowl and replied in a tiny voice,

“Yes… Father.”

“His Highness Eden Dakkus, Crown Prince of the Dakkus Empire, is here.”

Father kindly gave an explanation.

Yes, Father! I know exactly who he is. Very well.

“Greetings to His Highness, the Crown Prince of the Dakkus Empire.”

I bowed politely, as if meeting someone for the first time, sending the message through my eyes, ‘We’re meeting for the first time, Your Highness.’

Yet Eden, brazenly ignoring the message, replied,

“So we meet again, Miss Kaelin.”

Ugh, why do you have to act like you know me?

Father and Luke still see me as the innocent and pure Kaelin!

Even my father and brother were surprised by Eden’s use of “Miss Kaelin” and the implication that we had met before.

What should I say? Should I say we first met at the royal banquet?

Before I could decide, Eden continued faster than my worry,

“I met Miss Kaelin a few days ago at the Everlen Night Market book cart. Back then, Miss Kaelin was… selecting high-quality books…”

“Wait!”

I hurriedly interrupted him.

Why is this guy like this toward me?!

“Lin?”

Father and Luke both called my name in surprise as I abruptly interrupted Eden.

They were shocked at my behavior, bordering on rudeness.

“Ah… hahaha! That’s right. I happened to meet His Highness Eden Dakkus a few days ago in the streets. We became friendly and agreed to call each other by name. Right, Your Highness?”

Hey! Cooperate a little!

I glared at Eden with an unmistakably hostile expression. Eden, unbothered, simply smiled.

“Yes, that’s correct. Everything Miss Kaelin says is accurate.”

Father and Luke looked a little confused but soon nodded, convinced, their expressions relaxed.

Phew…

Why did he even come to our house?

I really dislike this.

But since he had stopped talking for now, I relaxed my expression.

Still, I had no intention of staying in the same room with him any longer.

No talking, leave quickly—best strategy.

I put on the sunhat I was holding and said,

“I was about to go for a walk, so I’ll take my leave. Please continue your discussion.”

As I bowed and prepared to leave, I finally noticed what Eden was holding: a neatly wrapped rectangular object.

What is that?

It looked like… really… a book.

A book…

A book?

!!!!!

Oh, no… that guy!

My gaze shifted from the object to Eden’s face, and I saw him wearing the most infuriatingly delightful smile.

With a voice full of amusement, he said,

“Oh! You were about to go for a walk. I brought this as a gift because I was impressed by the way you were reading the other day. Since you’re leaving, leave the book here in the reception room.”

In the reception room? That book?

What kind of guy!!

Just then, Luke spoke, making my stress spike.

“A book? Kaelin doesn’t particularly like books… What kind of book is it? I’d like to read it too. Lin, can I read it first? I can finish it quickly while you’re out for your walk.”

Hah!

This is insane.

I immediately took off my sunhat.

“Ah, Luke! Change of plans. I’m not going out. I want to read the gift brought by His Highness the Crown Prince first. If I like it, I’ll lend it to you afterward.”

I rushed over to Eden and almost snatched the book from his hands.

“Miss Kaelin seems very curious about the book’s content.”

He teased, and I glared at him openly. Eden still didn’t care.

I held the book tightly in my arms and remained in the reception room until Eden left the Brockburk mansion.

I couldn’t leave, worried about when he might say or do something unexpected.

Finally, he greeted Father and Luke and rose to leave.

I hurried to see him off, following him out.

Father and Luke looked puzzled, but I had no choice—I had to keep Eden in check.