Chapter 27

Who would have ever imagined that Cayman, the purportedly foolish and vacuous crown prince, was the owner of this huge guild? Furthermore, he controlled many of the major forces in the capital.

That day, when they first met, she had greeted him with a smile. “Oh my! Are you here to buy a book? Welcome!”

After visiting the merchant and mercenary guilds, he was on his way back to the palace. However, that day, perhaps because of the lovely weather, he found himself straying down a back alley pathway. On the surface, the palace was opulent and beautiful, but beneath the surface was the stink of corruption and greed. Just the mere idea of returning to that disgusting palace was exasperating. Thus, he decided to follow a path outside the main thoroughfare.

That was when he came across Ellie’s bookstore. The rickety store, with its freshly painted sign, was perhaps the oldest one in the alley. The dissonance between the newly made sign and the old bookstore was disconcerting.

Cayman recalled that Ellie said the previous owner of the bookstore was an elderly woman who had owned it her entire life. When she described the old woman, her eyes had turned red.
At first, he felt comfortable with the feeling that the old place gave him. He also liked Ellie’s fresh smile every time he visited. Unlike the scheming smiles of those in the palace, her face was genuine, truly happy to see him.

Thus, under the pretense of looking for books, he started frequenting the bookstore, buying one or two books every time. By now, his study at the guild was filled with a pile of old books.

Then, he remembered the book he had placed on the desk. As always, he bought a book today.

As he was about to take it to his study, the door opened without a knock.

Walden looked back at the door in surprise. On the other hand, Cayman shook his head and clicked his tongue as if he did not need to check who came in. There was only one person who would enter so brazenly.

“Did you go to that bookstore or whatever it was again, Your Highness?”

“Croian,” Cayman greeted, smiling as the silver-haired man came in.

The man named Croian fixed the monocle on his nose, strode up to Cayman, and pointed at the book he was holding with a frown. “It is a theological theory written by the Great Scholar Vedex. Besides the royal library, this book is available most anywhere.”

Croian sarcastically smirked. In the presence of the crown prince, it was rather impolite, but neither Cayman nor Walden seemed bothered. That was how accustomed they were to Croian’s behavior.

“What on earth is in that bookstore that you go there every day? At least, you seem to be there less these days because of that ‘education’ or something,” Croian said, frowning. “Actually, to be fair, it is not a relief. Mr. Walden said Your Highness has gone crazy recently, unable to take over that bookstore.”

At the mention of his lessons, Cayman wriggled his brow briefly. However, he quickly responded indifferently with a shrug. “Seems like everyone around me, except for Fasia, is talkative. Croian Pitburns, do you think a man who holds the title of Minister of Finance in name only should pay attention to an irrelevant matter?”

“How is this irrelevant? I just want to know everything about the person who will become my future master,” Croian retorted.

Unlike his cold appearance, he was quite clever. As if admitting defeat, Cayman smirked and shook his head. “Oh, by the way! Did you inform Fasia that there will be no ‘education’ during the festival?”

“Of course. However, you seemed quite enthusiastic to learn. Seeing as you are using the festival as an excuse to cancel classes, did you finally get bored of it?”

“The winter festival only happens once a year, so I should enjoy it, right?” With a grin, he quickly added, “With my teacher, of course.”

Croian frowned and shook his head. “It does not suit you, Your Highness. Since when did you care about the festival?”

Cayman laughed, apparently unbothered by his close aide’s rude remarks. The winter festival had never really interested him in the past, but this year was different.

It would be his first festival with her.

“How suspicious. There must be something going on,” Croian muttered to himself as he looked at the prince, who appeared to be imagining something in great anticipation. Walden poked Croian in the side, asking what he was talking about, but he did not elaborate.