Arvin and Kylen, who were now in the front courtyard of the palace, continued walking toward the tightly shut giant gates.
The guards stationed at the gate, upon seeing the arrival of the kingdom's Fifth Prince, immediately bowed in respect. Without uttering a single question, the two soldiers swiftly opened the tightly shut gates and allowed them to exit the palace grounds.
As soon as they stepped through the gates and the heavy thud of the iron doors closing echoed behind them, Arvin and Kylen paused. They stood side by side, gazing straight ahead at the bustling main streets of the Flamort Kingdom's capital.
"Kylen, do you know exactly where the merchant guild is located in this capital?"
Kylen turned his head and immediately answered his husband's question. "Yes, I know where it is! But, what do you want to go there for right now?"
"I need to drop by to sell something and get a little cash for our expenses while we're in this kingdom." Arvin answered, explaining his plan. "It's also getting late in the afternoon. We need to find and rent an inn to rest for tonight."
Hearing his husband's explanation, Kylen nodded in understanding. Without money, they wouldn't be able to rent an inn or even buy a meal.
Then, guided by Kylen, who was intimately familiar with the capital's layout, they began to stroll along the main street.
The further their footsteps carried them from the palace complex, the more bustling and vibrant the capital's atmosphere became. The cheerful chatter of residents going about their daily lives, the shouts of street vendors hawking their wares, and the rhythmic creaking of passing horse-drawn carriages created a lively harmony that stood in stark contrast to the suffocating silence of the palace.
For Arvin, breathing the fresh air on the capital streets like this felt far more refreshing than suffocating inside a palace filled with political intrigue.
...
After walking at a leisurely pace for twenty-two minutes, they finally stopped right in front of a grand, three-story building situated in the center of the capital.
"We've arrived! This three-story building is the main headquarters of the merchant guild!" Kylen reported, pointing at the structure in front of them. Then, he turned to his husband. "Darling, let's go inside now!"
"Yes, let's go in!"
With calm steps, they walked up the stairs and passed through the double doors of the massive building.
As soon as they stepped inside, Arvin was immediately greeted by the sight of the guild's incredibly grand interior. The lobby was exceptionally spacious, far wider and much more luxurious than the merchant guild lobby in the capital of the Astoria Kingdom.
The room was bustling with dense activities of bargaining, registrations, and transactions taking place among merchants, nobles, capital residents, and guild staff.
Arvin felt quite amazed by the grandeur and lively activity he witnessed in the lobby.
Even so, Arvin did not let himself get carried away by the atmosphere and refocused on his objective. Together with Kylen, he continued to stride, cutting through the crowd toward the row of reception desks at the far end of the room.
However, Arvin and Kylen had to be patient. Because upon arriving in front of one of the reception desks, the two of them had to stand and join the queue just like everyone else.
While they were waiting for their turn, from the second floor of the guild building, a neatly dressed man was observing, staring down at the queue in the lobby.
When he caught sight of the bluish-white-haired youth in the line, he narrowed his eyes, staring at the youth more intently, as if trying to confirm something.
It seems that is truly him! the man thought to himself, feeling absolutely certain of what he was seeing.
Without wasting any time, the man immediately descended the stairs with quick steps. While maintaining his dignified aura, he walked through the crowd, approaching the line.
When the distance between them was close enough and he stood right beside the queue, the man immediately bowed his body slightly, greeting them with a polite, formal, and deeply respectful tone.
"Greetings, Your Highness Prince Kylenciel."
Hearing the greeting with his title suddenly echoing in the middle of the crowd, Kylen spontaneously turned his head. Beside them, stood a tall man with ideal body proportions, wearing expensive clothing tailored from high-quality fabric.
Kylen instantly rolled his eyes lazily, followed by a long, drawn-out sigh.
"Goodness..." Kylen complained with an annoyed expression and a slightly sharp tone. "Can't you just act normally and treat me like the other merchants in this queue, Mr. Kevin?"
Kylen knew exactly who the man in front of him was.
The man was Kevin Goulven, the Guild Master of the Flamort Kingdom's merchant guild. He was not just an ordinary noble, but a vital figure highly trusted by King Galeo to manage and supply all logistical needs for the capital and the palace.
Mr. Kevin could easily recognize Kylen's figure from afar because he frequently visited the palace to discuss supply provisions directly with the King.
Hearing the sharp reprimand from Kylen, the middle-aged man was not offended in the slightest. Instead, he chuckled softly.
"Hahaha. Please forgive my insolence, Your Highness. But as the Guild Master here, it is impossible for me to ignore and let the arrival of a royal family member go unnoticed in a public place like this."
The attention of everyone, from the guild staff busily taking notes behind the reception desks to the merchants fiercely debating prices, simultaneously converged on a single point.
The presence of a member of the Flamort Kingdom's royal family setting foot in a public place like the merchant guild truly delivered an extraordinary shockwave.
Gazes filled with respect, awe, and burning curiosity immediately locked onto the figure of Kylen, as well as the blue-haired youth standing calmly beside him.
Right in front of them, Kevin Goulven, the Guild Master, maintained his polite posture, even though his eyes harbored a massive question mark.
"What urgent matter might have brought the two of you directly to this place, Your Highness?" Mr. Kevin asked in a highly polite and professional tone. "Is there anything I can personally assist you with?"
Hearing such a question, Kylen wasted no time. He immediately looked straight at the Guild Master.
"I didn't come here for royal business! I am merely accompanying my husband to sell something to this guild!" Kylen answered bluntly, having absolutely no intention of hiding his relationship status with Arvin.
"Ah, I see..." Mr. Kevin replied, his professional smile still neatly in place. "You came here simply to accompany your husband to sell some—"