Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine

When the whole palace was devoted to the welcoming ceremony of the Saintess, they surely wouldn't notice the presence of a certain teenager who walked past the ceremonial hall and walked into the kitchen.

For the servants, there was a separate kitchen, and Alex chose to steal some food from the servant's kitchen, given the main one must be busy preparing the meal for the guests.

'Haah~It has been a while…' Alex used to come here in the past, given he was the son of the maid who used to work here and the Princess was his friend.

Slowly walking inside the kitchen while keeping his presence elusive, Alex found there was no one present inside. Fortunately.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

His stomach was rumbling. He just needs some food to finally get some hours of peaceful sleep.

Looking around he couldn't find anything…only raw vegetables and fruits. However, Alex was looking for some cooked and delicious food if possible.

'Do I have to rely on fruits after all…' With a sigh, he picked an apple—only to freeze when suddenly someone called out,

"Here, you can have this."

He turned around and found a certain familiar lady standing there with a smile on her face.

Short brown hair with a small adorable face. If there was something that made her different from others, then it was her warm nature and that blindfold on her eyes.

"Lorraine…" He knew this woman…someone he had met various times in the past.

And also, someone he would meet in the future as well.

Lorraine is one of the named characters in the novel and also, a potential love interest of Edric.

"You recognize me? That makes me happy, Alex." Although she couldn't see, she could tell it was him.

Alex couldn't understand how that was possible.

Stepping forward she handed him a plate filled with food, "Why don't we settle down somewhere and have a chat while you eat?"

Alex shrugged, "Sure." In exchange for food, surely he can entertain the woman for the time being.

They chose to sit right on the floor since, anywhere else, they would have been seen.

Alex was using his hands to dip the bread in the broth before biting the sweetness coated in the spicy gravy of the stew.

"Tell me, Alex. How have you been?" Lorraine, being one of the headmaids, knew about the situation relating to Alex's parents.

"Doing well, I assume."

His answer didn't surprise her—she was aware that the little shy boy had changed significantly recently.

"When I heard about Celeria and Brendon, I knew your old house would be demolished. So I went ahead and took away most of the things that belonged to you. It's kept in my room."

"Hmm? And the stuff from my room?" Alex asked curiously.

The lady smiled, "I didn't take them, since the room was locked. However, after me, someone else, as well, went to your house and took things from your room."

Seeing that mischievous smile Alex already knew the answer, "Celestria?"

"Indeed, Alex. I heard the Princess bringing back a lot of things from your old house."

Alex scoffed, "You are still a gossip queen, I see."

The lady tilted her head, with a sly smile extending her lips, "Oh my~that's a very rude compliment. I am just a good listener, but never speak about others."

Alex chuckled, as he continued to feast upon his meal. Ah, it tasted so good.

After a brief pause, Lorraine said, "The royal family has been receiving a lot of marriage proposals recently."

Alex paused for a moment. Considering how distressed she looked, it was apparent to whom the proposals were sent,

"For Celestria?"

"....yes. Your Majesty seems a bit rushed to have her engaged this year."

Alex was…surprised. He knew that in the royal family people generally prefer to have their children get engaged by the age of sixteen and married when they turn eighteen. The other two Princes are already engaged.

However, Adolf was different, Alex reckoned. He gave Celestria the choice to choose when she wanted to get engaged, and Celestria clearly told him that once she graduated, she would think about it.

Considering how much they loved their daughter, it was highly unlikely the King would have forced his daughter to get engaged, out of the blue.

'Is it because of me?' Alex knew that the sudden closeness between him and Celestria must be in the King's knowledge. And to save his daughter from getting entangled with a commoner, the Supreme Authority decided to go against what he promised.

There was a possibility.

"Alex….how do you feel about Cela?" Lorraine asked with a serious expression as she turned to look at Alex.

Alex has stopped eating and is seriously pondering how he feels about Celestria.

She betrayed him. That was true. Then she tried to rectify it. That was true as well.

Her presence isn't unbearable nor does she ever get unreasonably overbearing.

Her presence brings a smile to him, and…in a corner of his mind, he doesn't want something to happen to her.

But then again, one can feel such about a best friend as well. Then what did he feel towards Celestria?

Is it greater than friendship….is he willing to go against the King to—no.

"I don't think I like her in that way, Lorraine. I am not ready." It might sound harsh, but in three months, the preparation of the trials would begin, and he could not afford to go against one of the three major leaders of the human faction.

*Clang*

Suddenly both Lorraine and Alex turned around and saw a basket of cookies dropped to the ground.

Alex's eyes stretched as he saw the person who dropped it.

"Celestria-"

"Ah, I-I am sorry to interrupt you…t-then excuse me…"

She turned around and before Alex could have said something, she dashed away.

Heaving a sigh, Alex rested the food tray on the ground and got up.

"Don't go after her if you are going to say the same thing, Alex," Lorraine suggested, for the betterment of both.

However, Alex didn't heed her words, and after wiping his hands, he chased after the Princess.

'Damn, never thought I would be a part of this kind of drama…'

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A/N:- Go get your Princess.