CH 244

Like her, he was wrapped in a robe, but his black hair was vivid and could not be hidden.

She doesn’t know if he’s wearing a color-changing artifact, but he’s got black eyes.

But the unmistakable appearance was that of Prince Nicholas.

So much that she can’t not see it.

‘Did you call that a disguise, Your Highness?’

He saw her too and looked embarrassed

It was Alice who spoke first.

“…… Why is Your Highness here?”

“Shh. I’m undercover now.”

Nicholas placed a finger on his lips as a sign to keep it a secret.

“Undercover……?”

Alice asked in a whisper with a bewildered face.

Nicholas nodded his head.

“Yes. So don’t call me Your Highness now. You better call me Nicholas, no, Nicol now.”

Even as he said that, Nicholas looked around and carefully adjusted the collar of his robe hood.

“I see. But do you often change your appearance and go undercover?”

“Yes. I always go out on the street for at least an hour a week and see how other people live.”

Hearing Nicholas’ answer, Alice looked at him curiously and asked.

“It’s the first time I’ve heard Your Highness, no, Nicol going undercover. Since when have you been like that?”

“That …….”

When did it start?

Oh, maybe that was the trigger.

Nicholas, a 7-year-old boy who hit the wall against his peers as well as others.

However, as he had several conversations with Emir, who came through the wall, he learned that there are many people in the world and that they are not exactly like him.

Since then, he has often looked back at others.

Emir, unlike himself who likes books, says that reading brings her to sleep.

Unlike him, who always follows the rules and etiquette and maintains his composure, Ninaina sometimes gets into trouble and shows an arrogant attitude.

Nicholas knew for the first time that there were dozens or even hundreds of people with different personalities around him.

‘What must I do to become an emperor who embraces all of them?’

Although he was young, he was bright and always thinking about the future when he would become emperor, but soon was troubled.

The concern grew when Nicholas followed Emir and the other children to the market for the first time.

The world was much wider than he knew.

It was then that Nicholas realized that he could not know everything from books or maps alone.

Obviously, as the crown prince, he was in the highest position in the empire, but being in a high position didn’t mean he could look down on the whole world at once.

So, one day, Nicholas made up his mind.

He said let’s go undercover to know the lives of his people.

Not just the low street, but the residential area, and even other areas far away from the capital.

It’s been over 5 years now.

“That’s how it is…….”

After hearing Nicholas’ circumstances, Alice gulped.

She smiled and suggested.

“Then Nicol, coincidentally I have a lot of free time today. I was bored with no one to be with, so if you don’t mind, can I go undercover with you?”

“…… as you please.”

Nicholas hesitated slightly, but nodded his head.

* * *

It was an undercover trip without an escort knight, but today he was excited for nothing because he had someone to be with.

He didn’t show it, but his lips curled up for some reason.

“Look at this, Nicol. They say this novel is popular these days.”

“Really?”

“I wonder if Emir has read this novel too? I would like to give her one as a gift.”

“…….”

Seeing Alice’s back as she went to pay for the book, Nicolas felt depressed.

It felt like being left alone.

‘Why do I feel this way? I always did undercover alone anyway.’

Of course, seeing Alice come back smiling after a while, strangely enough, Nicholas felt his mood improve again.

Hearing Alice’s suggestion, Nicholas headed to a restaurant on the other side of the market.

“This place?”

But when he came here, he felt a familiarity?

He looked around the inside of the restaurant.

“Nicol, do you remember coming here with Emir and the others when we were little? I still remember the taste of the stew I ate here for the first time whenever I come around here.”

It was only after hearing Alice’s sentimental voice that Nicholas remembered.

Come to think of it, this was the restaurant he came to with the children when he was in kindergarten.

He muttered unknowingly.

“I do …… what a memory.”

“At that time, I also ate skewers. I want to try that again.”

“Yes. Good idea.”