The Princess And The Lord

1248  The First Clue

Lory woke up feeling sore all over her body, she closed her eyes to channel her healing gift to all her body after that she felt much better, she rolled her shoulders and then stretched her arms above her head to relax her muscles, then a few moments later the perpetrator responsible came carrying a tray with a dazzling smile on his face clearly he was in a good mood.

Lory frowned and wanted to get angry but was too embarrassed to speak, besides that didn't mean she didn't enjoy it. Zhao Li Xin arranged the breakfast on the small table beside the window then came offering Lory a glass of water [Drink first] he said with a gentle voice. Even though she's a bit annoyed by how calm he is, nevertheless she still accepts his kind offer. Lory took the glass and then drank half of the glass only then did she realize how thirsty she was.

[Can you get my bathrobe?] Lory asked.

Zhao Li Xin took the bathrobe from the bathroom and then handed it to Lory [Want me to help you get a bath?] not to forget to tease her first.

Lory glared at him and then snatched the bathrobe from Zhao Li Xin's hands. She covered herself and then went to the bathroom. Zhao Li Xin watches in the bathroom direction and then chuckles. He darts his eyes at the messy bed and his eyes darken, he admits he messed her up quite a bit last night. Zhao Li Xin took a new clean sheet from the drawer then replaced the old sheet with a new one including the blanket.

By the time Lory finished showering, the room had returned to its original form leaving no trace of the wild night that occurred last night. The man who was responsible for the mess last night now sitting with his leg crossed to another, his long black hair draped on his shoulder like a waterfall as he leaned his head lazily to his fist while reading the tablet in one hand.

Zhao was only wearing casual clothes, but the simple black turtle neck but dark color of his clothes only accentuated his white skin, and the well-fitted gray trousers only made his legs look longer followed by the nonchalant gaze and cold demeanor he reminded Lory of a model in a black and white picture.

Lory was completely captivated by the sight she only realized when Zhao Li Xin looked at her with questioning eyes, to hide her feelings Lory snorted loudly pretending to be angry then headed to the wardrobe to get her clothes.

Zhao didn't know why he was upset, he guessed it was because of what he did last night but according to him it wasn't entirely his fault cause more or less Lory was the one who provoked him first but if he said that he would only make his wife even angrier, therefore, it was better for him to give in and coaxed her after all it wasn't difficult to coaxed Lory. From a long time ago, Zhao Li Xin knew that Lory was only harsh on the mouth but she was actually very softhearted, Otherwise, it wouldn't be easy for him to persuade Lory to move into his manor.

Lory had changed into a white long-sleeved t-shirt, comfortable pants, and a brown knitted cardigan, she tied her head into a simple high bun and then sat opposite Zhao Li Xin. Lory then noticed there was only food for her [You don't have breakfast?]

[I just took it while you were sleeping] Zhao Li Xin put the tablet down on the table. Afterward, he gracefully lifted the teapot then slowly poured hot tea on the teacup after that he leaned back in his chair while staring at her with gentle eyes.

Instantly he forgot why he was angry with him, it was embarrassing to admit that since the first time they met, Zhao Li Xin never needed much effort to persuade her but what could she do, how could anyone be angry with that face like that? Lory sighed silently.

Lory was about to start breakfast but then realized the breakfast menu was unusual because most people in her world wouldn't choose chicken porridge for breakfast [Who prepared breakfast?] Lory asked.

[I, I use delivery, it's very convenient] Zhao Li Xin with a happy smile, of course this kind of service is very suitable for an unfriendly guy like him.

Well, as long as he's happy, Lory will be happy too, [So, what did you eat for breakfast?]

[Plain porridge and boiled chicken] he answered while sipping his tea.

Lory smiled dryly [Hmm, that sounds delicious]

[So-so...] Zhao Li gave a half-hearted evaluation.

Lory narrowed her eyes, she remembered how the chef in their palace took great pains to make food according to Zhao's taste. Unfortunately, his efforts rarely or even never receive any recognition. It wasn't until Lory arrived that the chef became more enthusiastic, especially in making desserts.

in the middle of her meal, Lory asked [Do you have plans today?]

[Nothing much, I plan to complete the information you gave me about the beasts, I'm sure it will be of great help to me when exploring the labyrinth] Zhao Li Xin replied.

[Yeah, I think you should deepen your knowledge about beasts and labyrinths before you enter that place] Lory nodded.

[What about you, do you have any plans for today?] Zhao Li Xin asked back.

[Not much, just discussing the development of the situation with Garrof and Lloyd] answered Lory.

[That means both of us will stay at home today] Zhao Li Xin concluded.

[I think so] Lory's brows shoot up.

 After Lory finished her breakfast, she went down, coincidentally Garrof and Lloyd were already gathered in the dining room. When Lory arrived, Garrof greeted her "You up late, princess?"

Lory was startled then looked at the clock on the wall and then realized it was almost noon, she realized what she was eating was not breakfast but brunch. Lory's face turned red but she quickly collected herself "Well I did some research last night" Lory brushed it off, she was grateful she had time to put up a barrier so the noise in the room couldn't be heard.

Garrof looks at her worriedly, [Don't work too hard, your Highness]

Lory felt her conscience pricked, she averted her gaze and then groaned [Yeah...]

"Oh, have you heard the news that the Saintess was given a big welcome in the city of Everglade after she saved the festival visitors so now they are no longer celebrating the day of their freedom from the black dragon but celebrating the arrival of the new savior of the world" he cynically said.

"The plan is work" Lloyd snorted in disdain.

"Oh is that so?" Lory wasn't surprised she knew how easily manipulated human opinion was, especially today when people were still traumatized by the last great war. She plopped her butt onto the chair. "How many victims were there at this festival?"

"So far? Thirty people have died, hundreds of people have been injured due to the monster attack and the resulting chaos" Garrof showed the news on his laptop.

Lory immediately looked at the laptop, her expression became heavy when she saw the child's frightened face immediately the memory of the past flashed in her mind causing her to freeze for a brief moment.

Lory shakes the memory away before quickly focusing her mind on the matter before her.

"Is there any news about Elena Reynolds?"

"Oh yes about that!" Garrof eyes flickered "At first we got nothing about Elena younger sisters and her husband, however a few days ago we got news from jason that Elena mother is heavily sick and her situation is not good" "Oh, and then.." Lory waits with anticipation.

"Jason found out the last two days Elena's sister was calling an unknown number so he did some digging and managed to trace the source and guess where it came from?" Garrof holds his breath to create suspense.

Lory looked at him impatiently "I don't know, but I'm sure you'll tell me"

Garrof's grin grew wider, "In Brinwell, this is also where the Luxemborough Institute of Science and Technology is located"

"The Aeon!" Lory's eyes widened. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Yes!" Garrof's eyes flare with excitement.

It's no secret that Aeon was built to compete with the success of N.I.M.S. who managed to find various kinds of discoveries that amazed the world, this made Luxemborough feel jealous, they then poured out a large enough state budget to improve their science and technology department, they even recruited many inventors and 'Creators' from various countries, including gifted people, although they also recruited gifted people. people, but most of the gifted people do not want to cooperate with Luxemborough considering that many of their people were killed and made slaves by Luxemborough in the past.

"It looks like we've finally found the light to start an investigation," Lloyd said.

Lory propped her chin and fell silent, Garrof noticed she looked hesitant.

"Is something bothering you, Your Majesty?"

"No, I was just calculating how far from this town to Brinwell?" Lory tapped her fingers on the table rhythmically.

"It takes three hours to the nearest airport and from there it will take twelve hours to reach Brinwell by commercial plane" Lloyd explained.

"So it's about a fifteen-hour journey, huh?" Lory blows her cheeks.

"Is something bothering you, Your Majesty?" Garrof wondered what was bothering Lory.

Lory crossed her arms with a troubled expression, "Li Xin wants to explore the Lybirint alone so I don't know if I can pick him up on time" Lory sounded like a wife who worried she would be late to pick up her husband from work.

Lloyd was the first to exclaim, "WHAT? Your husband wants to explore the maze alone!"

Garrof wasn't surprised after he talked to Zhao Li Xin, he already assumed he wanted to go alone into the labyrinth to lure assassins from the underground Guild, therefore, Zhao Li Xin asked him not to say anything to Lory.

"Yeah, knowing him, I guess I don't need to worry..." Even so, Lory had already prepared emergency help for Zhao Li Xin just in case something bad happened, which was why she spent a lot of money to buy Elysian crystals.

"Um, why don't we wait for your husband to finish his exploration before we leave?" Lloyd thought this would be safer for Zhao Li Xin and make Lory feel more at ease.

Lory shook her head weakly "That's impossible, Li Xin wants to explore that place for a month, we can't wait that long, aren't we? I'm afraid we will lose the first clue we got about Ethan" Lory felt she was in a dilemma.

"For a month?!" this time Garrof and Lloyd shouted in unison.