Prince Edward looked calm on the surface, but deep inside, he was brimming with excitement.

Every time he had gone out of the academy, his guards had always come along to escort him, which deterred everyone from getting close to him.

As a prince, he understood that his safety was their top priority. However, he also wanted to mingle with the people of his kingdom without worrying about formalities.

He was wearing a commoner’s get-up and a matching cap that hid his hair. Alex had also used a special kind of paint to add freckles to the prince’s face, making him look unrecognizable even to those who saw him in the academy everyday.

Alex wasn’t taking any chances. If the King really decreed for Prince Edward and Astrea to be engaged together, it would be a very difficult situation to overturn.

Also, he better make sure that no harm would come to the prince during their incognito trip to the city.

After all, if something happened to Prince Edward, he would have to face the wrath of the Royal Family of Avalon.

Even Princess Xenia might not be enough to save his neck, especially if people suddenly mobbed her brother after this expedition to the city.

Using a backdoor that only a few nobles knew in the academy, the three soon made their way to the city.

"I don’t know where we’re going, but do you mind if we take a detour first?" Prince Edward asked.

"Of course, Edward," Alex replied, removing the word Prince so the young man’s cover would not be blown. "Where do you want to go?"

"Near the plaza," Prince Edward replied. "I’ve always wanted to try a few things there."

"Very well." Alex nodded. "Since this is a special occasion, let’s do what you want first."

Chuck always took a stroll in the city, so he had an idea about what the prince might want to experience near its plaza.

When they arrived at the destination, the prince didn’t hesitate to head to the food stalls selling meat skewers, immediately buying a few of them.

Since his guards had worried about his safety, they never allowed him to eat street food, which he had longed to taste for a very long time.

"Here! I bought some for you guys as well," Prince Edward said. "Eat up!"

"Thank you, Edward," Chuck replied, accepting the meat skewers before taking a bite from it. "Oh, this is delicious. Sir, what kind of meat did you use for this?"

"It’s a Kobe Pig," the stall owner replied. "The adventurers managed to catch a few on their way back to their mission and sold it to me."

"No wonder it’s so good." Chuck nodded in understanding. Though, when he glanced at where the prince was standing earlier, Prince Edward was already gone.

Fortunately, he didn’t go far away. Instead, he was just sampling all the foods that were being sold at the street stalls.

From meat skewers, to fried squid, to even candy apples. The prince made sure to taste them all.

Some of them he liked. Some he didn’t. Even so, he didn’t regret trying them all.

After all, he didn’t know if he would get the chance to do this again, especially sneaking out to the city with his friends.

"I’m stuffed." Prince Edward patted his stomach with satisfaction.

He wasn’t the only one. Alex and Chuck were also pleasantly full, so they headed to the place the Oathkeeper was supposed to take them.

"The Thirsty Maiden Inn." Prince Edward blinked after reading the sign that hung above the door of the establishment that Alex had brought them.

The prince had no idea what the sign meant. The same could be said for Chuck. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

But for Alex, as well as everyone else who had played ELO, this inn was a place to gather information, as well as recruit possible allies during special occasions.

"Let’s head inside," Alex said, taking the initiative to open the doors for his companions.

The moment the three teenagers entered the inn, they were immediately assaulted by the boisterous voices of drunkards chatting with each other, as well as those who let out curses after losing a game of cards.

"Hello there." A plump lady holding a tray of mead greeted them. "Table for three?"

"Yes, please," Alex replied.

The plump lady placed the mugs of mead on the table by her side before escorting Alex to the only free table available.

"Well then. What do you young boys want to drink?" The plump lady, who went by the name Brenda, asked. "Would it be orange juice, milk, mead, or the recommendation of the day?"

"What’s the recommendation of the day?" Prince Edward asked, not knowing it was a secret code used by the regulars of the inn.

"Well, we have Matchmaker, Heartbreaker, and Tearbreaker in the house," Brenda replied with a smile. "Seeing how handsome you boys are, I don’t think you need any of their services."

"I’ll order Matchmaker, as well as three orange juice for us please," Alex stated.

"Oh dear. Even with your looks, you’re still finding it hard to get laid?" Brenda chuckled. "Such precious boys you are. Don’t worry. I, Brenda, will help you."

The waitress then left to go to the kitchen to prepare the orange juice Alex had ordered.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward blushed hard after Brenda’s words. The young man looked at Alex in disbelief, only to then ask him, "What the hell was that about?"

"Don’t worry. Mrs. Brenda is just teasing us," Alex said with a smile. "She knows all the regulars of this place. Seeing new faces just made her want to tease us a bit."

A few minutes later, Brenda returned with a tray of fruit juice and three plates of sandwiches.

"Consider the sandwiches a free service." Brenda winked. "This is just a one time thing since you boys are cute. But if you ever find yourselves hungry, come here, and I’ll give you something nice to eat."

After saying those words, she winked at them and tapped the man behind her.

"Welcome to the Thirsty Maiden Inn!" a handsome man, who seemed to be in his mid-twenties, said with a smile. "I am Matchmaker, and I have come to help you with your request. So, who’s the one looking for their Promised One?"

"It’s him." Alex pointed at Prince Edward.

"Me?" Prince Edward asked in disbelief while pointing at himself. "Why?"

"Just relax," Alex replied. "I got you, fam."

Alex didn’t want Astrea to become Prince Edward’s fiance, so he decided to use his trump card.

The Matchmaker was similar to a wish maker that allowed the Protagonist to recruit powerful allies depending on the time and place.

They would also choose someone that matched the level of the player and worked perfectly well with their fighting style.

Of course, there were also other features to this special event, which Alex was trying out for the first time in real life.

"Him?" the Matchmaker arched an eyebrow.

"N-No, Sir," Prince Edward shook his head. "There must be some mistake. I didn’t come here for..."

"Shhhh..." Matchmaker pressed a finger over his lips, silencing the young man. "Relax. We don’t force anything here. If you don’t want it, then you have the right to say no. But since you are already here, why don’t you give it a chance?

"After all, I can tell that you have almost zero experience with women. I bet you haven’t dated anyone in your life."

"H-How did you know?" Prince Edward stuttered.

"That’s because you still smell like milk." Matchmaker shrugged. "And your friend here... smells like roses. Three beautiful roses with distinct fragrances."

The man glanced at Chuck, who was sipping his fruit juice, and had no intention of making a comment.

Matchmaker then glanced at Alex, and his face immediately crumpled.

"You..." Matchmaker frowned. "You disgust me. The number of scents on your body is almost in the double digits. One of them is even unknown... I don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl!"

Alex’s expression changed to that of someone that was wrongfully accused. But before he could even defend himself, Matchmaker pointed a finger at him.

"Shut up!" Matchmaker said. "I don’t want to hear it, I don’t want to know about it. Well then... let’s get back to you, Sir."

Matchmaker then shifted his attention back to Prince Edward, looking him up and down before circling their table as if trying to gauge something.

"Unlike your friends, you’re still innocent," Matchmaker said. "However, you have peculiar tastes. I see... so you want them older and mature. Someone who had already gone through the hardships of life... very fascinating."

A faint smile appeared on the Matchmaker’s face before he started talking to himself.

"Someone as tall as you or even taller," Matchmaker crossed his arms over his chest. "A lady who can be there for you when you need her the most. At least thirty years old... no... forty is the safest bet. A forty-year-old lady is someone that will make your dreams come true."

"W-Wait, mister," Chuck interjected. "Are you trying to hook my friend up with a forty-year-old woman? That is at least twice his age. Are you cra—"

"Wait, Chuck." Prince Edward placed his hand over his friend’s shoulder before looking at Matchmaker with a serious expression on his face. "Let him cook."

Chuck almost choked on his own saliva at those words, his eyes widening in shock. His mouth opened wide like a goldfish.

The troublemaker of the academy couldn’t believe that the prince was fine with their current situation, which made him wonder if he was the normal one in their group.