Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent - Chapter 305

Chapter 305: Palace Library and the Old Man Guarding the Upper Levels
After getting rid of Andre, the princess took Alaric inside the palace.

“Your Highness, is it really alright for me to enter the palace like this?” Alaric helplessly said when he noticed the imperial guards glaring at him.

“Well, if His Majesty is not bedridden, you would not be able to step inside the palace without his approval. My elder brothers are usually responsible for receiving guests, but they are busy with other matters.” The princess replied, her expression becoming slightly sullen.

She was still a young lady, after all. The situation inside the palace might have suffocated her, so she preferred to stay outside. No wonder she did not want to leave North Pine Town.

With the two princes fighting for the throne in public and in secret, the atmosphere inside the palace was unusually tense.

Princess Irish gave him a tour around the palace, but they only went to the places allowed to the guests. There were some parts of the palace where the guests weren’t allowed to enter. Forcing entry into these forbidden places would only trigger the alarms and alert the imperial guards. Even the unruly princess didn’t dare bring Alaric to such places.

“That is the palace library. The guests can only enter the first level, while the upper floors are exclusive to the imperial family.” The princess pointed to the vast hall filled with books.

Alaric was stunned. House Silversword’s library was like a dog kennel in comparison to this big library!

Even the guards on standby are peak Elite Knights.

Alaric thought to himself after using Appraisal on the two warriors standing guard outside the palace library.

“Follow me. I will take you to see the books on the first level.” The princess felt proud when she saw the look of astonishment on Alaric’s face.

“Alright.” Alaric didn’t reject her. This was an opportunity to browse the palace library so how could he miss it?

The two Elite Knights glanced at him with sharp gazes, but they didn’t say anything.

“I think the imperial guards don’t like me, Irish,” Alaric whispered, calling the princess by her name.

This made the princess secretly pleased. They had made an agreement to call each other by their names when there was no one else around.

“Don’t mind them. They are not usually like that, but the situation inside the palace is very unstable so the imperial guards are a bit restless.” She sighed while shaking her head.

“I see. Are you not supposed to tell that to outsiders?”

“You are not an outsider. You have the blood of the imperial family running through your veins!” The princess snorted unhappily.

Alaric no longer provoked her and just quietly followed along.

The books in the first level of the library were mostly about information that the public could access, but there were also a few books related to other subjects.

Alaric casually grabbed a book. This one was about the different kinds of metals that could be used to make weapons. Books like this were hard to find, but it was only placed on the first level of the palace library.

“Have you found something you like?” The princess asked when she saw him reading the book intently.

Alaric closed the book and replied while shaking his head. “It is fascinating to see such a wide array of information. It is just a pity that we can only browse the first level.”

“If you want, I can take you there. The person protecting the upper levels usually listens to me.” The princess said while looking around, making sure that no one was listening.

Alaric’s mouth twitched when he saw her acting like this. “I do not think that is a good idea, Irish. You might be punished if one of your brothers’ people saw you bringing an outsider to the upper levels.”

Irish grabbed his arm unhappily. “What are you chickening out for? Just follow me! I promise that no one will know.”

Without waiting for his response, she pulled him to the stairs leading to the second level.

The two Elite Knights guarding outside the library seem to have noticed this, but they quickly looked away, acting like they didn’t see anything.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Alaric sighed in his heart. He wanted to pull his arm away, but the prospect of seeing the books in the upper levels made him choose to follow the princess.

At the end of the staircase was an old man sitting on a recliner. He was reading a book, but he lowered it when he sensed someone approaching.

Alaric used his Appraisal and found out that the old man was actually a 3-Ringed Beast Soul Master!

“Grandpa Randolph!” The princess coyly greeted the old man.

Alaric felt goosebumps all over his body when he saw her acting so affectionately. This was the first time he saw the unruly princess act in such a manner.

“Oh, Your Highness! I haven’t seen you in a while. But, who is this?” The old man named Randolph asked while observing Alaric from head to foot.

The princess responded in a cute manner. “Grandpa, this guy is the heir of House Silversword, Alaric. He is my friend and I wanted to bring him here to read a few books.”

Randolph furrowed his eyebrows upon hearing this. “Your Highness, outsiders aren’t allowed on this floor. I apologize, but I cannot let him enter without…”

“Grandpa Randolph, please…” Irish stared at the old man with a pleading look.

“Aiyah! How could you use that move on me, Your Highness?”

Alaric watched the two in silence. The relationship between the two was similar to that of a grandpa and his granddaughter.

“Fine! I was sleeping here so I didn’t see you two, but I will wake up in six hours so you better leave by then.” Randolph went back to his recliner and pretended to sleep.

“You are the best, Grandpa Randolph! I promise to bring you some delicious treats the next time I visit!” Irish happily said before she grabbed Alaric and dragged him inside the second level.

After they left, the old man opened his eyes and muttered in a helpless tone. “I can only do this much for you, Your Highness. I can’t even follow you outside.”