The Paparazzo with a Secret

Chapter 8

The three days that Adrian has promised Kuon in 'kidnapping' him, she herself was divided into two tasks. One to look after Kuon while the other half was focused on her target. In more than one way, Congressman Dillon had nearly given her the slip. But she didn't let that happen, not on her watch anyway. Kuon watched how she pulled one step ahead of her target and blocked his means of escape. She had turned out victorious in the end, looking like a child on Christmas. When Kuon asked, she replied cheerily. "People who have a second agenda hidden in their sleeves are the kinds I hate the most, so when I manage to get one I make sure that they get ruined on the front cover,"

Kuon didn't ask anymore and he soon found himself sitting at the same coffee shop that he had first spoken to Adrian. She had gotten him the same drink as before with the same sweets. He was wearing his original classy clothes as he did in the beginning, the new clothing placed inside a bag at his side.

Adrian took a sip of her coffee before speaking to him. "This is the end of the third day of our agreement, what is yer decision?"

Kuon remained silent as he thought of the things he experienced while being with Adrian. Above everything that he had felt, he was sure that the happiness towards the Kingdom of Oriens remained chief among them. "I think... that I should give it another go... at my dad's Company,"

"Really? What contributed to that decision?" Adrian asked with a raised brow as she leaned forward a bit.

"A lot of things," Kuon remained vague. "but I think it's the love for the Kingdom that really pushed through, despite all the hardships they don't once slander the Kingdom."

"And?" Adrian prompted.

"The fact that I was able to see this up close, is thanks to you, Adrian," Kuon smiled.

"Don't mention it," Adrian gave him a grin. She stood up from her seat, and gave a firm pat on his shoulder. "don't lose sight of what ya figured out with yer own brains,"

She then turned to leave waving as she did so. "It was great workin' with ya,"

Adrian passed through the coffee shop's doors, brushing past a hurried man. Her eyes caught his features and she went on without a care in the world. Kuon was in safe hands if his butler was that efficient.

•—•☆•—•

Four days later, the Princes', from Philip, Oriens, Altaria and DresVan, had gathered at Nobel Michel for their duties. It was during their afternoon tea that Sieg was reading the latest tabloid when Kuon noticed the front headlines: Congressman Dillon's Secret Agenda Reveals More Than His Goodwill!

"Ah, that's Adrian's target," He spoke without thinking. As expected, everyone turned to look at him. He returned their looks with a bland one. "What?"

Sieg smirked. "Who's Adrian?"

"Someone I met some time ago," Kuon shrugged.

"More importantly, you said, target!" Oliver jumped on board.

"Yeah," Kuon pointed to the tabloid featuring Congressman Dillon. "it was him, the Congressman that got arrested for his allegations against the Royal family."

Hayden then broke into a grin, finally putting two and two together. "Kuon, could it be that this Adrian happened to be your kidnapper?"

"Woah! When did that happen?!" Oliver stood up from his seat, shocked.

Sieg followed. "You were kidnapped?"

"A week ago," Kuon shrugged as if it weren't a big deal.

"And you're still in one piece?!" Oliver exclaimed, his eyes wide.

"The kidnapper didn't hold him for ransom either," Hayden said recalling the text that Kent had shown him. "to top it off, they returned him like promised."

Kuon didn't know what he was talking about. Just then a knock sounded on the door and Kent appeared holding a familiar mobile. "Pardon the interruption, your Highness, your mobile has been returned."

Kuon's eyes went wide. He had forgotten that he had given his mobile to Adrian. He picked it up, giving his thanks to his butler and turned it on. The other Princes' watched in anticipation as Kuon's expression became shocked as he checked his messages. "She knew..."

"She?" Oliver mimicked, catching on to that small detail.

"You mean you hadn't told her you were a Crown Prince?" Hayden asked.

"No," Kuon closed his eyes. "I didn't bother revealing it, but now that I think back to it... her actions now make sense..."

This intrigued the rest, prompting him to reveal what had happened during the time he was kidnapped. Reluctantly, Kuon did so.

"Sooo lucky!" Oliver laughed after listening to Kuon's small escapade. "Being dragged around by a cute girl!"

"Hold on a minute," Sieg backtracked. "did she have chestnut hair and hazel eyes?"

"Yeah she did," Kuon confirmed the description.

Hayden and Sieg exchanged a look. Hayden questioned further, pointing towards the photograph of Congressman Dillon. "And you were there when she took this photo?"

Kuon nodded again. "We did a lot of sneaking around, changed into three different attires until she managed to take the shot,"

The chase that ensued afterwards was the highlight of the whole ordeal, it felt like he was in one of those spy movies. He would bet anything that the thrill Adrian felt is one that she enjoyed greatly. As an afterthought he added. "She had a whole bunch of tricks to give the Security the slip,"

Oliver asked the question that had been bugging Kuon. "What? What's wrong? It's rare for you guys to be so intent on something indirectly,"

Sieg spoke to confirm his conclusion. "We just figured out the name of our anonymous photographer,"

He tapped the front cover for emphasis. "This article, like the others, doesn't have anyone named for the picture,"

For a while, no one spoke after the revelation. Kent, who had listened to everything, decided to speak up. He cleared his throat, gaining everyone's attention, and smiled. "It is thanks to this Adrian that his Highness has decided to go through with the succession in a week's time,"

All three Princes' turned their eyes towards Kuon in surprise and shock. Oliver was the first, slinging an arm around his shoulder grinning from ear to ear. "Is this true? She must be something to change your mind in just three days!"

"Maybe all he needed was to be kidnapped for him to change his mind," Sieg snickered.

"That isn't funny," Kuon reiterated. "it was staged, don't forget!"

"Right, it was staged," Hayden merely smiled as he congratulated Kuon of his decision. Sieg continued to jab while Oliver jokes around causing Kuon to become irritated.