Chapter 4: A Dance

"So the Festival was a Masquerade..."

'How cliche...' Jerome thought after he muttered those words when Liao gave him his mask, staring at it.

A black one with fake gem designs while the Eastern man has a fox-like mask.

"A fox." The younger stated as if he finds Liao ridiculous.

"Why... the vendor told me it suits me to a T." The older smiled proudly.

"And do you think so?"

"I didn't understand what he meant."

Jerome sighed at his statement before looking around the festival. There were dancers on different stages, different performances and different vendors everywhere.

People were roaming around and having fun.

He remembered the time he went here with his parents, even when they don't have the money to spend. They just ate and watched performances but it was fun.

Jerome wore his mask and looked at Liao, "Lead the way." He told him, since he's not really here to have fun, the Eastern man told him that there will be investors around that's why he attended the festival.

The older has other plans though, "Ooh! That looked quite entertaining! Let's go, my lord!" He practically dragged Jerome who yelped.

"Liao!"

In the end, Jerome ate all the snacks Liao would make him try and they watched performances of the Rosaria Kingdom's traditional dances.

At the moment, they are watching a play of how the Rosaria Kingdom was founded.

Even though it seemed like the Eastern man only just went around to have fun, he also did what he promised and introduced the younger to investors he knew. Not that they have to look, they come to Liao themselves after all.

"Mr. Feng... I am quite glad to have met you here." A noble approached them while they were watching, the man glancing at Jerome.

"You seem to have a company." The noble man added. He is quite old and seemed to have a composed nature. He wore a smile yet it seemed as if it was only for image and not because he was in a joyous mood.

"Lord Hardwicke." Liao also smiled to the noble politely, he almost looked composed and professional if not for the snacks in his arms as he faced the old man.

"This is my new client, Lord Jerome Wright." The mentioned man would slap the latter one day for introducing him as a lord once again.

"Lord Jerome Wright? Why, I haven't heard of you yet..." Lord Hardwicke stated while looking at the younger up and down, assessing him.

Jerome smiled politely, hand on his chest as he bowed slightly, "Pleasure to be your acquaintance, my lord. I think you would know Liao, he has a way of words... he was merely complimenting me and comparing me to a lord. I apologize if it caused a misunderstanding."

"Liao?" The old man was quite shocked with how casual the two were with each other. Especially since Liao was cold and calculated. Yes, he would smile, however his words and how he behaves are all for business.

"Lord Jerome here has been planning to start a jewelry business and would love to learn more how to manage one. He is quite young and needed some education. With how generous I am, I volunteered to assist him." The Eastern man stated, still with a polite smile.

Jerome looked at him in disbelief since that's not what happened but he decided to remain quiet.

"I see..." Lord Hardwicke answered, still looking at the black haired man beside Liao, wondering what drew the Eastern man to help him.

The old man knew how Liao has a high standard when it comes to businessmen who wants to have him invest.

First of all, he hated boring reasons as to why they want to start a business, such as they want to be rich or to be famous. Second, he hates investing for common products, instead he loves innovation. Lastly, he don't like people who don't think in advance.

Lord Hardwicke smiled and bowed in polite, "I'll be looking forward then Lord Jerome... If Mr. Feng think highly of you then I am to expect much." He told the young man.

Jerome knew that it wasn't a simple 'good luck' bid, it was a challenge. An implication that he'll be watching. He nodded and smiled, "Thank you, my lord."

The old noble man left, leaving Liao and Jerome. The former went back to munching on his snacks as if nothing happened.

"Lord Hardwicke is quite a gossip, you know? I'm glad that we met him to save us the trouble of having to talk to others. It won't be for long for you to be on the spotlight now. Especially with me as your main investor." The Eastern man told the younger, his mouth almost full making the latter cringe.

"Don't talk with your mouth full."

"I don't understand."

"Stop using your foreigner card." Jerome huffed.

"I do not know what you mean." Liao looked at him, still speaking with his mouth dull.

At some point, Jerome thinks that Liao was doing it on purpose but he ignored him and sighed.

He was somehow glad that his answer for that flirty old woman at the tavern earned him Liao's attention. Now everything was moving smoothly.

However, because of the differences from the novel and the life he is living now, he still couldn't help but be anxious.

'Maybe I should just forget that this is a novel... It's the life I'm living now, of course there will be changes...' He thought to himself.

Jerome's thoughts were interrupted by Liao when the Eastern man suddenly exclaimed, "Ooh! It's time for the central dance!" He also looked up at the center, seeing people partner up around the fountain.

The central dance is a traditional dance based on Rosaria and her lover's story of love, so it was actually a couple's dance.

The young man was just watching people smile and laugh as they went to the center when Liao suddenly slapped him on the back to push him.

Jerome's eyes widened as he stumbled, "Dance, my lord!" The Eastern man cheered making the younger look at him from behind, annoyance was creeping on him that he could only smile awkwardly.

"I don't dance—"

"I can help you." Jerome heard someone in front of him, making him leave his gaze on Liao who was smiling as he watched the younger.

Jerome looked up at the masked man who was quite taller than him. He has white hair and green eyes.

To be honest, even with a mask, Jerome knew who it was.

Marshal Kinsley, the Grand Duke of North — Frostvale — who always supported Rowan Lennox on changing the restricting laws of the Kingdom as well as who shared the same views as the crown prince.

Jerome even remembered that there were ships around Marshal and Rowan called Roshal.

The black haired man, shorter than the white haired one, shook his head as he snapped out of his thoughts. He was kind of excited since this is the first time he met a character from the main cast.

"I apologize, but two men dancing would be quite a sight... correct? And I wouldn't want to trample on your feet..." Jerome tried to use any reason not to make an embarrassment of himself.

"That wouldn't be a problem, we're wearing masks and like I said, I will help you." Marshal lend his hand out.

'You have white hair dumbass, everyone knows that only the ones from the North would have white hair.' Jerome wanted to scold the latter but he couldn't.

Instead he was pulled closer, making him yelp and flustered, "The music is about to start, we're getting more attention by simply standing, correct?" The white haired man asked, smiling politely.

Jerome sighed, a blush creeping on his face as he just surrendered. He stared at Liao who was at the sidelines, waving at him with a smile.

He had the urge to flip him off but he didn't. Actually, he couldn't, Marshal was holding both of his hands.

The dance was a mix of saltarello, which has steps such as hopping and skipping with a partner and basse danse, which was a courtly dance.

Jerome never thought of romance before, nor if he was attracted to any gender. Despite that, he can't help but acknowledge how nervous he is and how he can't look Marshal in the eye.

"Does it greatly embarrassed your masculinity to be holding hands and dancing with a man?" The taller asked, it was kind of mocking as if annoyed by the thought. He was dancing with composure though, unlike the latter.

"I'm not embarrassed of dancing with a man..." 'you just smelled nice...' Jerome continued in his mind. He couldn't calm down, not only because of all the hopping and skipping but also because of the man in front of him.

If he was reacting like this with Marshal, how else would he act around the other characters?

How else would he react around Rowan.

Since Jerome's mind was occupied, he accidentally stomped on Marshal's feet, "Oh! Sorry!" He looked at him worriedly, and he regret doing so because now he can't look away from his green eyes.

"This... This is why I don't want to dance." The shorter male immediately looked away with a sigh, hiding the red on burning his cheeks making Marshal chuckle softly.

"Do not worry, it didn't hurt." The white haired man continued to lead Jerome in the dance, ignoring the strange looks from nobles and commoners combined.

Jerome took a deep breath, as he realized he has to be calm. "May I ask why you pulled me in to dance? It wasn't inevitable... You had more than one partner to choose from."

He asked since he found it quite weird, he even thought that Marshal avoids crowded places. He was more of an introvert than Rowan, based on the novel.

"Why else would I look for another when I already have one in front?"