Blessing

"It's time to wake up Sire... It's the day..." Jerome heard from beyond his consciousness, he was being woken by Henry's voice.

Even more by the old man opening his huge windows which practically raided his eyes with sunlight, "I'm up..." The young man muttered, still half-asleep while narrowing his eyes to protect them from the sunlight.

He was even more annoyed when the door of his bed chamber slammed open, Liao was barging in with some of his attendants bringing in some bouquet of flowers to bring to his bed, "Wake up, my lord! It is the day!" He exclaimed with a huge grin.

Jerome narrowed his eyes at him, looking disheveled as he just woke up. His hair was sticking up everywhere and he even have a dried spit on his chin, "Can I have a bit of time...?" He sighed, sitting up before getting off his bed.

"You're more excited than me..." He yawned before going to the bathroom.

These past few days, he and Liao had been preparing all the paperwork and coins in order for him to buy a title. They were told that they'll be informed when he'll be called to the palace for the Royal Family's blessing and the letter was sent yesterday, meaning, today is the day Jerome will be a noble.

Once the young man freshened up, he wore the suit Liao himself commissioned from the finest tailor he could find. It was a sweet gesture from the Eastern man. After all, he already done many things for the younger just to achieve this feat.

Henry on the other hand, made sure Jerome was well suited for this day. He prepared the tea and breakfast with extra care and effort to celebrate.

Dynila was busy with her small shop but she would always spread Jerome's name around the streets where she sell his magical rings.

The black haired man noticed that his butler wore him the diamond brooch Rowan gifted him back when he helped with Hardwicke. He wanted to take it off so that it won't imply anything but the old man made him hesitant to do so, "There... You're quite the nobleman now, my lord..." He smiled softly and Jerome was too soft to break his heart so he just let him.

"Thank you Henry." The young man also smiled at him.

After eating breakfast, the attendant announced that the carriage sent by the palace has arrived.

Henry and Liao escorted Jerome to the entrance, with the Eastern man acting as if he was leaving for days. Fake crying and all with a handkerchief on his nose while waving goodbye, "They grow old so fast."

The young man ignored him and turned to his butler, "I'll leave everything to you for a while Henry, I won't be long."

"As you wish."

Liao pouted making the black haired man sigh, "Thank you Liao, I won't be here today if you didn't help me... I mean I'll still pursue being a noble even without you but with your help... I was able to do it as soon as possible."

The older smiled at that, "The real challenge is after you claim your nobility. Nevertheless, good luck."

Jerome nodded and got in the carriage.

The two older men were left at the entrance of the manor, watching the carriage leave the garden and pass by the gates.

Henry frowned, he was worried for the young soon-to-be lord, "He'll be fine." Liao assured, making the other look at him.

"From the whole year I was with that young man, I never saw him crumble down to any situation. He's calculated and a quick-thinker... Whatever the King might say to him, I know he'll be able to defend himself."

The butler stared at the latter, the Eastern man looked at the butler as well, "I do know I'm handsome Sir Henry but no need to stare." Liao chuckled.

Henry blushed, flustered by the other's remark, "I-I was just wondering what made you trust Sir Jerome to help him achieve his goals? From what I heard, you don't just take any clients... He's young, inexperienced, he has nothing to prove unlike the ones that approached you before."

Liao began to think, tilting his head, "At first... I found him entertaining. A young man who wanted to be noble and claiming that he will. I want to see where his confidence comes from, I want to know if he's all bark with no bite but I was stand corrected. All the things he's done is not because of me. It was all him, I just gave him what he needs and I'll see if it'll amount to something entertaining or if he's just like any greedy nobles. He never disappointed me yet, confuse me... He does sometimes but I find that exciting, he always has a way to surprise me."

The butler smiled at the latter's answer, he then nodded, "You're quite right, Sir Jerome will be lord in just a few hours, I'm sure he'll be fine. As for the mean time, are you going to stay for a while, Sire?"

"Just call me Liao, Handsome... and yes, I'll stay if you insist." The Eastern man said and walked inside, leaving Henry flustered again. He don't know if it's the other's personality or if he really was flirting with him. The butler just shook his head to erase the thought and followed Liao inside.

At the Palace where Jerome was guided inside by one of the knights, he was escorted to the throne room where he will be blessed by the king for nobility.

As the giant doors opened and the black haired man walked down the red carpeted aisle, his arrival was announce by the adviser.

Jerome remembered this man, it was Wyeth Tashe. Wise and Stern. He was actually the one who takes care of Rowan the most.

"Jerome Wright, born commoner and founder of the recently famous magical gem shop, Rosen Gems... He's arrived to be blessed with nobility."

The young man kneeled and bowed as soon as he was in front of the King's throne.

King Roysce Lennox, Father of Rowan Lennox. In the novel, he was more in favor of the noblemen and didn't really care for the poor in his kingdom, however when the crown prince punished those who had wronged him, King Roysce suddenly crowned him which was still confusing for Jerome.

The said king looked down at the black haired man, assessing if he was worthy of being a noble.

A lean and simple man who was somehow good with social etiquette that's how King Roysce saw Jerome.

"Born commoner? Are you educated young man?" The king asked.

"No, your majesty."

"Yet you managed this shop of yours in tip-top shape..." King Roysce lent his hand to Wyeth to take the documents from him, wanted to read more about the mysterious commoner in front of him.

"Yes, your majesty." Jerome simply answered.

"What did it take for you to afford a title?"

The young man got confused with the question that he looked up, "Pardon?"

"Scamming, Illegal goods, Fraud... What did you do?"

The accusations made Jerome frown, annoyed by the discrimination but he kept himself calm, "I did nothing of the sort, your majesty... statements of my colleagues and staff are in the documents, they can vouch for all the deeds I've done to achieve such feat."

"You can speak well for an uneducated commoner... How can I tell that these colleagues of yours are not involved with whatever illegal deeds that you are possibly doing?" The young man clenched his fist tight.

He never remembered the king to be a bigot, or maybe he was just not on the receiving end from when he was still out of the novel.

"I could guarantee that they are not." Jerome merely answered.

The King stared at him for longer before speaking, "You were a miner with your father and once he passed, you left the mines and worked for the taverns. Then you met Liao Feng from the Kingdom of Kithage... Aren't you scamming the fool?"

"What is it your doing this time Father?" They were interrupted by someone barging into the throne room.

"Rowan... I'm busy."

"You're a bigot." Rowan said and stood beside the black haired man.

Jerome pursed his lips, he couldn't believe that crown prince just said that about his father. 'I mean... I knew he's the type to say and do whatever he wants but I'm still in shock whenever I witness this firsthand...' He thought to himself as he bowed down.

"Prince Rowan, do not say such names about the King." Wyeth scolded.

"I apologize but he is. This man came here, paid and did all his papers... Give him your blessing. If he ever did any of what you accuse him of, then you can just arrest him once proven guilty. If this was about that noble Hardwicke, do not worry about it, it's not entirely your fault. Most of his previous business partners said that he wasn't like that before." Rowan defended.

King Roysce sighed and looked at his son and the young man beside him.

"I give my blessing to him." Rowan claimed.

"You do not even know this man." The king shook his head, holding the bridge of his nose.

Jerome looked up at the prince who looked down at him, smiling. This made him flustered that he looked away again, a bit scared that Rowan recognized him from their previous encounters.

"I know enough. Plus, do you know everyone in Rosaria Kingdom? From Wyeth to the children in the streets?" The prince just answered his father.

The old king frowned and stared at them again, "Fine... Let's just get this over with." He stood up, taking his sword to bless Jerome. He gently placed it on his shoulder, "I, King Roysce Lennox..." He moved the sword on the young man's other shoulder, "...bless this young man..." He lastly placed it on his head, "...Jerome Wright as a noble."

Once the sword was pulled away and King Roysce sat back down his throne, Jerome answered, "It's an honor, your majesty."

Rowan grinned and pulled the shorter up after all the pleasantries, "I'll escort him then."

Before anyone could oppose, the crown prince was already dragging the confused and flustered Jerome out of the throne room.