Partner

Once Jerome and Rowan were out of the throne room, the shorter fixed himself while the taller stared at him with a smile.

The black haired man felt awkward with his staring so he had to ask, "Yes, your highness?"

"Nothing... I just... Didn't know that there's someone adorable behind those masks." Jerome was actually stunned by the prince's words.

The shorter looked away, clearing his throat. He didn't notice how his ears became red in fluster but Rowan did.

"I believe you mistook me for—"

"Are you doing that again, Princess?"

The now nobleman felt annoyed by the nickname, "Please don't call me that."

The red haired man chuckled, "I see that you wore the brooch."

Jerome looked down at the diamond brooch on his suit and huffed, "My butler arranged my outfit. Please think nothing of it."

"Hm... You're the master of your household, you can remove the brooch anytime you want."

"I didn't want to hurt the old man's feelings."

Rowan was impressed that the latter could think of excuses so quick but instead of thinking that the black haired man was avoiding him, he just thought of it as endearing.

"If there are nothing to be discussed any longer, I will take my leave." Jerome walked ahead, he knows he'll get lost but he just need to stay away from Rowan.

He might've liked the guy but the said guy is a walking chaos and being involved with him spells trouble. Jerome just wanted a quiet life as a noble, he don't want any drama.

"Let me escort you, my lord." The red haired man quickly followed.

"No need, I'm sure you're quite busy with your princely duties."

"I can skip them."

The shorter felt annoyed and walked quicker but of course, the crown prince is taller, it was a useless attempt.

"Why would you avoid me, Princess? I've never done anything to you." Rowan called out, still with a smile, he just finds the other man adorable.

Jerome on the other hand felt annoyed. First is because of the same reason Jerome hates Rowan from the novel, the prince just does whatever he wanted and eventually not get punished for it since he'll soon take the crown while he has to work hard to be a noble and to be able to live in luxury. Second is because of the crown prince's attitude, he was too carefree, outgoing and irresponsibly flirts with anyone while he always has to look out for anyone that he communicates with.

Jerome stopped from walking, "I apologize for being rude, however I cannot play with you. I have work to do, your highness." He coldly stated before bowing in polite. The words and how the shorter said them felt like a set of boundaries between him and the prince.

It was also an implication that all the crown prince has done is play, but maybe he was too dense to understand such shady comments or he just chose to ignore it.

Rowan was taken aback and he stopped following as he stood there, confused. 'Why was he mad at me?'

He watched the shorter's retreating back as he tried to think of some of the reasons as to why he would get angry at him.

'Was it because I pinned him down the ground when I first saw him?'

'Was it because I threw him at a pile of hay?'

'Was it because I kept teasing him back in Hardwicke's hideout?'

'Maybe because I kept calling him Princess?'

'Maybe he did not like the diamond brooch or the other gifts?'

'Not everyone is mad at me... I mean some of them... I mean... I did something to make them mad but I never did anything too bad to this guy, right?' Rowan kept asking himself, tilting his head as he tried to think hard.

"You'll burn your brain thinking too much, your highness." He heard someone speak from behind him and noticed that it was Marshal Kinsley once he turned to face him, the young Grand Duke of North Frostvale.

"Duke Marshal. What are you doing here this early?" Rowan asked him.

"I could ask you the same. Standing in the middle of the halls while thinking so deeply. What made you think this much more than your geometric studies, your highness?"

"Just... this new noble... He's mad at me for no reason."

"You are quite annoying, your highness."

Rowan merely chuckled at the white haired man's words, "You jest."

Marshal merely smiled.

"The real question here is... why do you care for that one man's thoughts of you? If he hates you, why would it affect you?"

The question got the crown prince thinking again, he wondered why that is. "You're right, there's no need to think too much of it. Why don't we sneak out and roam around the city?" The red haired man grinned which made the young grand duke sigh.

"Maybe after my meeting with the King. For now, why don't you proceed to your class? I could see Wystan already looking for you." Marshal chuckled as he looked behind Rowan who also looked behind.

The moment the crown prince saw his knight, he immediately bolted away, "I'll find you later Marshal!" He grinned as he ran.

The white haired grand duke just made some way for the knight to run after the crown prince.

"Your highness!" They could hear the roar in his throat but it doesn't scare Rowan.

Meanwhile, Jerome just arrived home from the carriage lent by the palace to escort him. Liao and Henry were already waiting in front as they were immediately informed by the staff at the gardens for the new lord's arrival.

The butler opened the door for the young man with a smile, "My lord, you've arrived. Did you had any difficulties?"

Jerome got out of the carriage, sighing, "It seems that I'm in debt with the crown prince again. He saved me from the King's discrimination and almost got banished from the palace without being blessed."

The Eastern man cooed, "Oh? He seems to take a liking to our young bachelor lord."

"The crown prince has a long line ahead of him. I'm sure all the mothers and ladies who wants Lord Jerome to be married to their daughters and married to them, respectively—will not like the idea. Plus, there are numerous people aiming to wed the prince as well." Henry chuckled, but his words seemed to imply a protectiveness over his master.

"There's no such thing. I'm a man, Prince Rowan isn't the kind to go against social norms, right?" He seemed to be asking himself more than the two older men.

He just thought it was impossible for Rowan to like him. After all, there's Wystan, the crown prince's loyal knight. Marshal, the grand duke who's always there to support him and Liana, the Empress of the Ivrecoven Empire, the main antagonist of the novel and who wanted Rowan to marry her.

"That man is quite eccentric, he would do things beyond the social norms." Liao chuckled.

Of course Jerome knew that. He just thought that Jerome and Rowan just never had anything to do with each other in the novel so why would they have anything to do with each other now?

"Never mind what the Prince thinks of you, my lord. Someone is waiting inside." Jerome raised an eyebrow at Henry, confused.

He doesn't remember any appointments today. He looked at the Eastern man instead, as if asking if he has something to do with it.

"It was a walk-in, they're seeking help with their clothing company and wanted me to invest; however, I'm busy with the mines and the gems plus I'm not in the mood, so I suggested a collaboration with you." The narrow-eyed older chuckled.

Jerome sighed since he knew that Liao was just passing the work to him but it was alright since the older man was already helping him a lot and also, this could be a business opportunity.

"I'll see to the guest shortly, let me just dress comfortably." The young lord walked in ahead with the two older men followed behind him.

After dressing to a less formal suit, he faced his guest at the waiting room. It was a brunette woman, dressed in a unique style. She's a tall woman with brown curly hair and wore an eyeglass, she also wore a white off-shouldered top with a brown corset which has a flowy brown skirt that was hitched up with a belt, the belt has many tools attached to it, probably for her sewing.

He didn't know this woman from the novel but he knew who it was based from the news around, she is Georgia Fairburne. A designer that faced many backlash for her revealing designs and unique styles. Maybe if Jerome wasn't reincarnated from a modern era, he would also think of them as revealing.

'If they found out about miniskirts a size of a belt, they would probably flip.' Jerome thought to himself.

He went inside, his shoes tapping on the marbled floor made the woman look at him and smile as she stood up, "My lord! Congratulations on being blessed! I apologize for coming here unannounced and on a special day as well, but do not worry... I brought you a gift to congratulate and to apologize for my rudeness." She gestured for the box on the table.

Jerome smiled politely and gestured for her to sit as he too sat down, "Thank you, may I know what business do you have with me?" He asked, getting straight to the point.

"Actually, I was proposing to Sir Liao about investing in my business but he turned me down, he said that he's busy. He recommended that I propose to you instead and I came here to ask you for a collaboration with the Rosen Gems." She showed her designs.

Honestly, they're not terrible. They're just ahead of time. The suits revealed too much skin, some in the front torso and some at the back. The gowns are also quite revealing both on the chests and the legs part.

Men passes out at the sight of ankles and necks already, what could possibly happen if they were to expose these designs that showed thighs.

The young man began to think, he wanted to help Georgia but this could also risk his business.

Jerome also saw the suits for women and the half-skirts added to men's suits, "Let's not get hasty with some of the designs yet..." The black haired man began to think.

"I'll collaborate with you, only in my conditions... but don't worry, this is for both of our businesses, that I assure you."

The woman beamed in glee and held the shocked man's hand, "Thank you, my lord! You do not know how grateful I am! Oh goodness!" She exclaimed while shaking his hand, ecstatic.

"Uhm... We could sign a contract—"

"Oh! Yes!" She pulled away, grinning.