Escort

The sun was already setting when Jerome left the cemetery and went on his way to the market where his carriage was waiting.

It was a bit far of a walk but it gives the young man a moment of solitude, since Liao was always clinging to him whenever he gets the chance, the customers are always looking for him and his staff were always seeking for his help.

Sometimes he just really need some time alone.

Just as he passed by an alleyway, he was suddenly pulled and his mouth was covered to prevent him from shouting.

He looked up at his captive and noticed that it was Rowan wearing a cloak.

'I just met this guy earlier! What is he doing here now? Is he stalking me or something?!' Jerome thought to himself. He struggled but he noticed the crown prince holding him firmly, he looked up again and noticed his serious demeanor while looking out the street.

Once he felt safe, he let go of Jerome and took a deep breath.

"Mind explaining, your highness?" The black haired man crossed his arms, frowning at the taller.

"It's nothing I—"

Rowan wasn't able to continue his words since he has to pull the shorter into his arms when an assassin attempted to attack him from above.

Jerome was shocked and confused, "What's happen—" The red haired man covered him in his cloak as protection and to block anyone from attacking him.

"Who sent you? Don't involve innocent citizens here, it was me who you're after." Jerome could hear the seriousness in the crown prince's voice as he kept quiet.

It was better to stay put than cause more harm.

The assassin didn't seem to answer Rowan and instead went to attack them again. The taller grabbed Jerome by his waist and defended them with his sword.

The black haired man could only gasp and cling to the crown prince tightly.

"Hold on tight Princess..." The red haired man held onto the shorter just as tight, keeping him away from the assassin's attack.

Other than having to protect someone, the crown prince is having some difficulty due to the narrow alley since his sword is quite large compared to the assassin's dagger.

The setting made Rowan's sword hit the wall and gave the assassin the opportunity to attack, "Tsk."

For a split second, Jerome who felt the danger since Rowan suddenly became tense — felt magic from his chest — closed his eyes shut while still holding onto the crown prince.

The red haired man and the attacker were shocked when a barrier surrounded Jerome and Rowan, the unexpected magic made the assassin retreat.

The black haired man who opened his eyes again looked around and peeked out of the taller's cloak, "Is he gone?" He asked.

"For now..." Rowan answered.

When the shorter felt safe, the barrier disappeared, making the crown prince look down at him as he pulled away.

"What the hell was that?" Jerome frowned, taking a deep breath as he tried to calm down.

"What was that?" The red haired man asked back.

The latter narrowed his eyes at him, "I asked first. Why was there an assassin? Why is he after me? What was happening?"

Rowan looked at the direction the assassin left with a frown, "To be honest, I don't really know why he was after you, initially I thought he'll be coming after me but then I saw him following you. I immediately distracted him and took you secretly but then he still found us... Now, about that barrier... You're a mage?"

"No. I don't even know how I did that."

Mysteries suddenly came after Jerome got his nobility, maybe his goal wasn't to merely become a noble but to survive. The Jerome from the novel died, 'Maybe it was my fate too...' Jerome thought to himself, the idea made him pale.

"You should be home safely. Actually, you should hire knights from the palace. Now that you're a noble, you have the right to do so." Rowan guided him out of the alleyway, still looking around warily.

"Thank you for the thought, your highness but—"

"You're not disobeying me. This is an order. Hire knights from the palace, if you don't, I'll arrange them for you."

Jerome frowned at the crown prince's words, 'He really don't take no for an answer.', "Why do you even care for someone like me, your highness?"

Rowan looked taken aback, he also asked himself that question, 'Why do I care for this man? Was it because of their bond back in Hardwicke's manufacturing facility?' then it hit him. He always saw this man around, even a few years back.

He would see him all dirty from mining on the way to the pawn shop or on the way to the bank, he even saw him back when he was roaming around the kingdom at night near a tavern, he even collided with him once.

Rowan noticed that fate had always put them together but he could only observe, he thought nothing of it but mere coincidences.

The red haired man smirked, making the shorter confused. The crown prince thought of playing with fate now that he realized. He wanted to know why the universe draw him to the noble man.

"Nothing, my lord. I'm merely caring for my citizens, of course. I'll be a king someday, after all, won't I?"

Jerome found his answer weird but he thought nothing of it, "I see... Then thank you for your concern, I'll be on my way."

"Take care."

The black haired man heard the crown prince bid farewell, however, he could hear him following behind, "Why are you following me?"

"The assassin may still be after you, Princess. Your magic is unstable, I believe you wouldn't be able to defend yourself if he appears again."

This irked Jerome, "I'll be fine, your highness." He said and kept going to where the carriage was.

"I believe not, in fact, let me escort you to your manor."

"I appreciate your concern but I believe I can handle myself just fine."

"Are you refusing the crown prince?"

Jerome clenched his hands into a fist, annoyed. He looked at Rowan, who was once his crush when he was still reading the novel and is now the cause of his headache.

"No. Of course not." The black haired man forced a smile and walked to his carriage, the red haired man followed after.

Jerome awkwardly sat across Rowan while he just smiles and looks at him.

The noble man looked out the window, avoiding the crown prince's gaze. He just kept his mind occupied about what just happened earlier.

The assassin coming after him, the barrier he made, Rowan's behaviour towards him. Somehow, it all became confusing ever since he became a noble man.

This isn't anything like he read at all.

"You're deep in thoughts." The red haired man interrupted their silence.

The latter looked at him, snapping out of his thoughts, "I'm just thinking."

"If you're worried that they'll come after you, I guarantee that the palace knights will keep you safe."

"That's not what I was worried about..." Jerome frowned as he looked out the window again.

"The reason why I was targeted... I'm not very sure why." He added.

'It could be some of my competitors but that was highly unlikely, since they could've moved back when I haven't made a name for myself yet... very much like what Hardwicke did.' He thought to himself.

Rowan stared at him with a frown, "People who are jealous or threatened want nothing but your downfall... Now that you're a noble man, it is very likely for you to have more enemies than friends and you wouldn't be easily differentiate which are which."

The black haired man looked at him again, he could see the solemn look on the crown prince's face as he saw him.

'Of course he would know, all his life even before he was born, conflict are always around him and envy would be following him wherever he goes.' That's a perspective that the original Jerome couldn't see, he was occupied by his own suffering and envy to even see how the crown prince struggled as well.

Rowan smiled at him, "But I know you seem strong, you can defend yourself just fine, I believe."

"You say that as if you know me too well, your highness."

"Maybe I do... or maybe I don't. You've probably been through a lot and surpassed any challenges you faced to reach this title. Maybe that's why I gave you my blessing but no matter what, I think you're worthy of it."

Jerome was flustered by the crown prince's words that he actually blushed, he immediately looked away and covered half of his face with his mouth, attempting to act indifferent from his words but Rowan noticed this.

The prince didn't say anything though but he just softly chuckled at the adorable sight.

Once they arrived at Jerome's manor, Rowan immediately went out of the carriage before the butler could arrive just to escort the noble man down the carriage. A gentlemanly act that a gentleman usually do for the lady.

This confused Jerome, since he's not a lady and Rowan's ranking in hierarchy is higher than his, "Uhm..." He was genuinely confused if he should accept his hand to escort him down or not but before he could think, the red haired man held his hand and guided him down.

"That's how you get escorted, Princess."

"It's only applicable for ladies."

"How would you say so? Is there a rule book that strictly stated that fact?"

The two arguing didn't went unnoticed to Henry who arrived just enough to see the crown prince's chivalrous act and his young lord's flustered look.

Once the prince noticed the old man, Henry immediately gave a polite bow with a hand on his chest. Rowan smiled at him, "I believe that I shall be on my way. My father would be furious if he found out that I skipped classes, though he know about it already, probably."

The red haired man got inside the carriage again, but before he closes the door he smiled at Jerome, "See you around Princess. Looking forward to your Welcoming Ball." He said before closing the door, the carriage soon went off and out of the Wright Residence's gates.

"Why does he call you Princess, my lord?" Henry asked but Jerome simply walked past him, his ears red from fluster.

"Not a word."