First Dance

The Welcoming Ball.

A few months after Jerome Wright was blessed by the Royal Family and acquired his title as a noble man, the palace prepared a Welcoming Ball for everyone that acquired a title, majority of them came of age from their noble families unlike Jerome who came from rags to riches.

In reality, it was merely an event to flaunt their wealth, achievements and self-proclaimed beauty. The other noble people also likes to flaunt their family, stating that they're the best and that they're perfect.

After the day of the incident with the assassin, Jerome was pestered by Rowan to visit the palace to hire knights for protection. With the threat of picking them himself and hiring at least a hundred for him.

The idea was ridiculous but the black haired man knew that the crown prince was not lying. In the end, he hired knights to make the red haired man satisfied. Jerome underestimated how Rowan could be quite convincing now that he was in the novel himself.

The man has power and charm which people can't refuse after all.

Before the newly blessed nobles could enter the ballroom, they were asked to wait in the waiting room for their names to be announced. The other young nobles were looking at Jerome, some with condescending gazes, some with confusions and some with awe.

The black haired man would just smile at them which makes them look away or flustered, he didn't need to indulge with the noble society very much, approaching someone would make him look desperate for attention and ignoring them would make him look arrogant.

Even in this banquet, he needs to choose the right actions.

Once the bellman called for them, they formed a line and waited for their names to be announced.

He could hear people around him talking, knowing that eyes are all on him, 'What is he wearing?'

'Who is that young man?'

'My goodness! It's him! The young owner of the Rosen Gems!'

'I didn't know he's more handsome than what the others are saying...'

'A commoner? Pft. Was the King deceived?'

Various of opinions are heard and Jerome doesn't care at all, they could say whatever they want. His only goal here is to be known which at least will make his shop and Georgia's design famous.

After announcing the noble before him, Jerome looked at everyone who were staring at him.

He smiled as he held the flowy skirt of his suit and bowed in polite as his name was announced, "Lord Jerome Wright! Founder of Rosen Gems and Owner of the Magical Mines!"

He walked down the stairs confidently. He wore Georgia's gift for him, a beige and white with a tint of gold suit, attached to it was a flowy side skirt. He also wore a brooch made in his store, it has an orange magical gem with a tint of gold designs. He was elegant and people who doesn't know Jerome could've mistaken him for a pure-blooded noble.

As soon as Jerome set foot down the stairs, the ladies of different houses began to approach him, most are his regular customers, "We've longed to accompany you in banquets, Lord Jerome." An old woman giggled.

"Goodness, you looked prettier than my daughter."

The young man chuckled softly as he was approached, "It was a pleasure to meet you all here, however, I would gladly welcome you still in my shop."

"Speaking of which... your outfit is quite..."

"Unique? Yes. It makes a man look beautiful." Jerome smiled proudly.

"A man? Beautiful? I should have guessed that a commoner would be a fag." They heard a group of men laughed and approached his group. The man leading them was Hale Housee, a known bully around the nobles.

He was the middle child of the clan Housee hence why he lost motivation in even gaining his father's approval and his family's attention. His elder sister and youngest brother was the one who were always in the spotlight, leaving him in the dark.

Everyone eyed them but Jerome merely smiled, "I didn't know that beauty nor even status has a gender."

"Of course you wouldn't know, you're a commoner." Hale smirked as he looked down at the latter.

"Is that so? Well I guess I do am ignorant of how a noble like you held no significant name to be a talk by everyone. I apologize but, who are you exactly?" The women giggled at Jerome's retort making the man angry.

He held Jerome by the collar and growled at him, "I could have you taken down—"

"It's too early to fight, isn't it?" They heard someone approach, it was Marshal Kinsley.

"Young Grand Duke Kinsley, you do not need to involve yourself in this. I'm just having a talk with this commoner here." Hale released the black haired man's collar and Jerome merely fixed himself.

"I believe I should, especially if the King saw one of his people behaving like a thug. In my view, a noble like you act more like a stereotypical commoner like you assumed. Do you want to be placed in a dungeon? Or worse, be sent to North Frostvale?" Marshal asked making the man clench his jaw and walk away with his friends.

It was known that criminals are sent to North Frostvale to be punished or sometimes tortured. It was something to scare children with but the adults know how true it can be.

The women surrounded the grand duke, cooing at how he saved the day but the white haired man only smiled at Jerome.

The shorter bowed in polite, "Thank you for the help, my lord."

The women made some space for the two to talk as Marshal approached the black haired man, "I see that you're already a noble."

Jerome was flustered that the taller already knew that it was him back at the festival, "A half mask doesn't really hide anything at all." The grand duke chuckled.

The shorter cleared his throat, "I see... Well... It is nice to see you, my lord."

"The pleasure's all mine. Congratulations as well." Marshal smiled softly as he looked at him, "I apologize but I'll have to excuse myself for a moment." He added and left with a smile.

Jerome merely nodded and smiled in polite.

Soon, the King arrived with the Crown Prince which the bellman announced, "All praise to King Roysce Lennox and Crown Prince Rowan Lennox!"

Everyone bowed in polite and courtesy and as they did, Rowan scanned the room for a certain noble man.

He was unaware how he felt relieved to see Jerome but he was. He kept his gaze at him, wondering how a man could be so elegantly beautiful that it transcends the norms.

His trance was interrupted when his father began to speak, "I welcome you all, ladies and gents to this Welcoming Ball for the young ones who worked hard to be blessed and to be welcomed into the noble society. Let us take our glasses and enjoy our night."

Everyone clapped for the king and the music started to play again.

Meaning, everyone were starting to take their first dance which was special. It is often meant to be romantic.

Women immediately surrounded Rowan much to his displeasure, "If I may be so bold as to ask you for a dance, your highness."

"I've been quite forward with my feelings, your highness. Don't you have consideration?"

"If you may please dance with me, your highness?"

Rowan knew that none of these ladies truly likes him, they just want to be crowned as a crown princess. They all just want a reserved seat on the palace throne and Rowan doesn't tolerate such motives even if they're ladies.

"Can you all get out of my sight?" He coldly snarled, making the ladies shocked and scared that they immediately left.

It wasn't a rare occurrence anymore since the king could only sigh at his son's behavior, "At least dance with someone." Roysce told the young man.

Rowan looked around and saw Jerome getting surrounded by ladies as well. The shorter could only smile politely as he declined them.

The red haired young man smirked and made strides towards the newly-welcomed noble making some of the others confused.

"How could a born commoner even be picked as first dance? He's not worth it and he looked like he's just trying to fit in." Some of the men scowled and muttered bitter remarks.

Hence why they were shocked as Prince Rowan bowed in front of Jerome and lent his hand out. Even the king was shocked.

In this part of their life and novel, Jerome remembered that he's currently the first man Rowan offered his first dance to, yet somehow it was making an impact. Probably because he was a commoner.

"May I have your first dance, my lord?" The red haired man smirked as he looked up at the shocked Jerome.

'What is his deal this time?' The black haired man could only think to himself at the moment.