Cute Couple

The news of Jerome and Rowan's engagement was still on fire, especially since they always go to events together.

Every invitation sent to the crown prince, he would have the nobleman by his side, always holding him by the waist.

At first, Jerome was flustered and annoyed by such display but he was enduring it for the sake of presentation.

The presentation that they are in love and to be married.

The reason why the nobleman would still go with this theatrical is because he uses such events to advertise his jewelries and Giorgia's outfits.

This time, he was wearing a royal blue suit with a frilly coat and a cravat. He was also wearing a new diamond with a blue magic stone brooch, a subtle show of his new collection.

He was currently with the crown prince at a banquet since it was the anniversary of one of a noble's business. The black haired man didn't care much for the details since their field of business are quite different.

"Are we done yet?" Jerome kept his smile as he looked around, he was asking Rowan subtly since he was getting embarrassed.

"Why? Is there somewhere you needed to be, my sweet?" The red haired man asked, chuckling as he could tell that the shorter wanted to be away.

The black haired man blushed and looked at him in annoyance, "At least give me some space!" He whispered.

The prince chuckled again and slowly let go of him, "Don't stray too far."

The people who witnessed the couple were convinced that they really were in love, but not Rohesia, she refused to be defeated by a born commoner much less, a man.

She pride herself to be beautiful, curvy and vuluptuous in all the right places that is why she felt incredibly offended that Rowan got engaged with a man.

Who — in her eyes — was simple, has no taste in clothing and a gold digger. She needed to put that man in his place, 'I am the one who's deserving to be by Rowan's side.' She thought to herself while frowning as she glared at Jerome who went to get a glass of champagne.

Rohesia Oosborne smirked as she thought of an idea, she was known to be quite influencial because of her advices regarding fellow women about their relationships and she actually has supporters who think that she was quite deserving of being the crown princess.

She began to whisper to her group of friends, "Don't you think Sir Jerome and Prince Rowan look quite good together?" She asked, smiling. Of course she has to put on an act first, the others looked like they wanted to disagree but they just wouldn't say anything and just awkwardly smiled.

Their reactions were a go signal for the ginger haired woman, she acted as if she was thinking, "Though... somehow... they looked kind of... off?"

"I-I thought so too..." Another agreed and, so the others followed.

"Yeah..."

"Are they acting?"

"Lord Jerome don't even looked comfortable..."

"Maybe it was just arranged?"

"But from what I heard the King was enraged by the engagement..."

"And Lord Jerome was a born commoner."

Rohesia smirked to herself, she planted a mine and now, she wanted the truth to explode, "How about we ask them for a kiss?" She smiled at her suggestion, acting all innocent.

The other women blushed, in this day and age, two men indulging in an intimate act in public was as much as seeing women's ankles and collarbones.

"I... Well..."

"Won't that look sweet?" Rohesia asked, tilting her head with a smile, "Also, if they really are a couple... that wouldn't be a problem, right?"

The other women looked nervous and excited at the same time. They all looked at each other and nodded.

Soon, they approached the couple who were conversing over a champagne, Jerome was huffing at Rowan again.

The couple were confused at the group, but then one of them decided to speak while Rohesia hid in the back while eyeing the scene, "Uhm... excuse me, your highness... my lord... We don't want to be rude but... we're not quite convinced that you are a couple. Would it be alright if we ask for an evidence...? Such as... a kiss?"

The question baffled the two men, but once the words sunk in, the crown prince laughed while the nobleman blushed, "I didn't know that we needed evidence that we are in love with each other just for everyone to be convinced." Rowan stated.

The red haired man sighed and pulled his partner by the waist to stand atop the staircase where everyone can see them.

"W-What are you doing?" Jerome whispered to the taller.

"Don't worry, just a little kiss." He chuckled making the shorter flustered, "H-Hey we-"

Rowan looked at him again, "Please... trust me."

The black haired man was frozen, he didn't know what to do, but he did know that he had to act the part. Jerome eventually nodded, making the taller smile.

Most people are eyeing them already, but the crown prince gathered everyone's attention, "Ladies and Gents! I am sorry to bother everyone by my display of affection; however, some of you are not yet convinced that my engagement with Lord Jerome is true. Hence why I gather your attention to simply watch us kiss!"

Most of them thought of Rowan as insane, but now, he was beyond crazy.

He took Jerome's cheek with one hand and the other was on the small of his back, pulling him close as he kissed him.

Mouth open and tongue meeting that made the nobleman hold onto him tight, whining softly as he was having a hard time breathing.

He never kissed anyone before and he did not expect that his first would be as aggressive as this.

The noble people were whispering, gasping at the sight. It was scandalous.

Rohesia Oosborne was seething with rage and envy again that she could only leave.

A few moments later, Rowan pulled away and chuckled how Jerome panted, "Breathe through your nose, Princess."

"Shut up..." The shorter huffed, blushing as he nuzzled the prince's shoulder, hiding his flustered face.

The red haired man felt warm at the feeling of holding the shorter after kissing him, even the kiss made him feel lost that he thought they were alone.

He wanted to do it again, he doesn't know why but he liked the feeling of holding the other man in his arms.

Once again, he was confused by his own feelings and actions but he let himself hold Jerome until he calmed down.

"I need to cool down..." The black haired man muttered, laying his head on the prince's shoulder. Making them look even more comfortable with each other.

Rowan chuckled, "Sorry, my sweet." He looked down at the other man affectionately before guiding him down the stairs and helping him get some cold beverage.

The event ended peacefully, with no more scandalous scenes.

But of course, the famous couple were once again the headline of the Royal Papers.

It was another fine day and Jerome was in his office desk at the Rosen Gems blushing as Liao read the headline, "Prince Rowan and his fiance Lord Jerome couldn't contain their affection and showed everyone their love for each other."

The black haired man cringed at that, glaring at the older man, "Stop reading that."

"You really are quite interesting, my lord." The Eastern man chuckled.

The statement didn't made the young man feel better though, he was also quite surprised by how things are escalating.

"I won't take that as a compliment." Jerome sighed as he looked at his documents.

"Even if I'm not usually around for quite some time, you can manage to ring your name even outside the Rosaria Kingdom."

Liao's statement made the younger look at him in shock, "What?"

He knew that Liao would leave to go to another kingdom from time to time hence why he was shock how his name would reach even outside of Rosaria.

The situation really was escalating out of his control, he initially just wanted a peaceful life. He didn't want to be dragged to the royal issues and such.

"To get the diamond mine even losing the auction, are you a great strategist, my lord? Did you thought of everything ahead?" The older asked, he seemed excited by how everything was going accordingly for his young lord.

Jerome sighed for the nth time and left his office to accomodate his customers, "If I did, I wouldn't be shocked by the idea that even other kingdoms are talking about me... I'll just be outside."

He was already tired but he didn't want to make it seem like he was hiding from the public all because of the news.

The nobleman smiled as he approached his customers, "Good day, my ladies... what can I get for you all?"

One of the older ladies chuckled, "I would like to see your newest diamond collection, my lord."

The young man looked at an attendant, "The diamond collection, please."

"Ooh... how polite."

"Maybe that's why his highness likes the lord very much." The old ladies giggled making Jerome blush through the tip of his ears.

"Say, my lord... how were you able to attract the eccentric prince?" One asked, an old lady who preferred blue jewels.

"It is quite rude to question his lord's relationship and to also insult the prince." The other scolded, the one who always preferred purple, but Jerome merely chuckled.

"But yes, he is quite eccentric." He added and the ladies chuckled at his words, "Well... I don't really know... what attracted him to me..."

The young man looked down, wondering.

"Oh! It's not a wonder, my dear. You have always been a kind man and even when you are being tested, you just stand tall and face it all..." The purple wearing old lady sighed, "If only you married my daughter instead... heck, I would have married you if we met back in my day."

Jerome chuckled at that, "I would probably swoon, my lady."

Both ladies giggled, however, they were interrupted by a certain man barging into the shop.

The once smiling nobleman sighed at the sight of his fake fiance, "Your highness, what are you doing here?" Jerome looked up at him as the said man approached them.

"I sent a carriage to you earlier to join me for breakfast, why did you send the carriage back and did not join me?" The red haired prince huffed, obviously sulking.

The shorter man narrowed his eyes at him, "Can't you see that I'm busy?"

"I can tell that you're avoiding breakfast instead. Come." Rowan grabbed Jerome by the wrist.

"Hey! Let go! Okay! I'll come! Just wait outside!" The black haired man struggled, he's not a weakling but of course, the crown prince trains with his sword and Jerome forgot when was the last time he did some heavy work. The last time he did was when he was still a miner.

Rowan stopped in his tracks and looked at him, "Really?"

"Yes." The shorter made an exasperated sigh, making the crown prince grin and kiss his cheek.

"I'll come back if you do not come out and join me in the carriage in five minutes." The taller said and left.

The nobleman sighed again, for who knows how many times before fixing himself and looking around. He could see everyone trying to mind their own business.

He huffed and eventually went back to the ladies she was initially attending to, "I have to apologize about that, my ladies... as you all know, his highness can be quite childish."

The old ladies chuckled, "Oh no worries, my husband was quite clingy and still is right now." The blue wearing old lady smiled making the young man blush.

"You two are quite a cute couple."

Jerome felt more embarrassed at that, since first, they are just acting as a couple and second, he was wondering if it really how they seem to other people's perspective.

"I... Well... thank you." He just replied, trying to compose himself before gesturing his attendant to tend to the ladies before he left.