Theatrics

The Hunting Event finally came and Empress Liana along with her two servants joined it. Nobles along with the King and the Crown Prince were also at the event, of course.

Meaning, this is the first time that the Empress of Ivrecoven will encounter Jerome.

The black haired man felt nervous, since he knew that the empress was quite indiferrent and intimidating, he found her cool, back when he was still reading the novel but now, since he's a hindrance to the supposedly engagement between Liana and Rowan, he felt intimidated.

'What if she threaten me to stay away from Rowan? I mean I could...' Jerome thought to himself but he felt sad at the thought as well that he had to get away from the prince.

"Why the long face?" Rowan snapped him out of his trance.

He didn't notice that he's been sharpening his light sword for quite a while now that the red haired prince finally notice.

"Oh... it's nothing..."

"Nervous? If you wish, you can just sit at the table." The taller referred to the tables where the ladies and people who didn't wish to participate to the hunt are waiting.

They are all attended with teas and biscuits since the participants' hunts will become dinner at the later banquet.

"I don't want to make it seem like I'm too ignorant or weak to participate." Jerome huffed, sheathing his sword.

"You're not, and don't mind what they say. I just don't want you to get hurt in there." Rowan frowned but the shorter gave him a reassuring smile, "I won't, we sneaked in Hardwicke's place together, right? You know I can throw a punch."

The crown prince sighed, "As if you can punch a bear."

"Don't worry too much." The nobleman chuckled.

Soon, they were called in to draw names of who they'll be partnered with. This will practice their comaraderie and teamwork.

However, Jerome only managed to be close (even more so than he intended to) with Rowan, Duke Marshal was not present and Wystan wasn't allowed to participate (he almost hunted every animal in the forest), plus they're not close. The young nobleman doesn't really have someone he's close with and not everyone likes him, especially the noblemen.

Once the black haired man drew a name, he was shocked that he was paired with the male twin servant of Empress Liana, Callus Dorso.

"It is my honor to be paired together with you, my lord." The fair-skinned man smiled at him, approaching him as soon as it was announced.

"Likewise." Jerome smiled back, a bit more relieved that the servant was his pair, at least he won't be bullied or even pulled back.

Rowan on the other hand was pouting since he wasn't paired with his beloved but he kept a good behavior.

"Now that everyone's paired! The goal is to have the heaviest hunt of all! The winner will be granted with a magical gem jewelry sponsored by Lord Jerome himself and would also get 3 large bags of gold!" The host announced and almost everyone was shocked that the born commoner noble manage to sponsor a price for the Hunting Event.

It was actually Rowan who suggested it since he knew his father wouldn't let Jerome's work around the palace.

The young noble man's jewelries were far from cheap, they were even more expensive because of the diamond motifs.

Everyone eyed the unbothered noble man, it would be a lie to say that they don't want his jewelries. Being protected while looking stylish? It was too good to be true.

Back then, magical gems are just a lump of gem hidden in pockets, but now it can be used as a jewelry, all because of the man's creativity.

"The hunt will start soon! Take all your time to prepare for the mean time!" The host told them and so, Callus and Scilla took the oppotunity and approached Jerome.

"We would like to have small talk with you, my lord. In private if you please." The servants' request made the noble man confused but he nodded, letting the Ivrecovenians lead him away from the crowd.

At the same time, Liana also approached Rowan, "Your highness."

The red haired man looked at the empress, "Yes, your majesty?"

The golden haired woman looked at the direction of where Jerome, Callus and Scilla left, "I wanted to meet your fiance but it seemed like I was beat to it."

The crown prince followed her gaze and somehow felt nervous at the sight of Jerome and two strangers' retreating back.

He immediately went after them without a thought while Empress Liana stood there with composure, sipping her champagne in a calculated demeanor.

Meanwhile, the three stopped a few meters away from the event, making the noble man confused as to what's important to be dicussed discreetly like this.

"What is it that you wanted to discuss?" The black haired man asked the twins who smiled at him as they approached slowly.

"I want to confess that... the first time I met you, I wanted to at least... share a bed with you..." Callus started with a seductive whisper.

"I told my brother that I also feel the same... we are wondering who will you choose between us." Scille whispered as well.

Jerome was backing away, trying to understand what they were trying to say and soon his back hit the tree, making the twins corner him.

"Or... you can choose us both?" The fair-skinned man smirked.

The noble man's eyes widened and he immediately pushed himself off the tree to get away from them, "What are you both talking about?! I have a fiance!"

Scilla tilted her head, "As nobles, you don't really marry for love, right?"

This made the black haired man taken aback.

The twins smirked, "Then, what's the difference if you sleep with us? We promise we'll take care of you." Callus assured.

Rowan who was listening to their conversation while hiding, was clenching his fists in anger but he can't interfere, somehow, he was expecting Jerome to say something, to decline and push the twins away.

"How can you say that I don't marry for love?" The crown prince was shocked to hear what the noble man had said.

"Even if you did, how can you love someone as crazy as Prince Rowan? For all you know, you'll wind up sad because you got replaced." The male twin provoked.

"Or worst, dead." The female twin added.

The black haired man looked angry at that, "Who are you to say that Rowan was crazy? He might do things out of the norm but that is only for the betterment of our kingdom. I apologize, but you can't say anything about him if you're not from here and moreso, know him."

The mentioned prince looked happy to hear the shorter defending him, he was looking at Jerome from his hiding spot with a loving look.

"You look like a creep there, your highness."

Rowan screamed as Liana sneaked up on him, making Jerome and the twins look at the direction of where the scream came from.

As soon as the Empress of Ivrecoven and the Crown Prince of Rosaria left the hiding spot, the noble man blushed as he realized that the red haired man overheard everything.

"Drop the act now, Callus, Scilla. Apologize to his highness and Lord Jerome." The golden haired woman ordered which they immediately obliged, bowing in apology.

"We are sorry for our actions, we are merely following our Empress' orders."

Jerome and Rowan looked at Liana who didn't even look guilty, "I have to see for myself how bad you are for each other, and to be honest... I didn't quite believe that it was real."

The black haired man felt embarrassed, he never admitted his feelings nor acknowledged it, so being exposed like this was embarrassing.

He was also embarrassed that he didn't see right through it, "If you want to separate me and Prince Rowan then I must apologize, your majesty... But... I can't do that."

The mentioned prince stared at the noble with a shocked and flustered look on his face.

While Liana looked at either of them before sighing, "Don't worry... I just wanted to see what Rowan was fighting for... I don't plan to marry him... nor separate you from him, I respect his choice rather than I respect the tradition... Rowan has the power and will to do what he wants and I don't have that..." The empress looked down before turning around to leave.

"You two are making an enemy of everyone just by being together... I hope that you'll both be safe." She said and left, her servants were following behind.

Leaving Rowan and Jerome awkardly standing next to each other.

After a moment, the shorter was the one to break the silence, "How long were you listening in on us?"

The prince's lips formed a thin line as he felt guilty, "Since the start."

The black haired man still felt flustered, only sighing before walking ahead, "Let's go... The event might start soon."

Rowan smiled as he followed Jerome, the latter looked up at the taller, annoyed as he was still flustered, "What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing."