At the second prince's residence, Prince Joaquin was simply tapping his point finger over the piles of paperworks that he needed to finish for the day. He had been like this for an hour now and his personal assistant, Leo, was sulking at the side. They just returned from the Royal Academy for a break and now not even a week passed and they're already overloaded with too much paperwork. That is also because the prince has been lazing around.
"Your highness, forgive my impudence but you have been delaying much of your work these days." Leo said after finally mastering his courage. Closing his eyes tightly, he waited for the prince to lash out at him like usual but their was still silence inside the office even after he spoke those words. Opening his eyes, he looked at the prince who has now burried his face on his palms.
"Is that so?" He finally said after a deep sigh before starting to scribble on the piles of papers before him.
Leo let out a sigh of relief after seeing that the prince had already resumed his work. He then thought of his unusual reaction but dismissed it right away, thinking that maybe the prince is just in a better mood so he let him slide for his impudence.
Then, there was a knock at the door with the announcement of the arrival of an unexpected guest.
"Greetings to the small sun of the empire, greetings, your highness, the second prince!" Caleb, the heir of the Franchesca Dukedom greeted as soon as he entered.
"Small sun? I'm not the officially the Crown Prince yet. Enough with your formalities, tell me what you want." Prince Joaquin replied without lifting his head and just continued scribbling on the papers.
"Why? Can't I visit my friend because I miss him dearly?" Caleb replied and cheekily smiled. "It's been almost a week since we last saw each other and you don't seem to like that I paid you a visit today."
"I'm busy. Go home." The second prince replied coldly, not minding him at all.
"You wound me, your highness." Caleb then said and looked at Leo pitifully. "You are really the best for being able to put up on a master like him. I truly admire you, Leo."
Leo, who heard these comforting words couldn't help but look grateful. "At the very least, I'm glad that someone has finally recognized my efforts and sufferings."
"You two. Go get a room. Don't flirt in front of me." Prince Joaquin said nonchalantly, wanting to get rid of the annoyance as soon as possible.
"I am not cheating! You know that you are the only one in my heart, your highness!" Caleb suddenly declared and clasped the hand of the second prince without a second thought.
"ARE. YOU. DONE. WITH. YOUR. ANTICS?!!" Prince Joaquin yelled angrily as he forcefully pulled his hand back. "DO YOU SEE ME AS A JOKE?!!"
"PFFT! HA HA HA HA HA!" Caleb laughed out loud as soon as he saw the prince burst out in anger. "It is really my happiness to tease you! At least by doing so, I can see some changes in your stoic face!"
"Damn you! Get lost!" Prince Joaquin commanded.
"Yes. Yes." Caleb answered while nodding then a cheeky smile flashed on his face. "And here I am thinking that I can finally be free of this one-sided love because you finally got a fiancé. Tsk. But I don't even see her around. And I haven't heard that she came to visit you even after not seeing each other for long time. I'm sure she knows that you are back, right? And you don't even plan to let me meet her, don't you? Anyway, I will be seeing her sooner than expected. We'll, my presence is not welcome here so I'll take my leave, your highness."
Then, Caleb turned around and began walking towards the door.
"Sooner than expected? Which means?" Princr Joaquin automatically asked as soon as he heard Caleb's words.
"Hmmm? You really don't know?" Caleb asked in confusion as he stopped then turned around with a sudden spark flashed in his eyes. "Viscount Colleen's mother is celebrating her 80th birthday today and I heard that Duke Von Diovre's late wife is a relative, so his mother ordered him to make sure that they will attend. As per my reliable sources, I heard that the Duke will personally attend this time, something that he hasn't bothered to do for so many years."
Caleb then realized that the second prince was keenly listening. The prince, who had always been focused and neglectful towards him and his antics, was now playing with his shiny golden quill in his hand, and waiting patiently for his next words. His mind had wandered off and he tried to mask his surprise. What an interesting sight!
'This wasn't right at all!' Caleb pondered.
Prince Joaquin then frowned. "And?"
Truly, if this was any other day, the prince would just ignore him in passing, regardless of how valuable his gossip was. However —
Caleb looked at Leo in astonishment and the assistant just sighed and shrugged his shoulders.
Prince Joaquin began to tap his finger on the paper, looked up, and raised his eyebrows, looking annoyed. There is so much impatience in his face, "Why don't you continue?"
Caleb's mouth fell open. He truly felt that a miracle was happening at the moment because this is the first time that the prince is interested in rumors.
"He's visiting the Colleen family. Viscount Colleen is holding a birthday banquet. Do you want to go?" Caleb suddenly asked.
Prince Joaquin just gave Caleb an 'are you an idiot' kind of look.
'Since when would I bother going to a birthday banquet?' The prince thought.
"Well, rumors has it that the Duke's appearance is because he will be bringing his only beloved daughter with him at the banquet. Someone ran into the Von Diovre Family's carriage on the town a week ago and saw the Duke inside. And when the breeze lifted the curtain, they saw a beautiful young lady inside, too," Caleb said attentively, observing the prince reaction. "And guess what, the carriage was seen stopping in front of the most famous dressmaker shop in town. So everyone thinks the Duke personally asked the designer to make a dress for his daughter. It's at the Adelaide's Shop who only sells and designs dresses for high society banquets."
Caleb kept his unblinking gaze on the second prince as he spoke, not wanting to miss anything. He continued, "Many also believed that the Duke is taking this chance to let his daughter finally make her debut in high society. So many are excited to finally see the beauty of the princess of Von Diovre's Dukedom after all these years."
"Debut in high society?" Then Prince Joaquin frowned a little and tightened his grip on the golden quill. "Isn't too early for her to make a debut? There is still more or less a year before her coming-of-age ceremony. She's just 15 this year."
"It's true that most women makes a debut in high society during their coming-of-age ceremony, their 16th birthday, but people like the Duke can do so as he pleases and nobody will criticize him for making his daughter debut earlier." Caleb answered and then smirked. "A lot of powerful noble families actually does this for one reason."
"What reason?" The second prince asked with a vague ideo already present in his mind.
"Of course that is to find a prospective partner for their daughters. If they debut early, then men from noble families would get the right to formally propose. So they flock to send marriage proposals to the young lady as she's now formally debuted in high society. Then the lady would have more prospects to choose from and would reserve the best candidate for herself until her coming-of-age ceremony." Caleb responded quickly and somehow, he suddenly felt the energy within the room turned dangerously gloomy.
"Hah! Birthday banquet at the Viscount Colleen's manor?" Prince Joaquin darted a glance at Leo.
Leo took the hint right away and nodded. "Yes, sire. Viscount Colleen sent an invitation, but everyone knows that such an event is too petty for Your Royal Highness to attend, and the invitation was just out of politeness."
Prince Joaquin glared at his assistant but didn't say anything.
"Your Royal Highness, are you now going to attend the banquet at Viscount Colleen's manor?" Caleb gave Prince Joaquin a knowing look, his brows wiggling.
The second prince then narrowed his eyes, clenched his fists, and darted an arrogant look at Caleb. "Why? I can't? Wasn't it them who invited me?"
Caleb then smirked at the realization he concluded in his head. He thought the Colleen Family would never be given such an honor if it wasn't for the girl. Now, he is more than curious to meet her. Even though they grew up in the same empire, he heard that the whole Von Diovre Family is overly protective of the Duke's daughter. Thus, no one has really seen her in public except for her family and personal acquaintances. Caleb also knew that the girl has been frequently coming to the palace recently for her Crown Princess lessons but he never had the chance to meet her because they were staying at the academy. Moreover, he thinks the little girl got a hold on his highness because the prince would always react oddly whenever he receives her letters. Even during the second prince's coming-of-age ceremony, his 18th birthday, that little lady was a no show. This even made the second prince sulk for the entire year. Not because his father, the Emperor, didn't keep his promise to officially name him the Crown Prince. But because his little fiancé didn't attend his birthday even after not seeing each for years.
'Seeing that even his highness reacts this way right now, it means the girl must truly be interesting.' Caleb concluded. 'It will be fun to watch at the sidelines.'
"Of course you can. Right, Leo?" Caleb immediately answered and gave the assistant a wink.
"I will prepare everything right away, Your Highness. Would you like a plain carriage or..." Leo asked attentively.
Prince Joaquin then darted another arrogant look at Caleb and then turned to Leo. "It's been a while since I last used my Knights of Honor and I am sure that those guys are out of practice. It's time to put them to use now."
Both Leo and Caleb was speechless.
"But it's not even a big event, Your Highness. Wouldn't it be too excessive if you came with Knights of Honor in a Viscount's banquet?" Leo blurted out which earned him a sharp gaze from the prince.
"Do as you're told. If there is nothing else. I am going first. I have a banquet to attend." Prince Joaqin declared and stood up from his working table towards the door. "Leo, are you just gonna stand there?"
"I am coming, Your Highness. Let's go!" Leo responded right away as soon as he snapped out of his shock.
"PFFT. HA HA HA HA HA." Caleb laughed out loudly once more when heard the door shut and was left all alone in the room. "What an interesting and amusing sight. Oh, dear. I have never ever expected that a day like this will come."
Then his thoughts wandered off.
'Melanie Von Diovre. I am looking forward to meet you. I hope you don't disappoint.'
***
'Almost three years. It has been three years since I last saw that little girl. Three years since we last met and the last thing she told me was that she wanted to break off our engagement. Again with that request of hers as she gives me all the reasons as to why we shouldn't get married. Even with last letters I received from her, she was still asking me to break it off. At first it was amusing, but now I felt annoyed whenever that is brought up. And to think that she even made a very valid excuse to not attend my coming-of-age ceremony but now she's attending a distant relatives' birthday? Hah!' Prince Joaqin thought and smirked bitterly. 'Hah! I'm sure she knows that I've been back in the palace for almost a week now and she's not even bothered to send a greeting nor even make a visit. She even canceled a lesson at the palace yesterday just to avoid coming. She's clearly avoiding me! And now I'll hear the news that she will debut early like inviting all the wolves towards her!'
'Isn't she still engaged with me? Didn't I make myself clear that I don't want to cancel it?'
'Didn't we both agree to earn trust for each other?'
'It's really annoying to think that the little girl really hated the idea of marrying me. Why? What's wrong with me? I don't think I lack anything with my appearance, influence or power? I' m quite a good catch status wise and all.'
'Was it still because of that spoiler she told me a long time ago? Didn't I already promised her so many times in my honor that I would never kill her no matter what?'
'What more should I do for her to believe me? I believe I earned her trust by now but I guess I'm totally mistaken.'
'Does she really want to marry someone she loves?'
'What is love anyway? It's just an illusion. How can you even say it is love? Isn't better to build relationships based on mutual benefits?'
"Your Highness, everything has been prepared. I have already instruted the Knights of Honor and have prepared the gift for Viscount Colleen's mother. The carriage is also ready." Leo spoke up which pulled Prince Joaqin out of his reverie. "Do you have additional instructions, Your Highness?"
"Huh? Ehem." The second prince cleared his throat to conceal the fact that he wasn't exactly listening. "No. It's good. Since I'm also ready, we'll depart now."
Prince Joaqin purposely used the royal carriage to declare that he was from the royal family. He also made the Knights of Honor accompany him to show his power and grandeur. He wanted to make sure that he stood out the most. He will be the most suitable candidate. Pulling away the curtain from the window, he suddenly looked amused to see that so many guests in their carriages are on their way to the Colleen Family's Manor too.
"Let's see if the noble families will still have the courage to propose to you once they realized that you are my bethrothed." Prince Joaqin muttered and smirked.
'Greeting the small sun of the empire. Greetings, Your Highness the second prince.' Melanie greeted as she entered the room.
'Didn't I already tell you that I am not yet the Crown Prince?' The prince snorted coldly.
'But-'
'And didn't I tell you to just come by during the designated day and time? There's no need for you to come everyday.' Prince Joaqin said as-a-matter-of-factly, not bothering to even lift up his head and look at the little girl.
'I apologize. I don't mean to disturb you. I just came by to bring you some lunch.' Melanie still answered enthusiastucally and placed the carefully packed lunch in front of the second prince. 'I just came to drop this like always, Your Highness. I will not take too much of your time. I will go now.'
It's been 2 months ever since the second prince was informed of his engagement to the only daughter of Duke Orvin Van Diovre. It's been agreed upon that the two will have to meet once or twice a week so they can know more about each other. However, it's been two weeks ever since she started bringing him food for lunch and she never missed a day.
Sighing, Prince Joaqin blurted out. 'Ehem. Thank you.'
This remark made the little lady stop on her track and turned back to the prince. She then gave him a warm smile which stunned the prince. 'My pleasure.'
"Your Highness, we have finally arrived." An announcement was made outside the royal carriage.
'She's been accepting and enthusiastic of our engagement before. Why does she suddenly not want to marry me?' Prince Joaqin continued to ponder. 'Could it really be because of that spoiler or that nightmare she told me about? It really bothers me.'
"Your Highness?" A follow up voice sounded outside his carriage which finally made him aware that they have indeed arrived at the manor.
'Hah! What the hell am I even thiniking? Why do I even care? Tsk! Once I see her, I will surely punish her! Ignoring her fiancé this long and not attending my party but someone else's? Absolutely absurd!'
'Tsk! I need her family's power and influence to gain a stronghold once I'm officially declared as the Crown Prince. That's the reason why I cannot break off the engagement. She's the perfect match. It' ll be a loss to give up all benefits I can gain once the marriage pushes through.'
'I'm just here to watch her and claim her and be amused as always.'
'Yes. That's just it.'
Then the prince finally got out of his carriage. "Let's go."
***