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Chapter 9 - Ordinary Man

Gwen looked at her phone in disbelief. Arthur sounded shocked at first but she did not expect that he would just let her come to his house like that. 

"So, He's being serious with me? It seems like he has nothing to hide??" Gwen did not understand Arthur's response. "Maybe Helen was right…Maybe I think too much. The probability is 50:50. He might be the prince…or he might not…"

"Woah…" Gwen looked in amusement when Arthur served their dinner on the table, "You– you really cooked this by yourself??"

"We went grocery shopping together and you saw me cooking. Why so surprised?" Arthur laughed and joined her in for dinner.

"I thought you were just going to prepare for something simple."

Arthur smiled while opening a bottle of champagne, "You underestimate me," he said while pouring it into their glasses before they started their dinner.

"That's not what I mean! It's just…you know– I actually feel bad for asking you to do the date tonight…I thought you mustn't be prepared much and I'm totally fine and understand that! I didn't expect to receive something grand like this."

"Are you testing me?" 

"Huh?" 

"You were asking for a date so suddenly and didn't give me time to prepare, Is this a test for me?" 

"Eum…T-That's…" Gwen scratched her neck, feeling anxious, "I'm sorry."

Arthur burst into laughter because he did not expect that she would be this honest, "You can't lie, can you?" 

"Eum…my friend, The one who went with me to the club, She said that if I want to know a man better, I should come to his place." 

"Really? So, What do you get after you're here?"

"Eum…nothing. You're just–A single man, living alone." 

Arthur choked on his food due to Gwen's answer about him and he couldn't hold back his laugh anymore.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"No! Hahaha! Nope! You're just too straightforward. Your answers are always unexpected. That's why It's fun to talk to you. But you're right! I've never invited anyone to my house except my cousin–and you." 

"Is that because…you don't let them come or…you're just an introvert who doesn't have any friends?" 

"Both." 

"I see…." Said Gwen and continued to munch her food. "So, you let me come to your house because you like me?" 

"Eum."

"Will I be able to come out from here after this?"

Arthur laughed and placed his chin on his palm while staring at Gwen, "What do you think? Do you want to stay the night here?"

"I–I'll think about it," Said Gwen trying to avoid Arthur's honey gaze because it made her nervous. 

"Tch–" He let out a warm chuckle and finished his meal. "If you have finished, Just place it there. I'll take care of it later."

"Do you want to go somewhere?"

"I want to change my clothes. Cooking made me quite sweaty. I don't want you to avoid me because I smell bad. It won't take long," Arthur got up from his chair and ran to his bedroom.

While waiting for him, Gwen looked around his apartment. He has a nice and neat apartment, but there wasn't something grand  or extraordinary in that house, "Maybe I'm really overthinking…" 

The Bartender put Max's orders on the table counter, "This is the first time I saw someone bring their work-related stuff to a nightclub. You should go to the cafe or something–"

Max opened his alcohol and poured it into the glass and gulped it down, "I guess, I'm getting used to the noisy atmosphere…Cafes or any quiet places aren't vibing with me plus it's just a drawing, I don't need to concentrate much for it."

"I guess living as the son of the minister is quite boring, Isn't it?"

"Kind of…My parents are busy, My sister's abroad…so I go seek for something–fun?" 

"But aren't you worried? Some girls might use you because they know you're the minister's son. Moreover, You're the King's nephew and the Prince's cousin." 

"They can do whatever they want. I won't be bothered by it. I have had a crush on someone for quite some time." 

"Oooh~ sweet guy! I thought you were a bad boy."

Max laughed at the bartender who always serves his order, "Never judge a book by its cover." 

"Go away from me!" 

Max and the bartender turned to the side when they heard a woman screaming out of annoyance. 

— 

"What the heck was wrong with you?! Didn't we promise we'd meet up?! You were the one who ran away from me and blocked my contact, Left me in the dark!"

"Then you should have stayed out of my business–"

"I need your explanation of why you are behaving like this?! Or You're acting like this because you feel superior due to your father's position as the prime minister?!"

"Why are you bringing my Father's job?! There's nothing to do with my dad! I left you hanging because I saw you were making out with another girl on the day when we should have met up with each other!" 

The man was taken aback. He did not expect that Helena would see everything, "T-That's… Helena please forgive me–"

"DON'T TOUCH ME!!" She stepped back when he came forward and tried to hug her until a huge hand landed on the side of his face and pushed him onto the floor. 

"What the f–"

"What? Do you want to curse at me? Do it." 

Helena froze on the spot–admiring the tall figure who just appeared to save her, Max. She turned to the man who quickly got up and went away because he did not want to create any troubles with the ministers' kids. 

"Thank you. You're Maximilian, Aren't you? I think I often see you at Palace's events?"

"Yea…because our dads are working in the same field. Just call me Max, anyway." 

"Do you know my name?"

"I know. Helena."

Helena's cheeks flushed in red because She was happy–Max turned out to remember her name, "I feel honored to be remembered by the son of the economic ministry."

"Your father is the Prime minister."

"And yours is the little brother of the King. Is the Prince here with you?" 

"Nope. He has his own matters. Are you upset?"

"Nope…I've never been interested in chasing him."

"Nice…I actually came here to chill and doing some little work. Care to join?"

"Helping you with your work?"

Max laughed at Helena's question, "Join to drink with me while I'm finishing my work." 

"I see….such a tempting invitation…"

Max led her to the empty seat next to him and he ordered another glass for Helena, "How much you can take for the alcohol? Because the last time we danced together, You passed out because you were too drunk."

"Ah…that time…I blamed that jerk for it."

Max poured a little alcohol to Helena's and his glass. They clinked their glasses together before gulped it down, "You were getting drunk because of a man? That jerk didn't deserve it."

"I know right? I was so dumb for it." Helena took another gulp of her alcohol, and didn't realize yet that Max was staring at her. "Tch– why are you looking at me like that? Want to dance again?"

Max chuckled and drank his alcohol, "I can't. I don't have energy for it. I have to finish my project. The deadline is coming." 

"Are you coming to a nightclub to work??"

"I am."

"Wow….that's amazing," Helena covered her mouth with her hands due to some admiration for Max's dedication to his job, "Should I just leave or what? I don't want to disturb you." 

"Haha it's fine! I'm done actually. I just don't have energy to dance…"

"You don't have energy to dance?"

"Eum."

"How about something else?" Helena gave him a meaningful look and Max actually did not know what she was thinking about, but somehow he knew what she was thinking about and he couldn't wait to confirm it.