WHO MADE ME A PRINCE
chapter eighty two - jennette.

"OH WELL, SINCE WE HAVE THE COINCIDENCE OF MEETING TWICE, will you accept a dance with me?" Arius stretched out his hand and gave her a wink.

Jennette just stared at him in a daze and Arius took her hand in his own.

He turned to face the nobles who were whispering about her a while ago and gave them a glare. A glare fitting a son of the cold-blooded emperor.

The nobles knew better than to stand in his way and cleared a path to the centre of the ballroom.

The fourth song had just begun and so Arius and Jennette soon blended in with the other pairs of dancers.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Jennette spoke as they danced underneath the sparkling chandeliers.

"What for? I was merely finding a way to escape the nobles." Arius stated this, the way he was dancing with Jennette, being ever so careful as to not go too fast for her, and make sure none of her bruises hurt as she danced.

Jennette would probably be around the same age as Arius, but Arius still thought of her as his little sister.

As they danced Jennette had a smile etched on her face. She definitely looked like a female lead.

"How did you know my name, your highness?" she asked with hopeful eyes.

Arius wondered the appropriate answer to this. Telling her he knows they're related would make Jennette question why the royal family hadn't welcomed her despite knowing she was one of them.

And feigning ignorance to that wouldn't go well with Arius's conscience.

She deserved to know.

Arius gave her a smile of pity. "That's because Lady Margarita, you're–"

"Brother?!" Arius looked up and around to see Athanasia staring at Arius and Jennette.

But Athanasia wasn't alone, standing beside the pair of cousins was another pair dancing, Athanasia and Ijekiel.

Athanasia had the most confused look on his face, and Ijekiel wasn't doing any better.

Arius just gave his little sister a wink, before continuing his dance. He was careful not to mistakenly step on Jennette's feet.

And not so surprisingly, Jennette hadn't stepped on his feet either.

Speaking of which, her dance was almost close to perfect. She was probably looking forward to this debutante so much that she practiced a lot for the dance.

Arius gave her another smile of pity, before continuing the dance. Jennette didn't talk much throughout the dance, she would merely look at Arius as if her dream was becoming reality.

She yearns for a family. Her eyes looked so desperate for affection and validation.

As the fourth song ended, Arius and Jennette bowed to each other.

Jennette was about to say something, probably thank Arius for the dance, but Athanasia stepped in between them, "I'm sorry Lady Margarita, may I borrow him for a while?"

Jennette took a step back from the startle, "Er–Uh–Sure."

Athanasia dragged Arius off the centre and towards a secluded area. But right after Athanasia stopped, Arius was the one to drag her out of the ballroom. They went to one of the outer terraces, he used magic to create a soundproof barrier and then gestured for Athanasia to begin.

"Okay. WHAT. WAS. THAT."

"Geez, just cause there's a sound barrier doesn't mean you should scream your lungs out."

"Brother look, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with dancing with her, I'm just saying-requesting, can you please tell me before you do something that involves her?"

Arius sighed, "I was looking for you, and I bumped into her. And the nobles began looking down on her so I asked her to do a dance to make the nobles keep their tongues under control."

"Sigh , Okay so, why were you looking for me?"

"Food."

Athanasia raised her eyebrow.

"For someone who usually has a stomach on par to a black hole you haven't even touched the amazing snacks they have."

"Is it too much to ask you to be nice, on this day at least?"

"Hey! I left my food to come get you, that's plenty nice."

"Would've killed you to come sooner? The nobles surrounded me like bees around a flower."

"Like flies around-"

Athanasia stepped on Arius's feet before he could complete that sentence. He winced in pain before leaning on the balcony.

"Too bad the heels aren't sharp enough to make a hole in your feet."

"Oh, they aren't sharp?"

"Anyways, now what?"

Arius used his magic to soothe the pain in his feet before asking, "What?"

"Oh please, I know you're up to something, it's written all over your face. Are you gonna reveal Jennette's existence yourself instead of waiting for Roger Alpheus?"

Arius looked a bit surprised. Athanasia's tone wasn't harsh, it was normal.

"Athy that's. . ." Arius tried to find the best way to explain how he sympathized with Jennete and why he wanted to help her so badly.

"Go ahead and do it." Athanasia leaned on the balcony with her arms.

"Did you see her dress?- wait what?"

"What about her dress?" Athanasia asked.

"No wait– What did you say?"

"I said go ahead and do it."

"Did. . . you accidentally drink wine?"

"As you said before, I trust dad. And I trust you. So I'll trust your decision. And no matter what happens, I know it won't end up like the original." Athanasia smiled at him.

Arius's face brightened up before he gave Athanasia a brief yet sudden hug. "Thanks Athy."

"No need to thank me, she has the right to know who she is and be treated that way. By the way, what was that about her dress?"

Arius gave her a smile before explaining his opinion on why her dress was fit to the point it looked painful.

Meanwhile, in the ballroom Ijekiel and Jennette had begun dancing. "Jennette, father would be mad if you approached the royals without discussing with him first."

"I–I'm sorry, but I couldn't refuse a dance from his highness."

"He was the first to offer the dance?" Ijekiel asked.

"Pardon? Yes."

"I see. For now, you should stay with the other noble ladies. Father will call you if the time is right. If he sees you interacting with the royals without his knowledge. . . "

"Yes, I understand."

Right as the dance was over, Ijekiel wanted to go greet and congratulate Arius and maybe ask for a dance...Ijekiel immediately shook his head at the thought. He wanted to leave Jennette in the company of someone before going.

And right as he examined the room to see a suitable company for her, Princess Athanasia came forward to them Athanasia walked towards them, but she wasn't looking at him. She was looking at Jennette.

And then finally when Athanasia reached them.

"I apologize for stealing your dance partner, Lady Margarita. Lord Ijekiel, may I borrow the lady for a while? I've been wanting to make friends with my debutante and, upon my observation, Lady Margarita seems the friendliest among all ladies attending."

"Ah?' Ijekiel looked at Jennette who seemed to be in a daze. She was smiling and her face had happiness sprinkled all over. She looked at Ijekiel as if asking for permission.

"Of course." Ijekiel spoke, Jennette was hesitant to go, but Ijekiel whispered, "I'll explain it to my father, don't worry. This is your debutante as well. Go enjoy." Ijekiel smiled before giving her a light push.

"Please take care of her, Your Highness." Ijekiel smiled at Athanasia.

Athanasia held Jennette's hand as soon as Jennette walked to her side. But before the two girls left, Athanasia spoke, "Lord Ijekiel, if you're going to look for my brother, he'll be in the corner balcony of the second floor."

"Thank you, Princess." Ijekiel bowed. And with that the two girls disappeared in the crowd.