WHO MADE ME A PRINCE
chapter eighty six - end of debutante.

"WHY DON'T YOU GUESS?" The man replied. Arius racked his brain to figure out who this man was. But was distracted by the movement of the man's feet closer to Arius.

"Princess Jennette De Alger Obelia." He spoke after his first step. "I do wonder, why are you helping her get into the Palace?"

Arius edged to the balcony and wondered if jumping was a good idea or not, but also answered the man's question.

"She is my cousin. She's family. She deserves everything we do."

"Ha, trying to sound noble? I didn't come to hear your excuses." The man's eyes glowed brighter.

Arius used his mana to slowly build a barrier around himself. He wondered where the hell Lucas was positioned as a guard.

The man stepped closer. "Unlike you, I don't always have ulterior motives behind my actions." Arius spoke.

"Unlike me? Hah, you sound just like your father." The man suddenly walked swiftly towards Arius, breaking his barrier in seconds and placing his hand around his face.

"This is my last question, boy. What do you intend on doing to Jennette once she enters the Palace?"

Arius placed his one hand on the man's arm which was stretched to his face.

Jewels glared at Jewels. The man's intimidating magic energy seemed to be seeping out and Arius did the same with his mana. Arius replied through their glares.

"Protect. her."

The man's jeweled eyes widened in anger, but he stepped back. Withdrawing his hand from Arius.

He gave Arius one last glare before walking to the balcony door.

"Not so fast." A voice spoke from behind Arius. Standing on the balcony bars was Lucas, as he snapped his fingers and the door jammed. He hovered his hand towards the man, in an attempt to bind him.

The man looked back to glance at Lucas concentrating his magic before suddenly disappearing.

"Tch!" Lucas sounded before stepping down onto the balcony.

"You should go after him! He probably didn't teleport far." Arius told him before getting lost in his own train of thoughts.

Who was that man?

Was he... concerned for Jennette?

And since the protection spell Claude had cast on him didn't activate, does that mean the man didn't mean to harm him?

The surroundings were quiet, allowing Arius to think easily.

He had unconsciously been looking at the stone floor while thinking, and his thoughts came to a halt when he noticed the pair of black shoes that stepped in front of him.

Raising his head, he saw rubies staring at him. He stared back for a while before realizing what his presence here meant.

"L–Lucas, you should go after him!"

The warlock sighed. "He's no longer on Palace Grounds."

"Oh. . . he teleported that far?" Arius averted his eyes from the still staring rubies as he delved deeper into his thoughts.

And once again his thoughts were disturbed, when the warlock's right hand brushed over Arius's cheeks and slight looks concerned.

"Did you get hurt? They're red."

Arius's brain froze for a second. He soon brought his own hand towards his cheek, making Lucas retract his hand. "He only grabbed my face, but not too tightly, so it doesn't hurt."

Although, Arius said that, his cheeks were now unconsciously turning a brighter red. Lucas's concern soon turned to realization that Arius was blushing.

This made him a bit flustered as well.

The two now stood in silence, both controlling their facial expressions.

Lucas cleared his throat and held Arius's hand.

"We should go back inside."

"We?" Arius asked confused as Lucas dragged him forward.

Lucas snapped his finger and Arius understood he casted the illusion spell again.

The silence between them was too loud. As they walked back to the hall, Lucas would squeeze Arius's hand and occasionally brush his thumb over his hand.

And then smirk when they make eye contact.

Arius had no clue what he was trying to do. As soon as they entered the hall, Lucas decided to go his own way. He simply wanted to ensure Arius's safety till the hall.

And so they separated as soon as they entered.

Arius went back to his cousins and saw Athanasia and Jennette interacting with them as well. He joined them and they spent a rather short time conversing before Arius decided to make use of the setting to make connections with nobles.

He went up to his father, who was already busy with nobles. He stood by his side and met nobles, who came to greet and congratulate him, alongside him.

After about twenty constant minutes of greeting and small talk with nobles, Arius noticed Claude's anger level rising.

Well, he's probably tired. He doesn't like banquets and yet he stayed here this whole time for us.

"Dad, I'll be right back." He said as he went to go find Athanasia and Jennette.

It's been a long night, with a lot of events, so he was sure everyone was tired.

As he reached his cousins and sister, he noticed them holding champagne glasses.

"Athy. . . you shouldn't be–"

"It was his idea." Athanasia pointed to Edwin.

"Your highness, I told them it was a bad idea." Jennette spoke in a whisper.

"Hey it's not like it was your dad or our sister who caught us. So we're safe, right?" Edwin looked at Arius before getting another champagne glass.

Arius gave Edwin this absolutely bewildered look, but accepted the glass. "Athanasia, Jennette, we have to go after this. Dad's waiting for us." He started before taking a sip.

And suprisingly he found champagne quite nice. It had a sweet peachy taste. And without knowing how, both Athanasia and Arius's glasses were soon empty.

They looked at each other with the same mischief in their eyes. But Edna stopped them.

"That's enough for kids."

"You do realize this was our debutante. We're officially adults." Arius stated.

"Not in the sight of your father, and not mine. So no." Edna replied.

"We should get going now." Arius ran his hand through his hair, which had been set with a lot of effort. But hey, he was leaving now so it's fine.

Jennette held on to Athanasia's hand as the trio went to the emperor, after saying goodbye to the Villareals.

Arius looked around hoping to find Millicent somewhere, he hadn't seen her much throughout the banquet.

Oh well, she'll be staying in the Palace for a couple days so I'll see her tomorrow.

Upon meeting up with Claude, the royals soon left the banquet hall and arrived in the carriage. Arius and Athanasia's walking was inconsistent and unsteady.

Jennette was helping Athanasia walk more steadily, meanwhile Arius bumped into Claude who had stopped after arriving at the carriage.

It didn't take Claude long to realize what his children had consumed to be acting like this. He glared at Jennette. "You will tell me exactly what happened."

"Uh, Your Majesty, I, it was. . . " Jennete didn't want to give out the fact that Edwin had proposed the plan since he would get in trouble. So she remained quiet.

"Daddy! Are we back yet?" Athanasia asked.

Claude decided now wasn't the best time, and helped his children get on the carriage.

As soon as Arius and Athanasia were on the carriage, Claude stepped in as well, and ordered a servant beside the carriage.

"Prepare another carriage for her. She won't be riding with us."

Jennette stood there, her hand clenching onto her dress as she willed herself to control her expressions. She smiled at the order and bowed. She knew this would happen. The emperor hated her.

But right before the carriage door shut, Arius jumped out. Shocking both Claude and Jennette, he stood unsteadily and said, "Don't bully Jennete, dad!"

Jennete's eyes widened at the statement.

"If she can't ride with us! Then I'll ride with her!" Arius stated while raising his hand up in the air.

Claude stared at Arius with raised eyebrows. Jennette's cheeks turned red from gratitude and somewhat embarrassment.

"Don't be foolish." Claude said.

Athanasia was slowly getting up as well, despite her drowsy eyes and unsteady movement. "I'm with you!" Athanasia also raised her hand from within her carriage.

Claude stared dumbfounded at his children's resolve while being drunk.

Arius suddenly took Jennette's hand and gestured for her to get inside.

Jennette hesitated, looked at Claude who just averted his eyes, and then took a step on the carriage stairs.

After Jennette got in and sat beside Athanasia, Arius also came inside and sat beside Claude.

The royal siblings soon drifted off to sleep, leaving Jennette and Claude being the only ones awake. Athanasia was leaning on Jennette's shoulder and Arius was leaning on Claude's.

Jennette closed her eyes as if to try and pretend to be sleeping as well. But Claude only said one sentence before not talking at all.

"You are not my daughter."