It was finalised that the first week of the Queen of Angkova’s birthday month would consist of three main events and involve all her guests. Instructions were given and itineraries were distributed to all participants. 

Prince Veo’s features carried a disdainful expression as Felipe read the itinerary to him. A group date to the Art Museum of Angkova (AMA) on Tuesday, Trivia Night on Thursday after dinner, and a Talent Show for the Queen on Saturday. It was currently Monday evening, meaning that tomorrow, Veo was expected to dress up and play nice with a bunch of people he didn’t know or like. Mostly.

Felipe laid out his clothes for tomorrow’s activities. “Your Highness, I have laid out tomorrow’s O.O.T.D at your dresser.”

“My what?” Veo asked in bewilderment. 

“Outfit of the Day, sir,” answered Felipe. “It is internet slang for the younger generation, people my age,”

Veo’s jaw dropped open. “Are you calling me old?”

Felipe’s colours lighted pink in amusement. “I would never, sir,” he replied. But his emotions, which Veo could clearly see, gave him away. 

The Prince clicked his tongue in annoyance. “Oh, whatever. Get out of my sight,”

Wisely, Felipe chose not to argue, though he very much wanted to say, “Arguably, I’ve never been in your sight, sir.” The other alpha left quietly anyway.

~

The AMA had been closed for the entire day. It did make Veo feel better about the whole group date thing, truth be told. At least, there would be no other strangers there to witness his awkwardness. 

Felipe had laid out a neatly pressed button shirt and slacks. He had no idea if they matched his shoes or whatever, but no one had said anything or snickered, so his servant had yet to fail him. 

In fact, Ms Timbers had come up to him. “You look nice,” she had said with a smile.

Veo inclined his head in acknowledgement. “Thank you. I’m sure you look nice too.”

She had laughed at that and left for her own ride to the museum. 

Everyone had their own ride. By the time they had arrived and parked their cars, the outside of the museum was lined with luxury cars of all shapes and colours. Tourists and locals could be found gawking at the sight, but none were allowed entry into the premises that had been cordoned off that Tuesday. 

Dimitri had driven Tenshi to the museum in their Lexus. The rest of the chauffeurs were encouraged to tag along as chaperones or to enjoy the museum at their own leisure while Prince Veo and the omegas were otherwise occupied. But only some of them took up the offer. 

One of them was Dimitri. While Tenshi would have to remain close to Veo, Dimitri was now free to do a discreet reconnaissance of the building. It was convenient and he set off to do just that. 

Tenshi found Prince Veo standing a little uncomfortably to the side when he entered the building. Ms Ella Timbers stood close by and seemed to be the only thing stopping the other omegas from coming too close. He touched his pocket, Tenshi had taken to carrying her locket around hoping to return it somehow. 

As he approached them, she raised a condescending eyebrow at him. Wow, it was no wonder no one else had dared to approach. However, Tenshi had a responsibility to fulfil and went over anyway.

“Prince Veo, Ms Timbers,” he greeted. 

“You don’t sound Japanese,” Ms Timbers remarked.

He gave her a cool smile. “I received foreign education,” he replied.

“Stop that,” interjected Veo. “We are all friends here,” he said. With emphasis on the ‘friends.’"

Tenshi shot Ms Timbers a wary look, but she had backed down. Still, he took the locket out from his pocket. “Here,” he said. “I think this might be yours. Sorry for peeking, but the picture inside resembles you quite a bit.”

Ms Timbers gasped in surprise. She snatched the necklace back. “Where did you get this?” she demanded.

Prince Veo was looking at him with surprise. He shifted uncomfortably. “Um, I found it on the ground.”

He really hoped that Prince Veo didn’t say anything about it right now. Ms Timbers clearly didn’t recognise him as one of her assailants and he wasn’t exactly comfortable with telling her right now.

“Oh, I thought I’d lost this forever,” she cried and touched a finger to the picture inside lovingly. “Thank you,” she turned to Tenshi with eyes that glittered with unshed tears. “Thank you so much.” 

“It was no problem at all,” he demurred. Prince Veo kept silent. 

Ms Timbers quickly fastened the necklace around her neck again. “Well, thank you for returning this,” she smiled at him. “Maybe the three of us should stick close to each other.” The blonde omega appraised him shrewdly. “Between the two of us, we should be able to keep the rest of the vultures away from this royal Highness,” she declared.

Tenshi blinked. As did Veo. “Alright,” he said and turned to Veo. “You can hold on to me as a guide,” he offered.

“That would be much appreciated,” smiled the Prince.

~

As Ms Timbers “We’re friends now, call me Ella” had predicted, there were a few dirty looks for a couple of omegas who did try to talk to Prince Veo alone. Most had chosen to interpret “group date” in their own way and either kept to themselves or talked to the other omegas. Frankly, it was a sight that Veo both appreciated and was amused by very much. Mother had tried to set them up, but people certainly had different views of matchmaking now. 

And seeing as there weren’t that many people to fight off after all, Ella eventually grew bored with them and wandered off to flirt with the alpha she had seen skulking around the gallery with the fifteenth-century paintings. Prince Veo and Tenshi were left alone in mildly awkward silence that hadn’t been so apparent while Ella was busy chattering at them.

“Um,” began Tenshi. “How’s your arm?”

“Could be worse,” he said simply.

“Would you like me to describe the paintings for you? Or read the plaques?” he asked Veo. Mentally, he wondered why on earth were they in a museum when the Prince was blind and couldn’t see anything.

Veo squeezed his elbow in surprise. “You’d do that?” 

“Sure,” he shrugged. “I can’t promise it will be the best description, but I can try my best.”

“Already better than nothing. Please do,” encouraged Veo. His teeth were biting into his lower lip to keep himself from smiling too widely. It was cute, Tenshi thought.

The alpha, who was only a couple inches taller than he was—partly because of the shoes that Prince Veo was wearing—pulled him over to stand before the gilded frame of a painting. They were in the seventeenth-century gallery and the paintings were very firmly at the peak of the Baroque art period. 

Tenshi winced internally. Baroque tended to be highly elaborate and detailed. Well, it was better than modern art he supposed. How did one even begin to explain abstracts? 

Much to his surprise, as soon as Tenshi provided a suitable description of the painting—which depicted a feast with overflowing bowls of fruits, cuts of meats, seafood platters and cheese, and goblets of wine—Prince Veo provided his own response.

“I love this painting,” he exclaimed with a pleased smile. 

“Oh,” said Tenshi rather slowly. “Of course, you’ve been here before.”

“Yes, well, I’m an Art detective,” Prince Veo said offhandedly, attention mostly directed at the food painting. “You know, in my day job, when I’m not here playing ‘The Bachelor’, I mean. It’s because Art fascinates me.” 

“Oh,” Tenshi said again faintly. That was an unexpected circumstance that seemed worth taking note of. “Oh,” he repeated when it became apparent that the Prince was waiting for a response. “But you can’t see,” he said stupidly.

Immediately, Tenshi cringed. That was the most insensitive he could possibly say! 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean—” 

“It’s fine,” Veo cut him off. “I know I can’t see.”

There was an awkward bubble of silence where they stood in front of the painting. And Tenshi bit his tongue to keep from speaking.