“You nobles have no agenda except partying or what?” Rigel sighed while buttoning his dress shirt. Just two weeks ago, they had Cain’s birthday banquet. And now he had to attend another party to celebrate the fall harvest. This event is celebrated nationally of course. But Rigel–being a peasant he is–only accustomed to folk festivals not banquets.

He thought it would be okay to appear wearing his usual knight robe and basic outfit underneath, but Cain asked him to change. So that’s it. Order is an order despite Rigel not knowing why he had to dress up too. He looked damn good anyway. With a black and gray outfits that make his red hair and overall facial features stand out more. His bangs were combed neatly in a gentlemanly fashion, and the long hair behind was tied with silk white ribbon with pearl on its edge.

Lumi, eyeing Rigel who appeared from behind the partition, then clicked her tongue. “Can’t you finish dressing before showing yourself?

“Ey. You are allowed to appreciate this perfect skin here, Missy.” Rigel played with his collar, exposing a triangle space of pale skin. “Are you embarrassed?”

Lumi snorted, faking disgust. Rigel laughed. 

Cain was loosening his tie while sitting with a book on his lap. Once again, he and Lumi wore matching outfits. Cain’s deep red dress shirt and black vest with golden button looked like a groom costume for Lumi red and black bride-like ball gown. 

Rigel whistled. “Both of you really just have to wear matching outfits in every party, right?”

“They refused to give me anything else.” Lumi grumbled. 

At the single sofa in the study room, Selene Amalthea laughed softly. She wore a soft grey dress with black ribbon that accentuated her slender figure. 

“The three of you looked gorgeous.”

“Thank you, Mam. Your praise is my honor.” Rigel said politely. He buttoned his shirt properly this time. 

“And I was the one who asked Cain to prepare your outfit. After all, you’ll be my companion tonight.” 

Holden was unwilling to send Selene home despite her clear rejection. The king had to resort to negotiating things so she’d willing to stay until the fall harvest celebration. Holden would exchange Selene’s  two weeks' stay with letting Cain go back to Blanca Village with her for a month. 

This arrangement caused an uproar within the palace. Every maids talk behind their masters. Andromeda Aldebaran’s reaction was the hottest topic of gossip. The queen was throwing a tantrum. She refused to patrol around the palace, totally avoiding the chance to meet her rival while Holden tried his best to see Selene who followed Cain from class to class with Rigel and Lumi.

 Selene, despite being the center of attention and speculation, decided to end her stay in the palace with a bold move. She asked Rigel Winters, his son’s bodyguard with criminal status, to be her party partner for the fall harvest celebration.

What made all of this funnier because everyone in the palace knew, except Rigel himself. Apparently, when Selene asked the steward to prepare him for it, some of the maids heard it also. He was dumbfounded when Selene gave him a gift box with brand new suits inside.

Awkward, Rigel still smiled gently at Selene. “I am afraid I am not worthy of your presence, Madam.”

Cain was the one who answered him. “You are not. And please do not flirt with my mother.” 

“Ouch.” Rigel faking the hurtful expression.  “Madam, your son is not cute.”

The palace steward knocked on the door to Cain’s study room, alarming them that the party was about to start. 

“Shall we?” Rigel bent his elbow, offering courtesy. Selene smiled, taking the generous polite offer.

“Thank you.”

***

“What are you guys doing?”

The dusk was coming sooner at this time of the year. But it was still not too dark for Alan not to notice weird movement from several maids he could not recognize. The other maid might not think they were weird since all of the servants were originally divided by the working area. But since he kept a list of palace workers and knew their data like the back of his hand, it was not pure instinct that alarming him when he saw three new faces as the party was about to begin. 

“Si-sir!”

Alan raised one of his brows. He observed their faces in scrutiny, “You guys are not from here.”

Caught in the act, the three of them tried to flee from the scene as soon as possible. Alan caught one who was late to follow her friends. When he pulled her wrist, he saw the copper bangle he’s familiar with. 

“Do you… serve the Draco family?”

The Draco family had this unique custom to bestow their servants and knight a copper bangle that could be used to track their whereabouts. Since the region they ruled was prone to earthquakes and landslides. Sometimes this unique item was borrowed by the military when there was an expedition mission. 

“Let me go!”

“Answer me first.”

With his other hand, the maid gathered her power. She was a wind elementalist. Alan was not prepared to receive any attack. Even his defense was sloppy. The invisible knife made by wind scarred his arm. 

“Hey!”

The maid was strong. She was even strong enough to manipulate wind so she could flee faster from the scene. 

“Shit…” Alan rarely cursed. But to be hurt by a wind weapon, the pain he had to endure was not light at all. Blood seeped to his torn sleeves, leaving a big red stain. 

“To not be able to fight a maid? I don’t know what the princess sees in you.” 

The mockery came from behind him. Alan recognized Ruben Draco’s voice even before he turned his back to face him. Alan pressed his wound and faced Ruben as if there’s nothing wrong. 

“The guest entrance is far from here.” Alan showed a fake polite smile. “What brings you here, Sir?”

“I am sightseeing. Afterall, this could be my residence in the future.” Ruben shamelessly observed their surroundings and ended his mocking gesture by looking at Alan with a smirk. “You might end up as my advisor too.”

Ruben thought he hit a sore spot. After all, Phoenix was higher in class compared to Draco. But if Draco marries Estelle, then the table is turned.

“I don’t think the princess would want to be with someone who had harmed her mother.” 

Hearing that, Ruben clenched his fist. He never expected Alan to know. 

“You…”

“You may think I am steps behind you.” Alan smiled, ever so gentle yet it was scary. “But am I?”

Ruben’s eyes twitched. His already low voice went deeper. “You have no evidence against me.”

“You being afraid of my words is enough. At first it was a guess.” Alan’s grey eyes shone under the dusk. “But now I am sure.”

“The princess is one thing. But do you think the others would believe you?”

 “What’s the importance of others if it’s the princess you would want to marry?”

A constant small smile plastered on Alan’s face made Ruben anxious. In terms of power, he was sure this gentleman was not on par with him. Alan was a palace advisor and he was one of the best knights Alrauna ever had. But Ruben felt like he better not underestimate Alan. Something was not right about him and probably it clouded his assessment. He chose to be careful. 

“Oh yes. What’s the importance of others?” Ruben scoffed. “And what’s the importance of the princess’s opinion if the queen still wanted me to be her son in law?”

***

Ruben Draco was clearly picking a fight, yet Alan refused to take the bait. At least, for Alan it is not the time yet to show his true color. So he just left . 

“Excuse me.” Alan knocked the door to the paramedics office before turning the knob lightly. He could feel even the slightest movement cause pain on his wounded arm. He hissed. 

That damn Ruben Draco would surely pay for this someday. 

“Mister Thomas? Madam Lizz?” 

“Need me to treat you?”

Alan was surprised to see that it was not the paramedic on duty who welcomed him. Estelle sat on the paramedic’s chair. She sighed when she saw how bad the state Alan was in. 

“It’s rare to see you actually surprised by my actions.” She stood and dragged Alan to the nearest sofa. Lifting his sleeve, her expression was full of rage when seeing how bad the bleeding was. 

“There’s no way I’ll marry that animal.” She grumbled. 

Alan retracted his hand before his blood tainted Estelle’s dress. “Why are you…?”

“I saw both of you.”

“But…”

“And I know you’d be here. I asked Thomas to go outside so you have no choice but to let me help you.” Estelle pulled back Alan’s hand. The medicine box was already prepared on the table.

“I can’t let your dress get dirty…” Alan tried to reason with Estelle. He stared at how her lilac dress fitted perfectly showing her perfect body line. The accessories were from diamond but quite modest for a princess. And the cutting clearly showed that the dress was custom made. It would be a disaster to let such a dress stained. 

This princess was ready to go to the banquet. Yet she chose to be here. Estelle could be unreasonable sometimes. It’s not like Estelle had adequate knowledge to treat people either. She was a princess, used to letting her servants take care of trivial matters.

“I saw you do this for Cain often. No matter how stupid I am, I basically know how to tie the bandage.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Do you dislike my touch?” She asked while cleansing the blood with a hand towel and warm water. She pinched Alan’s palm lightly. “Is this disgusting to you?”

“You know that’s not what I mean.” 

Silence. Estelle just continued her job treating Alan’s wound. Fortunately the scars was a lot, but not deep enough to require stitches. 

“Done.” Estelle tightened the bandage.

“Thank you.” Alan moved his hand, made sure that the bandage was tight enough. Estelle must really have paid attention every time Alan treated her brother. 

“Princess?” Alan called her in a questioning tone when Estelle reached for his hand. To his surprise, Estelle brought his palm to her cheek. His thumb caressed the soft skin. 

“I want you.”

Alan was left speechless. He knew this princess had liked him for a long time. Alan responded to her because he could see her sincerity. But recently, it felt like Estelle was obsessed. She asked things Alan never expected such as taking the throne and what Alan thought of her honestly. For the last part, Alan couldn’t really answer. 

Estelle landed a chaste kiss on his wrist. Alan felt like he had to hold his breath when seeing Estelle glanced at him with complex emotion reflected in her eyes. 

“I don’t want that Ruben. It’s you that I want.” Estelle repeated herself. She made sure to press every word she uttered. 

“I…”

Before Alan could reply, Estelle leaned over and sealed his lip with hers. 

***

It was a quiet and calm evening. For sure, Rigel thought nobles are pretentious and do not know how to have fun. Their party was always about dancing to some classic songs, enjoying the buffet and expensive wine while chattering about recent gossip in the capital.

It bored him.

Rigel leaned his back to the wall, eyes still watching Cain and Lumi who had to open the banquet by having their first dance tonight. While he admitted it was such a nice view just like a painting–handsome prince and beautiful princess together on the dance floor, he was sure it would be more fun for both of them to join folk dancing with other youngsters in the town square. Bet they had never tasted cheap plum wine and Rigel would be more than glad to introduce them to street food stalls and greasy snacks. His late brother was around Cain’s age when he left, and being in his late teens he was really fond of such festivities where he could forget the pile of academic’s stuff for a  while. 

Reminiscing about his brother caused his chest to feel a little bit suffocated. Rigel sipped his orange juice and tried to clear his mind. He had to focus. Alan said to be careful tonight. Rigel could see his bandaged arm when they met at the entrance. Alan didn’t explain anything else, only telling him to be careful. 

At the dance floor, Estelle was now dancing with Corvus Phoenix. Must be because Alan is hurt, Rigel thought. 

“I know this from the first time I met you. You are a really observant person, right?” Beside Rigel, Selene–who watched her son dancing with Lumi–chuckled. “I am so relieved that you are the one who protects Cain.”

“Well…” Actually it was his first time being told such a thing. Even the kind Alan seemed to hold some uncertainty of leaving Cain in his care at first. It was understandable of course, Rigel was painfully aware of his status. “Thank you.”

“I used to worry about how he was only close to his step sister and that young Phoenix. And Lumi. But Lumi was like his sister so she could not really influence him in any way.” Selene waved her hand to the passing servants, giving him the empty glasses of juice she’d just finished. “But now I don’t have to anymore.”

Why?–was a question Rigel threw softly to her spontaneously. 

Selene smiled. She linked her arm to Rigel. “After being in your care, I see that both Cain and Lumi changed.”

“For the better?”

“Obviously.”