“I imagine he could be quite intimidating if he wanted to be.”
There was no mistaking the husky interest in Jasmine’s voice, and Ryu fought not to roll his eyes. The last thing he needed right now was to spend an evening listening to the princess wax lyrical about Kentario’s handsome face and refined physique. “But as the crown prince, I suppose you’d get just as much attention,” she continued. “I know I do. Every eligible alpha in Iderheil has managed to find some reason to send me a gift or invite me to a ‘special banquet’. It gets thoroughly tiresome.”
So was she interested in Kentario or not? Before Ryu could work out how he was supposed to answer her, their conversation was cut off as both Danag and Kentario approached their corner of the room. There was a full round of introductions, bows and curtseys, and the almost farcical parroting of ‘Your Majesty’, ‘Your Highness’, and ‘My Lord’, until Ryu just wanted to hit his head against a wall. Following that, there were the customary compliments, with everyone telling everyone else how beautiful their dress was, or how delighted they were to be attending the Festival.
“What a difference one generation makes,” Jasmine muttered to Ryu, once the introductions were over and the older nobles had got down to the business of some serious small talk. “I dare say you’re as tired of this as I am, and Mister Amagarda looks like he just accidentally ate a fly. The ‘grown-ups’, on the other hand…”
Danag was smiling charmingly at Jasmine’s aunt, listening patiently to some anecdote or other and looking completely at ease with the situation. If one looked closely, it was clear that Danag was keeping an eye on King Sou at the same time. Sou was currently talking to his sister, Princess Yuko, but in a small gathering like this, that consisted mainly of family and trusted guests, there was little need for Danag to stick to the king’s side as he would have done at larger events.
“Some days I’d love to know what it’s like to be a commoner,” Ryu admitted. “To just go and sit in a café and not have to worry about whether you’re wearing the right colour suit or the right style of tie.”
“I’d love to be allowed to eat a slice of cake with my fingers,” Jasmine said wistfully. “Or I could completely shock the world and actually take off my sandals when we go to the beach. Princesses are apparently not allowed to be barefoot, even then.”
“Much more of this and you two will be starting your own private revolution,” Kentario said, stepping a fraction closer to them, and a fraction further away from the political discussion in the process. Jasmine stiffened slightly as he spoke, no doubt wary of his formidable reputation. But Ryu knew Kentario far better, for all the scowl on his face, and he wasn’t surprised by his next words. “Next you’ll be telling me you want to order take-away pizza and have a picnic on the grass by the riverbank. Pure anarchy, I tell you.”
“Like you can talk,” Ryu said. “You’re the one who’s incapable of wearing his own uniform and who taught me how to sneak out the spare bedroom window as a kid so I could play in the gardens after bedtime.”
“Did you really?!” Jasmine looked genuinely shocked for a moment. Then the shock melted into puppyish longing. “Oh, I would have loved to do that. Even just to go out and look at the stars. Ryu, you aresolucky. My governess wassuperstrict. Oops!” She suddenly clapped a hand over her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I meantYour Highness, of course.”
That was another foolish rule; at formal events, everyone was to be addressed by their official titles, no matter how often the various attendees might have met before.
“Don’t sweat it,” Ryu said. “No one else heard you, so it’s all good.”
Jasmine smiled, but cast an apprehensive glance Kentario’s way.
“Don’t mind me,” Kentario said. “I’ve got even less patience for all this posturing than you do.”
That earned him a real smile from the Princess. “Not as scary as you look, huh?”
“Oh, he’s every bit as scary,” Ryu said. “And if you ever truly piss him off, by all means, run for your life. But he’s not going to get upset about someone forgetting to wear their hat or using the wrong fork at the dinner table.”
◊◊◊
Half an hour later, the announcement was made that dinner was ready to be served, and the various throngs of people around the room began drifting towards the long table at the far end of the hall. As he meandered in that direction, Ryu suddenly felt a tug at his sleeve and looked up to see that his mother had sidled up to him. She led him a discreet distance away from the others.
“Looks like you’re getting on rather splendidly with Princess Jasmine,” she said, her eyes lighting up. “Isn’t she just charming?”
“She’s… very interesting,” Ryu said, fumbling for something to say. It wasn’t that the words weren’t true. It was more that his honest description of Jasmine would have included more illicit terms, like ‘irreverent’, ‘mischievous’, and ‘flirty’. None of those were suitable ways to describe a crown princess, however. It was actually quite a shock to realise how much he was enjoying the evening, and his mother’s smile widened as she saw the pleased expression on his face.
“She’s become quite the socialite since the last time we saw her. And she’s been so lovely to young Cael, as well. I suppose because they’re both omegas, they’d feel a certain kinship.”
“Um… right. Yeah, I suppose,” Ryu said, for once not wanting to get into an argument about omegas’ place in society. But Goddess above, couldn’t the pair of them get along because they actually had things in common, rather than because they happened to be the same gender?
“And to be honest,” Elise went on, oblivious to his discomfort, “I don’t think I’ve seen Kentario smile this much since he was about fifteen. The princess seems to have quite an effect on him.”
Well, of course she did, Ryu thought, already feeling bored with his mother’s chatter. Jasmine was one of the few nobles they’d ever met who wasn’t hung up on status and wealth. But as he glanced over at the pair of them making their way to the table, he saw Jasmine touch Kentario lightly on the arm… and then Kentario looked down bashfully, and… Goddess above, was he actually blushing!?
A wave of jealousy tore through Ryu like a grenade had just gone off in his guts. “Yeah, she’s great,” he forced himself to say. “I think she’ll do really well during the Festival.” What else could he say? He couldn’t exactly march across the room and tell her to keep her hands to herself, after all.
“Well, I’m glad you’re getting along,” Elise said. “Enjoy your dinner, and we’ll catch up afterwards.”
Arriving at the table, Ryu wasn’t the slightest bit surprised to find himself seated beside Jasmine. Kentario was a little way down the table, on the opposite side, which was a relief of sorts. At least he and Jasmine wouldn’t have much chance to talk for the next hour or so.
Ryu’s mind was still spinning as he sat there, waiting politely as the staff brought out the entrées. Aside from his own family, or his training sessions in the gym, Kentarioneverlet anyone touch him. So why was he getting all cosy with the princess?
“Did your mother say something to upset you?” Jasmine asked softly, peering at him in concern.
Immediately, Ryu forced the frown away from his face, plastering on a weak smile instead. “No, it’s nothing. She’s been a little overbearing about the Festival, that’s all.”
