Baroness Vaugh was a widow lady considered the queen of the social circle among the nobles. In
Many singles dream of receiving the Baroness' support, as her chosen diamonds have always had good marriages and earned a comfortable life. However, the Baroness is very strict in choosing her diamonds, not everyone being welcomed by her. Maybe your tips are precious and miraculous to the point of making shy singles in high season central jewelry.
For this reason that her dinners were expected by the singles who felt hopeless in the matchmaking market.
Which was not the case of Lucian.
The dark carriage with the coat of arms of the Grimwood family stopped in front of the Vaugh mansion, already calling the attention of some guests who have just arrived. To the curious person's surprise, Lucian went down and turned his hand out to Magnus, who held it carefully and got off the carriage. The strange combination of those two together, wearing matching suits and arm in arm attracted the attention of absolutely everyone.
"And here we go."
"Behave yourself, little mouse."
"Well, I thought you had asked me to forget that nickname."
"I can say, you don't."
"How unfair...", Lucian answered with a sigh.
The two entered the mansion, receiving glances and whispers wherever they went. The combination was the strangest possible, the Grand Duke, known for keeping away from the alphas, arms folded to the timid eighth prince, who barely participated in social events. The curiosity called for gossip, their names were already passing from mouth to mouth.
How were they together?
Why was the eighth prince accompanying the Grand Duke?
Why do your clothes match?
Certainly they drew attention.
"Brother."
Both of them turned around and found Jesse Grimwood, wearing his dark suit and pair of glasses accompanying a delicate young lady.
"Jesse, I see you're here. Hello, Miss Shang."
"Hello, Your Grace". The girl made a formal bow, but upon noticing Lucian she bowed with more respect. "I salute Your Imperial Highness."
"This is my fiancée, from the Shang family", introduced Jesse.
"Oh, sure. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm glad to see you two together, make a nice couple."
"Thank you, Your Highness. Although I must say that seeing you accompanying my brother is something... unusual."
"Is it? Because I consider myself the luckiest to be able to accompany your brother."
"My goodness, I never imagined that His Imperial Highness would be good at joking."
The female voice sounded among the four, who turned to the lady with gray hair and middle-aged traces. Despite this, her elegance was remarkable in every step that Baroness Vaugh took as she approached that group.
She gracefully bowed her head and smiled graciously to her guests.
"I greet you, my noble guests. I am immensely happy and honored to see you at my humble dinner."
"It is we who are grateful to receive your invitation, Baroness Vaugh. Even congratulate for the organization of the party, because your dinners are always refreshing."
"You flatter me, Jesse Grimwood. People are waiting for Her Majesty's ball to open the new season, but this time we had the feast of victory. I must say that some ladies were confused and did not know if they could do a ball, so I decided to take the initiative."
"As always, the lady is brave and perceptive."
The Baroness smiled delicately and her brown eyes fell on the prince.
"But I am surprised to see the face of Your Highness so often at parties. Is there any special reason to grace us? Let it be clear that I am not complaining."
"It is nothing but spontaneous pressure to represent the Emperor."
"Hahaha, I see. It seems that His Majesty is busy lately to attend the parties."
"I believe so, although I would be happy if my brothers did it, since unlike me, they dance very well."
"Don't say that, Your Highness, I saw that your dance with the princess stole many compliments. Perhaps that's what caught the attention of His Grace?"
She wisely turned to Magnus, who kept silent during the conversation, but now he had no escape. Sighing in disguise, Magnus answered with eloquence.
"Indeed, Lucian dances gracefully."
The Baroness's eyes widened slightly.
"Lucian...? Well, are you calling each other by name?"
"Considering our commitment, it's natural", replied Magnus slightly squeezing Lucian's arm.
The prince looked down at Magnus' hand, and automatically this caught the attention of the other three who noticed the alliance that the Grand Duke was wearing. The surprise on their faces was certainly funny for Lucian, after all it was something unexpected. He needed to drown out his laughter and look away when he suddenly felt embarrassed by the looks.
"Are you engaged?"
"Jesse! Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm afraid I didn't even know about it, dear."
"Did you hide it from your brother, Your Grace?"
Magnus slightly tilted his head, keeping that face as if answering those questions was boring and boring.
"I have always been discreet about my private life."
"Well that beautiful lie, I swear you were interested in that knight who has been the target of several single women", said the Baroness without any filter.
Lucian choked on his own saliva and began to cough with shame. Magnus looked at him slightly annoyed, probably detesting the fact that he was someone easily read. The prince looked away, hiding his smile behind his hand.
"Indeed, the Sageclaw's young master is a very skilled soldier, I look forward to seeing the bright future he will have within the imperial army."
"That was the most evasive answer I've ever heard coming out of your mouth, Your Grace. Don't you think, Jesse?"
"I must say, milady, that my brother is an unknown when it comes to love. I honestly thought he would never fall in love with anyone."
"So we should think that His Highness has won the heart of His Grace?"
"If I may say something, I would say that such a thought is charming and very close to reality."
"What are you talking about now?" Magnus growled.
"It is a fact that you consider me someone attractive enough to commit with me."
"What makes you so sure?"
Lucian just raised his eyebrow, and Magnus immediately blushed. Surely he remembered Count Baragnon's party, and how he really liked Lucian as an alpha. At least Lucian did not forget, and made sure to remember every night.
"Humpf!", Magnus turned his face, having no way to disguise his shame.
The Baroness and Miss Shang laughed at the Grand Duke's naturally unheard-of reaction. Jesse also smiled, although he was still surprised by the news and the interaction between those two people. He would not be the only one to be surprised. The other nobles who approach to greet the Grand Duke were also curious how those two ended up together.
No one would know about the dishonor committed — or the crime they both shared — however, that night a strange story that the eighth prince would have some charm that captured the heart of Magnus Grimwood spread among the nobles.
"Are you engaged? My goodness, this is really great news!"
"Congratulations, Your Grace and Your Highness!"
"That certainly calls for a celebration, doesn't it?"
The nobles simply fed on gossip and did not hide the curiosity they felt when discovering the good news. Lucian remained by Magnus' side the whole time, keeping silent and smiling to prevent rude words from escaping his lips. Certainly he would love to say don't meddle in his private life, however the high society life of that story just worked that way.
Lucky for him, Magnus had the tact to deal with those nobles.
"It seems that many singles will be sad to have lost this battle. Even more than anyone expected that His Highness would be interested in His Grace."
"Sadness would be an expected end to them, since regardless of my involvement with the prince, I would have no interest in them", answered Magnus coldly.
"Now that, Your Grace, you know very well that young people like challenges. It would be natural for them to think that winning their affection would be similar to a victory on a battlefield."
"Oh, that's true", Lucian replied promptly, making a vein pop on Magnus' forehead.
"See? Even His Highness agrees."
"How silly."
"But is it curious, if I may ask, when did you two become so close?"
The question of millions was launched, finally a gossip lady had the audacity to question the two figures of highest noble title in society. Before Magnus answered with his evasive words, Lucian opened his innocent smile and slightly tilted his head to make him appear helpless and gracious, a manipulative tactic he had often resorted to in that world.
"How can you not be interested in him? I always saw him going to the Imperial Palace and admired him from afar, since I am not someone so communicative."
A noble lady covered her mouth, looking surprised and delighted with those words when she commented:
"My goodness, did His Highness admire you from afar and fall in love over time?"
Lucian just blinked and looked away, serving as an answer that made the women of that small circle sigh delighted. Magnus, on the other hand, was incredulous with such shamelessness in those words.
Now it was certain that the rumors about them would increase. The eighth prince blushing beside the Grand Duke, posing as a shy and introverted man who fell into the clutches of the mighty Grand Duke... This will certainly recount the gossip of tea parties.