2 Meeting her Fiancé already?!

"Why would you even say that? 'Milady'? Who even speaks like that in our day and age?"

In spite of her words, she giggled. It was like she was a totally different person. Although...that was the truth. She was an entirely different person when she dropped her act.

"I do, little miss. I speak like that."

Saying that, he got up from where he was sitting near the Steinway piano at which Jade had played.

Seeing how he was approaching, Jade's cheeks caught a hint of red. Why was it that she was so attracted to a grown-up man like this?

"You know", she said, just to try and loosen the knot in her throat, "I don't quite understand you. Why are you doing this for me and my family?"

His feet stilled and he stopped a few meters away from her. It could have been solely her imagination, but his expression seemed to darken after hearing her words.

"I don't have a specific reason"

What an obvious lie, she thought and she wasn't trying to hide that train of thought.

"I don't quite believe you, but I bet you're already aware of that."

She was looking right at him. Through his eyes directly into his soul. He was hiding something he preferred not showing her. As if she cared about his preferences... .

"Well? What are you blankly staring at me for?"

"I'm just trying to figure out my words, Jade. You're really aggressive today, you know that?"

She laughed.

"Aggressive? You're kidding me. The cold, beautiful King is aggressive? You're insulting the son of the Minister of External Affairs and the Student Council President of this school-"

"Not the son. The daughter.", he interrupted.

"Andel! How many more times will you expose me in one single day?"

They both laughed, but her music teacher still had a grim shade about him.

Silence descended after this however and it made the cross-dressing girl that much more curious.

Why was he keeping her secret?

"I'm doing this for your family", Andel said after a while. "For your father specifically. We go...way back. I am deeply indebted to your family. And plus...what would I even get out of exposing you?"

*I mean...fair.*

"I assume you won't tell me what got you into my family's debt?"

He turned his back to her and played some notes. A clear sign that for him, this discussion was over.

"Your assumption is right", he added, even though there had been no need for any addition. "There's no need for you to know, kid."

*I'm no kid, I'm turning 18 in 2 months...*

"Well, okay", she said, admitting defeat. She was going to find out in the end, just maybe not now.

"Can we continue? I think I need a little more practice."

His expression was clouded by something yet again. Really, he was easy to read.

"Actually...while you were out to scold those girls, I got a call from your father."

"Oh, is that so?"

She was visibly uninterested in whatever her father had to say.

There was a bit of silence.

"Aren't you gonna ask what it was about?"

"I don't really care, but if it concerns me, you'll tell me anyway..."

"Come on, don't be like this... . He called you home because he got you a date. A young man of-"

Without even turning around to face him, she stopped him with a gesture of her hand.

"Do you seriously think I want to hear that?!"

"No, but-"

"Just....shut it. I seriously don't want to hear his words coming out from your mouth. So please. Stop."

He sighed pained behind her.

"At least tell me...why are you doing this?"

"This being?" Her voice had caught a harsh tone and she finally turned to face him. For his own good, she could have just stayed like that, with her back turned on him because really...her eyes were like daggers.

"Do you mean this 'disgrace'? Dressing up as a boy?"

"Precisely!"

"..."

The pain in her heart was being radiated by her whole figure. He had never been on her side to begin with.

"Jade, I-"

"You nothing.", she snapped. "Don't go soft and clicheic on me right now. Please."

He just cast his gaze aside, struggling to avoid any more eye contact.

After a little while, he decided to speak again. She had been playing a few random notes on the piano. With a pained grin, he said:

"Doesn't it feel weird to you...to fight with a grown-up like this?"

Her face remained expressionless.

"No", Jade simply threw his way. "I'm almost of age myself."

That shut him up for good.

At some point, she just let a huge sigh escape her and got up, walking towards the door.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have reacted like that. It's neither your fault, nor are you responsible for my well-being or feelings. I'll go deal with my father."

His shiny, ecstatic expression was out of this world. It was like he had been struck by a galloping unicorn. It made Jade sketch a tiny smile subconsciously even though she was still angry.

"Should I come with you, Miss Sharrow?"

Back at it again with the silly honorifics, she thought.

"Thank you, but there is really no need. I can deal with this myself. I need to make everyone understand...by myself."

Since he was back to addressing her like they had no more than a relationship of business, she returned to being cold as well. It was her specialty after all... .

Leaving the school grounds, she noticed other people's glances resting on her, primarily females. It was just the usual. The King of the Shion Academy was a very beautiful person. Shoulder-length blonde hair, slightly wavy. Shiny green eyes that resembled the jade in expensive jewelry pieces. The uniform of his school featured darker, slightly nobler colors than most other schools and it certainly brought out the light in her hair, skin tone and features. It was like they were designed especially for her. But it was always like this with beautiful men.

….except that Jade was, actually, a girl. Dressed like that, there was no one who could still believe this King was actually...female.

And yet, Jade was not interested in any of these 'peasants' walking around and gawking at her. Her looks were not anyone else's problem, just her own. She just wanted to get home already and talk things out with her father. Whatever the outcome, she would never give up on cross-dressing, it was her passion after all. And by no means would she ever accept marrying some random man she didn't care for just for her father's political gain. It had never been her business and it would never become either.

And so, fists clenched, gaze strong and mind made up, she entered her own house, ready to face her father.

"Where is he?", she asked, her voice resounding from the house's walls.

*Oh, what an incredible acoustic we have... .I didn't know.*

Its echo had been so strong that it almost sounded like a battle cry. Which wasn't all that far from what it really was. However, no one answered. Was her father not home yet?

"Mom?"

Still nothing.

Was there seriously no one home?

Thinking that she might have arrived home too late (which certainly wouldn't have bothered her so much), she got her phone out and checked for missed calls. There were only the usual annoying notifications, but nothing about any calls. It was confusing her a little. What was going on? Her mother was usually home at this hour and her father had never been late before. And she was fairly sure he wasn't planning on it either.

*Uhm...was I just suddenly transported into another world? Or am I...in a horror movie? Can't I just have my fight with father in peace?*

It was just as she was thinking all this that she picked up the sound of footsteps heading towards the entrance door from the outside.

With quick, elegant moves, she discarded her school bag in the cover of shadows under the staircase and climbed the stairs to her room.

Their house consisted of 3 stories and if she desired a good hiding place or to get on their nerves, she definitely had a few places to choose from.

Her plan didn't have a long life-span however because...well, she overheard her father's conversation with a voice she had never heard before. So she just remained hidden in one of the staircase's corners, out of their sight, and listened carefully.

"...I did not have the time to discuss these details with your father, Victor, but I am sure that you can provide me with information as well. If my daughter were to marry you..."

*Ugh, can you please stop... .*

"You have nothing to worry about, my Lord. Such an alliance would of course benefit you greatly. You would receive all the support the Alacroz clan has to offer."

*What a bastard you are...your family would benefit from this the most.*

However, her thoughts had been thrown too fast because there was something more to his words.

"In addition..I wanted to thank you, Lord Sharrow, for this. That this alliance would be of great help to both the social and political situation of my family, is really something we can't hide."

*What a smooth talker he is...disgusting.*

"That being said, I cannot wait to meet your daughter"

* Oh, sh*t. *