"A Banquet?"
"Yes," Savier fixed his tie, looking towards Rylan. "I'll be escorting a family friend in her coming of age this Saturday."
He stood and motioned to his tie, "How is it?"
"All good, Your Highness."
Savier smiled at that. The only time he liked that address coming from Rylan was when he did not say it in an overly polite manner.
"You'll be coming with me." Giving a grin, he accepted his bag from Rylan.
Rylan nodded as if that was a given, since he was Savier's personal bodyguard.
"No, but also a guest."
"Huh?"
Savier laughed at the reaction, eyes crinkling. In the event, having a bodyguard around him was not a big deal. But most preferred that the guards be left outside.
"I need you by my side."
So no rumors would appear. Savier knew that the moment he showed his face in any event, rumors would start flying around. It also did not help that the celebrant was a family friend.
Not only that, Savier did not want to talk endlessly to people that night. He was not Arle, the social butterfly. Getting an invitation for a plus one was no big deal.
"If you say so..." Rylan really did not have a choice.
Savier grinned at that, already excited to attend an official event with Rylan than the ceremony itself.
Days passed and went by as usual. Savier was busier; he was already working on his graduation project. His plan was always to graduate early and take official duties as soon as he could.
However, he changed his plan slightly. He admitted that it had something to do with Rylan's arrival. In any case, a few months would not hurt. No one was pressuring him either, Savier decided to go easy on himself, for once.
The event was not an official banquet of the royal family, and so Savier did not need to wear the traditional outfit for a crown prince.
The time was also too tight for a custom one, and Savier did not think too importantly of the event at all. He was certain that an appropriate suit was sitting there somewhere in his closet.
It was another matter for Rylan.
"Your Highness, the suit is already delivered." Savier nodded, taking the suit from the butler's hand. An automatic smile spread across his lips.
Since it was last-minute, he could only order a suit in Rylan's size from a prestigious fashion brand. Of course, it was also simple, and the brand was not too flashy in terms of their designs.
Simple but elegant, something that Rylan would like.
"This is for me?" Rylan stared at the suit sprawled on the bed, asking in surprise.
When he presented this, Savier was so giddy that one could tell how excited he was.
"Yes! Remember how I had your size measured? It's for this."
As soon as Savier mentioned it, Rylan remembered that happened the night on the day Savier told him to attend a banquet as a guest with him.
"You don't have to buy this for me." Rylan reasoned, moistening his lips. "I still have simple suits."
Of course, most of them were in his dorms, and he did not know if they were appropriate to wear in a grand banquet ceremony. Or if they could, using his royal guard uniform would do, his role was perfectly understandable.
Perhaps, they could indeed go with that. However, there was no way Savier would let him.
"It's a gift." Savier's tone slightly became weaker. "I wanted to surprise you..."
By now, Savier had understood Rylan's weakness. It was cheap for him to take advantage of that, but he had no choice! Rylan would not receive them otherwise.
Sure enough, Rylan hesitated for a moment, looking at the suit for a few seconds more. He then sighed and accepted them in the end.
"I'll wear it then."
Savier celebrated inwardly, almost clenching his fist. It was truly not easy to convince Rylan without roundabout ways. He could only sigh at this point.
"Come on, Sir Rylan. I'm an escort to the celebrant. We can't be late." Savier urged him, even calling the alpha with the same address. The two did not react with that.
The occasional change of address was not new to them at this point, something that could not be corrected, it seemed.
Savier's preparation was quick with the butler's help. Fortunately, he was not in his crown prince's ceremonial suit, so other attendants were definitely needed to assist him.
He was fixing his cufflinks, a simple, rounded design. When he heard a call, prompting him to lift his head.
"Your Highness..."
Rylan was also done preparing. Savier's gaze paused for a moment, fixed on the alpha's figure. Unlike with women, there was no big transformation in terms of looks or anything.
And yet, the mere sight of Rylan wearing the outfit he personally picked and bought gave a sense of accomplishment for the bottom of Savier's heart.
"You look good." Savier subconsciously muttered without even realizing it. And he had no intention to withdraw that statement either; instead, he added with a satisfied smile. "Sir Rylan will captivate anyone with looks alone."
I'm included with that too. Savier added inside.
He realized that he was in too deep, and it would be harder to extricate himself from the other alpha any longer. If this was insanity, then love, then he gladly went insane.
As though not used to compliments, the tips of Rylan's ears heated and turned red. "You think so?"
He was merely playing along with Savier, but his expression told otherwise. He looked especially pleased with Savier's compliment of the idea of captivating anyone.
Savier licked his lower lip at such a sight. Rylan, who looked embarrassed, would be the death of him for sure.
In the end, he had no choice but to change the subject, or he might accidentally confess right there and then. He cleared his throat and nodded sincerely.
"It's true. I never lied to you."
Rylan laughed at that, not taking it seriously despite looking pleased.
"I'm not joking."
"Yes, I believe you, Your Highness."
Savier's eyes squinted, as if annoyed by the halfhearted response. Yet, deep inside, he was jumping with joy.
What the fuck! Rylan was flirting with him, right? He totally did!
Savier became delusional once more and convinced himself that it was the case. Of course, it was not, but who cared? As long as he convinced himself, it would come true!
What was it again?
Right. That was called manifesting!
Savier was manifesting them flirting in the future.