The trio couldn't take a flight because Percy was never the one for air travel. So, they had to go the old-fashioned way - a bullet train. (What? Did you expect royals to take regular Express trains?)

(Anyway...)

It was a 20-minute journey to the platform from the palace and then a 5-hour journey by the train. After that, what was supposed to be a 15-minute journey became a 45-minute journey because of the reporters. Still, Percy, Sally and Rachel arrived at Dare Noble-house sooner than expected and the royals entered the house more out of courtesy than any real need.

Percy wasn't sure who felt more intimidated here - Rachel's father because he was shaking hands with the Prince or Percy because he was going to say something along the lines of 'I hurt your daughter, forgive me' to Mr. Dare. He subconsciously thanked Hazel. At least, the shiny tuxedo kept up with the authority-figure look.

If a girl's brother was as overprotective as he had seen then he wasn't looking forward to the fathers.

Mr. Dare gave a stretched smile to Percy - which, either meant he was doing it out of courtesy or he had some alter ego motive behind that I'm-a-good-father look. Percy blindly believed it was the first. "Welcome aboard, your highness. I hope my daughter has been good to you." He looked at Rachel. "She didn't bore you too much with all her paintings and arts and everything, did she?"

Rachel looked away but Percy couldn't say if she took it as a joke or was actually hurt. "No. Um... she is good company." He admitted.

Her father raised one eyebrow. "Is that so? Well, now that you're here, you must eat home food. We can't let our guests leave without a meal." He waved his hands inside in welcome.

Percy hesitated. "I'm sorry. We have somewhere to be. We probably won't have time anyway so-"

Queen Sally said, "Nonsense. If it is okay with you, we would love to do breakfast together tomorrow."

Mrs. Dare smiled at his mom. "Of course, your majesty. That would be an honour."

Percy glared at his mom like: What are you doing?

She gave back a smug look like: What? Are you gonna challenge the Queen?

He hated his mom's perfectly cunning logic at times.

..........................

Tuesday breakfast at Dare's house was awesome. It definitely bet last night's takeout by big miles. But...Well... Maybe it was a little too sophisticated and classy.

Coming from the Prince, that was a big statement.

It felt like Mr. Dare had especially prepared for this moment in his past, already put out orders to the classiest restaurants' best breakfast picks, specials, etcetera, etcetera and combined it all under one roof.

All the guards were busy securing the place except Jason (who was the only one inside the room). Being Percy's plus one everywhere, he had joined them for breakfast and Percy had looked pointedly at Mr. Dare as if daring him (Haha, pun intended) to tell Jason off. He had made up his mind. If Mr. Dare said one word against Jason, he was going to leave.

Don't misunderstand. Percy wasn't a bad guest. Just... something about Mr. Dare stretching his smile longer than normal was ticking Percy off.

If Annabeth was here, she might say he was being too paranoid. But he was Percy, and he made up what he lost in intelligence with his gut.

He had to trust his gut.

By the look on his face, Mr. Dare hadn't expected Percy to sit down with his personal guard like they were relatives.

Jason was a 4 in caste and he, for sure, hadn't seen half of those dishes in his life. Percy wondered if he himself could pronounce all of them correctly. He mentioned that they preferred self-serving and he and Jason went around looking at the dishes.

That is - Percy was looking at the dishes and Jason was randomly pointing around, asking what it was.

He pulled Percy out of his thoughts. "Is that decoration?" He pointed to a small square frame having (what looked like) pure sand with a small hammer and some brown stones. It could have been a decoration, sure, but it was on a plate.

Percy said, "No, that is Zen Garden."

"A desert is a garden now?"

"Comes in different types, man."

Jason looked confused.

Percy sighed. "This one is cheese." He pointed to the sand and then to the stones. "Nuts, and fruits." Percy chuckled. "Those are dates."

He remembered the cliché joke Annabeth made the day before during breakfast.

If you were here, I could have teased you.

"What about this meat on a mini waffle thing?" Jason pointed to a dish in his hand (about 7 cm long) and engulfed it before Percy could reply.

"Is it good? It is jamón lbérico de bellota."

"Huh?"

"Ham. It is ham." Percy explained.

He put another in his mouth, hummed at the taste and grinned. "That's why I need the Prince by my side. I like your translations."

"Yeah? Well, translation, you just burned like... 50 dollars, maybe?"

Jason's smile dropped. "Seriously?"

Percy nodded and grinned.

Rachel came beside him. "I'm sorry about this." She tucked her hair behind her ear.

Jason looked at the couple and held out a loaf of bread with some sort of spread on it. He had already taken a bite. "This is good. It tastes exactly like butter and bread."

"Because it is butter and bread." Rachel pointed to his right. "You should add the spread from those small cans."

"What? From this shoe polish box?" Jason asked.

Percy turned to Rachel. "Yeah, well, when you said a meal at home... I kind of imagined your mom would be cooking."

She gave him a guilty smile. "I really wasn't expecting Dad to overdo this. Okay, I was... but, not this much."

Jason made a displeased face and popped out his tongue. "Too salty. And slimy." He reached for a napkin.

Just then, Mr. Dare entered, "Ah. I see you've tasted Caviar!", he said cheerfully.

Percy immediately turned to look at Jason and tried not to scowl.

Why didn't I stop him when he said 'shoe polish box'?

"Carry-R?" Jason asked.

"Black gold." Percy said like that cleared anything.

"And some call it 'sea gold' too." Said Mr. Dare.

"This is fish?"

"Fish eggs, actually." Rachel offered. "Takes like 7 years for production and another 3 months fermentation. Fresh from the ovaries of sturgeons which are later killed for meat and other parts."

Jason went pale. He retched out his own spit and rubbed his tongue over and over again with the napkin. Percy and Rachel laughed.

Mr. Dare looked at Jason disapprovingly, "You must try some too, your majesty. They are some of the finest quality, I assure you."

Percy made a disgusted face. "No, thank you. Seafood isn't my department."

Jason faced Rachel. "I think I'll stick to the bread and butter here. Enough experiments for one day."

Rachel shrugged and smiled teasingly.

Mr. Dare looked at Rachel, "Why don't you show this young man around his food? I didn't want to interrupt but her highness asked for you, your majesty."

Rachel looked like she wanted to argue but Mr. Dare didn't back his stand. She turned to Percy either as if asking him to get her out of this situation or asking if it was okay with him. He nodded.

Wait, didn't Jason say he had a crush on Piper?

Should Percy not be okay with it?

Ah, it is alright.

Percy didn't have any problems with Rachel hanging around with Jason. He trusted his bro. No, Percy was more worried about how Mr. Dare had said 'her highness asked for you' - like he was informing him of something that was already planned.

Jason asked. "Do you have fruity loops or Kellogg's?"

Percy mentally face-palmed. I should make this one sit in Miss. Willow's class.

......................................

Percy's gut feelings were right on point.

As soon as he came back to the breakfast table, his mother looked at him like she'd just found something sneaky about him that she could use against him in the future. (In a friendly, motherly way of course.) Like: Clean your room or else Or If you don't babysit Tyson today...

"Okay," Percy said. "Come straight to the matter."

"Alright." Said Sally. "We're taking Lady Rachel to the event."

"What-"

"It will look good, your majesty. To have a Selected by your side in the event." Said Mr. Dare. "Didn't you say Rachel was good company?"

Percy frowned. "No offense but she's injured. She can hardly stand without feeling the pain."

"She is fine!" He brushed it off. "She's been walking around all this time looking wonderful!"

The Queen said, "We could make her sit down. He is right Percy. She is good press. If she is okay with it then I don't see why we shouldn't-"

"Of course, your majesty. She is okay with it."

The Queen glared at Mr. Dare. "I would like to hear that from her. LADY RACHEL?" She called out. Rachel came back, looking alarmed. "Would you like to join us for the event? It would be good to have you there but if your leg still hurts then it is oka-"

"It doesn't hurt anymore, does it, sweetie?" Asked Mr. Dare.

Percy gave her an expression that was similar to what she had given him before: where he couldn't tell the difference between whether she was asking permission or asking for him to deny something someone offered.

Percy realised too late that he had understood it wrongly.

She understood it wrongly too.

She nodded. "Yes, your majesty, I'm okay."

After that, it was only a matter of how fast Rachel could get ready. Which - as it turns out - was pretty fast for a lady getting ready for a garden party. (Hey, that rhymes!)

In another 20 minutes, they were all at the venue. The Queen gave a speech and Percy got the scissors which will be used to cut the ribbon tied between two poles as a kickstart to the event.

Sally was right.

Rachel was awesome press.

The minute the press realised that the Prince had brought a date, they practically forgot about the Queen. (Till she decided to take pictures with Percy and Rachel by her side which they loved even more.)

Rachel kept looking at the ribbon and back at the scissors Percy was holding in curiosity. Percy laughed to himself. He beckoned Rachel over. "Go for it, cut the ribbon."

Rachel looked embarrassed but also really excited. When Percy gave the scissors to Rachel and held out the ribbon for her, the press went crazy. She cut the ribbon, practically jumped and hugged him sideways. Percy smiled too.

It was nice to see Rachel like this, especially after seeing her wince over every step for two days and feeling guilty about it. Her red hair, yellow dress and lean figure - everything matched with the garden concept perfectly.

They passed the garden grounds and went directly to the huge tent at the centre of everything. Where they went, the press followed. A long line of foods were placed on the stage but Percy didn't stop. He went further in and pushed open a curtain to his own private space where the press couldn't enter.

Rachel, who had a terribly convincing smile all the time bent down and sat on the first chair, wincing. "Okay. That was too much walking."

Percy looked at her, concerned. "How does it feel? You are not bleeding, right?"

"No." She denied, "The bleeding happened only once. Dr. Solace said it wasn't abnormal."

"He also said don't strain your legs."

Sally came in and looked at Rachel. "Rachel? Dear, are you alright?"

Rachel grit her teeth and gave a thumbs up.

Percy frowned. "Ah... maybe it is better if you stay here. You could do the food tasting." He suggested.

Rachel opened a box which had packets of some sort of sour candy in it. She tore one and put it in her mouth and gave a is-this-candy-or-is-it-concentrated-lemon face.

Sally chuckled. "We'll have to work on that."

Percy moved around the place to get water. "Always give only good reviews to whatever you taste but if you really don't like something, leave it alone. Say real things. Don't call spicy things not spicy enough, sour things sweet, etcetera."

"I think my reaction was perfect then." Rachel said.

Percy shook his head. "You do that in front of a camera and they'll make a meme out of your face."

"Right. I didn't think of that."

Percy shrugged. "It's okay. Miss Willow will teach you everything." He sat opposite to her at the table. "But if it helps, everything that has to do with the press majorly stems from the three 'i's"

"Three eyes?" Rachel asked.

"The letter 'i'. Three 'interesting's." He sipped some water from the bottle.

Sally asked. "What?"

"Look interested." He imitated smiling at the camera. "Look interesting." He pointed at himself and his cloths. "Don't do interesting looking things." He teased as if he was going to point at Rachel but last minute, he pointed at the sour candy.

"Wow, Percy." Rachel said. "That was short and sweet."

Sally looked from Percy to Rachel. "And... pretty accurate."

Rachel chuckled. "If only every Miss. Willow could teach like Mr. Percy here."

He grinned. "Sorry. Too many Miss Willow-s but only one Percy in stock."

Rachel laughed openly.

"Okay, I have a doubt." Said Jason (who came in just then.)

Leo came in behind him. "Which part of the charity and health event is-" He pointed all around, "- all this?"

Percy took the iPad from Jason. He opened the map of the locality and projected it on the nearest tent curtain for everyone to see. "Think of it like... That is the health part. That is the charity part and this as the event part. Overall, any money we make here today goes for charity. So let us show our faces in a few events and make them popular."

"Okay...um... I need to wee. Where is the-?" Rachel asked.

Percy pointed to his right. "Through it and take a left."

After Rachel left, Sally was still looking at Percy.

"What?" He asked.

"You two have good chemistry." She said.

He didn't reply.

"No wonder she was your first kiss."

Percy shook his head and his voice turned more guarded than before. "She wasn't my first kiss. Annabeth was."

Sally clapped her hands over her mouth and her resemblance to Estelle whenever she does it when Percy gives her candy was so similar, it gave him deja-vu. "Really?" She asked.

"Yeah. I wasn't gonna tell you."

"Why?"

Percy's cheeks were going hot. "BECAUSE! You'll react like that!"

Sally gave him a straight face. "Then why tell me now?"

"Because!" He groaned. "I didn't want you to react like that on camera. They'll make you the meme of the year!"

They laughed.

"Wait..." Said Sally. "Is that why Annabeth is moodier these days?" She teased.

Jason and Leo laughed.

Percy frowned playfully. "Haha very funny, very funny." He rolled his eyes.

But his heart was beating fast. She was... moody? Why?

..............................

Jason tapped his shoulder. "Uh... Why is there a stripper's bar at this event?"

"What?" Leo looked interested. "Where?"

Percy shook his head. "No idea."

"Shouldn't we like, you know... go do something?" Jason said.

He looked pointedly at Percy.

Leo explained. "Because it is scandalous and inappropriate, I mean?"

"Fine." Percy said. "Go check it out. Dancers are fine. No nudes though. Tell the manager." Jason started grinning too. Percy hit him on the back of his neck. "You're not going anywhere. Don't you like someone?" Jason scratched his neck. "Leo, this one is yours."

Leo grinned like a happy puppy. "Man, I love this job." He jogged away exactly like a happy puppy and Percy cringed.

....but he understood.

The Stoll brothers were also with them for the event (for security) but they behaved more responsibly on Sally's watch than Percy's so they were with her. They told him that Rachel had done the food tasting and decided to roam with his mom for some 'girls only' events. Percy didn't have any problem with that... mainly because of one reason: he was distracted.

He kept looking at his secret phone as if expecting something to come out of it.

Thankfully, when that particular Selected had called, Jason actually walked away thinking it was some royals-only conversation (about which Percy felt both guilty and happy about.)

But if Jason got to know that it was a Selected then I'll get a lecture, and right now, I want to live in the moment.

Percy had to admit; his heart did a mini rally race in his chest when he realised that the Selected had broken rules to talk to him.

Needless to say, he was grinning like an idiot.

It has just been one day!

Maybe I should have stayed back and kissed her a little more because now I really want to.

Percy almost couldn't recognise Rachel when she waved at them and joined them.

Rachel frowned. "Why?" She turned around and looked down at herself. "What is so funny?"

He couldn't control his grin.

Rachel had changed her dress (in some girls only event, he thought) to a knee length green frock (or gown, is there a difference?) with freckles of different shades of green on it. Her red hair was suddenly brown but Percy could still see shades of red here and there - like someone had decided to spray paint the portion that was usually visible and leave the rest to its natural color.

Previously, in her yellow dress, she fit in the whole 'garden' concept elegantly. Now... Yeah, the fact that she looked like an upside down tree made him want to laugh.

Percy shook his head. "No. No. It is not you. You look good."

"Okay then... should we get going?"

Thankfully, Percy could now enjoy the event since he had seen the health parts first - that was what he was doing when this particular Selected had called him. The minute he entered the health events; he knew he wasn't going to stay there longer than necessary.

The four of them - Percy, Jason, Rachel and Beckendorf (also guard) - walked around the gardens. Many people approached them but they were mostly told off by some the other guards who had been put on duty. The ones who did catch them mostly talked to Rachel. Percy looked busy just by pretending writing things on his iPad. He had thought only their 11 guards were his sidekicks but clearly, they had an entire army out today. Difference was, only the 11 talked to him.

They watched circus acts, magic shows, comedy, singing events, puppet shows and Percy was seriously starting to reconsider what Jason had said. This was much more of an event than a health campaign.

That's okay. It is for charity.

When they were back to the reporters' area, him and Rachel stood on a stage and they answered a few random questions.

One of the reporters asked. "How has your relationships with the Selected been, Prince?"

Percy smiled teasingly. "You'd have to wait for the Report for that."

Another one jumped in. "Aren't you intriguing? Well, what about your relationship with Lady Rachel here, your highness? Fans are dying to know Perachel!"

"Huh? What?" Percy asked.

"Have you gone on any other dates?"

"Kisses?"

Percy blinked. He wasn't expecting this question today.

The reporters turned to Rachel. "What do you say about your time with the Prince?"

Rachel linked one arm around his torso. "It has been good. He is a good kisser." She whispered the last part.

Someone yelled. "Then do it!"

He wasn't sure what he would have said because she acted too quick.

She kissed him.

In the middle of the gardens.

In front of at least 30 cameras.

The crowd swooned.

Percy pulled away quickly. He gave the best poker face he could muster and went back into the tent. He wasn't sure what got to him but he felt angry. Rachel came in.

"What was that?"

He got into her personal space and guided her chin up. "If you want a kiss then ask." He kissed her a little roughly like he was trying to make his point. "Don't jump at me like that!"

Rachel pushed him away. "I didn't even do much. It is light PDA. Why are you getting-?"

"Because this is my private life! And I like to keep it private."

Rachel calmed down. "Right. I'm sorry, I didn't-" She tried to touch Percy's chest but he stepped away.

Jason suddenly walked in. "Percy, why is Annabeth making you a punching bag?" He looked at the two of them. "Um... bad timing?"

Rachel frowned. "What?"

Jason looked at her awkwardly like he didn't want her hearing it. "Pi.. Uh.. Someone told me that Annabeth told her to tell me that I should punch Percy 40 times."

Percy smirked.

So, Annabeth did 40 push ups as punishment...

He tried to hold his smile in. "Ignore it. It is nothing. Wait outside, Jason." After he left, he turned back to her again. "I'm sorry too. It is just I'm used to-"

"-being in the spotlight, yeah." She sat down on a chair. "What was that about?"

He gave her a thoughtful smile. "Nothing important."

They were both silent for a while. He decided to break the silence. "How is the leg?"

Rachel looked deep in thought. "Was it always like this?"

Huh?

"Like what?"

She looked at him. "You and her against the world?"

Percy didn't say anything. He understood what she meant of course.

To be honest, it was never her and me against the world.

Rachel sighed. "You don't even let me touch you, Percy. You don't open up. Everything feels so in the surface here."

"Hey, we've known each other for like a month now. Annabeth has-" He defended.

"Your friend. I know. Was it always like that though? She never made a move on you? No drinking, doing stuff and regretting it later? Nothing?"

Percy frowned.

What exactly was Rachel suggesting?

Annabeth isn't like that.

Percy grit his teeth. "Don't make assumptions about things you don't know." He looked away. "We should head back out."

"You are dodging the question."

He scoffed. "What I do with the other Selected is none of your business. And as a Selected, you know you have no rights to ask those questions."

His mind reminded him: Annabeth asked you stuff and you told her. What about that?

That's different! She is Annabeth.

"Well, how about saying you're not giving any of us a fair chance then?" She asked.

He frowned more. "Look, I'm sitting here with you. You kissed me in front of so many people that it is going to be in the papers tomorrow. Which part of this is not giving you a chance?"

"Why, Percy?" She sounded hurt. "What worries you more? That Annabeth is gonna see us in the papers tomorrow or that she's wondering what you're doing now with me?"

What?

"Okay. You know what?" He got up. "I get it that you feel the things you do. But you need to work this on your own. Get over it, Rachel. Weren't you the one who told me that Annabeth shouldn't be jealous? What are you doing now then?"

She tried to protest but he was already walking out.

He turned around to make his final statement. "No, it was never Annabeth and Percy against the world. It was the world against Annabeth and Percy."

And for some reason, that worked out for us.

.................................

Okay yeah, this one was long...

Guys tell me your thoughts! I know his chapter wasn't as appealing as the rest because it wasn't Percabeth but Hey!, we got to see Perchel sort-of fight.