FRANCES

EARLIER...

"Rent a suit?" Daniel's tailor, Crawley gawked, thoroughly ruffled like a plucked chicken. The man was somehow as old as time, but younger than Frances. A mortal that smelled like cough drops, tweed, and a hint of snobbery. The man couldn't get over Frances's simple request. "Rent a suit?! Absolutely not."

Out of all the upsetting things Frances could say, this was what threw this guy over the edge. "Come on, Crawley," Frances begged, hands in pray as he laid across the man's counter. The tailor shop had the usual leather and man sweat smell, but with a few sprinkles of nutmeg from one of the many Christmas decorations.

A little Christmas tree sat in the corner, covered in bow ties and cufflinks for sale. Another one stood on the counter by Frances's elbow, offering miniature candy canes. Garlands framed all the mirrors and the counter as people long dead sang Christmas songs from the speakers. There were more women here than usual, snatching up last minute gifts and generally making it a brighter place to visit.

Frances bowed his head, smacking his forehead on the counter. "Just let me rent one for the Gala thing."

"No. You're a Prince for goodness's sake, Frances Petrovic. How could you not bring a suit of all things for your trip here? You're staying in a castle and escorting the prince that alone would call for suit. Were you not aware that you'd be attending the Christmas Gala?"

"I mean--" Frances huffed, kicking the side of the counter, probably scuffing his leather shoes, which would just enrage this man more. It was so frustrating to ask for the things he wanted. Sometimes Frances wanted a sliver of what his friend back home had. His friend, an Alpha werewolf named Eric could just ask for things and no one would question him.

No one would be needling Eric or Daniel on why they needed to rent a suit.

They'd just give it to them.

When it came to Frances apparently, he had to recite an essay and convince the world his intentions were good. "Yeah!" Frances threw his hands up, losing more and more maturity by the second. "But like I was just gonna wear whatever. No one cares what I'm doing or wearing—" Frances huffed again, tired of having to explain himself. "Old man, just take my money and let me rent a suit."

"Wear whatever?" Crawley touched his chest. "I'm appalled."

"I noticed." Frances slumped, but his words were lost on the flabbergasted man.

"Frances," Crawley started what sounded like a lecture. Frances knew the sound well. All his princely titles vanished when he needed a stern talking to. "This is unacceptable. You knew you were coming to Sagewick Castle to chaperone the prince and his fiancé." While he was talking, Frances lost control and good sense, rolling eyes. Crawley snatched the paper he was reading and whacked Frances in the head with it, his voice growing with more fervor. "You knew about this Gala and that you'd be attending the royal wedding as a groomsman. What were you thinking?"

"Alright, alright!" Frances practically begged for relief. "I get it. It was a dumb idea. I figured I could coast on the groomsman suit being picked out for me and I could just roll up in something clean for the Gala thing."

"Come to the back. We'll get your measurements..." Crawley motioned him, expecting Frances to follow and he did, tail between his legs. "If you were hoping to just coast..." Crawley quoted Frances back to him with a large helping of side eye. "Why do you want a suit now?"

"You're gonna force me to get a suit and you're gonna make me talk about my feelings?" Frances groaned, trudging up to the small platform in front of the many mirrors to show Frances his terrible posture.

"And I expect to be paid double," Crawley added and patted Frances's shoulder. "Remove the leather jacket."

Frances let the mortal snatch away his shield from his hands before Frances raised his hands in mock crucifixion. He spat it out, annoyed he was even admitting it to Crawley. "I want to impress a boy. Okay? Are you happy?"

"Delighted." Crawley chuckled while deft thin old man hands went to work, taking measurements and pinning things and complaining about his posture. The man worked like a doctor about to administrate a shot, promising little pain and a quick job done right. Except it was also nothing like a doctor, being the treatment was incredibly painful and it felt like it took forever.

But by the next day, Frances picked up his suit, paid the man and tipped him. He had stood in the great hall at Sagewick castle feeling like an actual tool, like guys he made fun of in college. Guys like Daniel, in fact. Who was he? Frances even put cologne on and not even those test perfume strips he could rip out of magazines.

Well, technically he stole it from Link.

But still, it was the fancy kind kept in glass jars and he reeked of it. 

He heard Ignacio's voice first, intermingled with Blake's. Their tones were so serious. Probably about the fight between the lovebirds. Didn't Daniel and Blake know the honeymoon period was supposed to last long enough to reach to the honeymoon? Frances was beginning to think they enjoyed fighting.

Frances approached the stairs, a joke cocked and at the ready to lessen the seriousness of his dress, but he forgot it the moment he caught Ignacio's eyes. He had warm brown eyes like sugary syrup and an even sweeter smile. Amazing that a suit could take an already gorgeous man and make him twice as beautiful. All the air left Frances's lungs.

Dressed in a deep green suit, Ignacio could vanish inside a treasure trove of emeralds and diamonds. A lump of nerves pulsed in Frances's throat and he imagined, if he could sweat, he'd be dripping.

Ignacio blinked, surprised to see him too and Frances realized he lacked the practice of steeling his nerves.

"Frances?" Ignacio called his name to make sure what he was seeing was correct. Blake had to adjust too.

Yes, Frances thought, Everyone look while you can. This is never happening again.

He resisted running away.

"Are you still trying to convince me that you're some sort of prince?" Ignacio teased him and with his slender fingers, he played with one of the medals on Frances's chest. The small place he touched electrified Frances's skin. Tilting his head, Frances tried burning this look of joy from Ignacio and at the way he could be so comfortable around this boorish vampire.

This was dangerous.

Frances could get used to it.

And Ignacio's smile, he didn't want it to end. With a smirk on his lips, Frances took a step back and bowed. He used his most princely sounding voice and finally cashed in on all the lessons he received as a child to act proper. He reintroduced himself, "I am Prince Frances Petrovic of the Rose Coven and it'd be my pleasure to escort you to the Sagewick Christmas Gala."

He offered his hand on a silver platter and with twinkling eyes, Ignacio accepted the gesture. His hand was warm to the touch and soft like peach fuzz. Ignacio whispered, "The pleasure is mine."

Frances wanted to savor this moment and the next, feeling as if it was all happening too fast. He didn't want to miss a single second of Ignacio's smile or this bubbling feeling of joy bursting through him. It was the best Frances had felt in a long time. And he knew deep down that he'd never get this chance again.

After Christmas, Frances would go back to the city and leave Sagewick behind. It had been like living a fairytale, but like most stories, he'd had to reach the end. Some tales didn't end with happily ever after, they ended with lessons.

At the end, Frances would be taught he was not the hero in these stories.

He was just the side kick. The comic relief.

The jester never got the guy.

Immediately, Daniel and Blake bulldozed their moment starting another dogfight. With Ignacio, Frances escaped the fighting to go to the mustang parked outside of the castle. He could feel Ignacio lag behind and Frances turned worriedly. Did he already make a mistake?

"Frances," Ignacio said like he was already regretting it. "I know you put in great effort to get ready for the Gala but..." Ignacio fiddle with his hands. "I was hoping we could skip it and meddle instead."

Frances unleashed a long sigh of relief. He unbutton the top of his coat and fussed with his hair, ridding himself of all the icky perfection. This was beginning to feel more like them. "I knew you were the best date for me."

Ignacio grinned, his dark eyes twinkling again and stupefying Frances. Around Ignacio, he had to work harder on keeping up with his aloof "act". He had become so accustomed to people groaning at the sight of him, it was totally unknown territory for this person to seem excited to see him, to want to be around him longer than necessary, and actually cause the same amount of chaos as him.

"What did you have in mind?" Frances asked.

Ignacio grinned and told Frances his meddlesome plan, making this the best date Frances has ever been on. Not every gorgeous boy has asked him to stick his nose into other people's business, so Frances didn't want to waste the good opportunity.

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Author's Note

At first, I thought I could fit what I wanted from Frances' POV in one chapter... but I was wrong. I was having too much fun with him at the tailor's shop. So, here comes more Frances. I just think he's so cute. 

All comments are appreciated!!