WHO MADE ME A PRINCE
chapter seventy nine - the debut.

"YOU'RE GONNA BE MY ESCORT." Arius declared. Lucas narrowed his eyebrows in confusion and just stared at the prince with a dazed expression.

But Lucas quickly composed himself and brought his right hand to Arius's forehead.

"You don't have a fever. . . so you better start explaining."

Arius was grinning at his genius idea and gestured for Lucas to sit down again.

After the two were settled, Arius began, "You're gonna be a guard at the debutante right, so just sneak in the banquet hall for a while and be my first dance."

Lucas stared at him with wide eyes, "Which part of 'explain' did you not get?"

"Magic." Arius's grin grew wider.

"What. Magic."

"If you can use magic to turn into a child from an old man, then you can use magic to turn into a girl for a dance."

Lucas had more than one thing to say about Arius's idea, and it showed on his face.

First he burst out in anger, "Old man?! When have I turned into that!?"

"Okay fine–"

"And are you dumb!? Can you not tell the difference between changing age and gender?"

"But . . ." Arius pouted, "Aren't you Lucas, the most powerful magician in the world?" Arius looked at him with puppy eyes as he grabbed onto Lucas's arm.

"You're becoming more and more like your sister." Lucas huffed as he looked at Arius's puppy eyes.

A silence emerged as they stared at each other, before:

"Fine, I'll do it."

Arius's bubble of happiness burst from overflowing and the hands that were grabbing Lucas instinctively went around his waist as he trapped him in a hug.

Lucas was quite taken aback by the gesture and turned stiff all over. Arius let go as quick as he hugged him, his expression still bright from happiness as he asked, "You promise?! You have to be there!"

"Y–Yeah I will, sigh you're really. . ."

"Really what? A genius?" Arius adjusted his position on the couch to relax his back.

Lucas just rolled his eyes, "Anyways, why're you. . . choosing me? No lady caught your eye?" Lucas asked, staring at Arius's face for any change in expression, but there was none.

Arius had his eyes closed and a small smile on his face from his previous happiness.

"Not even a princess from any neighboring countries? Is it because you haven't ever seen them?" Lucas asked before silence reigned in the bedroom.

"Eh, well honestly. . ." Arius began after a while. Lucas paid full attention to the next words out of his mouth and the slightest changes in expression.

"First dances are such a nuisance."

"What." Lucas asked, his tone hinted with disappointment.

"If I escort a lady from Obelia, the nobles would jump to conclusions and it would start needless rumours, not to mention I don't have any particular interest in any lady and choosing one at random would be rude since she might not feel the same about it and actually have expectations regarding our relationship." Arius explained with a sigh.

"Escorting a princess from a foreign country would also lead to talks of political marriage and agh that's such a nuisance. First dance partners are a really big headache, since the person whom I dance with will become the center of gossip and rumours. And–"

"That's why you wanna dance with a person who's not real."

"Bingo."

Lucas crossed his arms and leaned his back on the couch as well. Arius stared at him.

"What." This time his tone was filled with annoyance.

"Turn into a girl." Arius asked.

Lucas gave him the look. "No."

"What!? No! You promised!" Arius stood up with clenched fists.

Lucas sighed and stared at him. "I'll be there."

Arius gave him a confused look.

"But you'll have to find me." Lucas stood up as well.

"What do you–"

"Let's see if you recognize me dressed as a girl."

"Hey! That's not–"

Snap!

And the young warlock was gone.

"Aghhhh." Arius slammed himself on his bed.

How was he supposed to recognize Lucas as a girl when he hasn't even seen all the age forms Lucas can reach?

Heck, will he even have time to find him among the crowds of guests attending? The first dance starts right after the Imperial Family enters.

But. . .Lucas has a beauty mark under his left eye, black hair and vibrant red eyes.

Even if he changes his gender, he wouldn't go so far as to change his features which he's oh so proud of.

He can find him, heck at the very least as soon as he enters the hall he could search for any traces of magic within the hall and since Lucas is altering his appearance he could find him.

It'll be fine. He can do this.

ONE WEEK PASSED AS QUICKLY as time passes during an exam. On the crack of dawn the princess was dragged out of bed, and the prince was given a slightly better treatment, because Arius preferred privacy over luxury and would bathe and dress up himself. Well, dress up at least the first layers of his clothes.

He woke up later than Athanasia, but his bath had been prepared by Olivia by the time he was awake.

He was rushed to the bathroom and left alone for about an hour, which was more than enough to get his pants and white sleeved shirt on.

Afterwards he was left in the maid's capable hands and gosh did they transform him into something else.

He almost couldn't believe that when he finally stepped out of his Palace after getting ready, the sun was setting.

Since Athanasia was still in the process of getting ready, Arius headed over to Emerald Palace via carriage, Gunther following him like his tail.

And he reached at the right time, since Athanasia was standing outside her room, looking exactly how she did in the manhwa.

She proudly raised her head and closed her eyes. "Well?"

"Well, let's go." Arius replied.

She pouted. "You really are ungrateful for having such a beautiful sister!"

"I've seen you since you were five. I'm used to it."

"Hmph!"

The two went right a few corridors and then finally reached the main door leading outside the Palace where Felix and Cadell were now standing.

"Wow! Your Highnesses both look exceptionally lovely tonight."

Athanasia chuckled as she thanked Felix and stepped on Arius's feet before facing Cadell who seemed to be speechless by Athanasia's appearance.

Athanasia accepted Cadell's hand, which he didn't even realize was held out. And the two marched outside of the Palace.

Arius's face scrunched up in pain for a few seconds before he shook his head and proceeded outside as well.

He reached to see his father and Athanasia exchanging a few words. Arius didn't bother walking down the stairs from the center and stuck to the side as he walked down.

Speaking of which, Arius hadn't become quite tall but he was taller than Athanasia. Athanasia reached his nose and he reached his father's shoulders.

But as they stood, due to Athanasia's heels she almost matched with Arius's height. Almost.

Claude looked at Arius, he was wearing a similar suit to his father, minus the red sash and coat hung on his shoulder.

Instead Arius had a black cape on the outside with a red color on the inside tied to his right shoulder and back.

He looked like a copy of Claude if you leave his black hair.

Claude had the urge to ruffle his hair but after seeing how it was styled very carefully, he decided to just go with a shoulder pat as he asked, "You're not taking a partner?"

"Nope, I just want to go with my family." He smiled.

Claude just stared at him, thinking of something. "Happy Birthday." Claude mumbled before he ended up placing a hand on his head, carefully so as to not ruin his hair.

And then they quickly sat in the carriage. The ride to the Banquet Hall wasn't quiet.

"Have the Villareals arrived?"

"Felix reported that they have."

"That's great-Wait-uh- Dad." Arius spoke as he looked at Athanasia to make her look back at him.

"What is it?"

He then whispered something in Athanasia's ear and Athanasia's expression turned sour as well.

"What is it?" Claude repeated.

The siblings shared a glance. "It's nothing, daddy. Brother is just worrying If I won't eat up all the sweets in the hall."

Claude noticed the tension in the air but didn't say anything. As soon as they arrived, he ordered Felix to ask the chefs to prepare another separate table for sweet items only, DESPITE there already being about eight tables specifically reserved for sweets.

Arius couldn't suppress his laughter over that order. And Athanasia was huffing from embarrassment.

Claude looked at them hoping his children would share what was worrying them but Arius quickly moved inside the Palace.

Athanasia followed him and Claude was the last to move.

"Your Majesty, is there something worrying you?" Felix asked when he saw how Claude stared at his children's back.

". . .They're hiding something from me. Something they're worried about. Felix, ask them in the banquet hall." Claude ordered before following his children inside and leaving Felix with confusion.

The Imperial family now stood outside the door to the banquet hall. Arius remembered something important which he should've remembered ages ago, but here he was, frozen.

Arius, had social anxiety in his past life and although he thought he was over his anxiety in this world, when the doors to the banquet hall opened and Arius stared at the large crowd piercing him with their stares, he froze.

Luckily he wasn't the only one who froze, Athanasia who was holding Claude's right hand had frozen as well.

Arius stared at the crowd and he felt his anxiety grow worse.

What if Lucas isn't there?

What if he can't find him?

What if he messes up the dance?

What if when he's walking down the stairs he trips and falls on his face?

Or

What if he faints from being in a large crowd?

Because that has definitely happened once before, in his past life though.

Suddenly Claude's hand took hold of his left hand and he saw him holding Athanasia's right hand as well. His grip was tight, as if reminding him that he's right by his side.

Claude glared at the crowd which soon bent into a bow.

"I can keep them that way for the duration of the ceremony if that's what you want." Claude told them as he pulled their hands, while walking towards the staircase.

"N–No." Athanasia blurted.

"It's fine Daddy since I'll have you by my side."

Claude looked at Arius, "Its fine for now, but if someone annoys me then–"

"Then they're dead."

Arius smiled at his dad, "That's good to hear."

"Brother, sometimes I'm extremely concerned about your mental state."

"Likewise."

The siblings shared a chuckle and then headed down the staircase, holding their father's hand.

Upon reaching the center of the banquet, Athanasia and Claude stood at their positions, while Arius looked at the immense crowd.

His heartbeat was rising every second. He tried to sense any magic within the hall but he sensed magic all around him, which was super weird.

The crowd was staring at him, people were beginning to whisper in each other's ears and Arius almost stopped breathing, but then, the sounds of heels echoed throughout the hall, the crowd divided apart as a single person came through, Lucas.

But he wasn't in a girl's form. He was just the way he's always been, short black hair, red vibrant eyes, a beauty mark under his left eye.

And he wore a red shirt underneath and black and red long black coat, accompanied by black pants and black boots.

"Lucas–Wha–Why–Thi–" He whispered, Arius was about to have a nervous breakdown, but Lucas closed the distance between them fast and placed a finger on his lips.

"May I have the honour of your first dance, Your Highness?"