Time seemed to fleet before my very eyes.

Madeleine didn't show up at any of the next imperial exams, although her name still appeared on the scoreboard, feeding into my growing interest in her.

In the meantime, I continued my studies to be a worthy heir, somehow always taking the spot in the rankings just above Luca.

And of course, Quinn would not stop following me around.
Although his presence wasn't completely uncomfortable.

It had been six years since I'd last seen Madeleine.

                          ----------------

"Excuse me?" I stared at the messenger in disbelief.

"Yes! Is it not a joy?" The messenger rubbed his hands together, a gleeful smile on his face.

"The royal crown prince.... offered the royal palace as a venue for my debutante???????" I felt sweat run down my back.

Had I done anything to warrant such an enormous display of goodwill?
I didn't think so.

If anything, I had been borderline cold to the prince.

"His royal highness also insisted on organizing the entire event. He expects you to be there in three days." The messenger smiled.

I slumped back in my chair, massaging my temples, staring at the envelope the messenger had left me.

"Thank you. You may leave now." I sighed, deeply and long.

The messenger closed the door behind him.

Well, this was a dangerous situation. Not only could I send new invitations to all my guests to be redirected toward the royal palace instead of the duchy, but I also had no clue why this prince wanted to organize my debutante.

"Easy Antoine, s'not every day you turn 16...", I mumbled to myself.

6 long years I had spent, keeping my reputation as pristine as humanly possible.

It was not all that strange for the royal palace to organize events for non-royals, but the people attending were usually close to the prince.

I had barely spoken to the prince in this life, as I wanted to avoid execution, so I could not fathom why he wanted to hold this party for me.

My train of thought was interrupted by a thunking noise on my window.

As I looked down into the garden, I spotted Quinn hurling little stones at the window.

I opened it, leaning out. "If you want my attention so bad, you should request a formal audience like everyone else!", I yelled, catching one of the pebbles mid-air.

"Get down here Antony! I have things to discuss, and waiting for your stupid audience isn't gonna get it solved."

I huffed, hurrying downstairs and into the garden.

Quinn was standing there, in my garden, randomly throwing pebbles.

".... Let's go to the lake." He walked ahead, leaving me to rush after him in my loungewear.

The lake was located behind my house. It had a small row boat and a tiny stretch of sand that could be called a beach (if you were generous).

He took one of the stones he'd picked up earlier and started skipping it along the water.

It skipped seven times, before finally going under.

"Do you have a reason for calling me out here, or did you just want to do this stuff?" I sat down in the sand, watching as the sun was slowly but surely setting.

"I've been appointed as a royal knight."

I flinched.

Silence stretched around us.

"That's... good for you. I suppose your loyalty is finally paying off." I guess there were some things that I could not change from my last life.

"You sure are enthusiastic about this." He snorted, an ironic smirk on his features.

"I'm sorry, I am happy for you, but I... have my issues with the royal prince." I sighed, drawing a spiral into the sand.

"Issues?" He looked back at me.

"It's complicated." I avoided his gaze.

"Fair. But I figured I should tell you what I heard." He managed to make another stone skip.

"What you heard?"

"There are rumors that the prince will ask for someone's hand in engagement during the next debut. And I heard that it will be your debut."

I slapped a hand over my mouth, trying to suppress a gag with all my might.

"Antony?!" He rushed over to me.

"I-I'm fine. I just wasn't expecting that." I swallowed down my worries, trying to sound normal again.

"Listen. I have a plan. I'll be your partner during the debutante." He grabbed my hands.

"WHAT???? NO! My partner will be my father!!!!" I scowled at him.

"Listen to me! If I was your partner, if for, whatever reason, you were feeling frail at some point during the debut, I'd be allowed to personally escort you home. Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"So... what you're saying is that... if his royal highness tried anything strange... you could bring me back home?"

"Indeed."

".........."

"C'mon Antony, you know that it'd work! Besides, your father would probably prefer escorting your mother!"

"Fine! But if I'm accused of acting impolitely, YOU'RE putting in a good word for me! Got it?!"

"Leave it to me. Oh, and Antony?"

"...Yeah?"

"Be careful. I don't know what Luca is up to, but I don't think it's good."