Rubiella wore the green dress. It made her think of his emerald eyes that he was hiding behind his eyeglasses. It also had that dipping neckline which was perfect for her necklace and also for . . . other purposes.

There was a knock on her door.

"My lady, it's me."

Hansel!

She looked at the mirror again and ran her fingers over her curls. A tangle. Another tangle.

"My lady?"

Argh!

To hell with it.

"Hansel! Come in" Rubiella said, beaming at him.

"You look like a fairy queen, my lady," Hansel said.

Rubiella chuckled. He was so romantic with his words. Not that she didn't like it. She liked it a lot actually.

"Then you must be the nobleman who got lost in the woods and accidentally met the fairy queen," Rubiella said.

He did look like a noble man. His light brown hair was let down on his shoulders and his suit was impeccable too. He was wearing an inner white buttoned shirt, a gray buttoned vest, a dark green tie, a black coat, and black pants. No one would mistake him for a butler. She remembered her conversation with her father. He should be able to pull it off, right? Pretend to be a noble man, get his approval to continue seeing her, and if all else fails, she would just elope with Hansel.

Simple, right?

"You're wearing it," Hansel said, obviously pleased.

He touched her pendant, his fingers touching her skin lightly. Then he let go. Tsk. He wanted to feel his touch more.

"Shall we be off then, my lady?" Hansel asked.

"Where are we going?" Rubiella asked.

"I . . . actually have something different planned for our dinner tonight. I . . . hope my lady is pleased with it," Hansel said, adjusting his tie nervously.

"Oh. I am sure I would like it. I'm with you after all," Rubiella said.

Hansel gave her a nervous smile.

Rubiella felt excited. He must have planned a surprise for her.

*

*

*

The two hailed a carriage and arrived in front of a house. She was unfamiliar with the place. Well, she was unfamiliar with a lot of places anyway because she never got out much and the only house she had visited was the house Euphemia was living in with the Duke.

It wasn't a small house but it wasn't a mansion either. Lanterns had been laid out on the lawn and she could see that it was a nice-looking house even in the darkness. It had several flowers planted in front, trees, and the house itself was painted in white mixed with red wood.

"Are we visiting someone?" Rubiella asked.

Hansel just smiled at her and opened the gate. Rubiella looked around curiously. There were no servants to greet them. How strange.

Hansel opened the door without even knocking first. Rubiella quietly followed him inside. The place was well-lit. The chandelier above them illuminated their surroundings and Rubiella could see that the inside of the house looked nice as well.

There were no luxurious paintings but there were vases full of fresh roses. It made the hallway smell of flowers.

"Where are we, Hansel?" Rubiella asked.

"I think you should sit first," Hansel said.

Hansel led her to the dining room. There were no owners of the house waiting for them there. There were only dishes covered with metal covers on the table. Hansel removed them one-by-one and Rubiella was surprised to see her favorite dishes on the table.

"Hansel, what is this?" Rubiella asked, utterly confused.

He pulled out a chair for her and she sat down. Hansel sat down on the chair beside her.

"My lady, welcome to my house," Hansel said.

*

*

*

"Oh!" Rubiella exclaimed.

She looked around. Taking in her surroundings with fresh eyes. The red roses, her favorite dishes, and the simple elegance of it all.

"I didn't know that you have your own . . . This looks amazing, Hansel!" Rubiella said.

Hansel chuckled.

"I hope it is to your liking, my lady," Hansel said.

"It is! I should have known. The roses must be a clue and I didn't figure it out. This is amazing! You have your own house!" Rubiella said.

It was really rare for a commoner to have his own house. Even those who had enough savings could only afford to rent.

"It was the king who gave me this house when he took me from the orphanage. He said this is his payment for my loyalty to Master Lucien but I never saw the need to tend to this house. I was going to just sell it but it slipped my mind all this time," Hansel said.

"It looks really nice. It doesn't look like it slipped your mind at all," Rubiella said in marvel.

"It's just recently that I have been going here to have it fixed and cleaned up," Hansel said looking a bit shy.

Rubiella titled her head.

"Why? What motivated you to have it fixed?" Rubiella asked.

"You, my lady," Hansel said.

"Oh," Rubiella said.

He leaned close to her and tucked in a strand of her hair behind her ear.

"You make me wish to be a better man so I can be worthy of you," Hansel said.

"You are. You are already enough for me," Rubiella said.

She closed her eyes . . . waiting for the feeling of his lips on her but then . . .

GUUUURRRR

Rubiella's eyes flew open. Her cheeks were aflame.

Her stomach just made a ridiculously loud sound and ruined the moment.

Hansel chuckled.

"Let's eat, my lady?" Hansel asked.

Rubiella nodded.

The meals were delicious and Rubiella enjoyed it a lot. Hansel must have been so busy in preparing his house so he could show it to her. He even cooked for her. What else could a girl ask for?

Oh. Right.

Her father's approval.

"Um, Hansel. I . . . have something to ask of you," Rubiella said and wiped her lips with a napkin as she had already finished eating.

"Yes, my lady?" Hansel asked.

"Um . . . well, my father, he heard of the rumors of me seeing a commoner . . ."

"Ah. That tabloid. Tsk. I should have disposed of that writer instead of letting him off with a warning," Hansel muttered.

"What?!"

"Nothing, my lady. Please continue with what you were saying," Hansel beamed at her.

Rubiella narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously but she continued.

"He wishes to meet you and I told him that you're . . ." Rubiella trailed off.

"A butler?"

"A noble."

"Oh. I see," Hansel said nodding slowly.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied but I just said it in the heat of the moment because I was protecting your honor. I didn't want him believing those things he read in the tabloid," Rubiella said.

"It's alright, my lady. You do not need to apologize," Hansel said.

"He wishes to meet you. You would have to pretend to be a noble. A reclusive noble who hasn't shown himself to society which is why no one knows of you and you happen to be the Duke's friend and I'm Euphemia's friend and that is how we met," Rubiella said.

"I see that you have it all figured out, my lady," Hansel said looking quite amused.

"No. Far from it. I don't know how this will work out. If he learns of our ruse, I shall run away with you instead," Rubiella said firmly.

"I see. I admire your resolve, my lady, but there is a simpler way to approach this situation," Hansel said.

"What is it?" Rubiella asked eagerly.

"What do you think of having a nouveau riche as your lover?" Hansel asked.

*

*

*

A nouveau riche is a person who became a noble because of wealth he has acquired. He is able to buy a noble title for himself which in default would that be of a baron, the lowest noble title in the hierarchy. The nouveau riche usually have a business of their own or have worked industruouly throughout the years and has saved enough to buy a noble title for himself. Even though they should be admired for their hard work, they are still looked down upon by those with old money, the nobles who got their title through their bloodline and not with hard work.

"Are you saying . . . ?"

"Yes, my lady. I'm a baron now. I bought a noble title for myself. Is that alright with you?" Hansel asked.

Rubiella leapt up from her seat and hugged Hansel tight.

"My lady?"

"Congratulations on becoming a noble, Hansel!" Rubiella said feeling proud of him.

Hansel hugged her back.

"I cannot change my lineage or the lack of one but I can change the status I have now. I hope with this, I can openly be seen with you in public," Hansel said.

"I was going to ask you if you could pretend to be a noble and now you are," Rubiella said with relief in her voice.

She pulled back a bit from hugging him to look at his face and caressed his cheek.

"I love you, Hansel," Rubiella said.

"I love you too, my lady," Hansel said, placing a kiss on the palm of her hand.

"Would you like to stay here for the night, my lady?" Hansel asked.