'Was I that bad at saying things I want?' Pier thought as he was starting to feel uncomfortable from the constant gazes the people around were giving him, especially from the servants who looked at him as if he had two horns on his head.

'The king looks like he lost a war or something.' Pier glanced at the handsome king that is at the end of the table. The smiling face he had while talking to Asher and Raphael about their plans for the next two years was no longer there and was instead replaced with a stoic expression.

'Raphael looks so uncomfortable... should I ask him...? Nah, it's none of my business anyway.' He munched on a delicious pastry and smiled at the sweet and soft texture of the food.

'Will the king mind if I give the royal chef compliments?' A lot of things were running around Pier's thoughts right now but being wary of other people's opinions about him was never one of those.

'Asher looks the most uncomfortable out of everyone in here. Shouldn't he be grateful that I no longer wish to be with him? He can have all Elena to himself now!' He contemplated while stealing a glance at the Crown Prince.

'What did he mean he no longer desires me? What? I've rejected him numerous times before already but he still kept clinging to me, so why?' Asher's eyebrows were furrowed as if something really big was bothering him

Asher was having a hard time believing what just happened. His father was silently thinking about something while Raphael was looking around as if he were in the middle of a battle between giants and was unsure of the next action he should take.

Asher looked at Pier's directions and saw Pier staring at him. However, it was not the stare of someone infatuated with another being but rather one that is full of curiosity.

Pier tilted his head as if he was asking Asher what was wrong but Asher misinterpreted the young nobles' actions and thought Pier was looking at him with pity.

'What's with that look? Does he pity me or something?' He seethed in anger.

Asher was starting to get annoyed. Not by the fact alone that Pier was looking at him with pity but because the things he had organized in his head were starting to crumble as well.

"Young master Pier... do you really not want to be with Prince Asher anymore?" The man who was silent for quite a while spoke

Pier smiled at Raphael but it did not contain any friendliness. It was a smile that was full of ridicule and a little bit of animosity.

"I know that it may be shocking for you, Sir Raphael since you have seen me chase Prince Asher relentlessly but after what had happened last time, it made me realize that my place was not beside Prince Asher but rather somewhere else and I even begged Sir Raphael to cancel our engagement because of the same reason." Raphael flinched at the words, still unable to absorb the things that were happening around him. Pier's voice sounded cold and distant.

"Besides, a man like me could not bear an heir for Prince Asher even if he were to choose me. It would be the best and possible course of action to have him marry Lady Elena who can bear his heir and complete their family and Lady Elena is the perfect match for Prince Asher if I may boldly say." Pier smiled at them.

He recalled in the original Pier's memory the things about Elena. She was the only daughter of Marquis Scotch and is one of the most elegant ladies in the entire kingdom. She was a beauty that only a few could closely compare to and she was talented in handling responsibilities.

'I don't want too many responsibilities, too. Imagine ruling a kingdom...' Pier quietly shuddered at the thought of him being too busy and not giving himself the time to relax and enjoy.

"Ah, I see your point, Pier. Too bad I also wanted you to be with Asher but I'm guessing it could not be helped as well." The stoic expression the king had earlier was no longer visible and was instead replaced with a happier smile.

'He's good at controlling his expressions' he complimented the king. Pier knew that the king was probably disappointed that he could not merge the House of Masters and the Royal Family into a royalty household but for Pier, there was no forcing on the matters.

'I guess he favors Pier that much to easily let the idea go.'

"Thank you, your majesty. It is for the best of the kingdom after all." Pier smiled widely. His soft black hair that was combed with care was moving a little bit as the soft breeze inside the garden passed through the pavilion. His calm demeanor while talking to the person with the highest position in the entire kingdom, the king, was to be greatly commended. He spoke as if he was talking with a comrade rather than a commander.

"Ah, pardon I noticed late, my child. It seems like you have also changed the way you dressed." The king said and Pier's face could not help but redden itself after the king noticed the way he dressed.

'Heck, I shouldn't be nervous but he suddenly gave off a pressuring aura around him.' The king suddenly gave off a contemplating gaze after thinking about what Pier said earlier.

No, it wasn't a normal pressure, to begin with. Slowly, the burden on his body started to become bigger that Pier started to struggle internally.

'What's wrong with him? It's kind of heavy you know?!' Pier was annoyed and small beads of sweat that only he could feel were forming on his forehead.

Raphael who was stiffening up earlier noticed Pier's reaction to the king's words.

'I thought the shy little noble I met two years ago completely changed but he still had that cute side.' Raphael did not deny that Pier was truly attractive. Anyone could tell so. The Belmiunde Household's genes are no joke and are considered to be one of the most good-looking families in the kingdom.

'But his pretty features still did not disappear,' The young duke thought as he stared at the blushing Pier.

Pier suddenly looked straight into the king's eyes and King Henry's eyes widened in return

"Y-Yes, your majesty. Thank you for noticing the sudden change in my style. I must have started developing a new sense of fashion back when I was resting at our household in the previous weeks and have decided to test if it suits me." Pier was half-smirking and half-smiling genuinely because he could see the shocked expression that passed the king's face but disappeared immediately.

"I see. It suits you more, Pier. Then I presume I should now alter the colors of the gifts I send." King Henry was looking at Pier with amusement

'He managed to break off the small aura I released towards him? Interesting,' King Henry was more interested in the young noble than ever. Sure, he felt disappointed that he could not merge the Belmiunde and Lumiere households into one but that could be settled for another time. Pier breaking off the small amount of pressuring aura he released piqued his interests more.

'Gifts?' Pier questioned himself. He scanned his memories and came to a realization 'Ah, the king sends gifts to Pier regularly' whether it'd be new clothes or stuff that Pier requested, the king would always send them to the best of his capabilities.

'It's like he's favoring me more than anybody else in this kingdom.' Pier sighed a little bit at the thought. No wonder a lot of people secretly hated Pier. It's because the king always favors him and would send him gifts.

'I should also tell him to stop sending gifts.' He resolved his mind.

"Thank you for considering, your majesty." Pier lightly smiled. He was annoyed by what the king had suddenly done. It was no secret that those who inherit the throne are blessed by a specific type of magic that produces an aura befitting a ruler. Rulers such as kings and Emperors can utilize such magic to manifest their control over their subjects and Pier did not warmly welcome the action King Henry discreetly did.

"Ah, my children, the Royal Banquet will soon commence, I do hope you have already prepared your necessities by then." The king casually took a sip of his tea and Pier stopped momentarily at the announcement.

The Royal Banquet which was held by the royal family is one of the most prestigious and important events of the year for it marks the start of the socializing season. Nobles from both the upper and lower class attend the royal banquet and aim to make connections with each other.

'Ever since I came to this world, I never got any sort of rest!' Pier rolled his eyes internally at the thought. He was annoyed that the original Pier had too many responsibilities and tasks to do.

'He also made a mess out of himself in the royal banquet last year.' The original Pier wanted to stand out last year and wore extremely vibrant colors that did not match in the slightest during the Royal Banquet. He indeed gained the spotlight but not in a good way. Everyone made fun of him as someone who's like a street performer as the different colors combined in his suit resembled that of a street performer's clothes.

Eliam could not help but sigh in defeat. Pier was hopeless.

Pier even went out and announced that he will be dancing with the Crown Prince but during the event, the crown prince did not even spare him a single glance. He was always the topic of high society and the center of gossip and insults. It came to the point where people would label others as a 'Pier' which signifies the status of being a loser.

'I do not want to join these hyenas in their banquet but as the head of the family I don't have any choice.' He wore a dejected face and Raphael noticed this

"Young master Pier, I'm looking forward to your performance in this upcoming banquet." Raphael tried to talk to Pier but Pier froze at the statement

"Performance?" He asked with a blank look on his face.

"Yes, young master. You would always play a song after his majesty delivers his message in front of everyone" he smiled brightly and Pier just stared at Raphael without saying anything

'Fuck' Pier started getting cold sweat at what Raphael just said.

'Right, perform... How could I forget about that?' One of the most embarrassing moments that happened to Pier at every Royal Banquet in the previous years would be his performance after the King gives his speech. He would play a song on the piano and he plays so bad to the point where nobles considered it the worst part of the Royal Banquet.

'Of course, no one retaliates against such a horrendous part of the Banquet because the king personally requested this in his beloved Pier!' The young master looked at the king and saw the red-haired man smiling at him.

He looked back at Raphael and smiled too.

"Thank you, Sir Raphael. I will try to do my best in this year's Royal Banquet."

Asher silently listened to their conversation. He did not want to listen to them. He was exhausted at Pier's sudden announcement and rumors must have been starting to circulate the palace by now as maids and butlers have heard Pier's declaration.

He glanced at the somehow changed young master. On the other hand, if Pier was indeed serious about his statements earlier as he had boldly told the king, then it is a good thing because Pier will no longer get in between him and Elena's relationship...

'No, it has just gotten worse. Father would oppose my relationship with Elena now that his plans for Pier and me had been ruined!' He started fretting over the things that would happen soon.

Pier's sudden announcement was unexpected and if it were real then it is both good and bad news for him. He cannot let Elena suffer any more under his father and other nobles who opposed their relationship.

However, he could not yet trust Pier's words just because the latter said so. It might be one of his new ways to gain attention from the people around him.

'I need to observe him more,' Asher thought while watching the three individuals talk in front of him.

--

"This is frustrating!" Pier sighed as he leaned back at the carriage's seat. The tea party with the king and the two pricks went well.

"What should I perform? Pier embarrassed himself so much in the previous years that if I were him, I would not even dare to step foot in this kingdom anymore!" he covered his forehead with his arm. Everything was weighing down on him.

"It's still pretty far, I can just decide at the last moment." As an overachiever in his previous life, Eliam was not just academically smart. He was talented in various aspects as well and did not lag behind prodigies and other geniuses in his time. He was also a major procrastinator.

Pier decided to leave the future problems to the future him and focus more on his current goal.

Magic. He wanted to study magic. He had read tons of novels and comics in his previous life and was always amazed at the different magic-themed ones he came across.

He started getting excited at the thought of researching magic.