[2 days later]

"hey, Lucas...I heard there will be a hunting event, I'm pretty excited about it" Aderi said as she and Lucas were strolling the garden in the manor of Lacita.

"Indeed, I too am excited" Lucas replied agreeing with Aderi. Aderi on the other hand still didn't tell Lucas about her and Cael's reunion, since...after all Lucas's father is someone who can blackmail someone for a higher status.

Lucas's father is someone who is sly and likes scheming, But his son is nothing like him. Although in the original novel, Aderi's bad influence leads him to do more evil deeds than his father.

"It'll be my first hunting event ever! I'm pretty excited" Aderi said with an excited tone in her voice.

"well...that makes me more excited" Lucas responded with a happy smile.

"hmm? why were you even so excited in the first place?" Aderi asked eager to know.

"Don't get me wrong...it's just that, to attend every year" Aderi followed her statement. Lucas smiled wider.

"Ahem! Well, my father let me become the Stefan's representative," Lucas said proudly. Aderi smiled happily at her dear friend.

"congratulations Lucas!!!" Aderi said with a wide smile on her face as she continuously tapped Lucas's shoulder.

"you better cheer for me," Lucas said teasingly.

"of course, I would!" Aderi said smiling happily.

"I'm counting on you," Lucas said smiling happily after hearing Aderi would cheer for him.

"I'm not as good as your father but, still...I'm pretty good!" Lucas said boasting about his hunting skills.

"I doubt that you're pretty good," Aderi said teasing Lucas.

"I bet you couldn't even lift a bow and shoot one," Lucas said pouting.

"are sure about that?" Aderi asked with a grin.

"yeah, the bow is pretty heavy," Lucas said, Aderi chuckled.

"I'm pretty good at it!" Aderi replied.

"I cannot blame Lucas for doubting I cannot lift a bow...Since the information that the females of the Callista's are stronger than the male" Aderi thought.

"I doubt that" Lucas teased back, Aderi hit Lucas's arm lightly. as both of them started chuckling. both of them are playing playfully as usual, teasing one another.

"but seriously...I know how to use one" Aderi said smiling.

"I never even saw you lift a bow yet, nor heard anything about you knowing how to use a bow, I wouldn't be surprised if you know how to use a sword since your father leads one of the elite troupes in the kingdom, but a bow? that's surprising" Lucas said, Aderi chuckled.

"your chuckling made me lower my belief in you," Lucas said doubting Aderi. Aderi chuckled more.

"but I'm not lying, maybe one day you'll see me use one," Aderi said.

"I'm looking forward to it" Lucas smiled.

°

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after Aderi got home at the Callista's manor someone was waiting for her.

"Jake? what are you doing here?" Aderi asked.

"yeah...about that offer you said before, the one that when I and Caelias need help we can turn to you, uh...I would like to use my favor now" Jake said smiling innocently at Aderi. Aderi was glaring at Jake.

"If it's about Caelias then no!" Aderi said firmly.

"you hate that idiot, huh?" Jake asked.

"so it is about Caelias huh?" Aderi asked back.

"no it's not, to be honest, I'm on your side, I kept telling him to tell you already but he said it wasn't a great time when he had a lot of opportunity to tell you," Jake said smiling.

"See? he could have at least sent me a letter, I thought he was dead, I worried for nothing!" Aderi said frustrated.

"Caelias was a chicken," Jake said laughing, Aderi almost laughed but kept her composure.

"so...what's your favor?" Aderi asked.

"your good friends with Miss Duncan, right?" Jake asked, Aderi nodded.

"what about Lady Ari?" Aderi asked with doubt in her voice.

"uh...this would sound embarrassing but, could you...ask what she likes in men?" Jake asked as he looked away from Aderi's eyes.

"eh!? you like Lady Ari!?" Aderi asked shocked since she wasn't expecting this.

"Maybe...maybe not" Jake answered while still avoiding Aderi's eyes.

"Are you serious? how old even are you?" Aderi asked interrogating Jake.

"First, yes I am serious, and second I'm the same age as Caelias which makes me 20" Jake answered.

"Are you serious about pursuing Lady Ari?" Aderi asked.

"yes, I am" Jake answered firmly. Aderi gave Jake a weird look.

"why are you looking at me like that?" Jake asked Aderi confused.

"hmm..." Aderi hummed trying to word what she was thinking.

"I know what you are thinking...I know I'm friends with the person who lied to you but, I'm different! I'll treat Miss Duncan right!" Jake said sincerely. But Aderi was still glaring at Jake.

"I promise!" Jake said as he kneeled. Aderi let out a sigh.

"You better!...anyway, what do you want to know?" Aderi said asking Jake. He quickly stood up and fixed his posture.

"what type of man she likes...what kind of flowers she prefers..." Jake said.

"fine...give me some time alright?" Aderi said as she followed it with a sigh.

"Thank you!" Jake said as he jumped from happiness.

"come back in 2 days..." Aderi said.

"will do! thank you Lady Callista!" Jake said.

"Why are you being polite all of a sudden," Aderi asked frowning.

"Since I am indebted to you!" Jake said happily.

"Isn't I the one indebted to you and that I am only doing this to repay you?" Aderi thought.

"Well then, see ya in 2 days!" Jake said as he jumped off the balcony.

"jeez...that serious man turned into a puppy in just one second," Aderi remarked looking at the balcony where Jake left.

"time to write a letter to Lady Ari then" Aderi mumbled as she walked to her stationary.

[the next day]

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"thank you for inviting me for tea again lady Aderi!" Ari said with a smile, Aderi returned the smile.

"of course!" Aderi said smiling.

°

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the two chatted a little about different topics before she brought up the topic that Jake asked for.

"I've been meaning to ask you Lady Ari...what kind of boys do you like?" Aderi said asking.

"hmm...believe it or not I like someone with long hair, but I don't like it when it's messy, I like it when it's tied up neatly, and I like a person who would treat me right, I don't care about status, as long as they respect me and my family," Ari said smiling.

"I guess Jake hit the jackpot on his hair," Aderi thought sipping her tea.

"how about you Lady Aderi?" Ari asked also want to know Aderi's ideal type.

"I like someone honest, and someone strong, I want them to also respect me and my family" Aderi replied, Ari nodded.

"Any physical features you like?" Ari asked.

"Well...i guess short hair and fierce eyes but would turn soft when they are with you" Aderi responded.

"Wait...isn't Cael like that too?" Aderi asked herself. Suddenly she chocked.

"Are you okay Lady Aderi!?" Ari asked Aderi concerned. Aderi nodded.

"Why the heck am I thinking about that jerk!" Aderi asked herself as she tried to fix herself.

"how about flowers? what flowers do you like?" Aderi asked changing the topic.

"I like tulips, I like how they look!" Ari said smiling, Aderi nodded.

"how about you Lady Aderi?" Ari asked back.

"I like yuscent, they are very unique and I like the smell and appearance" Aderi replied, Ari nodded.

"Yuscent is very rare, it's sad that the yuscent you gave me already died a long time ago, it is currently on a page of a book to preserve it," Ari said, Aderi smiled.

"Don't worry Lady Ari, I'll get you new ones!" Aderi said smiling.

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[The next day: night]

"I'm here," Jake said as he landed on the balcony railing.

"let's get to business, shall we?" Aderi asked, Jake pulled out a small piece of paper and a pen.

"Let's!" Jake replied ready to take down notes.

"you hit a jackpot, she likes men with long hair," Aderi said.

"Really!?" Jake asked shocked.

"but not messy like yours, she likes it when it's in a ponytail," Aderi said, Jake nodded as he started writing.

"she likes someone who would treat her right and someone who'll respect her and her family, she doesn't care about status too," Aderi said reciting what Ari wants.

"about the flowers?" Jake asked.

"Tulips, she didn't mention the color though" Aderi responded, Jake nodded

"thank you for this info Aderi," Jake said smiling.

"you're welcome," Aderi responded.

"well I have to go now, see you at the hunting festival," Jake said as he retreated.

[In the castle]

"You asked Aderi to do what!?" Caelias asked Jake shocked.

"she is helping me as long it's got nothing to do with you," Jake said with a cheeky grin.

"You messed up, you should have listened to me," Jake said teasing Caelias.