CHAPTER THREE: A Debate

Their small meeting might have left a big impression on Giovanni, but not for Theo. To him, Giovanni was just a boy with whom he had a meltdown while trying to save him, which was utterly embarrassing for Theo.

He would recall that gloomy morning, and his face would become beet red out of embarrassment, and he would always try to hide his face whenever this memory popped up in his mind.

He just hoped no one would notice him acting out of order, but things don't usually go as you want, do they?

the train of thoughts going around were cut when,

"Theo, I have noticed that you are acting weird lately. Did... something happen?" Asked Celestia, Theo's childhood sweetheart.

Celestia was a young girl with light brown and green eyes that resembled her mother's and that smile, which made her get whatever she wanted, which perhaps maybe one of the reasons Theo approached her in their first meeting.

Theo was caught off guard by that question. He didn't know what to do or say.

Should he just tell her about the embarrassing moment he shared with the prince or make up some lie?

But if he does make up a lie, what should it even be?

'Oh, it's nothing, I just have a mild fever. That's why I suddenly cover my face and dunk my head when it becomes red.'

That's a nice excuse for someone to think you are a weirdo.

Theo just stared at the flower floating on his tea and wished something would direct Celestia's attention to itself, but not all prayers come true, does it?

There was silence for a few more moments before Celestia spoke again with a worried look towards Theo. "Then I suppose the rumours were true."

Theo was confused. He didn't even know there were rumours circulating about him, as he would always be aware of the talks about him. After all, this was one of his jobs as an heir to the Duke's title apart from staying with books in his room all day and socialising with strangers no matter how much he didn't want to.

"I didn't know there were rumours about me," Theo said, tilting his head.

Celestia lowered her voice when she continued, "There are two versions of this rumour, one has it that you were so saddened and angered by the death of Lady Florence caused by her majesty, the Empress, that you hurt the prince when he was offering his condolence to you ."

Theo's face soured with each word passing through his head. "How could this mindless talk even come across their ears? I had never even thought about bullying a commoner. Forget a royal. These are false accusations!"

Celestia raised her voice and continued, "That's not it. Another version of this rumour suggests that the prince is the one who tried to bully you!"

Theo slammed his cup down lightly and matched his voice with Celestia. "This is utterly stupid to even hear this scandal! How could they ever talk about His Highness, The Prince like that!"

Honestly theo didnt care what peoole think of the orince he was pissed off because the rumours suggest that he is a weakling.

"To be honest, I wanted to believe The Prince did bully you."

Theo says with a slight frown on his face, "Why would you ever think that?"

Celestia places her hand on top of Theo's, making his face slightly red.

"I just care for you, I'm afraid you had some kind of conflict with The Prince. Not that I am suggesting the rumours might be true, but by what I see at the Parties and the balls, you are trying to get away from His Highness. After seeing you act like that, I believed the rumours about The Prince, and you were true. But...whenever I see him approach you, I always see the admiration or something similar to it in his eyes, and whenever you leave, he looks like a sad puppy."

In the last word, Celestia broke out into a small smile and moved her hand, "Talk about someone so high up looking like a sad puppy just because you ran away from him."

"I didn't run away from him, I simply didn't want to interact with him, if I did, that would only bring trouble," Theo said as he took his last sip of the tea.

"What could go wrong with having a royal blood as your acquaintance." Celestia crossed her arms with a face of dismay as she always does. That is her way of showing irritation or any other negative emotions.

"I don't think The Prince means any harm. Moreover, I heard that he personally invited you to his 'Studymate' selection to be a candidate. Isn't that a pretty good start?" Celestia continued without giving up.

"Which I do not wish to attend but have to, I do not understand why you are talking about being acquainted with The Prince, for what I have seen, being around him only gives you trouble. I have been warned, and I will not go past it."

Both Theo and Celestia were acting stubborn now. They both had their point of view but weren't willing to see the other's. This was an argument with no winners as both of them had a point. And now both of them are frustrated.

Theo takes the initiative to end this by which he gets up from his seat and gently holds her hand.

"Celestia, I don't hold any grudge against the prince, nor do I think you are being pointless. I know where you are coming from, I also think that would be great but The Prince isn't someone you can just hang around with, he the black sheep of his family, I just wanted you to be aware of that but if I offended you in some way...I apologize." Theo looked a bit hurt in Celestia's eyes.

She gives him a smile as a gesture of acceptance.

Theo didn't mean any single word he uttered except Giovanni being a black sheep. He still couldn't figure out why Celestia was defending The Prince, but he just wanted her to forget about this whole debate as he didn't want any stain in their relationship for someone else.

Finally, after tea and talks, when it was afternoon, Celestia left the Duke's estate.

Now, while alone, Theo kept repeating Celestia's words and thinking about the letter on the Studymate Candidate Selection where the prince personally invited him. Even though he burned the letter given to him by the servants, he couldnt possibly not go there after The Prince personally asked him to.

Theo just sighs and lays on his bed, wishing that this would end.

He saw this as a battle of choices.

And this battle starts four days later, to be exact.

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