I Was Reincarnated as a Villain Prince’s Follower, but I Refuse to Be Ruined—Turns Out the Prince Is Surprisingly Competent - Chapter 7

Finally, the day of the birthday arrived.

Starting at five in the evening, guests began arriving at the Baron’s estate one after another. Since the usual household staff wasn’t enough, several temporary servants had been hired.

True to form, Jeremy’s older brother, Balzet, threw a grand insult at his nervous younger brother: “Try not to make a fool of yourself in front of everyone. Remember, I’m the one inheriting the Randolph house.”

Jeremy couldn’t understand what Balzet was thinking. If the family name was so important to him, he should be supporting his brother instead of trying to rattle him.

(He’s probably not thinking at all, though.)

Jeremy stood at the entrance with his father to welcome the guests. For this day, he had thoroughly memorized the faces, names, titles, and territories of every invitee.

“Baron, congratulations on this day.”

“Viscount Shaft, thank you so much for coming.”

“Nice to meet you, Viscount.”

“So, you’re Jeremy? I’ve heard about you from my son. I hear you’ve been a great help to him and the Second Prince at the academy.”

“Yes. But I enjoy talking with Chris as well.”

“That is good to hear.”

Standing next to his father, Chris smiled shyly. He leaned in and whispered, “I’m glad the cravat looks so good on you.” For this big moment, Jeremy was wearing the cravat Chris had given him.

“Please, enjoy yourself today.”

Once the welcoming was over, it was time to make the rounds and greet the guests individually. This was a formal way of asking them to look favorably upon Jeremy in the future. Since he was a second son and wouldn’t inherit the estate, he might be adopted into another family later. It was also a way to start making connections for finding a future wife.

However, having memories of his past life, Jeremy felt nothing but resistance toward discussing marriage at only sixteen. His father, on the other hand, was very enthusiastic, busily trying to gather information on well-mannered young ladies who weren’t yet engaged.

The guests, however, seemed more interested in Rufus.

“Young Jeremy. A friend’s child attends the academy and said the Second Prince is like a completely different person now. Is that true?”

“It’s not quite that he’s a different person. It’s more that His Highness has finally started showing the natural grace he always possessed to the public. Before, he was simply struggling with a lot of inner frustration.”

“Hmm, I see. It’s true that people at that age can be difficult. So, the current Prince is his true self, then?”

Jeremy’s father, who had flatly denied Rufus’s growth before, seemed shocked that the rumors had spread this far. Right now, behind the smile he showed the guests, he must be deeply regretting not inviting the Prince. After all, if royalty appeared at a birthday party for the second son of a mere Baron, it would undoubtedly be the talk of the social season. It was a golden opportunity to make the Randolph family look more influential than they actually were.

(He deserves to regret it.)

Jeremy couldn’t help but think a bit spitefully. He eventually stopped by to see Chris.

“How are you doing? Are you enjoying the party?”

Chris gave a complicated smile.

“I’m still not used to these events at all. I’m very nervous.”

“Just relax and try to have fun. It’s called a ‘party,’ but it’s not that grand an affair.”

“I wouldn’t say that, but I’ll take your word for it.”

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you. But since it’s your birthday, I thought Senior Rufus might be here.”

“Well, um… I couldn’t invite him. Things happened.”

“I think the relationship between you two is really wonderful.”

“You mean as a master and servant?”

“No, I mean the atmosphere… Senior Rufus usually seems so tense, but when he’s with you, he looks so natural and happy.”

“Do you think so?”

“I really feel it when I’m watching from the sidelines. Like, ‘Wow, they’re really close.'”

“I don’t know if ‘close’ is the right word. I’m just his follower…”

“Really? I thought you were like me and Rein.”

Jeremy choked slightly at those unexpected words. Even if this was the world of a BL manga, it didn’t mean everyone was pursuing male-on-male romance. Besides, he and Rufus had never spent that kind of “sweet” time together. No matter how you looked at it, they weren’t more than master and servant.

(Though His Highness did call me his friend.)

“Senior, are you okay!?”

“I-I’m fine… why did you think that?”

“When we were having tea, Senior Rufus kept checking on you and looking at you. You didn’t notice?”

“Really…?”

He hadn’t noticed at all.

“Yes. That’s why I assumed…”

“No, we aren’t intimate like the two of you. He probably just worries because I’m so clumsy.”

“Hmm. It didn’t look that professional to me. It was a very affectionate gaze. Just like Rein’s.”

“How is it ‘just like Rein’s,’ specifically…?”

“Rein has a lot of kindness deep in his eyes. People who are scared of him only see his grumpy face. Rein is bad at expressing emotions and he’s too clumsy to show joy in front of others, though.”

I see. If Chris said so, it must be true. Just then, the room began to buzz with excitement.

“Excuse me.”

Jeremy left Chris to see what was happening. He headed toward the entrance where everyone was staring.

“I happened to be passing by, so I thought I’d at least say hello.”

There stood Rufus, dressed in evening wear of silver and gold.

(Your Highness, your lines and your clothes don’t match at all!)

No one would believe he just “stopped by” while wearing such high-effort formal attire. Everyone in the room bowed deeply with their hands over their hearts to show respect to the royal.

“At ease, everyone. I am not an official guest. I simply wanted to say ‘happy birthday’ to my friend Jeremy in person. Jeremy, happy birthday.”

“Ah, th-thank you very much…”

Hearing those words from such a dashing, handsome man made Jeremy’s heart race and his face flush.

“Y-Your Highness, to come all this way to a place like this…”

Jeremy’s father was bowing so much it looked like he might hurt his neck.

“Baron. It is fine. Please forgive my rudeness for intruding without an invitation. I will leave shortly.”

“No! I-If you have the time, please stay…!”

Jeremy let out a dry laugh at a reaction so different from when he had tried to persuade his father. Rufus knew the whole story about the invitation, so he was likely laughing at the father’s panic internally.

(Still, royal power is something else. Amazing.)

Everyone in the room was bowing their heads.

“Good evening, Senior.”

“Chris. Are you having fun?”

“Yes. Very much.”

“Then I’m glad.”

After a brief greeting, Rufus headed toward Balzet. Balzet, looking up at Rufus who was more than a head taller, broke into a cold sweat and lowered his eyes.

“Your Highness. Thank you for coming to my brother’s party…”

Rufus gently grabbed Balzet’s collar.

“It’s crooked. This is my friend’s big moment. Get it together.”

“Y-yes. My apologies…!”

Rufus spoke in a chillingly low voice he never used with Jeremy. Then, he smiled at the gathering nobles. “We can talk more later. For now, Baron, may I have a moment alone with Jeremy? I’d like to give him a gift.”

“O-of course!”

“Jeremy. Where is your room?”

“It’s on the second floor.”

Jeremy led Rufus up the stairs. The guests watched their close interaction with a mix of surprise and awe. Once they were in the room, the maid left, leaving them alone.

“Did you see my father’s face? I’ve never seen him act so submissive.”

“He didn’t look like the man who rejected my invitation.”

“He’s a noble. He’s good at acting.”

“So, it seems.”

Rufus gave an innocent chuckle. He usually acted so mature, but his sudden smiles had a touch of boyishness.

“Still, if you just wanted to give me a gift, we didn’t have to be alone.”

“You looked so exhausted. I thought you might want a moment to breathe. Was I wrong?”

“…Y-you noticed?”

Honestly, meeting so many strangers had been draining. Even in his past life, Jeremy had been bad at networking events; he’d get “people-sick” very quickly.

“Of course. How long do you think we’ve known each other? Besides, I’ve had the same experience.”

“Really!?”

“The first time I went out in public. Surrounded by countless gazes, listening to flattery that contradicts the speaker’s true feelings… I thought I’d lose my mind. The ballrooms in the palace are supposed to be spacious, but I felt like I was suffocating.”

Rufus’s expression darkened for a moment as he recalled the feeling, but he quickly returned to a graceful smile. Being alone with him, Jeremy felt restless, unsure whether to stand or sit. It was because he was now self-conscious after Chris told him about the “affectionate gaze.”

“So, the gift was just an excuse, then?”

Feeling oddly nervous being alone with him, Jeremy opened the window to the balcony to let in some fresh air.

“No. Of course, I brought something.”

Rufus showed him a bottle of perfume.

“It’s the same one I use, from the royal purveyors. Grooming is important, but people often forget about scent. The trick is to have just a faint lingering fragrance. Give me your wrist.”

“Y-yes.”

Rufus sprayed it lightly.

“This is enough. Tell me when you run out. I’ll give you a new one.”

“It really is the same scent as yours, Your Highness…”

It was a mix of citrus and a faint, floral sweetness. Realizing they shared the same scent made Jeremy’s heart throb in an embarrassing way. Rufus smiled elegantly as he watched Jeremy. Jeremy felt he was too charming for his own good and couldn’t meet his eyes. But the weight of the perfume in his hand felt warm and comforting deep in his chest.

“What scent is this? It smells like orange?”

“It’s a citrus blend with a few floral notes mixed in—an original blend. Come, let’s go back down. It’s rude to keep them waiting forever.”

“True.”

They left the room together. When they returned downstairs, the nobles flocked to Rufus immediately.

Rufus handled them with calm dignity. Before long, Rufus had become the star of the party, but Jeremy didn’t mind. He mostly wanted people to see how much Rufus had changed. He felt the nobles realized that the rumors weren’t just talk.

When the party ended, Jeremy saw Rufus to the door.

“Your Highness, thank you so much for today.”

“See you tomorrow.”

After watching the carriage leave, Jeremy turned to his father.

“Do you see now that His Highness has changed?”

“…It certainly seems so. But I didn’t expect it to be to that extent…”

His father had no choice but to admit it. From now on, he probably wouldn’t complain about Jeremy spending time with Rufus.