A/N: I own nothing. Enjoy!

For your information, in this world the hierarchy of nobility is as follows:

Emperor

Crown Prince

Prince/Princesses

Grand Duke/Grand Duchess

Dukes/Duchesses

Marquis/Marchioness

Earl/(wife of Earl is Countess)

Count/Countess

Viscount/Viscountess

Baron/Baroness

Everyone else lol

Lady Annabeth was extremely bored at Princess Thalia's and General Luke's engagement party. Sure, she was happy for her good friend and former childhood crush for getting together. But the engagement party only reminded of her looming future. And the future of being a female noble was severely limited to that of political marriage.

It took all of Annabeth's efforts to place a bland, polite smile on her face as she tried to dodge her incessant male suitors. Her stepmother had set her up with many single bachelors, all counts, barons, and young marquises with fame and fortune to their names. All of these men could ensure more alliances with her family, the Ducal lineage descending from Duchess Athena.

Annabeth's birth mother, Duchess Athena, had been a favored daughter Princess of the previous Emperor in her youth. But now that the Duchess had passed away, Annabeth's paternal family had no connection with the royal family, as they were from the lower social class of Barons. Annabeth was the only direct connection and the only daughter of a Duchess. But her stepmother's sons were set to inherit the remaining Ducal lands after the betrothal gifts were given to whoever her future husband was.

How Annabeth detested that the law decreed the man should inherit the title before the woman. She was poor as a pauper unless she married someone with wealth, status and power. Even then the power would truly belong to her future husband.

As Annabeth walked through the party, she ignored the jealous and harassing looks of some of the other noblewomen. Oh, they would never do that in front of her face as she was the granddaughter of the previous Emperor and cousin of the current Crown Prince. High society was just a pit of poisonous vipers that she couldn't wait to escape from.

"Lady Annabeth, your beauty overwhelms me. You are like the floating sunshine that has transcended into corporeal form. Your gray eyes are just like those of your mother's, like icy steel." A man had approached her before she could effectively dodge him.

"Thank you. Your kind words are undeserved," she returned, almost gagging at the amount of false flattery this old fart spewed.

Who was this old toad again? Annabeth smiled politely but with disinterest. She had already forgotten this man's name. Count or Baron Rodrick or something like that?

Words of flattery did not work on her, especially when so many other beautiful ladies were here, far more striking than she was. Out of the corner of her eye, Annabeth saw her friend Piper, the widowed Duchess of Columbidae, surrounded by suitors after her earthy beauty and her humongous fortune. Like Annabeth, Piper had mastered the art of surviving in the land of vicious high society.

Annabeth was pretty sure the Baron Rodrick had tried to pick up Piper earlier but had failed and had now decided to go after the easier prey of Annabeth. She'd even heard rumors that Baron Rodrick once tried to marry her mother twenty five years ago.

How revolting. Annabeth hid her displeased expression behind her silk fan.

Besides, Baron Rodrick was sixty-four years old and had three daughters all older than Annabeth from three different wives and concubines. Annabeth bit back feelings of nausea as the baron not so stealthily stole looks down her exposed bosom.

She was really going to kill her stepmother's stylist. Usually, Annabeth preferred plainer dresses so she could stay inconspicuous at these stupid balls and tea parties. But tonight, both the hairdresser and stylist had conspired to make Annabeth stand out much more than she was comfortable with. The male attention she used to dodge with far more ease were now turned on her, or more specifically how her breasts were pushed up and out with the tight corset and daring neckline, giving her the illusion of having more than what she actually did.

Furthermore, she had no plans on becoming the fourth wife of Baron Rodrick, a man who could easily be as old as her grandfather.

Especially when the rumors surrounding the Baron claimed that he abused his wives and liked sowing his seed in young women. Fuel was added to the rumor mill when two of his wives were spotted with bruises on their wrists. Plus, she'd have to deal with the hierarchy of being the youngest and the fourth wife with three female masters ahead of her.

Three wives was not enough apparently for Baron Rodrick. He was still looking for a legitimate son to inherit his name.

"Lady Annabeth."

With relief, she turned to the familiar voice and curtsied prettily. "Your Highness."

"Ah, your Highness! A pleasure to meet you. I must say-" Baron Rodrick nearly tripped in his haste to greet the Crown Prince.

"Thank you, Baron Rodrick. If you don't mind my interruption, I would like a word with Lady Annabeth," Jason said smoothly. The next heir to the throne had an imposing manner to the simpering baron with his striking blonde hair and tall height. On his uniform was decorated with the many medals earned from his military achievements and battles. "I do believe that Viscount Stoll is looking for you. Something about settling a gambling debt?"

Baron Rodrick sputtered, his white mustache bobbing up and down like a beached whale on his lips.

Annabeth quickly jumped on the opportunity to leave the lecherous man's side. She was grateful that not only that Jason rescued her, but that he never mentioned that she was his cousin in these situations. Once the nobility remembered she was the cousin to the crown Prince, they would never cease their hounding.

"Ah, finally. Thank you, Jason. I was beginning to think that I had to stick my fan up his nose for him to leave me alone."

Jason grinned, his sky blue eyes dancing in amusement. "I still remember your debutante ball where you beat Viscount Travis and Lord Connor Stoll at fencing. Where you procured the sword and your fencing skills is still a mystery. Pity such spectacles aren't seen any more."

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "I'm no longer sixteen, Jason."

"That's true, you're not. At your age of twenty-three, you could be considered an old maid if you don't marry soon." He teased.

"Speaking of marriage, shouldn't you be focusing on yours? The Crown Prince's marriage is far more important than that of a daughter of a forgotten Duchess," she shot back.

Jason winced. Just like her, he had been avoiding the unmarried ladies and young widows who prowled for their prey. Annabeth was his shield just as much he was hers.

"Don't even mention that. Yesterday night, I had three women try to crawl through my bedchamber windows naked and demand that I sleep with them. Three! Luckily the guards caught them before any rumors could spread."

"Oh my. Three? All at the same time for a threesome or separately? Our Prince is such a coveted bachelor," she teased at her cousin's reddening face. Her tone turned serious. "Why don't you get engaged for real then? That way the number of women throwing themselves at you would decrease to at least a tolerable number."

"Who would I get engaged to?"

Annabeth didn't miss the way Jason kept looking at Duchess Piper tonight. Before he had been able to earn the title of Crown Prince and had any political power to stop marriages of the nobility, Piper had been married off to a man who had paid an enormous fortune for the young beauty's hand. Piper could hardly protest when the Emperor had given his permission and Jason had been shipped off to war.

It was no secret that the former Duke of Columbidae was impotent, suffering from sexually transmitted diseases received from the Duke's nightly visits to the brothels. He had passed away just a mere eight days after the wedding leaving no children for his inheritance and Piper as a very wealthy Duchess of Columbidae. Piper had confided to her the man could not get it up on their wedding night, thus leaving her with relief and still a virgin.

"Look, Piper is still in the running as a candidate for the future Queen," Annabeth reasoned. "Her previous marriage could have been annulled since the wedding night duties weren't completed. But she hasn't, and luckily that means she is the sole inheritance of the Duchy. And since she holds the wealthy coffers of the Duchy of Columbidae, your father would have seen it as advantageous to strengthening the power of the throne. There would be no opposition from the Emperor if you choose Piper as your main wife. Though I'm sure she wouldn't like it if you brought in other wives."

Unfortunately, this Kingdom had the culture of male nobility bringing in more than one wife. The current Emperor had one Empress, three Queens, and numerous consorts and concubines. Jason had a hard time competing against the other Princes as the son of a former Queen who had passed away from a broken heart at the Emperor's lecherous personality. But Annabeth was sure Jason didn't want any one other than Piper as his wife, not after experiencing the treachery of harem life. There had always been countless attempts at his life during his childhood.

And there was another reason why Annabeth didn't want to marry a man her family chose. She was sure to have to compete for her husband's good graces and deal with the petty rivalries of other wives. What a waste of energy that would be.

But Jason didn't seem surprised at what she said. He must have deduced all that she had said already. So what else was stopping him from pursuing his first love?

"Truth be told, Annabeth, I'm a coward," he said hesitantly. "I've fought so many battles and survived death, yet I'm afraid of what Piper may think of me. She probably hates me now since I couldn't protect her when I was away at war. I left her alone to be touched by that disgusting pig of a geezer." His hands were clenched as though aching for a sword that could lop off the dead Duke's head. "How can I protect the people in this land when I can't protect the people I love?"

"I highly doubt that." Annabeth murmured. She had lent Piper many an ear and knew that Piper still yearned for Jason's heart as fiercely as he did. Piper had been always worrying for Jason's health and safety on the battlefields. A rare marriage in the nobility for true love, indeed. Even Thalia and Luke were only friends and had to marry each other for political reasons or else the Emperor would marry his daughter off to some far away kingdom to forge an alliance. "The circumstances were out of your control. Besides, trust me, she doesn't hate you."

"How do you know?"

Annabeth stifled a smile at Jason's lost expression. This was the man who supposedly slaughtered all those enemies opposing him, turning brown fields into bloodbaths and had earned the Emperor's favor to become the Crown Prince. Now his eyes were so soft and lost like a puppy's. "Women's intuition. Now, you'd better get over there and talk to Piper or else you'll really lose her. Look, Viscount Zethes of the Boread family is talking to her."

The young lord had pushed himself to the front of Piper's admirers, his platinum white hair a beacon among the darker heads. Though Piper was smiling, Annabeth could see the tension in her stiff shoulders as she dealt with the viscount's sleazy demeanor.

Jason was fuming beside her. He was starting to get that icy glint in his blue eyes. Annabeth could see why Jason had been called the Eagle of Death. It would not be good for Jason to start trouble, especially at his sister's engagement party.

"Go on, Jason. Things aren't as bleak as they seem. You have to take charge of your own path." She pushed him towards Piper. "I'm pretty sure you've already decided to go for it. You just needed the validation."

Jason turned around and grinned at her. "Thanks for the advice, Annabeth. You should follow it as well. Which reminds me, after this, there's someone I want to introduce you to. I think you'll find him quite interesting. Don't leave the party so quickly like last time."

Annabeth inwardly groaned. Not another male suitor. "Just go, Your Highness."

With that, she watched as the crowds parted before him, bowing and curtsying for the Empire's Crown Prince. Viscount Zethes had absolutely no chance whatsoever as Piper's eyes lit up with Jason's approach.

Really, the two seemed picture perfect for each other, with Piper's dark brown hair framing her luminous skin and colorful eyes, a contrast to Jason's golden hair and blue eyes. The two seemed absolutely lovey-dovey in their own world.

Jason kissed Piper's gloved hand and whisked her away to the dance floor, effectively cutting her off from the other suitors who could not compete against the Eagle of Death, much less the Crown Prince.

And that was her cue to leave. With Jason as her shield gone, she was tossed to the wolves of the matchmaking world once more.

Annabeth quickly strode to the empty terrace in hopes of escaping. She breathed in the chilly but fresh night air. The ballroom felt so stuffy with the perfumes of ladies and gentleman cloying together.

Her mind soon turned to the topic of her looming marriage. Jason was right in that she should follow her own advice. She didn't like any of the men her stepmother had introduced, so why not find a man who was at least halfway decent?

There were other reasons supporting the decision to wed a man of her own choosing. Half of the nobility in her Kingdom were related to each other through constant marriage within themselves, just as how she was related to Jason and Thalia and all the other children of the Emperor's concubines. Stillbirths were common, often dangerous to the mother's life. Thalia was fortunate to escape such an incestuous marriage. Luke was a commoner who rose quickly to fame on the battlefield and was promoted to the Head Knight and General of the Imperial Army.

Pity that Thalia was marrying her childhood crush. But Luke had always treated her like a small child, even today in her twenties.

It would be best to find a man with some kind of high title so her family wouldn't oppose. A man who wouldn't interfere in her affairs and had no history of abuse. Someone who wouldn't force her to always attend social events in order to forge alliances. Annabeth had little care for such things, much less the extravagant jewelry and dresses and what other noblewomen liked.

What Annabeth truly enjoyed was architecture. Her father had indulged her in that aspect, allowing her to redesign their mansions. Foreign dignitaries who visited their kingdom often stopped to marvel at the Chase family mansions, resplendent in their beautiful architecture, statues and gardens. Pity she had to hide that she was the architect, for no woman had ever done such a thing or be ostracized. So she needed a husband who tended to be more liberal or stupid enough to let her have her way.

"It's a cold night, my lady."

Annabeth whipped around so fast, she nearly twisted her ankle on her high heels. A strong hand steadied her before she could face plant on the floor.

Who dared to approach her without her knowing it with such quiet footsteps? Damn, her training had been lacking these days with all these darn engagement parties to go to.

She had to look up further than expected at the tall man who was holding her up.

Piercing green eyes peered down at her. Tousled black hair as though he couldn't bother combing it neatly for the engagement party. A strong nose and a crooked smile that hid all sorts of mischief.

He smelled faintly of the sea, a rare scent among the Olympian nobility who favored floral notes. She recognized him immediately from the gossip of the social circles and from what details Jason had told her. No one from the Olympus Kingdom had that rare combination of jet black hair and green eyes.

The Earthshaker, the Stormbringer. The Monster of the Seas.

All names given to the illegitimate child of the Emperor of the neighboring Atlantis Empire. Despite being an illegitimate child, he had risen to power through his own means on the battlefield. He was part of the heroic trio with Luke and Jason. The man whose sword rushed in no hesitation to rain blood upon his enemies. The man who had a wild libido for leaving women he bed unconscious, or so the rumors say.

A dangerous man indeed.

And she quite liked danger.

"It is an honor to meet you, Your Grace."

PS: There will be both a T-Rated and M-Rated version of this story. Read whichever one you want, teehee.

This story is already basically finished, but I decided to be annoying and release the rest of the chapters based on reviews of whether people like the pilot chapter or not. Cuz like, if people don't like it, why release it when I've got a bajillion other projects to finish, amirite?

So Muahahaha! *evil laughs before accidentally choking on the mango that she's eating to cure her writer's block on the other stories