A/N: Enjoy! I own nothing.


She had said that she would see him around, but Percy had not expected to see Lady Annabeth so soon after the engagement party.

Percy was forced to attend the next day's Imperial Olympian hunting party, as he was the official ambassador from the Atlantis Empire. He never liked hunting, as he held no talent for archery and killing innocent animals for sport was not his cup of tea. But horseback riding was easy and a stress reliever to him.

Jason had called in a favor for Percy to distract from the crown prince's planned disappearance from the main hunting party. Percy could guess at the reason why, and it was one word starting with the letter "P" and and ending with "-iper".

It was no difficult feat as the party of noblemen soon went hot on the heels of a large deer. Percy pulled back to the edges of the group and let the others take charge.

It was then he happened to catch a glance of sparking blue water. Was there a pond or something? Perhaps his horse, Blackjack, would like a drink of cool water after galloping for so long.

Curious and already bored of the hunt, Percy steered Blackjack towards the water. He soon found himself among a small lake, concealed with dense brush and pine trees.

"Fancy seeing you here, Lady Annabeth."


"Oh my gods!"

Her pencil slipped in her hand and drew a dark line in the middle of her design. Annabeth had been so absorbed in sketching her new design for the greenhouse that she didn't notice the Earl on a horse right beside her.

He looked regal perched on his black horse like that, his brown leather hunting gear quite dashing on his figure. She frowned and squinted up at him. Still, no matter how handsome one was, he shouldn't have been so quiet like that.

"I apologize. It looks like I keep startling you every time we meet." The Earl descended from his horse and handed her the pencil she dropped.

"I imagine your stealth must have come in handy from your days at war, Your Grace." Annabeth commented as she accepted the pencil.

"True," the Earl smiled lightly. "But it seems my lady was too engrossed in her sketch. May I have a look?"

She shrugged. Usually she kept her designs a secret, but what was the harm in showing them? The design was now marred anyways. "It's nothing much."

"You're much too modest. It's absolutely stunning. You have an eyes for these things, Lady Annabeth."

Oh? What's this? As a member of the nobility, Annabeth was used to hearing compliments devoid of any sincerity. But Percy's words seemed to be genuine. So far, all his compliments had been quite sincere. A fascinating first to hear from many of the meaningless words of flattery from her many male suitors.

"I'm no expert on architecture or art, but I like the way these arches look." He handed her sketchbook back to her with a friendly grin.

"Thank you," she said. "Would you like to have a seat, Your Grace?"

A plan began forming in her head. Duchess Athena always had a plan. And now, so would Lady Annabeth.

What was that Percy had said before? A marriage to a man like him?

Well, Annabeth supposed that wouldn't be too bad. She didn't believe all the rumors about him, especially with what Jason had told her about Percy and her first impression of him.

The Earl was friendly, an expert swordsman on the field, wealthy enough to please her family even if he was an illegitimate child, and also easy on the eyes. Annabeth had good judgement of people, and Percy happened to complete every requirement she needed. Unfortunately, she knew that he was also not in the market for a wife. She would just have to find a way to change his mind.

"I'll take you up on that offer. Although, what happened to calling me Percy like before? 'Your Grace' is just too stiff."

Annabeth hid a smile. "Considering that we're alone together, we might as well keep some resemblance of propriety."

Percy laughed. "I think all rules of propriety flew out the window once you invited me to sit down with you with no chaperone nearby."

He settled comfortably on the ground next to her. This close to her, Percy still smelled like a fresh breeze floating from the sea. Annabeth wondered briefly if he smelled like that naturally or whether he used some ocean scent cologne. The aroma was exotic compared to the forest smells all around her.

"Actually, you'd be wrong in that. Our chaperones are over there." She pointed to the distance.

Percy squinted at two figures across the lake. "Is that His Highness and the Duchess of Columbidae?"

"Indeed. I'm their chaperone for the day."

Jason and Piper were walking serenely by the lake shores, finally unseen from the bothersome eyes of society.

"Chaperone, huh? From three hundred feet away? And yet, they're also supposed to be our chaperones?" He joked.

Annabeth made a face. "You try being the third wheel from less than ten feet away."

"Fair point. But then if they're our chaperones, then that means we're not alone. You can call me Percy, and I'll call you Annabeth."

Annabeth shook her head laughingly as he threw her words right at her.

She looked down at the basket next to her. Piper and she had been having afternoon tea earlier while they waited for Jason to escape the hunting party. "Would you like some cookies? I'm afraid the tea has gone cold and the scones aren't as fresh, but you're more than welcome to have some."

"Then I thank you for your generosity, Annabeth."

Percy selected a small blueberry scone. One of the weirder but innocuous rumors surrounding the Earl of Atlantis was that he preferred blue food. She watched him preferentially pick up another blueberry scone. So the rumor wasn't false after all. She idly wondered what he thought about the blue dress she wore at the engagement party.

There was just a smidgen of crumbs at the corner of his lips. Perfect timing to put her plan in action.

Percy's dark eyebrows lifted slightly as she reached towards his face. Her gloved fingers gently brushed off the pastry crumbles. She was no master at seduction, but this way of hinting was bound to get through to the most oblivious man.

What Annabeth was not prepared for was for Percy to firmly grasp her wrist to hold her hand near his lips. Gently, without breaking any eye contact, he pressed a kiss to her knuckles. His lips were soft, far softer than she expected.

"Next time, I do hope the tea will be fresh and hot," Percy murmured.

Next time? Annabeth's heart seemed to skip a beat. It was as if she forgot to breathe. It was then she knew she was dealing with no amateur. His skills with women were to be feared after all. With the way he was staring at her, she almost started to regret her plan of seduction.

She was worried about what she was going to say or do next, but the moment next came as she suddenly felt a nibble and painful tug on her hair.

"Blackjack, no!"

Percy wrestled his horse away from her hair. "I'm so sorry about that, Lady Annabeth. He must have thought your hair was hay or something."

Hay? Annabeth chuckled as she got over her initial surprise. It wasn't the first time that someone told her that her hair was like hay. Her family had always recommended that she take care of her hair more so it wouldn't be so rough. "No harm done, Your Grace. Blackjack must simply be hungry, watching us eat like that. It would be rude of me not to offer him some refreshments as well."

She took a few sugar cubes from the tea basket and extended her palm flat towards the horse. Percy seemed wary, as if concerned that his horse might bite one of her fingers accidentally.

The handsome horse whinnied and delicately accepted the sugar cubes.

Percy sighed in relief. "He's going to be spoiled like that."

"You say that but you don't mean that, really. I can tell you treat your horse very well."

The Earl cocked his head. "You do seem like you know everything, Lady Annabeth." His expression was soft as he stroked his horse's mane. Blackjack leaned into his soothing touch. The horse's tail swished contentedly. "Blackjack has been through so much for me, following me into battle. You're right. He deserves to be spoiled now and then."

"Earl Perseus, Lady Annabeth."

Jason and Piper had made a full circle around the lake. Annabeth and Percy returned their greetings.

"Regrettably, it is time to head back, Your Highness. The hunt will soon be over," Percy said.

"Indeed." Not even bothering to hide his relationship with Piper, Jason leaned over and placed a kiss on the Duchess' forehead. "Do you ladies need a ride back to the castle? The clouds seem to indicate rain."

Annabeth glanced up at the sky. The soft pillowy clouds from earlier had turned ashen gray.

Piper's eyebrows furrowed. "People will talk if we head back together. There hasn't been a formal announcement yet of our engagement."

Piper cast Annabeth a worried look which Annabeth deduced was probably because she was worried that harmful gossip would also spread about the Earl and Annabeth.

"Not to worry. If we head out now, we should be back at the castle before the hunting party. What do you think, Lady Annabeth?" Percy asked.

Annabeth smiled. When life hands you lemons... "A ride would be lovely, Your Grace."

Soon after that, Piper and Jason set off first on his horse, Tempest.

Annabeth swung herself easily onto Blackjack, not caring that she was wearing a dress. She lifted an eyebrow at Percy, as though challenging the surprised look on his face. He got over his surprise quickly as he grinned before hoisting himself on his horse in front of her in one swift motion. A master horseman indeed.

"Be careful and hold on tightly."

Annabeth looped her arms around his waist. Confirming that she was secure, the Earl let his horse gallop at a reasonable pace.

Beneath the leather, firm muscle seemed to flex. He was undoubtedly still fit from his military training. Suddenly feeling a bit shy, Annabeth hesitated as she leaned closer to his back. She only meant to lightly nuzzle her chest to his back when she felt bashful of her actions.

When you make a plan, stick with it. That was what her mother had always said. But Annabeth was beginning to realize that Percy was indeed a man. It was a stupid realization, and she didn't know how to explain it or put her thoughts into it. Her plan of seduction was beginning to falter.

Blackjack was a quick steed, but the clouds soon opened just before they arrived just within the Imperial Palace's vicinity. The females were to head into the castle alone as not to attract unwanted gossip.

This time, she accepted the hand Percy offered as she dismounted his horse, mindful of the mud. Percy held her hand longer than needed before brushing a sweet kiss on the back of her hand.

"I'll hold you to that promise of hot tea, Annabeth."

His green eyes were playful as his lips curled up into an impish smile.

Drat.

And damn her voice for catching in her throat. Annabeth had never played at these games of cat and mouse the other noblewoman often engaged in. If she wasn't careful, she would become the prey instead of the hunter.


A/N: Let me know how ya'll are liking this story c: