Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson characters at all, nor do I own the song New Perspective by P!ATD.


~And I smile as I respire
because I know they'll never win~


Prince Jason woke up abruptly that day to the sound of a loud voice pulling him away from sleep. So, of course, it was natural for him to groan from irritation. "Your-soon-to-be-Highness, sir, you must wake up to start preparing for this day. Everyone will be arriving to the palace shortly for the celebration." The voice was a man's, that much was clear by the gruffly but somehow polite tone the words were spoken in. Again, Jason hesitated in waking up, but he was, however, mildly curious to what the man was saying.

"I don't recall a celebration worth enough to wake up at this ungodly hour," then, his temper getting the best of him (he was exhausted, after all), "So if it isn't a life or death situation, you should stop pestering me right now, or I'll make your situation precisely just that." The man padded away judging by the soft footsteps that he heard. Jason smiled satisfactorily, cuddling back into his feathered pillow like a small child.

Much to his grief, he only got a few seconds of real sleep before another voice woke him up, even stricter than before. "Sire, with all due respect, if you don't get out of this bed in this very instant I have a pitcher of water just waiting to be splashed all over your egotistic head." Someone who would have heard this conversation would have thought, How can someone speak to a person with high social status like this without being turned into a foul rat? Well, the answer was, you either had to be another royalty member, or Dakota, one of his very close friends along with a few others and Reyna.

He groaned even louder but didn't wake up.

"Fine, then, suit yourself." Just in that millisecond where Jason figured that his best friend was being rather serious and was actually going to follow through with that plan, cold matter crashed down upon him like some sick, cruel joke from the gods and he stood straight like a dagger before one could perhaps say 'jujubes' (and yes, he still remembered that untimely girl that brought up that word in the first place, but he would not be in the mood for it if one brought up her at this very moment).

"Dakota!" he barked with unwanted fury. "When I have my hands on you, I will - "

"You will what?" the dark-haired boy in front of him challenged, raising an eyebrow. He was wearing one of his fancier robes with glittering sequins and jewelry, convincing Jason that maybe there was something important he had to do that day. What day was it exactly? "Throw me in the dungeons? Or perhaps, make me eat rabbit dung similar to a three-course meal? Would you really follow through with that?"

He absolutely hated it when Dakota was right, which honestly, wasn't that often. Sighing regretfully, he said softly much in contrast from his boisterous noise from before, "What exactly do you need, my dear friend?"

Dakota stared at him as if he had grew a second head. Then guessing that Jason really didn't know, he stated obviously, "It's your eighteenth birthday, you dimwit. In a moon's time from now, you'll be king whilst Reyna be queen. You have another celebration to attend to, and you must be getting ready for the one in the time of high sun and in the evening."

Needless to say, Jason reluctantly got out of his covers, glanced at his bare chest before dashing to the bathroom to wear a quick robe in preparation for the servants to help him get ready for his eighteenth.

He let Dakota help him put on his robes for the morning's celebration and they worked together silently. His robes were rather pale, but that was understandable since the celebration wasn't going to be in the evening. For night celebration, his robes were going to be deep red with touches of purple to make it seem elegant, which he should, and everyone would be watching him so it was rather important that he make himself seem presentable.

As for Dakota, he wasn't really a servant. He came from one of the nobles' families, hence the fancy clothing he had worn, but he wasn't particularly royal. But him and Jason used to play together quite often in their younger years and that was how their friendship stuck. But sometimes Dakota treated himself like he was a servant to Jason, like right at that moment, and that made him sad. Much to his reluctance, he let Dakota help him.

It wasn't until Jason was almost completely done with dressing up that Dakota finally opened his mouth to talk. "So, if you don't mind me asking, sire - " Jason rolled his eyes at the unnecessary politeness his close friend was giving him, " - how was Octavian's face when you rubbed it in his face that you found a wife suitable enough to make you king?"

Jason chuckled, remembering how Octavian considerably blanched when he told him that Reyna said yes all along and their parents agreed to it. "Indescribable but thoroughly pleasant, if I do say so myself."

Dakota's strangely red lips cracked a wide grin at this information (he had a passionate hatred for Jason's cousin, one that he could relate to). "Oh, I can imagine, sire."

It was a while before Jason spoke up again. "You should stop with the formalities, you know. We're closer than that."

Dakota smiled again, his expression softening. "Yes, I know, but I feel...that it's just better to do it this way. It makes me remember what you really are." Jason frowned at his later words. What I really am? Did he take me for a demon? He shrugged it off later, thinking that Dakota probably said the words not the way he meant them and he put back his reluctant smile. Then, Dakota's expression morphed into a mischievous one, one that Jason would most probably regret answering. "But, forgetting that, how are things with...you know, the Princess?"

Jason cleared his throat, not entirely sure what Dakota was implying by this yet he still had a pretty good idea. "It's...good. I wouldn't choose to marry any other royal. But if your true intentions with that question was that if I'm secretly doing sinful things with her at night, then I can tell you right now, you're wrong."

His friend pouted, clearly not happy with the answer. "You two are so boring together, honestly."

Jason cracked a grin, his mood now returning after that uncomfortable situation. "Sorry to disappoint, friend." Some more servants entered the room to help hurry the business so they were forced to stop talking so openly, much to Jason's triumph. After the servants had finished and stepped out of the room, Jason had finished dressing up completely and Dakota stepped back to watch his work. After critiquing quickly over minor issues, they were done. But before they could go walk out, a knock at the room was heard to both of the men.

Dakota looked at Jason cautiously. "Are you expecting anyone?" Jason furrowed his eyebrows to tell his friend no, but before he could, another voice, muffled from behind the door stood out. It was familiar enough for him to relax himself and for a lazy smile to take over his features. He hadn't exactly been expecting to see her so soon, but she was always a pleasant surprise.

"Jason? May I come in?" It was Reyna, that much was clear to him. Dakota glanced sideways to him before smirking and mouthing, have fun before walking forwards and opening the door to let his lover in. She was dressed in a gown similar to his; rose white with elaborate jewels decorating all around her body, making him want to look away from some open skin he felt a gentleman should do, and her face was painted lightly for the occasion. Her hair was obscured in an elaborate yet somehow casual way.

"Always, my dear." Reyna smiled softly before walking towards him and reaching up to plant a kiss on his lips. He wrapped his arms around her, carefully not touching anything that might damage her gown and returned the smile back down to her.

"You look stunning," he offered because she really had. She never failed to outdo herself and that was one of the reasons why Jason wanted her as queen. An accomplished queen would lead to an accomplished kingdom which he really felt he needed.

"And you look ravishing," she returned, her grin now spread out that it showed all of her teeth. "Happy birthday, dear." He thanked her but after a while, her fingers played with one of the edges to his robe, seemingly deep in thought, her face glazing over to prove so. Being her friend and more for so long, he easily figured out there was something bothering her.

Jason kissed her forehead. "What are you thinking about, love?"

She shrugged at this momentarily. "About everything, really. About today - I've been told the caterers were one of the most exquisite. The guests are all from high caliber and close with each of the royal members. Everyone will be dressed in the most decorative robes such as yours and mine. I guess...also, the future...about - "

"- Us?" interrupted Jason, raising his eyebrows, smiling a little. Reyna flushed immediately looking down, hair tumbling out to cover her face before she pulled back a little to push it behind her ears. She was embarrassed, but that was understandable. He thought about them quite a lot too, if he was being honest. How they would be as a married couple, how many children they could bear together, how long they would...last. The latter part was bitter of him and he knew so, but one couldn't really blame him for it. All weds thought that way, didn't they?

At least he hoped so.

"Yes," Reyna said simply, still not quite looking in his eyes. Jason sighed before taking one hand and tilting her head so he could look into her obsidian eyes.

"Reyna...the future holds many gifts, that much I can say," he hesitated before saying what he knew the lady in front of him really wanted to hear, "As for us and how we will turn out...well, all I can tell is - "

" - Woah," another voice intervened, making Jason's heart stop precisely right there, the words he had prepared to say to his wife-to-be suddenly caught in his throat. "Am I interrupting something?"

That stupid, imbecile, bastard, the very she-devil, annoying as - "Yes. Yes you were," Jason spoke, grimacing hard enough to make the negative thoughts disappear. It was that girl again from the previous night. That girl who said things in the most unheard of way, that girl who spoke to him so casually yet irritatingly as if they knew each other for years on end, that girl who told him not to drink that drink he so badly wanted to drink, that girl who had the most strangest mood changes, that girl who looked absolutely positively gorgeous even when the dress she had been wearing that other night wasn't much...

That girl was standing right there in front of him.

And to the gods above, she looked amazing. Unlike his and Reyna's clothing, hers were darker not innocent, which described her personality very well. It covered most of her body, not allowing her feminine body to show through her dress, but it was tight enough to show that she had a jaw-dropping one. Hers also had jewels decorating everywhere, making her seem somehow taller than she really was. Her hair was down across her shoulders and her piercingly colored eyes glowed with mirth and mischief, much like Dakota's usually did, but there was a clear difference that Jason didn't fail to notice. Her face was clear of any paint to enhance her features. Yet someway...it didn't ruin her image. It only made it better.

...He really shouldn't be staring at her like this. Especially when her personality was precisely the opposite. The memory of her back-talking to him like no one had ever done before snapped him out of his thoughts, and he found himself pulling off another glare in her direction.

Piper. That was what they called her. Jason was sure he would never forget that name in his entire life.

"Why is she here right now on a day where I would really love to not see her on?" he asked Reyna without actually turning to her.

Reyna hesitated, which confirmed his suspicions all along and he felt himself sinking with sheer disappointment and utter dreading. That birthday was going to be horrid for sure. "I don't recall inviting her," he spoke through gritted teeth and clenched jaw. He really didn't understand why he despised this girl so quickly over just one night. Perhaps it was that she was just so different from everyone else that it set him on edge. Yes, that was what he would claim from then on, nothing else.

Piper smirked. She seemed to be enjoying his obvious pain more than anything. "There are no invitations. It's meant for royalty members only along with close friends. So, really, you didn't invite me. Princess Reyna did."

"I don't believe anybody was talking to you darling."

Reyna shifted uncomfortably in his arms, allowing his focus to strain to her. He felt bad for her, he really did. Piper was one of Reyna's close friends, their behavior from the other night proved so, so why couldn't he make an effort for her? They were going to be wed, after all. They should be making sacrifices for each other. Yet something told him that if it was anybody else who was in Piper's place, he would have pleased Reyna. Since that wasn't the case, he found it in him that he didn't care anymore. The girl annoyed him and that was that.

"True. I was talking to you, however," she snapped back, a cruel expression taking over her face. Then, reluctantly taking in Reyna's abashed face, she added, "Sire."

Jason smirked. "Ah, you really do have a scrap of humanity left in you, don't you?"

She narrowed her eyes at him, pursing her lips. This time, Reyna didn't even try to stop the quarrel. Her face took on a blank expression, showing that she was absolutely done with their childish behavior. She probably expected him at least to act like a mature adult, considering the age he was turning, but he didn't care like he said before.

Someone snorted. "Mirror, babe."

Quite clearly, that was Piper.

Needless to say, she already ruined his mood and the celebration hadn't even started yet. He thought that perhaps if he got through with the celebration, he'd never have to see her face again and she'd go back to the hell she came from.

Honestly, it was altogether pathetic just how wrong he was with that inference.


A/N: A week and a half update. That has to be a record. Right? Jeyna again, yes, yes, I know, how do you think I feel I'm the one writing it. It makes for a clearer plot and...well, more dramatic, is all I can say. But you got slight, very very slight Jasper in here. So boom.

Till next time,

Penguin