Chapter 2: THE SCHOLAR AND THE THEIF
They arrive at the study and begin the lesson. Still, just as soon Jaune enters after Watts, he notices a figure peeking over a corner and notice the Prince saw her and hides. He smirks at how adorable she tries to hide; it kind of reminds him of his sisters following him just for laughs, so he'll let her be to see how will this go. As they enter the room, it's filled with rows and columns of shelves of books that a ladder is needed to reach the upper rack. In the middle of the room stands a large mahogany desk and chair of matching design and materials of pitch-black timber of extinct wood years ago before Jaune was frozen. Decorative with bone plates of various Grimm species on the edges of the table and chair with the cushion and fabric of soft black fur. He took off his armour while still wearing his black Gambeson that covers down to his waist. A third-quarter white fur edge black cape is hanging on his back, matching white fur edge black waist cape buckles around his waist, covering his black pants. But kept his Greave and sabatons on and gently placed the armour next to the desk.
Jaune sats on the chair and sighed of nostalgia with a smile remembering just how he remembers this chair's soft, warm embrace. He then stares at the desk and glides his hand across its hard, smooth, shining surface, authenticating its originality, with no changes and smiles of satisfaction. He left his seat, approached one of the shelves, pulled a book from the geological section, headed back, and began reading. While Watts gave some thought to what would he educate his Prince. He looks over to some of the shelves in the history section. Watts believes a brief history lesson of each kingdom. And giving him a quick understanding of the technology that Remnant uses today and, most notably, the Huntsman and huntress he would face.
Gathering the necessary text he needs, Watts approaches his Prince. Then noticed the book that the Prince was reading earlier was put aside while he waited for him.
"Did the book not meet your expectations, my Prince?"
"No, I just finished it", he sighs in boredom, resting his elbows on the table while leaning his head onto his hands. Watts place the books down and pull up the text Jaune just read. He quizzes his Prince to see he did read it about each of the four kingdoms, from the geological Landscape and the environments of each kingdom. And he passes all with flying colours, impressive.
The first couple of hours, Watts gave his Prince a summary of each kingdom's recent achievements in history till present while the Prince was in cryo-sleep. Amaze by how much has changed compared to Jaune's time, but what got his attention the most is the Huntsman and huntress.
"So knights are no longer needed?" Jaune asks with a slight disappointment and saddens feel of obsolete.
"Yes, they've been replaced by Huntsman and huntress. But don't fret, My Prince. You should be honoured. You are the reason the Huntsman and huntress exist is caused by your legend."
"My legend, huh..." Jaune came to surprise and was a bit bashful with a small smile across his face and turned to Watts.
"So, remnant, stills remember me?" he asks out of curiosity.
"Why, of course, my lord. Nearly every child knows the story of the first Huntsman who travels Remnant of adventure and honour, not for fame or fortune, especially your famous quote. "We are not knights of a kingdom. We are Huntsman of Remnant,". But also teach us that not all heroes have a happy ending. With loss brings grief and what brings grief brings Grimm. Hence the legend the Grimm Knight is born." As Watts dramatically poses of awe and inspiration like his in a play while Jaune smiles in amusement.
"You seem fond of my legend Arthur." He voices out, snapping Arthur back into reality and coughs to his hand to focus.
"apologize that you have to see that." He postures himself with a slight flush across his face
"No problems. By the way, who started this Huntsman. "Acadamy", as you call them." The question caught Watt's attention, and he responded accordingly.
"It was Ozma." He states quick and straightforward and is curious about how would his Prince react. Still, when he turns around, he immediately regrets it. Seeing a malicious smile across his Prince's face almost reminds him of Tyrian. He cackles with his hand covering his face.
"I-I'm not even sure to be offended or honoured that Ozma has the gall to use that title as a remembrance of my brother and me. When he was the one who started all this and not brave enough to end it." As his emotions flared with hate, that his Aura began seeping out of his body.
"m-my prince..." Watts calls out to Jaune, snapping him back to reality and ceasing the flow of Arua escaping.
"My apologies Arthur. I'm feeling a bit parch at the moment." as he pulls the collar of his Gambeson, letting hot air out.
"Some refreshments would be nice." He orders.
"Of course, any preferences, my prince?" he asks as Jaune gives some thought to concern since the chances are that his favourite beverage no longer exists. However, maybe something traditional still exists for now.
"Tea would be nice," he replies.
"Very well, I shall take my leave." He bows as Jaune motions his hand for Arthur to leave; just as Watts leaves, Jaune calls out to him.
"oh, Watts, on your way back, I would like you to get me a new scroll for me."
Understanding the importance of a scroll, Watts nods and leaves the study leaving the Prince alone, waiting patiently, wondering what should he do while he remains. But seeing as Jaune is in the study, he couldn't help but search and pull out more text that he feels necessary to know and read. He finishes the text in record speed, cast it aside and pulls out another, only to be thrown away after reading the text aside. The process repeats itself till the entire room is a mess of stacks of books scattered all over the room. While Jaune continues his study, he notices a pile of books tumble on the floor and knows that a pile of books won't collapse over unless pushed. A signal his shadow is here with him.
"Seems like she's here. I think it's time to play." He smiled under his breath finishing his book. He stood up and approached the shelf nonchalantly till he slammed the text into the rack with intense force. A shriek of fright sound broke the illusions revealing herself before him with a frightened expression.
"H-How?" she stutters as he smiles while he gently holds her chin.
"you're not the first to cast an illusion on me, but you won't be the last." He smiles while she shivers in fear, but he calms her nerves as he gentle caress her cheek.
"What is your name, my dear maiden"?" he asked seductively as Emerald blushed.
"E-Emerald", she stutters.
"as in the jewel? What a beautiful name, and your eyes shine so beautifully, like Rubies. A fitting name of a jewel such as yourself." He gently holds her hand and pecks with a kiss that turns Emerald's face even redder than before.
"I am Jaune, Son and Prince of our Queen of Grimm, Salem. But you already knew that." He smiles jokingly with a laugh but cease with a severe smile.
"I assume you're under orders of Cinder, correct?" she nods in fear as he leans forward towards Emerald's face and notices she's more frightened than before.
"Don't fret. I'm not going to hurt you, nor will I harm Cinder. You have my word." He smiles in a gentler tone.
"In fact, would you care to join me? I would like to know more about Remnant from your perspective." Being led by the Prince, holding her hand, confused and lost of what's happening. He leads her to the chair to sit like a gentleman while he sits at the desk. Then he began to ask questions of Emerald wanting to know more about herself and Remnant. He started asking questions excitedly about what was life like in Remnant today. Surprised by his curiosity wanting more, Emerald felt like, his one of those princesses who were locked in a tower. So she gave him the brief of Remnant while he awed her of amazement and actively listened to everything she said to him.
"Wait, so Remnant mount these creatures called Bullheads, that can fly? Is it a new type of Grimm that mother created?" he asks in awe.
"Eh? No, it's not a Grimm. A Bullhead is a vehicle like a cart that flys with that use of dust as fuel." She explains with a smile how adorable the Prince's face look, then stares at his clothing.
"Aren't you hot underneath your clothes?" she asked, curiosity as Jaune looked down and stares.
"Don't people wear these in Remnant underneath their armour?" he asked while Emerald smiled.
"No, but believe it or not, clothing in Remnant change. You would be surprised." She pauses with a slight tint on her cheeks.
"If you want…I can buy some clothes for you. For you to try so, you could blend in and without standing out too much attention. O-of course, I need some lien to pay for it." She stutters, embarrassed.
"I would love that, thank you. And don't worry, I'll be sure that you are compensated." Jaune smiles towards Emerald as she blushes brightly with a slight panic.
"D-Don't think that I'll be doing this only for you forever. My loyalty will forever be Cinders and Cinders alone!" She states in a firm tone looking away from Jaune as he responds by slamming his hand on the chair beside her head, frightening her, thinking she must've offended him. He moves close enough to Emerald's face freezing her in fear.
"Such loyalty, I love that in a woman. Become mine, and I swear on my word and my name, stand by my side. And I swear that you will be treated as a Maiden should deserve." His whispers seductively to Emerald's ear she shivers in the back of her spine. Her mind went blank; this had never happened before. Usually, she is more composed and in control. When a man tries to hit her, she blows them off and knees them to the crotch.
But with the Prince, his voice, his tone, his kindness was something she had never experienced. When she was a child still living in the streets, she never believed in fairy tales. Living in the streets was her wake up call of harsh reality. Happy endings never existed. But the Prince before her, she's starting to believe in those fairy tales again. Taking a step forward between her legs, feeling his leg against her crotch, she didn't fight back but let it happen. He was towering over her with such dominance, her breath rasp, unsure what to do? Will she fight back or let her desire take over? His lips slowly leaned closer to her. She didn't look away. She wanted this, this kind of affection that she never had with Cinder, yet her hands grip tightly on the armrest of the chair while feeling his rasp breath breathing down her should.
Till the doors opened, breaking their moment, both the Prince and her turn to the door. Seeing Watts arrive carrying a silver tray of a tea set. The Prince quickly leans closer to Emerald's ear and whispers affectionately towards her.
"We'll finish this next time, my jewel. Come by to my room on the forbidden east wing." He whispers as he places something on her hand and closes it not to be seen. Till Watts finally noticed the affair before him.
"Oh my. Am I interrupting?" Watts asks with a mocking smirk of amusement towards Emerald.
"Oh no, dear Doctor." Jaune pulls himself away and face Watts, then turn back to Emerald with a close smile.
"Emerald here was about to leave... Emerald, we'll talk again." He smiles and reaches down to Emerald to take his hand and gently pull her off her seat, and outstretched his arm to the door. She nods and quietly leaves the study, while Watts smiles, amused to see such a state of the young lady.
Watts enters the room as soon he loses Emerald when she turns to the corner. While carefully avoiding the stacks of books, he gently placed the tray on the desk, with Jaune taking the seat while Watts prepared the tea for his Prince. While preparing the tea, Watts looks around the study and is amazed at the Prince's ability to read through all these texts at an alarming rate. He was gone for an hour, and already he read half of one of the bookshelves in the study and just in time finishing preparing the tea and hands it to Jaune. While Jaune enjoys the tea, he notices Watts is still staring at the mess of book scatter in the study.
"Is there a problem, Watts? You know we can let the Seers take care of the mess." Snapping Watts back to reality and face Jaune.
"Apologies, my Prince…I'm just amazed you were able to read this many books within an hour." He said, surprised at the same time amazed while Jaune groans in annoyance, not to Watts but his gifted ability.
"You can blame my sister, Eve, for that." Jaune sighs, drinking his tea, while Watts gives a crooked brow towards him without him noticing.
"Eve? Perhaps he's referring to the Winter Maiden? Probably the Maiden." He nods to himself and returns to the task at hand.
"shall we continue where we left off? What subject you wish to divulge in?" he asks but notices his Prince is in deep thought.
"My Prince?"
"The Society of Remnant", Jaune replies in a somewhat solemn tone.
"Which area?"
"Everything…the good and the bad. I want to know what we're up against." Gave Watts a stern gaze of how serious he is, while Watt gave him a smile with enthusiasm.
So, Watts gave Jaune everything, including his Mothers plan to use Cinder to retrieve the other half of the Fall maiden's power in Beacon Academy. The existence of dust and its various uses in today's society and multiple groups of interest consist of Ozma's inner circle and connection. As well as the council of Remanent who governs the world and the Faunus Civil Rights Protest now turn terrorist group the White Fang.
Yet the White Fang took his interest and asked for more details. From Watts have gathered it was under the leadership of Ghira Belladonna, but now is under the command of Sienna Khan.
"Wait, did you say Belladonna?" he asks, surprised to Watts as he looks over his shoulder to the Prince in curiosity.
"Why yes, do you know of them?" he asks, hoping his Prince might have some information that he isn't aware of while Jaune holds his chin in deep thought.
"Watts, what do you know of the Faunus Right Revolution?" he questions
"The Faunus wars? Why I know mostly the main points of the war. But how is this related to Belladonna?" Jaune sighs in disappointment while leaning his chair far back as if he's exhausted.
"Do you know of the legend of the Fallen Avian?"
"Fallen Avian? I'm afraid I haven't it." His Prince sighed once again but with a short smile with his arm resting over his eyes.
"Never mind… Please, let's continue the lesson." This piqued Watts curiosity. Was his Queen and Prince was part of the Faunus War? Which did they side? The Humans, the Faunus or both to kill them off but failed? Hmm, maybe a question for his Queen on the next meeting. As a scholar, he must be sure his Prince is ready for Remanent.
Just as Emerald left and turned the corner, she immediately leaned against the wall breathing heavily. She looks at the closed hand in front of her, slowly opens it, and reveals it to be an Emerald stone ore. The shock of what's she's holding, if the purity of this gem is pure, this could sell over five hundred liens. "Is this what he meant by compensated?"
Panic soon fills her head, unsure what to do or what just happened back at the study with him. She shakes her head and decides to report to Cinder, and as for the stone, for now, she'll keep it for herself and put it in her pocket.
"...Come by to my room on the forbidden east wing..."
Emerald blushes, remembering the Prince's invitation to visit his room; this would be a chance to gather more information for Cinder and perhaps make her proud of Emerald. As Emerald smiles at such a fantasy, she makes it back to Cinder's room but only stop when she hears Mercury's voice.
"Cinder, are you sure it's a good idea to send Em to spy on the prince?" Mercury questions in concern towards Emerald. To her surprise that Mercury cared for Emerald, she almost threw up on her mouth of imagining such an idea.
"I mean, we're on the same side. Couldn't we talk to the Prince? You said so yourself; you have Salem's favour. And the way he acts towards Salem high chances, he'll obey to the absolute like a mummy's boy that he is." He argues.
"Is Mercury talking to himself? Practising before approaching Cinder to not sound like an idiot." She snorts
"I understand your concerns Mercury, but I trust Emerald with such a task; I believe she will succeed to the absolute like she always been. And I'm confident that the Prince won't catch her with her semblance." Cinder defends, while Emerald's heart flusters from Cinder's praise of her.
"and if she did?" Mercury questions still with a concerned tone, to which Emerald couldn't help but feel sick to her stomach; she'll never get used to it.
"Then she's on her own. For once, she'll think for herself and not constantly so clinging on to me like the lost child I found her. Like you, she's just a tool, and I have no use for failures. Am I understood, Mercury?"
"Crystal. Good thing Em isn't here to hear this. Hehe." His laughs.
Shocking Emerald to her core, wide-eyed Cinder, the woman who rescued her off the streets, would gladly throw her away in an instant if she failed. And she didn't think of Emerald as an ally or anything; she's just a-a. Tool to her. Nothing more.
A lump forms in her throat, her eyes flow with tears, and her heart is heavy with betrayal. While hate builds up from within, not wishing to return to Cinder after hearing that. She had nowhere to go, especially in the middle of the Grimmlands, but she didn't stay but ran. With no care where to go or to see, when she fell over, tripping on her own feet to the ground crying. She perched herself crying, looking on the floor till the sound of light steps approached her. She looks up to see the Prince but not with his confident smile she would expect, but instead with a concerned and saddened expression as he kneels and gently wipes the tears off her face.
"are you okay?" he asks, concerned.
"My Prince! I-" but was stopped as Jaune raised his other hand, signalling her to stop.
"Jaune...just call me Jaune. And I will call you by yours if you wish?" as Jaune didn't say another after seeing Emerald in a sad state, Jaune can't help but feel concerned for her as she reaches out and holds on to his hand.
"Thank you, Jaune." She wipes her tears as Jaune gently pulls her up. Still, only Emerald wince in pain to fall again but for Jaune to catch her in time in his arms as he looks down and notices Emerald's left ankle swollen.
"You twisted your ankle, can't be helped." Emerald shuddered in the horror of fearing what the Prince of Grimm meant. Does he intend to kill her? Toss her away of her? No! She doesn't want to go back to living in the streets; she closes her eyes shut, awaiting her faith. But to only be carried in a bridal style in Jaune's arms and her head against his chest, hearing his heartbeat. And I can tell it's beating faster pace than hers.
"Don't worry; I'm not going to hurt you. Just let me help; it's all I ask." He says with determination and concern to the woman in his arms. Surprise at Jaune's behaviour, staring into his eyes like he's a different person from this morning. This one is more compassionate towards her and hates to admit it. She prefers this Jaune. Emerald nods, agreeing to let Jaune carry her in a vulnerable state. Unknowns to Emerald, she instinctively wraps her arms around his neck, fearing she might fall, yet she doesn't mind. Being carried on Jaune's arms walking down the hallway in silence, she couldn't help be at ease with him. She immediately forgot about what had happened? Why did she cry? Or why she's saddened in the first place?
"I would like to apologize for frightening you this morning. The way I spoke to you was too aggressive and forward. I can tell you were afraid of me." This surprise Emerald, Jaune apologizing to her? Jaune was very forward and aggressive when she thought about it, and she was a bit frightened. Then again, Emerald wasn't afraid of him, surprised, yes, but not afraid to fear him. But how would she reply? Seeing Jaune this honest, maybe Emerald should do the same and open up to him. Perhaps she can gather more information from him for Cinder; she wants to keep hoping. Cinder didn't mean what she said to Mercury. It was just a front to keep up her appearance as a strong leader. But in her heart, she knows Cinder is the type not to hold back when things didn't go her way, such as failure. She shook her head and then noticed Jaune's face blush in red which surprised her even more. Thinking she needs to say something quick or feels will get even more awkward.
"I-It was a surprise and a bit uncomfortable, to be honest..." She pauses, burying her face to his chest.
"But it was kinda hot..." She blushes, not wanting Jaune to see her face.
"Kinda hot? Do you a have fever? Should I get Watts? Wait, is he even that kind of doctor?" he asks himself in deep concern and surprise towards Emerald.
"What? N-no Jaune! I-it-it's phrase meaning your-your…" she pauses, realizing what she put herself into more profound embarrassment. Hesitating wheater to say it or not while worrying Jaune even further.
"…meaning attractive…." She pauses at the end, deeply more embarrassed than before, burying her head deeply into Jaune clothes even deeper till she hears a light chuckle from Jaune.
"Thank you, Emerald; mom always said that women love confident men with slight aggression to spice a maiden's heart. I was afraid it was too much and scared you away." He smiles which surprise Emerald yet again, as she shoots up and stares at Jaune.
"Oh my gods, he is a mommy's boy. Then again, she is the Queen of Grimm."
"we're here." He announces, snapping herself back to reality, noticing she's in an unfamiliar hallway. The architecture of the room didn't match the rooms she usually used to. Instead of the usual purple jagged walls, it's grey stone walls, and the door in front of them is a wooden door in an iron frame and long red carpet that stretch along the hallway floor. Jaune pushes the door open with his back to avoid Emerald getting hurt, entering his room. Emerald is surprised again by the room of different it is, compared to hers and Cinder's room. To Emerald, her room is standard, a single bed with a small cabinet and desk and no windows. Cinder's room is a suite with a window overlooking the Grimmlands, a queen-size bed, a wardrobe, desk, a bathroom. Jaune's room is the master suite; it has everything that the suite has but more. A king-size bed, a walk-in wardrobe, a bathroom with a large bathtub that could fit two people, and a large balcony overlooking the entire Grimmlands.
Emerald couldn't help to be pissed off such Luxury. Then again, he is the Prince of Grimm.
"This could be all yours, you know." He replies as if he read her mind when she jolts and turns to his face as he smiles.
"If you be mine..." He smiles and stares at her, unsure whether his teasing or offering her the position. Till he laughs, breaking his act with Emerald, realized his teasing.
"Haha, sorry, couldn't help it. You were eyeing my room with jealousy. You're cute when you are jealous." He smiles while Emerald pouts with a flush face towards Jaune and gently places Emerald on his bed. And to her surprise, it's very soft, softer than her bed.
Then suddenly, her injured leg is lifted by Jaune as he kneels in front of her. It is surprising to see Jaune slowly taking off her boot to avoid injuring her further. She grimaced with pain when Jaune finally got her boot off, then glided his hand along her leg till he reached the end of the sock but paused. He looks up, staring towards Emerald.
"may I?" he ask patiently for Emerald's answer while she feels uncertain. Still, she nods of approval as Jaune gently pulls her sock down till it's removed and throws it aside with her boot.
He gently lifted Emerald's foot, elevated enough for her leg to be straight with a gentle grasp. To Emerald surprise, Jaune's hands are cold and now concerned if he's more Grimm than human. Till he nods himself and is ready to perform what he's about to do as he calls out to Emerald.
"Okay, I'm ready. I need you to calm down and don't move too much. Alright?" giving Emerald a reassuring tone of his voice as she nods to proceed.
"Here we go." Jaune closes his eyes, and his Aura engulfs his hands. The same dark, menacing Aura he emitted this morning during the meeting, fear took over once again. Fearing what's his Aura will do to her.
Jaune's Aura infuses hands grasp on Emerald's ankle. She quickly closes her eyes expecting pain in her ankle. But instead of expecting pain, she felt a sudden cool soothing sensation spreading throughout her body. As she slowly opens her eyes and sees Jaune's Aura spreading through to her body. Moving like it's another entity of living Aura. At the same time, seeing her ankle healing much faster than her Aura could and finally lets go of her foot and smiles at her.
"that should do it." He smiles as she gently lifts her foot off of his knee to the floor and applies a bit of pressure. To her surprise, there's no pain; he heals it completely, as she steers surprise.
"I'm sure you have questions regarding my semblance. However, what you experience is only but a fraction. But let's leave that for another time." As he stood and started to take off his top as Emerald blushed and quickly squealed in panic.
"J-Jaune! What are you doing!?" cover her blushing face with her hands and looking away, as Jaune sighs with a close smile. He approaches the girl, gently swaying her face towards him and slowly removing her hands covering her face. Yet she kept her eyes shut, and Jaune couldn't help but smile at how adorable she was acting compared to her confident attitude from this morning.
"Emerald, would you please open your eyes?" he gently asks, but Emerald refuse, shaking her head. Even after he leans his forehead against her, she freezes but still refuses to look at him.
"If you insist." He teases then kiss her on the cheek, surprising her, but still keeps her eyes shut with a flush face. Then he gently grasps her cheeks then kiss her on the forehead, startling her, opening her eyes in shock and confusion. Why? Why is he giving her so much affection? They just met, so why is she so flustered towards him? She is usually more composed and heartless towards guys trying to hit on her. Even if they are dangerous high profile targets, she's not afraid to spill a little bit of blood. But now, with the son of Salem in front of her, this is different. It's not that she's afraid if she rejects him, as she just found out he's compassionate.
She could use this to her advantage of this situation, to gather more Intel for Cinder, to prove to her she's not just a tool but more. But at the same time, why does she feel guilty about the idea-!?
A sudden kiss on her lips snaps her out to reality, seeing Jaune gently kissing her in the lips. Jaune smiles slightly as their lip is apart, while Emerald is wide-eyed of shock towards Jaune.
"Sorry about that. You seem heavily focused on the situation. Thought you might need a distraction from the situation." He sat next to her and gently held her hand.
"Emerald..." she turns as he calls out her name.
"if you wish to leave, then leave. I will not force you to stay a night with me. And I don't mean in a "lustful" way." He emphasizes the word lustful as a joke.
He's giving her a choice, to stay or leave? But what should she pick? Its obvious answer is to go but...she wants to stay with him. No, they just met; this is way too soon and quick. She needs to leave now, or else this will become too personal. She's loyal to Cinder and Cinder alone than again; Cinder is dedicated to Salem and now Jaune. Would that make a difference? No, she needs to focus as she shakes her head, snapping herself back and staring at Jaune, and he responds in a close smile.
"it seems you have your answer." He stood while holding her hand and leading her to the door like she's royalty.
"I had a lot of fun with you, Emerald and I learned a lot too, thank you. I can see why you value Cinder more. To save you from your previous life, I have nothing but to be grateful for her and may change my opinion. If it weren't for her, we wouldn't meet." He smiles while Emerald's is again wide-eye of the shock of how he knew that, not even Mercury knows.
"H-how?" she stutters in shock, but Jaune simply smiles and raise his hand, emitting his dark Aura like a ball of fire.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this sooner." his hand ignites a ball of Aura on his hand as he gently places the ball of Aura into her hands. To her surprise, it's beautiful; it's like a black flame sparkles like the milky way in the night sky; it's cold yet very soothing. She could watch this for days while Jaune continued to smile at seeing Emerald's reaction.
"As you know, Aura is a reflection of a person's soul; you see, when my Aura interacts with another, it opens the bridge for me to that person's soul. Allowing me to see in their memories and their emotions. I call this resonance." Surprise yet again of how many abilities those Jaune's semblance can do.
"But that's enough for today." He snaps his fingers, extinguishing the ball of Aura in her hands and opens the door wide open to see a Grimm seer waiting. Wait, what's a Grimm Seers doing here?
"Please escort Emerald to her room safely." He orders in a gentle tone as the seer bob its glass body, saying yes.
"Wait, he can control the Grimm too!?" Shocking Emerald, then again, he is the son of the Queen of Grimm.
"Goodnight, Emerald." He bowed his head as she left the room and stood by the Grimm and did the same.
"goodnight, my pri-I mean... Jaune." She blushes slightly, a bit embarrassed. Her heart beats even faster than before while Jaune smiles, closing the door.
"Oh, by that way, Emerald, you 'Kinda hot' too." he smiles, closing the door.
As the door closed, her breath came rasp in her throat, hearing her heart beating even faster and louder than before. Internally, she's screaming in her head of embarrassment. She can't stop thinking about Jaune, the way he treated her, the way he respected her wishes and never became demanding of her. She facepalms herself, then drags her hands down along her face till the tips of her fingers land onto her lips and pauses. Remembering her kiss with Jaune, that was her first kiss. She didn't fight back, nor reject it, as a smile grew across her face. But she doesn't know why and it doesn't mean she hates it; perhaps she'll keep this to herself, especially from Cinder.
She shakes her head, snapping herself back into reality and begins walking with the seer Grimm by her side. Noticing how the seer is escorting Emerald, she couldn't help but feel like she is royalty.
"This could be all yours, you know. If you become mine."
Those words of Jaune echo in her mind; she senses that his voice tells her that he meant that.
"All could be mine if I became his..." she stares to space, thinking with a blank face, then her lips curve into a smile while touching her lips seductively.
"that doesn't seem to be a bad idea...Jaune, no...my lover." She smiles and, unbeknownst to her, is being watched through the seer and to whom is watching is the mother of Emerald's claim lover. As she too smiles at the development between the couple.
Days have passed, to Watts's surprise, Jaune absorbed a lot of information that would take months, but he took it in weeks. But it wasn't a surprise when he found out that he didn't sleep within weeks. Stop reading every text with Grimm Seers everywhere, sorting and putting away the used text Jaune finished. Watts even gave him a book of the technology of Remnant and brought the requested scroll he asked. To his amazement, Jaune even modified it himself. Now his scroll can make a long-distance call without using a CCT tower and can make it untraceable.
When Watts made his report during their meeting with the Queen, Jaune was still bound to the study. Salem laughed, no surprise when she told Watts and the rest that he's a brilliant young man and gifted, thanks to his siblings. She remembers the past, back when Jaune was a clumsy, shy boy and not that bright young boy. His younger sister has to "school" him. It was a very fond memory of Salem caught his son being lectured and scolded by his younger sisters. However, she won't reveal that to them; the last thing her son needs is to be looked down on.
"Once he has the understanding of something, he can go beyond its limits whether it's a weapon, a tool or even a person. He will get what he wants. He is my son, after all."
With the meeting adjourned, Watts returned to the study and came more surprised. Jaune already read the third of the books in the study with Seers scatter and returning the read books to the proper shelves. By his estimate, Jaune would be done by the week, which piques his curiosity. What would Jaune do when he finished? Maybe it's time to pry Jaune's plan, and if he doesn't, it is his job to advise him.
A week have passed, and Jaune has read every book in the study for two months. An impressive feat, in Watts's opinion, but Jaune isn't done just yet. As he leaves the study, he orders Watts to bring maps of Remnant and their four kingdoms to his room. Watts bowed with respect and understood the task given to him; he didn't understand Jaune's plan. Watts never got the chance to ask about his plan, but he didn't pry as it's more exciting to see what his Prince is planning.
That night the floor in his room is littered with maps and charts and even on the walls. Watts have to bring a blackboard to the room. Just so his Prince could hang more maps, he didn't ask nor pry as he noticed the intense concentration of his Prince's attention on the maps and linked them together with red thread. Instead, he made his report to Salem, informing her of her son. She was surprised when Watts mentioned; her son was in his room looking over maps of Remnant. She orders everyone never to disturb her son under any circumstances and will continue in the next meeting next month with a sad sigh.
A month later, Jaune attended the meeting, which surprised everyone without his armour. He was now in regular clothes of a black shirt with a hood and jeans. Which begs the question to everyone, where did he get those clothes? Just as the meeting was adjourned, the Prince requested both Hazel and Tyrian to stay behind. It peaked Salem's attention and waited with him till the four of them remained.
"What are you planning, son…?"