The following day, Draven was dressed in his royal attire. He was visiting the grand duke regarding the matters of the commoners. Aurelian wakes up to him getting ready. "Where are you going this early?" He asks, sitting up. "I'm going to the Northern region, there are matters that I need to discuss with the grand duke", Draven replies putting on his cloak, "and good morning to you", he adds playfully making Aurelian smile a little. "Grand duke? Isn't that Drusilla's father?" Aurelian asks, "yes,why?" "You're going to Drusilla's place?" Aurelian questions looking at Draven irritably. "Correction, I'm going to meet her father, I need to discuss the people's problems with him" Draven clarifies with a smirk. He takes a step towards Aurelian, "what's with that tone? Are you jealous?" He says tilting his head innocently, "Don't be ridiculous! Why would I be?!" Aurelian defends himself, standing up from the bed with colour creeping up his neck. Draven stares at Aurelian who was fidgeting with his night robe,"do you want to come along?" He asks breaking the silence. "Is that okay?" "You're my consort..why wouldn't it be okay?" Draven asks, crossing his arms over his chest. Aurelian's eyes follow Draven's arms. "Uh..I..fine but I need to bath first", he stammers. "Alright, I'll wait for you in the carriage", Draven states already heading for the door. Aurelian lets out a breath he didn't realize he was holding in as soon as Draven exited the door, he padded to the bath house to get ready. Draven headed to the carriage,"why was he so flustered?", he thought with a small smile.
After a while, Aurelian joins Draven at the carriage wearing an elegant brown robe. Draven eyes scan Aurelian from head to toe, stopping on his neck, his breath caught in his throat. Aurelian was wearing the necklace he had gifted him on their wedding day. A wide smile broke on Draven's face. "You're wearing it?" "What does it look like?"Aurelian replied trying and failing to sound casual. Draven unconsciously took a a step forward,"it was unexpected", he breaths, his heart racing. "Urgh, come on.. let's go" Aurelian says rolling his eyes as he steps into the carriage. Draven shakes his head still smiling before entering along with Aurelian. Throughout the ride to the Northern region, Draven couldn't stop stealing glances at Aurelian. "Stopping staring", Aurelian tells him off, his face flushed. "Sorry, it's just.." he clears it throat,"sorry" Draven apologies still staring. Aurelian looks away flustered,"you're impossible", he mumbles.
Two hours later, they arrived at the Northern region. "It's beautiful, enough to be a kingdom on it's own", Aurelian says, coming down from the carriage, "we have to ride a horse around here", Draven said, also alighting from the carriage. "I don't know how to ride one", Aurelian admits looking away embarrassed. "It's fine, you can ride with me", Draven replies as they walked to were the horses are waiting. Aurelian climbed a horse first with the help of Draven. Draven mounted the horse right after him. He crosses his arms over Aurelian's waist, holding the horse's rope. "Too close..." Aurelian thought, his cheeks flushed, "I've been getting flustered easily recently" he thought again. Draven brings his face beside Aurelian's, resting his head on Aurelian's shoulder. "Haa.." he breaths, "this might take a while". A shiver runs down Aurelian's spine, Draven was so close, his lips brushing against Aurelian's ear as he spoke. Aurelian swallowed hard, his throat suddenly dry. Draven who knew exactly what he was doing, moves his hand up Aurelian's waist, making Aurelian gasp. "Am I driving you crazy the same way you drive me crazy?" Draven thought, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. "W..what are you doing Draven?" Aurelian struggles to ask, "what do you mean? I'm riding the horse" he replies playing dumb, "or would you rather I focus on you instead?" He whispers into Aurelian's ear making him whimper. "Your highness, we're here", the guard announces. "What was he doing? Is he out of his mind?" Aurelian questioned himself as Draven helped him down the horse. "This is the grand duke's place", Draven says to Aurelian, acting casually like nothing happened on the horse. Aurelian took in the sight of the place,"it's just like a palace", he whispers, making Draven laugh. "Don't insult the palace, it's much more bigger and better than this crap", Draven replies looking down at the building, arrogance written in his posture. Aurelian nudges him, "I'm serious, it's beautiful", "whatever you say my beautiful consort", Draven sing song walking forward. Aurelian's eyes widen, "you're crazy", he mutters, walking over to Draven. Following the lead of the lead servant, they head inside the grand duke's estate together. Draven placed his hand on the small of Aurelian's back as they walked inside, "...or is all this just an act?" He asked himself internally.