With a plate untouched before him, he slowly racked his fingers through his locks.
The high ponytail did nothing to the length of it but he was used to it by now.
"Lord Hawkings, to what do I owe the pleasure. "
With sarcasm rolling from his tongue, he barely looked in the others direction.
"How has your majesty been?
Did you have a good night?"
His daughter was much more entertaining and way more pleasant to the eyes.
Smirking, he lazily drawled out.
"Oh I had a splendid night.
How about you?
I heard your daughter came to visit?"
That seemed to shut the other up for a moment.
"Your majesty, there are various documents awaiting your signature, if you please."
Arioz was getting real meddling.
"Duty calls, I shall leave you to it.
Whatever you had the say, you should have said it first."
It was only when they were far out of sight, he stilled and spoke.
"You are getting audacious for a servant."
"Forgive me, your majesty."
Upon spoken to, the other kneeled immediately.
"But is it wise to confront Lord Hawkings?
In times like these is it not better to be more complacent?''
"I do not need you to decide that for me.
I am still your emperor!
Do you understand me?!"
"...Yes.
My apologies."
"You are dismissed.
I do not wish to see you for a couple days."
"....As you command, your majesty."
------
Watching his majesty walk of with doubt in his steps, Arioz stood, patting non existent dirt from his clothes.
He had been dismissed, his majesty's mood was fickle today.
Morning itself was calm, dozing off for a bit longer then he usually allowed himself to do even.
When he got up, his majesty hadn't said a word, busy in thought but serenity was found in his facial expression.
But upon going down to eat, Lord Hawkings awaited him.
And from how his majesty spoke, sarcasm dripping from his words, it was obvious who the girl from the night before was.
Lord Hawking's daughter.
Lady Vivienne Hawkings.
His majesty was practically inviting trouble.
Arioz couldn't help but be worried, the other was playing a dangerous game and had even dismissed him, his quard.
It came at a perfect time, now he could vanish for a bit but he just hoped things wouldn't go wrong.
Things had been changing to rapidly already, so for just two days, let just hope everything stays the same.
Two days.
Don't do anything stupid, your majesty.
With that thought, he turned and found the quickest exit accompanied with the swirling worries inside of him.
------
He had left.
Arioz had left, he was sure of it, he hadn't seen the other since two days ago.
"Your majesty."
Disregarding the other's presence, he stayed looking out the window.
Where it had been peaceful some time ago, now there seemed to be a growing unrest.
It didn't help that the magic Kingdom had cut off any support, so certain kind of food and materials were becoming a scarcity.
"Your majesty, are you displeased?"
"You've been talking."
She stood directly behind him, hands lightly tracing his back as he continued.
"Word is going around in the castle, that apparently I smell like roses.
Care to explain to me as to why?"
He turned swiftly, her fingers latching onto his half open shirt, he had been too lazy to close it.
"Ain't it the truth?"
Closening the distance, her nose in the crook of his neck, she sniffed loudly and numerous times before declaring.
"You smell lovely."
She smoothly twisted open the closed buttons and for once he saw her, saw her contemplating.
"I did not lie, you are just heavenly.
Can I not share that fact?"
Grabbing her hand, before she fully opened his shirt fully, he lightly kissed the palm with his mouth as he mumbled slowly upon it.
Eyes staring down at her as his words filled the room.
"Are you aware you could be opening the pandora box? Can you even handle the consequences of your actions?"
"I don't like playing it safe.
Besides for you?
Yes, yes I can."
"You wouldn't say that if you knew the truth."
"It does not matter."
"I wonder..." If you could say that when your family burns.
"I wonder too... you still smell like roses but do you taste like them?"
That was the only warning he got before teeth gladly took a piece of his neck in their grasps.
"That's..."his own teeth gritted." Unexpected
By the force of it, the mark would decorate his skin for days.