Kieran felt his body waking up, his deep burgundy eyes fluttering open as the sunlight lit him softly. He groaned, rubbing his eyes.
"Dammit!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing in the empty room. Frustration bubbled inside him as he scanned his room. When he spotted no sign of his servant, a low growl of annoyance escaped him. "Where could he be?" he muttered, irritation seeping into his tone.
Kieran's day had just started, but he was already feeling exhausted.
Kieran threw his duvet off in frustration, tumbled onto the floor, and then burned the duvet with his magic, scowling all the while. He felt a deep anger boiling inside him. If he hadn't woken up, he wouldn't be angry right now. But he did wake up, and that realisation only fueled his anger even more.
"VESPERRRR!!!!!!!" Kieran hollered, having an early morning tantrum. He fisted his bed frame and groaned when it didn't crack or break. He was grumpy, tired, and groggy.
Entering the prince's luxurious and refined chamber, a young man approximately 19 or 20 years old, with the most full and well-defined mahogany curls, spoke with a radiant demeanour.
"Your highness, it seems that you've woken up?" He asked brightly as the morning sun illuminated his hazel eyes, a beautiful kaleidoscope of colours. He walked closer until he was beside Kieran, who was on the floor. Vesper's face fell immediately.
"Your Highness- W-why are you on the f-floor? You mustn't be on such… You mustn't be on the floor! P-please remain in your bed until I-I arrive next time…" Vesper said, concern and worry etched all over his face.
"Stupid… You stupid, useless, low-class servant!!! You know you have low-class stupidity. Pick me up this instant!" Kieran started hitting the ground and rolling around. This was a one-of-a-kind tantrum. Caused by the prince.
"Tsk, I want my duvet, Vesper!!" Kieran roared. He crossed his arms, angry.
"If my stupidity is low class... yours must be of high class," Vesper thought to himself, his hands balling up in fists before he let go in defeat. He then sighed and bowed his head apologetically.
"My prince… I… I should've picked you up as soon as I saw you! Please forgive my delayed reaction; I won't let this happen again. I swear on it!" Vesper got down on his knees to plead to the prince, then quickly placed his arms under the prince when he finally stopped tumbling everywhere, and gently picked him up. Kieran grumbled but didn't protest.
"M-my prince... I-I don't see your d-duvet anywhere. I'm sorry! I'll ask around for a new one, I swear, F-forgive me!" Vesper fumbled his words, slightly shaking the prince in his arms as he tried to explain himself. Kieran smirked, knowing exactly the reason why the duvet was missing. He had burned it.
Vesper sighed in defeat; the prince never planned to give up his stubbornness.
"Your Highness, perhaps you could listen to me for once?" Vesper asked tentatively, glancing down at the prince.
"Are you crazy? Who do you think you are to ask me, someone with such a high status, to listen to you, a low-class idiot!?" Kieran yelled, anger clouding his mind again.
"N-no, your highness! I wasn't trying to order you around or anything like that… I-I"
Vesper just shut his mouth. He couldn't risk the prince getting any angrier. He sighed; he needed to calm himself down.
Vesper made his way back to the prince's bed and hesitantly placed him down, afraid that he might throw himself on the ground again. Fortunately, Kieran remained in bed. He still had an angry expression on his face, as per usual. Kieran looked back at Vesper for a bit. He could tell the man obviously had something to say. He decided to pretend not to know.
Vesper looked hesitant, as if debating whether to say what he needed to or try to keep the prince calm. It was a really hard decision. His face paled, and he felt anxious.
Kieran's patience quickly dissipated. He just got angrier.
"What? You're standing as if there was a ghost in here! I hate it! Stop it right now!!!" He screamed, tossing himself back and forth on the mattress in anger. His eyes darkened, and Vesper could see the veins on his face clearly.
"Just say what the fuck you want to say! I don't have time for this! You're so annoying! You incompetent fool! Why are you still alive!?" Kieran ranted.
"F-forgive me, my prince! I-I… please forgive me! I only live to serve you… You see? Th-that's why y-you kept me alive..!" Vesper stammered his words, massaging the prince's temples in a weak attempt to calm him. Kieran scoffed.
"Please calm down, anger is bad for you, my prince!" He tried to speak calmly, but he failed to do so. His tone was highly uneven. After a little while, Vesper mustered enough courage to break the news to the prince.
"U-um… I'm sorry but… Prince C-Cahir wanted to have tea with you, m-my prince." Vesper said, his face paling as he told the prince.
"This early in the morning? Give me a break. If the only reason you came here was to tell me something as useless as you, you should leave before I get angry."
Vesper felt a chill up his spine, his legs screaming for him to run away. He forced himself to remain still and tried to hide his fearful expression. Shit, he muttered under his breath. The prince, in a state of heightened anger, was a nightmare. He had experienced it a few times, and each time he felt pity for whoever the anger was directed at. It was horrid, and he didn't want it to be directed at him.
Despite the prince's behaviour towards Vesper, he knew that the prince must have just been frustrated. Yes, the prince was extremely moody, but it usually got worse during the morning. Much worse. The prince has been through a lot, and Vesper has been there for most of it. The least he could do was to remain by his side.
"Sh-should I go tell Prince Cahir that you won't be attending, my prince..?" Vesper asked, unsure.
Kieran sighed heavily, pissed. He thought for a moment before he sighed again. It was an exaggerated sigh. He really didn't want to see any stupid man for the first thing in the morning. He figured, instead of remaining pissed at everything, he would make others pissed, like Cahir, for example. It was the perfect plan. Kieran made a smug expression, which worried Vesper even more. He could never tell what the prince was thinking.
"My prince..?" Vesper's voice was hesitant. He needed to know the prince's answer, and he had a feeling that he was up to no good.
"Very well. I'll meet that... jerk." Kieran replied. That smug grin was still plastered on his face, and his eyes looked like they were lighting up. Meeting Cahir always meant something was going on in the manor or in one of the kingdoms, and it was rarely ever good news. That, or he just wanted to nag Kieran. Kieran's and Cahir's fathers have been good friends for a long time, long before both of them were born, so they met often and were around each other as children, even though they came from different kingdoms.
"That's amazing, my prince! Sh-should I dress you before or after I let him know?" Vesper asked, his brightness restored. He was up and smiling again. He was a packet of perfectly packaged flavoured candy.
"Why are you still asking questions? You should already know, have I kept you around for nothing!?" Kieran yelled; it had become a habit for him. Kieran snapped really easily at small things. He didn't know how not to.
"I'll dress you first, then, my prince." Vesper smiled. He understood. He didn't have to, but he did. He was hesitant to go over to the walk-in closet, even if it was but a couple of steps away, because the prince might throw himself again. Vesper didn't want that. What he wanted didn't matter, but he could be selfish... even for a little bit, right? Since childhood, he has been serving the prince; it only made the most sense not to want the prince to hurt himself.
"Get my clothes, what are you waiting for? Slow bastard!" Kieran yelled, getting agitated.
"Of course, m-my prince," Vesper responded, shyly. Vesper headed to the large walk-in closet, the double door leading inside was meticulously handcrafted from rich, solid wood. It was beautifully gilded and had a general, lavish look.
When Vesper returned, he placed his selection of clothes onto the bed beside the prince. He looked in deep thought before he asked the prince.
"M-my prince, for today's look, do you want something undressed or somewhat formal?" He asked, smiling, gesturing towards the clothes.
Kieran grumbled, still feeling stubborn. He thought for a bit before deciding on wearing something somewhat formal. He had other things to do in his day and didn't want to have Vesper on his ass about not looking respectful enough after he met with Cahir. Kieran disliked Cahir; he knew there was something wrong with him, and he didn't trust it, not even slightly. Kieran thought for a bit, and he decided it would be fun to nag Cahir. Instead of staying angry and irritated, he should make Cahir angry and irritated instead. It would surely be amusing.
"Somewhat formal. Hurry, I've got other things to do today. Have you got my schedule?" Kieran asked, remaining in an even tone. It appeared he had somewhat calmed down. Vesper's face lifted; the prince was fully awake now, no longer grumpy.
"Yes, my prince, I have your schedule. Please s-sit up so I can undress you for a warm bath. I have also scented the bath with rosewater, just the way you like it," Vesper said as he picked up a dry towel.
Kieran sat up so Vesper could begin undressing him. Vesper gently unbuttoned Kieran's nightgown and pulled it over his head, slightly tousling his hair. He then carefully slid Kieran's shirt off, allowing it to drop to the floor with a soft rustle, then moved to his pants, methodically easing them down as he prepared the prince for his bath. If Kieran had still been half-asleep, he would have already snapped at something small; everything pissed him off in the morning. Vesper knew that better than anyone.
The prince's bathroom was spacious and elegantly designed. A large clawfoot tub with intricate patterns dominated the space. Shiny marble tiles adorned the floor, complemented by beautiful countertops, a high-end sink, and a sophisticated vanity.
Kieran sat inside the tub, the warm water instantaneously relaxing all the tension in his body. He closed his eyes and let out a relieved sigh as the water engulfed his body. Vesper smiled and opened up the shampoo bottle, rubbing shampoo in his palms before beginning to wash Kieran's hair. He scrubbed his scalp expertly, removing any greasiness.
"My prince, it seems... your mood has brightened?" Vesper remarked. His mood had also lifted. Whenever the prince was upset, he felt it too, and if the prince got happy, he would be as well. Kieran let the silence linger for a moment before answering.
"You could say that," Kieran replied nonchalantly. He wasn't as grumpy as he had been before, and he no longer felt groggy as the bath relaxed him greatly. He hadn't given up on his plan, though; he felt like angering Cahir. The thought of provoking Cahir thrilled him; ironically, he had no affection for Cahir at all. Although Kieran disliked Cahir, seeing Cahir visibly angry and upset, first thing in the morning, excited him.
Little did he know that the excitement wouldn't last much longer.
Vesper quickly began dressing Kieran with well-practised precision, starting with a ruffled undershirt whose long sleeves flared out with an embroidered lace trim. To top it, he then picked out an opulent waistcoat of midnight purple. He worked his fingers on the buttons of the meticulously embroidered bat-wing cut garment in a light, rhythmic touch as he secured the row of miniature handcrafted buttons, each featuring beautiful, intricate carved designs. On top, Vesper pinned the neck band of a pleated, ruffled jabot, allowing its lace trim to cascade down the chest. Kieran's trousers were formal midnight boot-cut trousers that were sharp and tailored; they hugged his thighs, then subtly widened just below his knees, anchoring his silhouette. They fanned out just enough at the hem to graze his polished platform boots that bore the crest of the royal family.
"I have prepared a tray of your favourite s-sweets, my prince, Vesper said, gesturing over at the small assortment of dessert platters on a dessert trolley.
"I thought it'd be best if you ate a little before meeting with Prince Cahir. I-I have a feeling that s-something might happen, if that's alright, my prince."
Kieran sighed, then nodded. "Sure, Vesper, all of a sudden, I am quite excited!" He replied. Vesper grabbed and offered a small tray of marzipan sweets. They were nicely sculpted, like perfect little fruits and flowers. The details were so realistic that they looked like they were plucked from a garden of magical sweets.
"The m-marzipan is fresh and was moulded this morning and delicately hand-painted with saffron by our head chef Eimi. I made sure to eat one of each sweet, to make sure they were all safe to consume." Vesper spoke proudly, as if waiting for Kieran to praise him for the bare minimum. When nothing happened, he frowned and masked it up before Kieran could notice.
Kieran picked a tiny pear-shaped marchpane; he chewed on the sweet concoction of various nutty flavours and felt it melt on his tongue instantaneously. Kieran's expression remained indifferent, but Vesper felt an underlying satisfaction in his gaze. As Kieran chewed, he tasted a hint of cocoa powder, which made his expression relax a little. He sighed deeply, picking up another one; it was a perfectly sculpted dahlia. Vesper watched at the side intently, waiting for the prince to finish his snack. He stopped eating after a few more bites, and Vesper returned the tiny plates to one of the shelves on the trolley.
With satisfaction in his voice, Vesper asked Kieran softly. "My prince, are you ready?" He asked, rolling the trolley out of the way. The maids would dispose of it after they left the room.
"What do you think? Come on, don't just stand there!" Kieran snapped, his impatience clear in his voice. Vesper nodded and rushed ahead, holding the door open for the prince to exit the room. Outside, guarding the door stood Kol, Kieran's personal royal guard. He was an elf of about the average height of 6', with light brown hair and dark green eyes. His body was slim, yet his muscles were strong and well-defined. Kol stood aside as Vesper and Kieran walked out, bowing his head to Kieran.
"I see you're starting your day quite early today, my prince," Kol said, his voice firm, steady, and moderate in tone. Vesper gave a small wave toward Kol from behind the prince, smiling softly. Kol's gaze shifted to Vesper and lingered for a brief moment before returning to the prince.
"Yes, I was quite displeased when I was awakened so early in the morning," Kieran said, giving Vesper a pointed look. Vesper appeared embarrassed and avoided making eye contact with both Kol and Kieran. Despite Vesper's discomfort, Kol remained indifferent and bowed again as they walked away, their silhouettes gradually growing smaller until they disappeared from view. He returned to his post beside the door, in case of suspicious people and intruders.
Shortly after, Mabel, the maid manager, arrived with several other maids. Kol gave her a brief nod, permitting her to enter the prince's chambers while keeping the other maids outside. He needed to ensure there was no funny business going on. Using his magic, he checked for any dangerous items, even though he knew they had no ill intentions. It was a necessary precaution.
"You may all enter. You must leave within two hours, and the room must be free of any mess," Kol told them, his voice serious and his expression unreadable. They all nodded and swarmed into the room, then closed the doors behind them. Kol listened intently, the muffled sound of Mabel's voice filtering through the closed door as she energetically directed them, her commands ringing with authority. He viewed her as a formidable woman, someone whose actions and intentions had truly earned his admiration. She always remained calm and collected, always processing things ethically. She rarely got angry, but when she did, it was entirely justifiable, and she excelled at her job.
She was an exceptionally remarkable woman.
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The corridors leading to the courtyard were spacious and tall, beautifully decorated with plants, vases, and various ornaments. They were carpeted in lush red velvet and featured many windows. Some of the windows were open, allowing fresh, woody air to flow in. The sun was still high and bright outside, having risen recently, and the scent of morning dew filled the halls. Vesper couldn't get enough of the fresh aroma that surrounded him. With each deep breath, he savoured the rich scent, relishing the way it wrapped around him like a warm embrace. It was an experience he truly cherished, one that filled him with a sense of calm and delight. He was glad the manor had lots of plants; it made him feel at ease. Kieran began to feel irritated by Vesper's loud breathing noises; however, he decided to remain reserved and keep to himself.
When they arrived at the glass doors leading to the courtyard, Vesper opened the door for the prince. Kieran looked ahead and saw Cahir, who looked surprisingly handsome. Cahir was sitting at an ornate iron-wrought table with a colourful floral mosaic at its centre. The chairs, matching in style, also featured mosaic designs on their seats. With the sunlight directly hitting the spot because it was void of shade, the furniture shone brighter. It pissed Kieran off.
Kieran tsked and shot a glare as he and Vesper approached the man. Vesper pulled out a chair for Kieran to sit in, then stepped back a few paces, wanting to give them space for the conversation that was about to begin.
"Fuck you." Kieran snapped, already irritated, and he had only just gotten there. He crossed his arms, almost forgetting his plan. He was here to irritate Cahir, not himself.
"Oh? I had no idea you were into that sort of thing, your highness," Cahir teased, a playful grin spreading across his face as he laughed, poking fun at him.
Kieran let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of the day ahead settle heavily on his shoulders. He could already tell—this was going to be one of those marathon days that dragged on endlessly.