A Beast's Tale

Chapter 7

The next day, it seemed that things were finally settling into a new routine. I awoke to her humming again, which stopped at nine o’clock when she opened the drapes and called her morning greeting. She left for my breakfast, and I got my clothes and went into the bathroom to get ready for the day. When I finished there, I found breakfast already on the desk, my bed neatly made, my sword propped up next to my chair. I sat down to eat while she went into the bathroom.

As long as I didn’t look at her too much, she wouldn’t pose too much of a problem for me.

I had my office to myself that day. Clavis was probably still busy with his investigation. Nokto was doubtless ‘interrogating’ a new informant. His methods were questionable, but he certainly got results.

At two thirty, I went to my library, and Ivetta brought my tea as usual.

“Prince Chevalier?”

I looked up from my book at her soft question. “What is it?”

Her green eyes were nervous, but she answered without any hesitation. “My mother’s birthday is coming up a week from today, and Prince Yves has agreed to help me make beignets that afternoon. Is that okay?”

Yves and I rarely crossed paths. Clavis must have taken a break from work for another diversion. It was a wonder he ever got anything done.

Although an occasional diversion wasn’t necessarily such a bad idea.

“So, it isn’t enough for you to wait for trouble to come; now you seek it out, is that right?” I asked with a derisive smirk.

“I’m not looking for any trouble, your highness,” she said, nervousness replaced by resignation as she recognized my teasing tone. “If you won’t allow it, I’d just like to let Prince Yves know as soon as possible. He said he would clear his afternoon that day, and I don’t want to inconvenience him unnecessarily.”

“Clearly I’m not keeping you busy enough if you have time to meet with other princes,” I continued mockingly.

“Not at all, your highness. This happened during my lunch break. And I wasn’t looking to meet anybody. I was trying to read, but Prince Clavis found me and offered me a tour of the gardens.” She was managing her emotions better. Yesterday, she would have been struggling to remain calm at this point. Today, she was in complete control.

“And just like a foolish little dove, you trusted him,” I said, pushing her further.

She sighed. “No, your highness, I didn’t, but I did want to see the gardens. He didn’t give me any trouble - beyond annoying Prince Yves and me.” She paused, and then she said, “My apologies, your highness. I shouldn’t talk about Prince Clavis that way.”

“Maybe you’re not so foolish,” I said, smirking. “He is a noisy pest.”

As inappropriate as it was for a maid to speak badly of a prince, I didn’t mind her honesty. I had little respect for anybody, prince or not. But her comment about trying to read had caught my attention. I remembered finding the collection of short stories on the window seat of the alcove the day she first started working here, and I realized that must be where she spent her lunch breaks, reading. It wouldn’t be easy for somebody with her limited means to access books, but she was very familiar with literature. She must be passionate enough about reading to take advantage of every opportunity that came her way.

“I hope you weren’t reading one of my books without permission.” Although I knew she wouldn’t, and it wouldn’t bother me if she did. She handled books carefully enough to earn my trust in that regard.

“No, your highness, I would never do that. There are plenty of books in the main library for me to choose from.” She glanced at the book I was currently reading: The Romance of the Rose. It was a foreign book, very popular and very difficult to come by. She was clearly interested in it.

“Why do you read?” I asked.

“I enjoy reading, your highness,” she replied, surprised by my question. “Isn’t that why you read?”

“I would expect such a childish answer from you. I read to obtain useful information so I can better rule this kingdom.”

My subtle insult did not bring the angry flash I’d been hoping to see in her green eyes. Instead, she asked another question.

“If I may ask, your highness, what useful information does a romance novel supply to you?”

A good question. And the truth would upset her, taunt her to speak against me. Her response could be very interesting.

“People are ruled by emotions. If I can understand those emotions, I can manipulate them, and thus, people, to do my will.”

She frowned. “You talk as if you don’t have emotions, Prince Chevalier.”

“I have no need for them,” I said dismissively. Usually, I would leave my answer there, but I elaborated for her. Not that she would understand. My reasoning would not make sense to her. That much was clear.

“Emotions are weak and pointless for a king. But, in the right hands, they can be useful tools as well.”

Her frustration was plain on her face, but she held her tongue. That only intrigued me further. What was it that she wanted so badly to say, but felt certain she shouldn’t?

“You disapprove,” I said, smirking mockingly.

“Of course I do, your highness, but then again, I’m just another weak and pointless tool you manipulate to do your will,” she snapped. “Even so, I may be able to give you a word of advice when you’re handling my kind.”

Sarcasm and self-deprecation. Where was she going with this? I waited, eagerly anticipating her next words, but careful not to show anything except cool contempt.

“Fear and intimidation can only get you so far. People are more easily manipulated if they like you. And they won’t like you as long as you continue to devalue them. A little respect and consideration will go a long way, even if you have to fake it.”

She had more to say, but she stopped herself, watching me warily, expecting some sort of backlash. I shouldn’t disappoint her. After all, she had been anything but disappointing so far. I stood up and walked over to her, and this time, she didn’t even take a single step back. Her green eyes were nervous but defiant as I looked down at her. I couldn’t help but smile bemusedly.

“And I suppose you still wish me to grant you an afternoon off next week, even though you have presumed to lecture me,” I said quietly.

“I have overstepped my place again. My apologies, your highness,” she said formally.

I poked her in the forehead. “You’re getting better at hiding your thoughts. You have my permission, on one condition. If your beignets are any good, I will require a sampling.”

Her green eyes were curious, but she knew better than to let her guard down. “And if they’re bad, your highness?”

They wouldn’t be bad, not with Yves helping her. I had no consequence in mind for that impossibility. But I couldn’t resist teasing her just a little more, and her glossy black ponytail caught my eye where it had fallen across her shoulder. I pushed the hair away from her neck, my touch making her flinch, but she still held her ground. This was dangerous. Dangerous, but incredibly enticing. I turned her face to the side, tracing my fingers up and down her smooth skin, watching her pulse quicken in the vein on her neck. A blush was already coming to her cheeks. I leaned in close and whispered in her ear: “I’m sure you won’t disappoint me.” The blush immediately deepened and spread to her ear, and I turned away, chuckling, and went back to my chair.

“You’re dismissed.”

She left quickly, as I knew she would. Her hair smelled of plain soap, a scent that I normally ignored without a second thought, but, suddenly, it held intense interest for me.

I didn’t bother her the rest of the afternoon, for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I didn’t want to encourage my own attraction to develop any further. Such feelings were, as I’d told her, foolish and pointless. Second, as much as I enjoyed teasing her, I didn’t want to get her as worked up as she had a couple of days ago. That was strange for me. Strange, in that I actually went out of my way to interact with anybody, and stranger still that I took into consideration their feelings. Maybe it was just a natural extension of the unnatural protectiveness I had for her.

“Hey, Chev!” Clavis called, bursting into my library shortly after Ivetta left at five o’clock.

I ignored him.

“Yves has been baking. If you want a taste, you’d better hurry up!”

That got my attention. I marked my place in my book and set it on the end table. “What has he made?” I asked, refusing to show the childish enthusiasm that overtook many of my brothers whenever Yves was in the kitchen, although I was already on my feet.

“He started with beignets, which are probably all gone now, but he’s also made several cakes, and from what I hear, he’s still going,” Clavis replied. “Something must have upset him, but I’m not complaining.”

I smirked. “Indeed.”

Baking was Yves' escape, as reading was mine. He didn’t actually eat most of what he made, though, hence his slim figure. But there were never any leftovers. When Yves was in the kitchen, word spread through the palace like wildfire, and it was every man for himself, first come, first serve. Leon’s faction always found out first, often instigating something to trigger a baking spree from Yves, and he fell for their tricks every time.

He was a lot like Ivetta, actually. Short and slender, compared to the rest of us, although he was actually of average height and build when compared to most men; he’d taken after his mother quite a lot in appearance. He was also unfailingly kind and gentle, a strange trait among my brothers. At least Ivetta wasn’t accident prone, like Yves. His bad luck was infamous, even without the addition of his foolish naïvety that kept Clavis coming back for prank after prank.

I was also strangely protective of him, ever since Bloodstained Rose Day, ten years ago.

He’d taken over one of the smaller kitchens, and the marble counters were covered with pastries, confections, plates, forks, and princes. There were few chairs in the kitchen; many of my brothers had seated themselves on the little remaining counter space as they ate. Yves was bent over a stove, his honey-blonde hair falling over his sweaty face as his blue eyes intently watched whatever he was stirring. He didn’t even notice me enter, oblivious as ever.

“Hey, Chevalier’s joining the party!” Jin announced, topping off a glass with some sort of liquor. “Pick your poison.”

Yves glanced over at me. He’d draped his rich maroon jacket and pink vest over the back of a nearby chair, and he’d rolled the sleeves of his crisp pale blue shirt up to his elbows. “There are a few beignets left,” he said, looking back at the pot. “It’s been a while since I made them, and I need to make sure the recipe is perfect for next week.”

I ignored Jin’s proffered alcohol and grabbed a plate, adding a few beignets and a slice of chocolate cake. “You are assuming I’ve granted her permission,” I commented.

“Her?” Nokto asked, his crimson eyes glittering, though his sly appearance was marred by a spot of chocolate on his cheek. “Ivetta’s got something cooking with our little Evie?”

Yves rolled his eyes. “Stop calling me that.”

“That was a good one,” Clavis complimented Nokto.

Luke started coughing, his face turning red as he struggled to laugh and breathe with a mouth full of food. Leon started pounding him on the back.

“It wasn’t that funny, Luke. Breathe!”

“These are adequate,” I said coolly, ignoring my brothers’ childish theatrics. I hadn’t had beignets since the last time Yves made them, and they were as good now as ever.

“Good,” Yves said, knowing the tepid compliment was high praise from me. “She was talking about baking them, and I usually fry them, so I’m trying it both ways.”

“Is anybody going to explain what you’re talking about?” Licht asked with mild annoyance. As usual, he was as put together as Nokto was disarrayed. He’d buttoned his gray shirt and dark gray jacket all the way up to his throat, and he’d neatly tucked his shirt into his black pants. His dark blue boots and sword dangling over the edge of the counter where he sat, his black gloves resting on the marble surface beside him as he ate.

“I took the liberty of introducing Chev’s pretty little dove to our pretty little Yves,” Clavis said smoothly, his golden eyes gleaming with mischief.

“Hey, now, what about me? I still haven’t met her!” Luke protested, his coughing fit resolved and his mouth empty for the moment.

“Neither has Licht, but just give me time. I’m making sure everybody gets a chance at her,” Clavis replied, pouring himself a glass of grape juice.

“You are spending far too much time and energy on a single maid,” I said disdainfully.

He shrugged. “So are you.”

“I have met her, actually, and I’m still waiting for an explanation,” Licht interjected.

Clavis’ golden eyes widened. “When did you meet her?”

Licht sighed heavily. “Yesterday, in the library.”

“Hm, what a lucky little thing. Getting to meet both of the Klein twins on the same day,” Nokto said with a sly grin.

“That figures. She looked freaked out when she saw me. Should have known she’d had the misfortune to run into you,” Licht replied condescendingly.

“That hurts. Didn’t you take the time to talk to the lady?” Nokto asked.

“She’s a maid. Why would I waste my time talking to her?”

“She’s also really nice,” Yves interjected. “Even though Clavis dragged her out into the gardens against her will,” he added, glaring at Clavis.

“Against her will?” Clavis exclaimed, feigning surprise. “I’ll have you know that she agreed to accompany me.”

Jin chuckled. “Did she, now? Why do I find that hard to believe?”

“Well, she may not have used words, exactly,” Clavis admitted.

“Probably because you wouldn’t let her get one in edge-wise,” Yves reprimanded. “But at least she had the courtesy to apologize for interrupting my violin practice once you finally took off.”

That did sound like something she would do. Apologize for something that wasn’t even her fault.

“You seemed like you were having a nice little chat after that,” Clavis said smugly. “I believe she asked you to play something else.”

Yves’ cheeks flushed. “You were eavesdropping?”

Leon laughed. “Uh oh, he didn’t catch you at something you don’t want Chevalier to hear, did he?”

“N-no!” Yves protested quickly, turning to Leon and completely unaware of Clavis sneaking up behind him and slipping his sword from its sheath. I was not the only one of my brothers to see Clavis, but none of us said a word.

“She just complimented my violin playing, and I mentioned something about beignets, and she asked if I could help her make some for her mother’s birthday next week!” Yves continued.

“And that’s what’s got you in a tizzy?” Nokto teased as Clavis made his escape to the hallway. “Baking with King Highness’ little dove?”

“Well, he kind of seems like he wants to keep her to himself,” Jin teased, his sharp burgundy eyes meeting mine. “Almost like he’s got a thing for her or something.”

“You’ve got quite the imagination,” I replied coolly.

“So, when do I get to meet her?” Luke asked, looking around the kitchen. “Clavis? Hey, where’d Clavis go?”

“Who cares?” Yves asked irritably. “Anyway, Chevalier, are you going to let her have that afternoon off?”

“Wait. Before you answer that, let me ask one thing,” Leon said, his amber eyes twinkling. “Are you prepared to say no to that pretty little face asking you for just a few hours off so she can bake for her mother’s birthday?”

I shot Leon a glare. “A guilt trip isn’t necessary. I’ve already given my approval.”

Yves’ blue eyes widened, and his jaw dropped open. “Really?”

“That easy?” Jin asked.

“What kind of deal did she have to make with you?” Licht chimed in suspiciously.

I smirked. “That is not for you to know.”

Yves scowled. “It better not have been anything bad. She’s too sweet to-”

“Hey, Yves!” Clavis shouted from the hallway. “You left your sword out here!”

“What?” Yves looked down at his side, and the sword sheath strapped over his gray pants was, indeed, empty. “Clavis, you-”

Yves ran to the door, which Clavis had left slightly ajar, and, predictably, a bucket of water dropped on his head the second he pushed it open. His blue eyes went wide, his cheeks flushed, and he sputtered in wordless fury while the rest of us laughed. I even allowed myself a chuckle at his expense.

“Oh dear,” Clavis said with mock sadness, reappearing in front of Yves. “I guess it’s a good thing you didn’t have your sword. No need for the blade to get wet and start rusting.”

“Clavis!” Yves shouted, leaping for him, and his maroon boots slipped in the puddle beneath him and sent him sprawling flat on his face while Clavis stepped nimbly backwards.

“Uh, hate to interrupt, but is that supposed to be on fire?” Licht asked.

Yves scrambled to his feet and raced back to the stove. “That’s it, no more baking!” he proclaimed angrily, rushing the flaming concoction to a sink and dousing it with cold water. He disappeared in a cloud of steam and smoke for a moment as Jin and Leon seized Clavis by either arm and dragged him back into the kitchen.

“Apologize!” they insisted in unison.

Clavis was laughing heartily, and he did make an attempt at an apology, but it was punctuated every few words by more laughter. “Yves, I - ha, ha - I’m so - he, he - sorry!”

Yves reappeared from the cloud, soaking wet, his cheeks bright red, his blue eyes flashing. “No, you’re not. And I’m not baking anymore like this.”

“Aw, c’mon, Yves, all you need to do is change and then you can get right back into it, right?” Luke pleaded.

“There must be something we can do to change your mind,” Licht added.

Yves smirked. “Well, maybe there is something. Who wants to see Clavis go for a swim?”

Clavis’ golden eyes widened. “Hold on-”

“Sounds fair,” Jin proclaimed. “Leon?”

“To the pond!”

I chuckled as they left, Jin and Leon practically dragging Clavis along between them, the rest of my brothers following and laughing. The kitchen was a disaster. Most of the metal pots and pans had been removed from their hooks in the ceiling; most of the brick ovens were still burning; and now there was a puddle of water mixing with spilled flour on the wood floor. I finished my cake in silence, taking another slice before I left for the library. No doubt my brothers would all team to the kitchen again next week when Ivetta was baking, and no doubt they would be even rowdier than they were today. The thought was mildly annoying. At the very least, I’d have to take precautions to ensure Ivetta wasn’t left with cleaning up that big of a mess by herself. That would be too cruel, even for me.