A Beast's Tale

Chapter 11

The carriage slowed significantly when we reached the town due to the crowded streets, and I called for the coachman to stop.

“You are here as my personal attendant,” I said coolly to Ivetta. “Do you understand?”

“Yes, your highness,” she replied obediently, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She was the picture of a demure maid, with no trace of her previous anxiety. I stepped down out of the carriage, hiding my smile. My instructions were unnecessary. She would perform her duties here as earnestly as she did at the palace.

A single chilling glance was enough to clear a path around me, as usual. She followed quietly in my wake, beside and a bit behind, staying close even though I made no effort to shorten my strides for her benefit. It was amusing to watch grown men avoid my eyes and keep their distance while the petite maid on my heels showed no signs of intimidation whatsoever.

“Hey there!”

Leon. I’d guessed we’d run into him eventually. His booming voice was clearly directed at Ivetta, as was his smile. He and I didn’t acknowledge each other as he pushed his way through the crowd toward her.

“I’m still working, P - Leon,” Ivetta said, catching herself just in time to not break his cover. He was pretending to be a commoner again.

“Will your boss let me buy you a drink?” he asked.

“I don’t tolerate drunkenness from my employees,” I said firmly without turning around. Just imagining the stupid grin on his face was annoying enough without actually seeing it.

“Apple cider it is,” he announced, and then he disappeared back into the crowd.

Food, drink, books, knick-knacks, jewelry, furniture, clothing - if it could be sold, there was a stall for it. And the ever present roses, so characteristic of Rhodolite, festooned everything. A band had set up by the fountain, and people were dancing - some in couples, some by themselves. The occasional horseback rider trotted through, but there was no room for any carriages here. Still, it would be too much to hope we could lose Leon, but I glimpsed the bookstall not far up ahead, and that would at least provide me with some distraction. I glanced back at Ivetta as we approached it, satisfied by the way her green eyes lit up as soon as she spotted the books. Leon’s apple cider wouldn’t get such a reaction from her.

“You have most of these already, Prince Chevalier,” she said, running her slender fingers across the spines. “But I don’t think you have this one.”

As with everything she did, she was taking her role seriously. I took the book she’d indicated and glanced at it.

“You are correct. Shopkeeper.”

The shopkeeper was already trembling in my presence, and he nearly fainted when I addressed him.

“Y-y-yes, your highness?”

“Are these all the books you have?”

“N-n-no, y-y-your highness,” he said, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down nervously.

“Here’s another one, Prince Chevalier,” she said, pulling out another book. “And another. There’s a really good selection here.” She handed each book to me without taking her eyes off of the titles she was still scanning. There was little need for me to pay attention to the books on display, with her doing my shopping. I was free to question the shopkeeper about a particularly rare foreign book while she kept up her search.

“There you are,” Leon said, reappearing at her side a few minutes later. “One apple cider, coming up!”

“Thank you - Leon,” she said, catching herself again as she took the mug he offered. She straightened up, taking a sip. “Mm, this is good. I think I’m done, Prince Chevalier.” She’d found a dozen volumes, not a single one present in my collection. Her attention to detail was remarkable.

“Bundle these up,” I instructed the shopkeeper.

“Y-y-yes, of c-c-course,” he stammered, his fingers shaking as he stacked the books together.

“You’re doing his shopping?” Leon asked her.

“I’m here to work, Leon,” she said simply, but she didn’t even spare him a glance as she watched the spineless shopkeeper fumbling with some bits of twine. His anxiety clearly bothered her. “Here, let me help you,” she said, reaching out to steady the stack of books.

“That won’t be necessary, my lady,” he said, sweat beading on his forehead, too afraid to even look up from the books.

“It’s no trouble,” she said cheerfully. “Leon, could you take this?”

“Sure,” he said, taking the mug and watching her curiously. She had my attention as well.

“Thank you so much for all your help. What was your name?” she asked the shopkeeper. Even here, she felt the need to diffuse the situation. And she was quite good at it.

“Stefan Schiesler, my lady. Honored to be of assistance.” He gave her a nervous smile, one that she was quick to return. The sight visibly relaxed him.

“Please, call me Ivetta. You have a wonderful selection here, Mr. Schiesler. Do you do a lot of traveling?”

“Yes, I do. I have a shop in another town, but I like to visit festivals like this to pick up new titles.” His tension was rapidly fading as he focused on the charming young woman in front of him, seemingly forgetting my presence. “Will you be getting anything for yourself, Miss Ivetta?”

She was my maid. There was no reason for me to buy her a gift. And yet, a nearby title caught my eye, a book I already owned, one that I knew she would like.

“This,” I interjected coolly, plucking it from its place and adding it to the counter on an impulse.

She looked up at me, her green eyes wide with surprise. “Thank you, your highness.”

I didn’t look at Leon. I had no answer for the question he undoubtedly had written across his face.

Stefan finished tying the stack with twine and Ivetta stepped back, taking the mug of cider from Leon as I paid. Though still intimidated by me, Stefan’s brief interaction with Ivetta had relaxed him considerably. She had that effect on people most of the time. Although there were many times when I became more tense around her. Like right now, as she and Leon talked casually behind me. I interrupted them as soon as my purchase was complete.

“Black,” I said, dropping the stack of books in his arms as a show of blatant disrespect. If he wanted to be a commoner so badly, then I would treat him like one. “Make yourself useful.”

He took the books with no complaint, his eyes still on Ivetta. I turned my back on them and headed back into the crowd, disgusted by his shameless behavior.

“There’s a food stand right over there,” he was saying to her. “Let’s get something to eat.”

As if I would let him wander off with her.

“May I remind you that she is here to serve me, not to entertain you,” I said condescendingly, and then I heard a child crying, followed by Ivetta’s reassuring voice. Leon and I stopped in our tracks, looking down at her. She was squatting in front of a little boy of about five or six years old.

“Hey there, it’s okay. Did you scrape your knee?” she asked, completely focused on the child.

He nodded, tears streaming down his face. She smoothed his messy straw-colored hair and brushed it back out of his face with a gentle hand.

“Well, I think we can take care of that. My name is Ivetta. What’s your name?”

“R-r-roger,” he blubbered.

“Roger, I think we should get out of the street so I can take a better look at that knee.”

She looked up at Leon and I. “Could somebody take this?” she asked, holding up her mug. I did, too surprised and fascinated by this new development to question my actions.

“Ready to go?” she asked Roger, and he nodded. She scooped him up and carried him through the crowd to an unoccupied bench, his little hands naturally clinging to her as he nestled his face on her shoulder.

“Do you know where your parents are, Roger?” she asked, sitting down and settling him on her lap.

He shook his head, more tears threatening to spill from his gray eyes as she wiped his face clean with her apron.

“Don’t worry,” she continued cheerfully, keeping him distracted while she cleaned his knee. “I’m sure they’re looking for you. In fact, I bet they’re really scared right now, so it’s very important for you to be brave. Do you think you can do that for me?”

“Uh huh,” he said, his eyes wide as he looked up at her.

“Have you ever had apple cider before?” she asked, her green eyes sparkling as they met his.

He shook his head.

“It’s really yummy. I bet you’d like it.” She looked up at Leon and me, and I handed her the mug without a word. “Here, try it.” His little hands gripped the mug, and she steadied it for him as he drank. His face lit up with a smile when he was done.

“See? I thought you’d like it. Now, do you think you can remember where you last saw your parents?”

His smile faltered, and he shook his head. She looked back up, scanning the crowd, her hand automatically assisting Roger as he took another drink of the apple cider. It would be extremely hard to find a pair of complete strangers in the thick crowd, but though the flicker of anxiety in her eyes betrayed her true feelings, she didn’t want to scare him any further.

“Maybe they’re lost and we need to find them,” she said, returning her gaze to him and giving him an encouraging smile. “Do you want to go look?” He nodded, and she set the apple cider on the bench beside her, balancing him on her hip as she stood.

“I can take him, Ivetta,” Leon offered, setting the books down on the bench. Roger looked up at him dubiously, instinctively clutching tightly to Ivetta’s dress.

“This is Leon,” she reassured him with a gentle smile. Roger’s gray eyes left Leon and met hers, totally focused on every word she said. “He’s a lot taller than me, so he’ll have an easier time finding your parents.”

“You can ride on my shoulder,” Leon added, giving Roger a friendly smile. The child glanced back at Leon, but his eyes were quick to return to Ivetta.

“That sounds like fun! What do you say?” she asked excitedly. His eyes lit up, and Roger nodded enthusiastically. His fingers loosened their grasp on her dress as she passed him off to Leon with no further resistance.

“Now, you’ve got to make sure Leon doesn’t get into any trouble,” she said, straightening his shirt as he perched on Leon’s shoulder. “Okay?”

“Okay!” He wore a big smile, all the tears gone as Leon steadied him with a strong arm.

“Then let’s go,” Leon said, walking off into the crowd with him.

She let out a sigh as she watched them go, her smile fading as soon as Roger’s back was turned to her. Her eyes met mine, and she blushed. “Sorry about that, your highness,” she said, looking quickly away as she picked up the books and mug.

What was she sorry about? Neglecting her duties as my personal maid? Even I wasn’t so cold as to remain unaffected by her sudden display of nurturing, compassionate behavior. She hadn’t even stopped to think when the boy appeared, immediately acting in his best interests. But to acknowledge how striking the whole scene had been would put me in the dangerous position of admitting how much more attractive it had made her.

“You forget why you’re here,” I said quietly, a reminder to myself as well as to her. She was here as my maid, my personal attendant, nothing more.

“I did forget, your highness,” she admitted meekly.

I stared at her in silent frustration for a moment. She was beautiful, absolutely beautiful, and I felt a sudden envy for the boy who’d been fortunate enough to receive her attention. The fabric of her dress was still wrinkled where his hands had clutched at her chest, where his knees had gripped her waist. I wanted to touch her, to brush her long black ponytail back over her shoulder, to catch her chin in my hand and make those expressive green eyes look up into mine, to taste those soft pink lips that seemed to always have the right words. The realization startled me, and I turned away quickly.

“Come,” I commanded coldly, leading her back into the crowd, not really sure where I was going. She followed quietly behind me, the deadly siren who invaded my thoughts and forced me to feel unwanted emotions. The food stand Leon had pointed out caught my eye. Her actions deserved some sort of reward. Surely, I could manage that without losing control. I stopped to examine the menu, an array of pastries and desserts found almost exclusively at festivals like this, when suddenly, she stepped very close to me. My pulse sped up without my permission, and I looked down at her sharply, but she wasn’t looking at me at all. Her green eyes scanned the crowd, an unmistakable fear in her tense gaze.

“What is it?” I demanded, glancing around for whomever or whatever was threatening her. Nothing seemed to be amiss. Nobody even seemed to be looking at her.

“Sorry, it’s nothing,” she said quickly, but there was a slight tremor in her voice, and she didn’t look up at me or step away. I followed her nervous gaze again, but again, I could find nothing wrong. Neither could she, I realized, looking back at her. She’d lost whomever she’d seen, and that only frightened her further. Her instinctive response to seek protection near me was surprising, to say the least, but correct. I wasn’t going to allow her to come to harm in my presence.

The sooner I could get that look of terror off of her face, the better. It was an expression that didn’t suit her.

“What do you recommend?” I asked, attempting a simple distraction.

“Oh, um, let me see…” She visibly swallowed, but shifted her attention to the menu. “How sweet do you like your desserts, Prince Chevalier?”

“The funnel cakes are really good,” Leon volunteered, rejoining us and interrupting the illicit thought her innocent question had triggered in me.

“Oh, Leon!” she exclaimed, her remaining tension melting away at the sight of him. “Did you find Roger’s parents?”

He grinned down at her and tousled her hair, likely assuming the anxiety he saw was related to the missing child. “Yeah, I did. And he couldn’t stop talking about the pretty lady who helped him.”

She blushed. “I just didn’t want him to be scared. It can be very frightening to be lost at his age.”

“We’re wasting time,” I interjected sharply. She was speaking from experience, I realized. The thought, combined with the unknown face in the crowd that had such a profound impact on her, bothered me much more than Leon’s flirting.

“Oh, sorry,” she said sheepishly. “We’ll take one funnel cake, please.”

The baker piped the batter in a swirly mess into the hot oil while she watched with childlike fascination, her previous anxiety completely forgotten. I glanced around again, but only Leon and I had eyes on her at the moment.

“Leon, you didn’t tell me how big this would be!” she exclaimed as the baker set the plate on the counter in front of her. “And it’s going to make a huge mess!”

“Festival food is supposed to be messy,” he laughed.

I paid and started walking. Leon may be an annoyance, but she was doubly safe with both of us around her.

“Could you get that?” she asked Leon.

“I’ve got a better idea,” he said. “These are heavier, anyway.”

Taking the books so she could carry the funnel cake. Always the gentleman, Leon. If he had been with us when she’d had her scare, would she have stepped away from me to hide in his shadow, I wondered? Though I noted with some satisfaction her failure to leave my side when he returned.

But her giggling made me glance back at her smiling face.

“I’m not so sure,” she said, staring at the funnel cake in her hands. “But we’re falling behind.”

She had me so distracted that I nearly ran into Clavis’ chestnut horse. I glared up at his laughing golden eyes. Just what I needed. Another brother to flirt with her.

“Well, what do we have here?” he asked, grinning slyly.

“You’re in the way,” I said testily, glancing back as Ivetta came to my side.

“I’ve never seen you on foot at one of these things, Chev. Don’t tell me you’re actually getting into the festival spirit?”

“Lay off, Clavis,” Leon said. “He’s doing something decent for a change. We don’t want to discourage him.” He laughed heartily.

“That’s a lovely smile you’re wearing, Ivetta,” Clavis continued. “I take it you somehow coaxed Chev into coming out here today?”

“I’m only here in an official capacity, Prince Clavis, and I certainly didn’t coax anybody into this,” she replied. I didn’t have to look at her to know she was blushing.

“Then why are you getting treated while Leon carries the books?” Clavis teased.

“Get us a carriage,” I said sharply.

“Not leaving so soon, are you, Chev? Was it something I said?” Clavis asked, feigning hurt.

I had only to turn the full force of my glare on Clavis for an immediate reaction, but I also punctuated it with another statement. “Unless you’d rather I commandeer your horse.”

“Alright, alright, I’m going,” he said with a dramatic sigh.

I started walking again, and Ivetta and Leon followed in silence until I brought us to a stop in front of a bench. I turned and looked pointedly at her.

“If you’re going to eat that, do so now.”

“Me?” she asked, her green eyes widening in surprise once again.

I smirked. It was never intended for me.

“You don’t expect me to make a fool of myself with that thing.”

Leon’s arm wrapped around her shoulders, much to my dismay.

“Don’t question him, Ivetta. Just enjoy it,” he said, sitting down and pulling her with him. “You’re gonna share, right?”

She looked doubtfully down at the monstrosity in her lap.

“I don’t see how I can eat all of it by myself.”

He set the books down and grabbed a piece, powdered sugar dusting the front of his black shirt.

“Don’t mind if I do.”

I sighed, irritated. It was annoying enough to see him following her around like a lovesick puppy, but I couldn’t tolerate him putting his hands on her. I sat down on her other side and shoved his hand off of her before I took a piece as well.

“Not as good as the Showoff’s, but adequate for festival fare,” I commented, shooting Leon a glare over her head.

“Okay, let me have some, though,” she said, oblivious to Leon’s advances and my ire. She took a bite, a look of sheer ecstasy crossing her face. “Mm, this is so good.”

How many expressions did she have?

She was covered in powdered sugar when the carriage arrived, her fingers sticky with the melted sugar.

“Oh, I knew this would make a huge mess,” she moaned, giggling as she licked her fingers. “Maybe I should wash off in the fountain.”

Of course, Clavis returned just in time to hear that comment.

“Ooh, are we dunking Ivetta in the fountain?” he teased. “I claim first dibs!”

I shot him a glare as I stood up.

“Alright, Chev gets first dibs,” he said, shrugging nonchalantly. “But I’m second.”

I boarded the carriage, hoping she would follow quickly. Her giggle, her smile, the way her eyes sparkled - everything about her was like a magnet to any man in sight.

“It’s no use,” I heard her complain. “I’m just going to have to get cleaned up and change when we get back.”

“I’ve changed my mind,” Clavis announced. “Chev can dip you in the fountain, and I’ll help you change.”

“Prince Clavis!” she exclaimed.

I grit my teeth, my hand wandering toward the hilt of my sword. Too much more of this, and Clavis would see my blade.

“Knock it off, Clavis,” Leon intervened. “Here. You’d better get going before Jin shows up.”

He stood outside the carriage door, offering her a hand up. She took it, but then his other hand tousled her hair roughly.

“Hey!” she protested, raising her hands protectively.

“You said you’ll have to get cleaned up, anyway,” he teased.

She didn’t reply as she took her seat across from me, smiling shyly as he handed up the books. The urge to taste her lips came over me again, even stronger when she absentmindedly licked the powdered sugar off of them, and I tore my gaze away from her to look at Leon. His amber eyes were fixed on her, too.

“Now you kids behave yourselves,” he said with a smirk, though he didn’t look at me once before he shut the door.

Easier said than done, especially in an enclosed space with her very much within my reach.