I'm having a perfectly pleasant dream when something snaps me away from it. I push the distraction away and turn back over, trying to find the thread of sleep again. But it keeps bothering me.
"Adelaide. Wake up." By now I'm awake enough to feel the weight on me, and I kick and shove at it grumpily. It disappears and I settle back down.
But it just won't leave me alone, and I'm getting closer and closer to the unpleasant world of the waking. "Adelaide. You'll be upset if you sleep this long. Come on."
"Mmmnoooo…" I grumble, looking for the source of the voice. Oh, right, that's Adrian.
"Should I be more gentle?" Something soft presses against my mouth. That's fine. It's not noisy. I can go back to sleep this way.
Wait. I crack open my eyes and see Adrian's face hovering over me, looking perfectly pleased with himself. "Did you just…?"
His sunny smile is more than enough answer, and now I'm grumpy for a different reason. I sit up slowly and give him my best glare. "Why did you do that. You...fairytale prince."
Adrian giggles and pokes my nose. "Well, it worked, didn't it? Also, you think of me as a prince?"
"Well," I yawn and stretch, trying to shake away my drowsiness. "You look like one, act like one, and even dress like one, but…"
"But?" I'm struck by his expectant expression. It looks...cute.
"But you're much better than a two-dimensional character," I tell him, and give him a kiss on the cheek. "Good morning. Sorry for attacking you, but I am glad you woke me."
"Ohhh, Adelaide, you're too sweet!" he cries, bowling me over. "Besides, it's not like you could actually hurt me."
I raise my eyebrows at him. "Oh, I'm pretty sure I can."
He immediately flushes, and I can't help but burst out laughing. "It's so nice not being on the receiving end!" I cry, taking his face in my hands. "No wonder you guys are always doing this!"
"Keep this up and I'll kiss you again," he teases with a grin, and we both freeze. I really want to. Suddenly I can't take my eyes off of his lips. I wasn't really awake the first time, and I wonder how his lips would feel.
We sit there for a few more heartpounding seconds. He doesn't make a move. At last the silence is broken by my stomach grumbling loudly. I finally tear my eyes away from him, embarrassment creeping up my cheeks. "I...need breakfast…" I say, trying to calm my whirling thoughts.
"Of course," Adrian's hand on my head is gentle, and he smiles at me softly. "Let's get you dressed, then."
Since my thrall dress is still unwashed, I wear the black would-be maid dress again, though without the petticoat. The extra feeling of safety was nice, but all those layers were awfully hot.
On the way to the main room, I find myself wondering again why he would bring something like this to what he thought was a vacation. "You know, Adrian, I'm grateful you happened to have it, but why on earth would you anticipate having someone to wear this?"
"Hmmm? What do you mean? It's mine."
My eyes widen in realization, and I find myself imagining things I shouldn't.
Adrian sees my blushing face and winks. "I'd be more than happy to wear just the apron for you, dear," he teases.
I squeeze my eyes shut as the image immediately comes to mind. "No, uh, I don't need it!" I sputter, half-running to the kitchen. Dante, Virgil, and Lucien's heads follow me as I go, and I can't relax until I'm out of sight.
I really am getting myself into quite the situations here. Why wasn't I more careful? Because I didn't want to be, I know, but I should be. Is it too late now?
I can hear them talking in the main room - probably regaling everyone with the story of this morning - but I concentrate on my breakfast. I might as well make drinks for everyone while I'm here.
I place everything on the tea cart as I wait for the water: Dante's pu'erh, sencha for Virgil, Turkish-style coffee for Lucien - with plenty of sugar on the side - and Assam black tea for Adrian, unless he wants the coffee instead. I'll just take whatever's left.
Back in the main room, I pour them their drinks, doing my best to disappear into the background. But the conversation slowly peters out as they all turn their attention to me. When I sit back down, I feel my face heating up at their combined gazes. They all look mildly surprised, or confused, but I can't fathom why.
Finally, Adrian speaks up. "I appreciate the hospitality, Adelaide, but...you don't need to act so servile."
"Why not?" chuckles Dante. "I don't mind."
"No, it's boring," replies Lucien.
Dante turns his dark eyes back to me. "True. It doesn't leave much opportunity to do anything interesting, does it?"
"It's depressing, watching you act like that," complains Virgil.
"It's normal, is what it is," I reply slowly. "Why are you all suddenly so put off by it? This isn't something new."
"True, but…" Adrian seems at a loss for words.
"Adelaide." Lucien speaks up. "Are you trying to put up walls?" His golden eyes capture mine.
….I guess I am. My goal is supposedly equality, yet here I am acting like a servant again.
"To be honest," I begin, "It's mostly just habit. But yes, I guess I am, unconsciously."
Adrian pulls me down to sit next to him, and I sigh. "I am happy that you all find it strange now. Really happy, actually…" I look away bashfully. "But…"
"But what?" asks Virgil, scooting closer to me. "Can't you just be happy?"
"It's probably best I don't break this habit if I want to get out of here," I mumble.
Virgil just stares at me blankly. "I don't understand. What does servitude have to do with getting out?"
Dante replies for me. "Everything, I'd wager."
Virgil turns his stare to Dante, now turning accusatory. "You're just saying that because you want her to be."
Everyone just stares at him in silence. "What," he scoffs, "You all really think they'd give her up forever? Over something so trivial?"
His pale red eyes turn back to me, and his face changes as he realizes. "Right….they would." He strokes my face. "They would throw you away just so they don't have to think about it any longer."
"What, did you just assume she'd stay by your side forever?" asks Lucien teasingly.
"No!" he retorts, then looks away. "Well, I did think that I could just take her home with me afterwards," he adds sheepishly. "I forgot how petty the council can be."
"What makes you think you'd get to keep her?" pouts Adrian, pulling me into a protective embrace.
"No one gets to keep me!" I huff, pushing his arms away, but Dante's deep voice breaks in.
"That is exactly what we are supposed to break you of."
I sag forward. "Right…"
"I see." I look up to see Virgil's now-familiar slightly demented gaze. "You need to be broken."
"Not...actually…" I reply hesitantly. I can see Lucien's shoulders shaking with laughter.
Virgil nods. "Right. I can do that. I'll teach you…" he murmurs, stroking my face thoughtfully.
I meet his gaze back. He's right. He may not like other people much, but he has a remarkable understanding of how they work.
Adrian pulls me protectively into his arms, away from Virgil, but Virgil just follows me as I'm pulled back. "How a broken Adelaide would act…" He smiles. "I can't wait."
"Well, you'll have to," shoots Adrian, yanking me away to the other side.
"Ughhh, Adrian…" I groan at the pressure on my still-empty stomach. "Too much force."
"Sorry," he apologizes lightly, smiling and picking up my fork. "Say ahhh~"
"I'll eat myself," I grumble, reaching for the fork, but he pulls it away.
"Ah, ah ah~ Aren't you supposed to be practicing obedience?" Adrian says with a grin.
"Th-that's-" I feel myself flush. "That's backwards."
"Come on, it wouldn't be the first time I've fed you," he teases. "Now open up."
"I agree," says Lucien, stifling his laughter. "Obedience is obedience."
I stubbornly reach for the fork, but he easily holds me back.
"I thought you had no pride," says Dante pointedly. I can feel his challenging gaze without even looking.
"....Fine," I mumble. "You'll get tired of the novelty eventually," I say, turning back to Adrian.
"Hmmm, hmmm, maybe," he hums, holding out the fork again. "Now open up~"
Adrian's enjoying himself immensely, thanks in no small part to my red cheeks, I'm sure, but eventually I just get frustrated by how slow it is.
"For fuck's sake," I plead. "Just let me eat so I can do something else already." He finally relents, and I can somewhat finish my food in peace.
"Before you go," Virgil catches at my skirt as I stand. "You and Adrian should rehearse together today."
"That's a lovely idea!" claps Adrian. "That reminds me, I had an idea for our big scene."
Virgil's eyes sparkle. "Yes? What is it?"
"Well," he begins, "That second scene together is like a montage, right? Asking, relenting, asking, relenting. Don't you think that would go well with a dance?"
"Yes!" Virgil grips Adrian's shoulders. "That's a great idea. You can come up with the routine, but you'll need to show me so I can adjust it."
"Of course," winks Adrian. "We'll be in the music room, then." He takes my hand and pulls me down the hall, brimming with energy.
His enthusiasm is catching, and I find myself smiling as he rushes about, choosing the music, setting up the player, and arranging the "props" just so. "Are you prepared for sore toes, Adrian?" I tease. "I've never tried partner dancing in my life."
"Sore toes is but a small price to pay," he replies gleefully, sweeping me up from my seat. "I've been wanting to dance with you for a long time."
Adrian begins with the basic steps, much simpler than Lucien's dance. Forward, sweep, together, back, sweep, together. Once I start doing it consistently, he mirrors his steps to mine.
"There, that's it," he smiles, taking my hand and pulling me close. "Now, try not to look at your feet. Just remember the pattern. Put your hands here, yes. And look at me."
I knew his face was close, but when I look up, my focus immediately zeroes in on his lips and I immediately lose the steps as I flush. When I look down to regain myself, he pulls my chin back up.
"Don't look down," he chides. "You won't have to break that habit if you never begin."
I nod and focus on the collar of his shirt for now. He's surprisingly strict. We stay in one place for a little while, building the muscle memory, and eventually he starts guiding me around the room. I stumble, but he holds me up so I can find my feet again every time.
Little by little, I relax and let him do all the work.
"There, there," he purrs. "That's it." He starts moving a little faster, and I start stumbling again. "You have to let me control you," he murmurs into my ear. I feel myself blush, but he's too busy concentrating to make a comment. "I know, it's hard to surrender control," he says, "but it's how we reach synchronicity."
I try to ignore my pounding heart and just concentrate on mirroring my steps to his. After a few rounds around the room, I finally feel comfortable, and start to speak up, when-
"Princess, shy princess, take my hand for a dance?" Adrian's smiling amiably down at me.
Right. The play. I give him my best gracious nod.
"Princess, fair princess, would you show me your smile?"
I do, and whisks me into the air for half a moment before returning to the waltz.
"Princess, sweet princess, won't you give me a kiss?"
I give him a little kiss on the cheek, and his smile widens. Ahh, the next line...
"Princess, dear princess, like a lover would?" He lets me out into a spin, and pulls me back, waiting patiently with just the tiniest smile.
Well, I suppose I'll have to later...I screw my eyes shut in embarrassment and lean in to give him a little peck on the lips, and he returns to the dance, smiling victoriously.
"Adrian, you-" But he shushes me with a finger to my lips.
"Ah, ah. The Nettle Princess can't speak," he murmurs, and continues with the next line. "Princess, lovely princess, warm my bed for the night?" He dips me low, until my back is almost parallel to the ground.
I think for a moment, then realize exactly how to respond. I surrender the entirety of my weight to him, and put down one arm to lower myself to the ground and use the other to pull his head to my shoulder. Adrian follows suit and sinks slowly to the ground with me in his arms. We lie there for a moment, feeling victorious in the scene, until his excitement bubbles over and he squeezes me with a cry of delight. "That was perfect!"
I giggle back. "Yes, that worked out strangely well," I reply, pushing his hair away from his face. We stare at each other for a few seconds again. "Oh, goddammit," I huff, giving in. I pull his face to mine and give him a solid kiss on the mouth. He squeezes me in surprise but responds in kind, pressing into me.
Finally, he releases me with a smile. "I knew that would work."
"Oh, shut up," I pout, but I can feel my face glowing.
"Well, now I don't want to dance anymore," he says, smiling slyly.
"Hmmm, too bad," I reply, pushing him away. "You'll have to earn it. We'll keep rehearsing, all of the scenes."
"Fine," he pouts, but it's not a real pout. He's still glowing with victory, and we thoroughly enjoy ourselves as we rehearse for the play. Virgil will be delighted.