Tuttle
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There is a specific way master Vandel prefers his tea. He'll only drink it if there's exactly two scoops of sugar so I'm always careful to get the measurement exactly right.
I glanced now to a fellow servant, a maid, Hetty. She was currently making Vandel's bed as I refilled his nightly cup of tea. The previous cup had already gone cold.
I stared her, trying to ignore the pins and needles of my nerves. "He's out rather late tonight, isn't he?" I offhandedly remarked, hoping my anxiety wouldn't show in my voice.
"He'll be back," she grumbled.
I stiffened. "He missed his evening tea. That almost never happens. What if he was captured by the humans or attacked by a monster..."
"He'll be fine," Hetty replied flatly. "He always is. He's like a cockroach in that respect."
I frowned at her. "He is your prince. How dare you refer to him like that!"
Hetty just gave a little shrug. "Sorry, a well dressed cockroach."
As if on cue, there was a sudden sound of feet striking the windowsill before Vandel slipped through the window, butt naked, into the room.
Hetty immediately averted her gaze.
Vandel was casually munching on a piece of bread as he stepped through. I rushed to grab him black, silken robe. As I held it out, he slipped it on with only a little nod.
"How was your trip, my lord?" I asked meekly.
Vandel smirked at me, running a hand through his dark hair. "Enlightening." He picked up the teacup from the side table before sinking down into the large velvet arm chair resting by the fireplace. He brought the glass to his lips, the dancing flames reflected back in his pitch black eyes. "The humans should be here soon."
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Vandel
*************
A day later, an extremely loud screech from my violin sent Tuttle scurrying over to me, his head bowed.
"Sire," he said quickly. "Perhaps you should consider taking a short break from your lessons today because uh..."
I turned to glare at him, the violin still tucked under my chin.
Scowling, I pointed my bow at him accusingly. "Are you trying to suggest I sound bad? Is that why you're asking me to stop?"
Tuttle turned ashen, shaking his bald head frantically. "No, no, no, no, sire. You sound like a dove! Like a songbird on the strings! Like a...a...um...what I meant to say is...the only reason you might wish to stop is because I have just received word that the Alterian knights are approaching the castle."
"WHAT?!?" I practically chucked my violin across the room. "I didn't think they would be here for a few more hours!!! I'm not properly dressed yet! I've had my outfit planned for this for days! Uuugh, this is the worst! I'm going to have to cut my morning exfoliation routine in half!"
I dashed out of the chamber as fast as I could, skidding around a corner before finally sliding into my bedroom. Damn, I had been looking forward to this confrontation all week. I couldn't blow it because I miscalculated their arrival date.
I snapped my fingers, causing my chosen outfit to fly from the large mahogany closet that took up nearly half the wall. I slid off the ensemble I was currently wearing before holding out my arms, allowing the magic to slip my new clothes onto me. Gold silken ribbons laced the garment up behind my back as if done so by an invisible hand.
I made my way to the mirror now, fixing my hair so it fell just so—just the way I liked it. I gave my reflection a little wink before I dashed to the throne room, quickly plopping myself down in the large throne that sat at it's center. I then proceeded to strike the most menacing and suave pose I could think of.
A guard turned to look at me, appearing rather concerned. "My liege...are you feeling alright? Your face looks a bit..."
I glared at him and his face instantly went ashen, the words dying before they even left his mouth.
"Finish your sentence," I said dryly.
"Err...a bit odd my liege."
"This is my intimidation face!" I snapped. "Obviously if you had actually read the pamphlet I sent out to the royal guards over a month ago, you would have seen that on page five it says a good intimidation face is one of the main attributes of a menacing demon."
"I-I'm sorry, my liege," the guard stammered. "I must have missed that part."
"It's okay," I replied, sharply. "I'm holding a seminar for the castle staff next week. You can come to that."
Honestly, I live in a palace surrounded by idiots. Sighing heavily I resumed my pose.
"How long are you going to hold that?" the guard meekly asked.
"Till however long it takes those stupid knights to get here."