Neil placed himself at the corner of the bed. He stared at the blondie for quite some time, but enough to the point he don't even realize that Eric is smirking at him. "Take a picture. It'll last longer." He said, holding back a laugh.
Neil rolled his eyes. "Whatever." Eric chuckled. "What makes you come here? Boredom?" He teased. Neil growled darkly. "You're such a teaser today." And the King laughed. "Well?" Eric asked after miraculously manage to gain oxygen for his poor lungs. "Why did you do that?" Eric furrowed his eyebrows. "Did what?"
Huffing, Neil crossed his arms. "You know what I'm talking about. The rumor that spread wildly with no stopping. Is it true? You chose me as your personal bodyguard?" Silence filled the air as Neil looked at Eric in the most deadliest stare he could.
Eric yawned. Earning a frown from Neil.
"THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE SLEEPY,ERIC!" He half-yelled, earning an eye rolling from Eric. "Well, sorry! Being a king is very tiresome!" Neil huffed. "Eric....serious." He said in a low tone, sending chills down Eric's spine. Eric sat up straight. "F-Fine..." He sighed, relieving his own nerves.
"Yes, I did chose you as my personal guard." Strangling a young King sounds very tempting to Neil right now. "Why?" He asked, curious. "Because of the laws, I am not supposed to tell you this unless you've accepted. So you did not hear this from me.." Eric said nonchalantly. How is that an attitude of a king, Neil don't know..
But it's quite understandable, given that he have known Eric since he was like what? five?
With a deep breath, Eric look at Neil exactly in his eyes, breaking through his irises and all the way to his soul. Despite his gentle eyes, the atmosphere turns quite tense. "As you know, I'm making these moves to ensure the peace within Arkivians. And that is by either annihilating the criminals or forcing them to do their business quietly without harming this kingdom and it's people. Because of that, my neck become the target of those who seek revenge. What I need is, somebody who could be my shield while I swing my sword. Anytime and anywhere. And you...you are well-suited. the fact that you've known me well is a bonus."
Eric leaned backward a little, waiting for any response. Neil, he didn't move even a little. His breath is still steady and far from hitching, but his heart is running hundreds of thousands miles per hour. Seeing no response, Eric continue to justify his action. "You are skillful, suited as the adopted son of an experienced Royal General, multi-talented and alert of your surrounding. You also know how to keep a calm face even when things started to get distorted. I need someone like you to protect me."
Silence take over completely.
To say that he wasn't flustered is a total lie. But Neil could sense that there's something more than that. Something more than just being a shield. "What is it? there's something else you about to tell me, isn't it?" He straight forwardly asked.
Eric shift uncomfortably in his position. Neil and him has been friends ever since his dad found him in the forest, which is long ago. Saying what he want to say make him feels like he is using Neil. He averted his gaze from Neil.
"Eric, you have to tell me." He insisted. After a couple more minute, Eric sighed. "while you were being my guard, you also have to stay by my side, always. helping me with things and help take care of Amelia. Simply, you become my very much Personal Assistant while being my bodyguard. I don't want to tell you this yet but well....you insisted."
Neil take a sharp breath. He knew that there's something else. "what about your current Personal Assistant?" Eric sighed again. "He won't stay here for long. He told me that he gonna quit around next month and return back to his village to accompany his mother. His brother passed away so there's nobody to take care of the mother."
Eric really feels like he's using Neil but He really need someone who knows him well to work with him. And Neil fit all the categories just right. Beside....
Neil is really good with kids.
As much as he wanted to ask the Queen herself to make more time for Amelia, that is just plainly impossible. She loves Amelia, but that doesn't mean she would trade her habit for the young Princess.
Eric apparently was too busy with his monologue that he didn't realize it's been 5 minutes since the conversation. And Neil didn't say a word.
which is... terrifying, if you ask.
" Look, I know that you're mad. I mean, this have been made without you knowing. But I promise you, it will not happen if you don't want it to happen. beside...," Eric bit his lip.
"nobody should've known. apparently someone can't keep their mouth shut. I'm sorry if your day was ruined because of that." He sighed apologetically. But to his wonder, Neil still remains silent.
Eric took a glance to the red haired knight, wondering what might be occupying the slightly tanned fighter's mind. Really, compare to Neil's skin, his skin is much more paler.
It's not as if he didn't have any sword training or whatever, it's just Neil's job is more to the field and his is more inside the castle, resulting Neil to have more exposure to sun than him.
Not like he hated it though, Neil rocked the tan.
a low cough caught on his attention. Neil's face remain plain. " If I agree, that means I would become your personal guard and assistant, am I right?" Eric nodded, not hiding anything anymore.
After giving it some more thoughts, he made up his mind. "Fine,sure. I'll take the job." He said, sound nonchalant. Eric stare deep into his amber eyes.
"You..sure? that seems like a hassle to you." Neil rolled his eyes. "Yes,my dear Majesty. I am one hundred percent sure. Beside, which knight would reject an offer to accompany their King anywhere?" He asked, knowing exactly the answer.
Eric nod slowly. "well, we're going to make that announcement and make it official in three days, so...stay tune." Neil shrugged. "alright."
If this is the rumor that people keep on talking about, then Neil could understand why.
Not everyone could get such job. accompanying the King, protect him anywhere, and help him out with his daily routine. Sounds tiring but thrilling at the same time.
and sounds like a raise in salary as well.
Neil smile slightly at the thought. When he looked back, Eric already laid on his side, snuggling under the blanket, ready to sleep.
" Close the window when you finally done with whatever imagination you have in mind." The blonde king said, right before drifting to sleep. Neil scoffed, getting up.
He throw himself outside of the window and close it tight. If the guards on parol actually sees him, they don't do anything about that.He quickly run back to his barrack, and went straight to bed.
the moment he touch the bed, his eyes closed. Now people would say he also drift to sleep. he don't. Instead...
Neil's eyes shot open. looking to his side, he realised he's in his room. His bag is on the floor and his blanket tangled around his body.
great. he's at reality.
yawning and rubbing the hell out of his poor innocent eyes, Neil get up and heads to the bathroom,washing his face. apparently doing so remind him about his new knight task and that got him smiling.
After caught himself smiling like an idiot for like 5 minutes, Neil heads out and walk all the way to the living room. His mom is watching a doctor's movie.
"Good evening, honey! did you finish all your homeworks?" she asked. Neil stared at her dumbfounded. "what homeworks?" he asked back.
His mom stares at him like he have two branches as his horns on top of his head. "The... homeworks that you said you'll be doing when my friend was over?" She slowly said, eyeing him.
'SHIT! I FORGOT ABOUT IT!!' Neil internally scolded himself. He did have lots of homeworks but he didn't do a single one of them! he go to sleep instead.
"Neil?" His mom's voice rang in his ears. "urmm...still got plenty." he answered,try to act as casual as possible. only for his mom to Stare deep into him. Cold sweat breaks out on his forehead.
His mom laughed.
"Huh?" Neil tilted his head in confusion. "Neil! don't try to lie.. I went up to your room like an hour ago. You were sleeping like a baby!" She said. Neil bit his lip in embarrassment. "Sorry mom..." He whispered.
"To think you would rather sleep than sharing your favourite food while socialising.. you better not lying to me next time young man." His mom warned.
Neil frantically nodded. Not wanting his mom to become mad. The lady sigh. "You should finish your homeworks. For real,this time." She suggested.
And she's right. If he don't want to go to school looking like a zombie, he should start now and sleep early. So he dashed to his room, grabbed his bag and start doing his homework.