"You can't keep avoiding me forever Trixie," Emerick called after her. "Eventually you're going to have to clue me in about what's going on!"
She ignored him, as she had been for days, and propelled herself away from the irksome man as fast as her legs could carry her. Ever since her fight with Titus, everything had spiraled out of control, and she was nearly certain it was Emerick's doing. Not one of her family members were listening to her, and some were flat out ignoring whatever she had to say. Sure, she was still new to this whole home making bit, but that didn't make it alright for them to outright mutiny!
'I don't see why you're taking it out on him,' Lamya yawned. 'He hasn't done anything wrong.'
"To hell he hasn't!" Trixie growled. She thought back on the sass Sullivan had given her only a few days prior. Normally, he was one of the most obedient in her flock, eager to help and content not to stir up trouble.
"I want to be a butler," He had stated boldly and shamelessly when she demanded an explanation for why he'd blown of some chore she'd assigned him to tail Jacoby. "I see what he does to keep the grounds running, and I want to be able to do it too. Who else will? Besides, I'm a big boy and I can make my own decisions."
The thought made her blood boil, as did Jacoby's small smile at Sullivan's declaration. The bunny butler hadn't said one thing or another as she and Sullivan quibbled, but he hadn't needed to. His posture and expression spoke for him clearly enough.
'How is Sullivan's rebellion Emerick's fault?' Lamya questioned.
"He put him up to it! I know he did!" Trixie seethed. "He went back on his word, and I'm going to make sure he knows I won't stand for it!"
'What part did he go back on exactly?' Lamya questioned, feigning ignorance. 'Sorry, that contract was so detailed I forget the particulars.'
"That bastard swore he'd let me run things how I saw fit!" Trixie exclaimed. "He swore that he'd stay out of our family business, that he'd let me handle things my way!"
'What makes you think he hasn't stayed out of it?' Lamya questioned. Trixie was growing increasingly annoyed at the demon's amusement. Sometimes she felt Lamya treated her life like some kind of ongoing play to watch and enjoy at her leisure.
"How could he be so buddy-buddy with Titus all of a sudden if he had?" Trixie pointed out. "Then there's Rathus! They started working together behind my back!"
'From what I understand, Rathus was the one who approached him,' Lamya countered. 'And didn't you technically kick Titus out?'
"He still agreed to work with them!" Trixie stubbornly insisted. "And I'm certain he put the others up to it too!"
'As I recall, there was nothing in that very, very extensive document that forbade him from communicating with the rest of your family,' Lamya pointed out, 'and most of them work with Jacoby as they're not comfortable confronting Emerick. You can't do everything yourself, and they see that. Isn't it in a family's nature to look out for each other?'
"Oh shut up," Trixie snapped, though some part of her knew Lamya was right. In the past, everyone, even the littlest of the kids contributed to helping the family.
There were a few indiscernible grumbles, but otherwise Lamya quieted down as requested. Trixie was thankful to be left to her own thoughts… more or less. While the demon had brought up a few fair points she would have to consider, Trixie was still furious with Emerick and the situation in the estate as a whole. Intentionally or not, he was still meddling and she didn't like it. Not one bit.
In her fury, she was paying very little attention to what was going on around her. Without realizing it, she shoved past Sullivan, knocking him into Jacoby as they prepared to approach the front door. She failed to hear little Owen call out in warning before she threw the door wide open. She had harbored every intention of slamming it behind her, but froze when she found herself staring at very expensive clothe covering an intimidatingly broad chest. Startled, she let her eyes travel upward to meet the steady gaze of none other than King Arnwald, the sky tyrant.
"You're rather underdressed for a butler," He noted in surprise.
Trixie colored as she realized she was standing in front of the regional ruler in nothing but booty shorts and a revealing tank top. To make matters worse, she was completely frozen in place. At the very least she knew she should've bowed, or curtsied or something. How did a person even perform a curtsy? Perhaps she should've been more attentive to the few lessons she'd taken from Hilda.
"Beg your pardon Lord Arnwald," Jacoby bowed slightly as he spoke. "Miss Trixie is not a butler, she simply intercepted my path to the door."
"Ah," Arnwald's startled expression settled into a broad grin. She noted that he looked suspiciously similar to Emerick.
'Are you seriously telling me you still don't know who Emerick is?' Lamya exclaimed rather loudly in her head. Trixie could practically see the demon face palming, even though she didn't currently have a physical form. 'You live on the fucking palace grounds for crying out loud! The regent's castle is visible from your balcony!'
Trixie couldn't answer her. As dots started connecting in her head, all she could do was stand and gape and the most beloved and most feared man in the region. The two had the same silver eyes, the same unruly dark steel and icy blue hair, and even the same insufferable crooked smile. The only difference was the goatee the dragon lord sported.
"Well, well," Arnwald chuckled as he turned to Jacoby, Sullivan, and Owen. Numbly, Trixie realized the later two had prostrated themselves completely before the tyrant. Like her, they seemed overwhelmed by the powerful aura the man exuded, though they at least had the sense to bow. "I appreciate the effort, but how are you useful on the ground like that?"
"Forgive me sir!" Sullivan blubbered, muffled somewhat by the ground his face was pressed so hard against it. "We are forever indebted to your son and Master Jacoby, but I remain a fool. I have no idea how to conduct myself before such greatness!"
"You could start by getting to your feet," Jacoby reprimanded him gentle and helped him up. "As Lord Arnwald said, you are no good to him groveling at his feet like a beggar. Remember, a slight bow is all you need to convey your respect and acknowledgement to his power." He demonstrated the proper form as he spoke, which Sullivan and Owen each mimicked quickly. "Yes, very good."
"I see you have your hands full," Arnwald said with a smile. "I take it these youngsters are from that institute?"
"Indeed," Jacoby nodded. "Young Sullivan and Owen have both taken it upon themselves to train as butlers. There is a third, Erick, but he is currently helping a few of the other children in the yard."
"I see," Arnwald turned to Trixie. "And who might this lovely young lady be?"
Trixie heard them talking, but she really wasn't processing what they were saying, so she failed to realize when attention returned to her. She was still stuck on what Sullivan had said. "Your son." Emerick. Emerick was Arnwald's son. She had been fucking around with the son of the King.