Amina awoke with her head spinning from the dream she had about a black knight without a soul and a mutated panthera attacking her. She rubbed roughly at her eyes that snapped open when she realized she had not awoken on the cold, hard ground of the Forbidden Forest in her lean-to, but a warm, fluffy bed. Amina leaped up, tangling herself in the heavy covers and slamming hard to the marble floor beneath the bed. Amina groaned in pain as she tried to untangle her legs and make her escape from wherever she was but then she heard the distinct noise of a handle turning and a door opening.
"Good mor—" the maid started, stopping midway as she realized the guest that should still be in bed was instead looking up at her, a mess of white curly hair tangled in the bedding on the floor. The maid stifles a giggle as she rushed to help untangle the poor maiden and helped her up from the floor right as Nero strode in, his distinct heavy footsteps halting as he knocked on the open door.
"Is she awa—oh, good morning. Once she's dressed, please escort her to the first reception room," he requested politely, attempting and failing to not scare the maid. Nero bowed politely but left looking amused at her disheveled appearance as he quietly closed the door behind him.
"I'm sorry but... Who is he? And... where am I?" Amina inquired as the maid left her standing awkwardly as she rushed to make the bed.
"You mean you don't know," the maid asked in disbelief, leading her to an attached washroom and preparing a bath with deft hands.
"No...?" Should she? According to the maid's tone, it was almost unbelievable she didn't. But Amina wasn't a normal citizen, she lived alone in the Forbidden Forest for goodness sakes, she didn't keep up with the town gossip or really care to. The maid shook her head as she finished preparing a bath and reached to take off Amina's dress. Amina fumbled, quickly spitting out that she could bathe on her own, thanked her for her help, and led her out through the door they came, closing it behind her. Amina laid her head against the cold wood, taking a deep breath before she turned to face the tub and the decision of whether or not to actually get in it. She sighed as she took off her dress, surmising that the maid would most likely come back in to make her or be disciplined if she didn't. Plus, her dress was covered in blood and she did feel sick and sticky from it.
Her muscles finally relaxed as she sunk into the tub, her pale skin contrasting against the bright flowers and oils the maid had streamed into her bath. Amina wanted to stay in the tub for hours but decided it was best not to make the soulless knight wait, quickly submerging and washing herself before regretfully leaving the now dirtied water. Somehow the maid had snuck in and taken her dress, leaving a silken red one in its place. Amina sighed, deciding it was clean and better to wear it than wear nothing. Amina blushed as she saw herself in the mirror, this dress was far too expensive for someone as lackluster as herself.
Amina turned away from the mirror when she heard a soft knock at the door, figuring the maid had returned she swung the door open to allow her inside, but she was met with an enormous, black-clad knight staring down at her.
"Y-you're back?" Amina stuttered as Nero walked through the door uninvited and without a word. Nero sat down at the table, gesturing for her to join him. She hesitated, wanting to sprint out the door instead, but looking at his long legs she knew she had a chance in hell to beat him down the hall, much less outside. Amina sighed, closing the door and making her way to the only other chair, pulling it out herself. Nero shot out of his chair, his ears a deep shade of red, saying "Sorry, not used to being around women. Let me get that for you. Sorry." Amina giggled at his awkward posture as he pulled the chair out further for her then pushing it in so she could actually reach the table. Nero took his seat one more, his body barely fitting even in the giant, overstuffed chairs of the fancy room she was in. Amina wanted to giggle again but held it in seeing his ears still a slight shade of pink from the chair fiasco. His cute fumbling helped her relax ever so slightly as she waited for him to explain why he had come back to her room so soon.
"Uh, sorry for scaring you the other day. I didn't mean to—I mean, I didn't mean to scare you. Or get blood on you. But, well, the beast would have killed you otherwise and I had to get rid of it or it woulda—would've—hurt you," Nero explained, grasping his neck with his hand as he explained while avoiding eye contact altogether. This giant, black knight didn't seem so terrifying anymore. Although, there was still fear lingering as she looked past him to his empty body without a soul. Amina cast her eyes downward as to not stare, grasping her hands together tightly as she answered.
"Th-thank you for saving me. The panthera... he wasn't normal. The animals have never attacked me. I've lived there my whole life, they are all very gentle and kind, protective even... His soul was..."
"His soul?" Nero inquired, quirking a brow at her. Amina wanted to curse herself, she didn't mean to let that slip.
"I-I mean his manner. His, uh, how he acted, I mean. Not his souls, of course, no one can see souls," she sputtered, laughing nervously. She had always been a terrible liar and her hands shook as she prayed he would buy it. Judging from the way his eyes narrowed, she doubted it. She tried to distract him by asking a question.
"Um! Who are you? And where am I?" She held her breath as she waited for his answer, pleading with the heavens that he wouldn't ask any more of her.
"My name is Nero, my official title is the commander of the Black Knights. I protect his highness, the crown prince, Oro."
Amina immediately began to tremble in fear. She had heard stories of him, the common folk called him the black demon, the demon knight, spawn of the devil. He was renowned for his skills in using any and every weapon, being able to defeat any man, even the King, in a duel. She glanced at him to see the weapons hanging from his body and shook even more as she counted just how many ways he could kill her.
Nero ground his teeth in frustration when she began to tremble. He despised revealing who he was, as this was the immediate reaction. He was tired of scaring people he didn't want to scare. He softened his face and voice to reassure her, saying, "You don't need to be afraid. I will not hurt you." He laid his hands on the table to show her he had no weapons in them.
Amina immediately stopped, her body relaxing inexplicably. She looked up at him, seeing a deep sadness in his eyes and guilt settled heavily in her chest for judging him so quickly from mere rumors. She would hate to be judged based on the rumors about her, too. She found herself reaching and placing a hand atop his before she knew what she was doing. His rough hand dwarfed hers but it was warm and reassuring.
"I apologize for being afraid based solely on rumors. I would hate to be judged based on the rumors circulating about me yet here I am judging you. Forgive me," she finished, squeezing his hand lightly before letting go. Nero wanted to reach for her small hand again but stopped himself short. He cleared his throat before smiling slightly and jokingly asking what rumors could possibly be going around about her but her face darkened as he joked and he immediately regretted asking. Nero looked away before glancing back at her to see her white hair still wet, sticking to her dress and outlining every curve of her chest. He immediately stiffened, feeling the heat surge into his body and face as he tried to avert his eyes. He could still remember the slight weight of her small frame in his arms as he had carried her the night before. He struggled to keep his eyes and hands to himself and found himself suddenly jumping from his chair, quickly remarking he should allow her to finish getting ready and would see her in the sitting room.
Amina's eyes followed after him, puzzled as he stumbled awkwardly to the door and flung it open to find the maid with her ear to the door. He quickly ducked around her and sped out of sight, his thundering steps echoing down the hall.
"Apologies, miss. Allow me to help you do your hair and finish getting ready."
"It's fine, I'm ready, you can lead me to the sitting room if you'd like," Amina remarked. The maid giggled and said she would be better to wait, glancing down at her now wet dress. Amina looked down and turned red head to toe realizing her hair had wet the chest of her gown, making it cling to her breasts and outline her nipples. She immediately brought her hands up to cover them and apologized. The maid giggled again before helping her finish dressing and doing her hair.
Amina was still mortified as she followed the maid to the sitting room, finally understanding why Nero had left so quickly and awkwardly. He had surely seen everything. Amina sighed and pasted a fake smile on her face as the maid led her into the room to find Nero and a blond man snickering beside him. The maid announced her presence and left, securing the doors and Amina's embarrassment as Nero stiffened immediately at her arrival, his back still turned toward her. The smaller blond fellow waved his arm towards the plush couches in the middle of the room, politely telling her to sit. Amina focused on not embarrassing herself further and sat across from the unknown man. She wanted to fiddle with her hair, a nervous habit of hers her mother had tried to break, but the maid had done her hair up in some fancy, braided mess she would definitely struggle to undo on her own later.
"Guessing by your curious look, I am guessing you are unaware of who I am and still of where you are, miss?" Oro asked, smiling kindly toward her. Amina nodded, stealing glances at Nero, who still stood still as stone near the window.
"Allow me to introduce myself as it seems Nero is indisposed at the moment," Oro said with a slight snicker before continuing, "I am Oro, the first and crown prince of the Dragonite Kingdom." Amina gaped for a moment before realizing she had been so rude and profusely apologizing for not recognizing his highness and sitting before him and a slew of other etiquette mishaps. Oro chuckled, waving off her apology before saying, "Nero, come join us, won't you?" with a wide smile. Amina could swear she heard a hushed curse before Nero swung around and plopped into the chair between the two couches, avoiding eye contact with Amina and glaring at Oro.
"Allow me also to inform you, miss...?" Oro waited for Amina to introduce herself. Amina fumbled again, apologizing about fifty more times before finally introducing herself as "Amina Amante, your grace, daughter of Mira and Ciro."
"Beautiful name for a beautiful maiden. Miss Amina, Nero and I deeply apologize for shocking you so deeply last evening with our presence and dirtying your gown. You fainted from the shock. Thankfully, Nero was with me and carried you home with us, as we couldn't well leave you in the forest and no one knew where you lived, my dear. I hope the room was to your liking?" Nero blushed deeply when Oro relayed the fact he had carried her all the way home. Amina did also.
"Home..? So you mean, I am at the p-palace, your highness?" Amina questioned, her stomach sinking at the thought and her face reddening even more when he confirmed it with a polite nod. That means Nero carried her for more miles than she or he wanted to admit.
"I am deeply, deeply sorry for inconveniencing your highness and Nero. I can find my way home on my own, I wish you both well," Amina spat out quickly, before standing to bow and run all the way home to work out the years of anxiety she had built up over the past twenty minutes.
"I apologize also, Miss Amina, as I cannot allow you to leave," Oro said with a smile that didn't look the least bit apologetic. Amina's heart sank then quivered with fear. Why would he not allow her to go home?
"W-why, your grace?"
"I'm afraid you live somewhere in the Forbidden Forest, am I correct?" She nodded hesitantly and he continued, "The Forest is too unsafe and unstable. So I'm glad the room is to your liking, as you'll be staying here until we can make it safe for you once more," he finished with an even wider grin that made Amina's blood run cold. She knew she couldn't dare turn him down, as she was technically breaking the law living there in the first place, and his invitation was obviously a veiled threat.
"Thank you. Thank you both so much for rescuing me and offering me such a lovely room but your grace, I would feel much more comfortable serving you and the palace rather than staying as a guest."
"Well—" Oro started, interrupted by a firm, booming "NO" from Nero.
"Excuse me? That is for his highness to decide," Amina quipped, firmly staring Nero down. He finally turned to face her, his jaw firm and brows knit together.
"He has already declared you as his guest. Right, Oro?" Nero ground out, whipping his head toward the prince to confirm.
The prince clears his throat as they both stared him down, waiting for an answer to confirm their own opinion.
"Well, I was going to say that before someone so rudely interrupted me," a glance toward Nero, "but if you would feel more comfortable with a job while staying in your guest room, Miss Amina, I'll appoint you as a personal maid for my best man, as I am in need of no more."
"Oro—" Nero began before being interrupted by Amina yelling her acceptance. Oro smiled wide, clapping his hands together and declaring it settled and rising to begin work for the day.
"May I boldly ask you to have someone introduce me to whom I'll be serving, your highness?" Oro chuckled, gesturing toward Nero who was sitting, almost quaking, with his face in his hands. Amina looked between Oro and Nero confused before the words "best man" echoed in the deep recesses of her mind and clicked. She almost groaned as she bowed to Oro and thanked him for his generosity.
"My pleasure," Oro replied.