Jylan stared in horror as Sebastian nervously picked at his sleeves. The kitchen was a holy mess. The pancakes had somehow been made perfectly and were sitting, gleaming, in a corner, almost giving off a glow. The syrup was mightly drizzled over them, the perfect amount, with a puff of white cream and berries.
Meanwhile, there was flour all over the floor and walls. "How did you get it on the roof?" Jylan said in amazement, as, on cue, a few specks of white stuff rained down on them. Sebastian laughed nervously, looking off to the side.
Eggs had been cracked all over the floor as well, and there were more than a few yolks on the floor, The fireplace that Jylan had taken care of for so long was crumbling because the butter that had been melted inside was now leaking through cracks in the bricks and mortar.
"My prince, perhaps you should just stick to pipe cleaning next time," Jylan said dryly, and Sebastian looked at his feet, suddenly very interested in them. Perhaps, Jylan thought frivolously, the prince had grown an extra toe while Jylan wasn't looking and was now admiring the feat of achieving eleven toes.
"Don't worry, my prince. I can clean it up later. For now, let's just eat." Jylan said. He walked over to the table, brushing off some flour from the top and the stools, before settling down.
Sebastian raised his head, his cheeks so red they'd turned purple. He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again to choke something out.
"Sorry, butler."
Jylan had never before heard those words even come out of the crown prince's mouth. Not because he couldn't say them for some reason, but because it was simply unfathomable, comparable to winning the lottery. This brazen son-of-a-royal-nut – apologizing? Over pancakes? Not impossible, but simply a concept so bizarre and alien it was hard to imagine. The prince was already known throughout as "merciless" and "dominant!"
Sebastian was now clutching his sleeve, knuckles white with pressure.
Jylan raised an eyebrow. "Well, I think the pancakes make up for it. Don't be sorry. We'll just clean it up together, or whatever." Jylan smiled, and Sebatian's fingers dropped.
He smiled too.
"Shall we see what these pancakes are like, then?"