"So My Master," Kaiser said, sitting comfortable in his seat as he meets eyes with Victor. "What may you assign of me?"
Victor sighs, reaching for his tea cup and siping the hot liquid. This time Victor tastes a hit of drops of pig's blood, which is enough to simmer down Victor's craving for normal blood, yet when his red eyes wander to Kaiser's neck, Victor has second thoughts.
"I'll having Ron have the tailor and blacksmith create your knightwear." Victor said. "But for you, seeming as you have battlefield experience and you are quite suitable, it won't be suspicious for you to be my personal knight."
"I've never been someone's personal knight." Kaiser said, his smooth, deep voice thoughtful, "what does one do in such a role, My Master?"
Victor gulps, clearing his throat, regretting allowing Kaiser to use such a title already.
"It means you'll be playing a role close to Ron." Victor said. "You'll follow me around as I do needless task as my disguised 'protector.' It isn't an odd thing, especially since I'm not as much as a fighter as my brother, and I try to stay out of the battlefield. I hate needless battle."
"I understand, My Master." Kaiser said, kindly smiling. "I will do my best to assist you in anyway I can."
"This will only be after the further investigations of the rebel group." Victor said, "After the fact, I am not sure enough to promise you any outcomes."
Kaiser bows, yet Victor notices the clenched fist that quivers behind Kaiser's back.
"Of course, My Master." Kaiser said. "I owe my life to you, even in death."
Victor's body shivers at those words, and he despises such words, but he isn't too sure why.
"Never mind that, come." Victor said, standing up. "We must attend some meaningless political jargon."
...
Victor is right. This is meaningless, political Jaron.
Kaiser stands on the opposite side of Ron, watching with a cringed smile as a line of elder men stand and agrue about meaningless issues that only seem to benefit them and not the poor or middle class people. It is almost selfish, how all these men ignore the issues of those less fortunate and suffering; something in Kaiser aches hearing such long, meaningless conversations that don't help those around these men, but only themselves and their status.
"My Master." Kaiser whispers, watching as Victor rolls his eyes before he jolts in attention, meeting eyes with Kaiser. "Is such talks here...always about the high class? I thought the kingdom is trying to help the less forntuate too..."
Victor sighs, squeezing his eyes shut and pinching his nose.
"I begin to believe we've both been duped." Victor mutters, watching as one younger men, a tall man with slick back silver hair and golden eyes steps forward, his chin held high and his back straighter than a ruler.
"Duke Evans," Victor said, eyeing the man with cold eyes, "What is it?"
"Have you resolved the tax issue?" Duke Evans asked, his judgmental eyes quickly moving from Kaiser to the other men behind him. "We desire a solution that is quite fair, as we, the elite, are vital pieces to this economy. Must we be punished simply for the poorest and unfornaute by helping them pay such fines? Why must we suffer?"
Kaiser turns his head, witnessing Ron bite his lip, clenching his fist in rage. Kaiser looks to the throne Victor sits on, his emotionless, handsome face not even flinching at the harsh words.
"I have decided to tax people based off District." Victor said. Duke Evans flinches, looking up in rage as he points to the men behind him.
"Who came up with such an idea?!" Duke Evans roars. "Your Highness, have you gone mad?!"
Victor looks to Kaiser before he slouches in his seat, placing his palm lazily on his cheek.
"My new knight guard actually inspired such helpful thoughts." Victor said. "I think it's a great idea, don't you agree, Ron?"
Ron blinks, looking at Kaiser in surpise, then back to Victor as he nods his head eagerly.
"See?" Victor said. "They like it."
"Why would you do such a thing-Your Highness?!" Duke Evans wallows. "If you do so based off District, we will pay more out of our pockets than those filthily peasants-!"
"You have a problem?" Victor said, watching Duke Evans flinch back. "Then move."
Duke Evans grits his teeth, his pale face blossoming in the finest red as he angrily glares at Kaiser, pointing a finger at the man.
"You barbaric slum!" Duke Evan roars. "I cannot believe such a low-life pest spoiled the prince's brain!"
"Hey." Victor said, his soft voice low, but his ruby eyes meancing. "Watch what you say. Do not test my patience."
Duke Evans gulps, stepping back before he grits his teeth and turns his heel, heading out the door.
"Dismissed." Victor said, waving the rest of the men off. Ron turns to Victor before he jogs down a pair of steps and heads forward, hurriedly pushing the rest of the men away and out of the door, closing the large royal hallways' doors shut behind him.
There's a few seconds of silence before Victor sighs, running a hand through his hair and biting his red bottom lip, his emotions feeling jumbled and turmoiled. Victor feels annoyed. Victor feels insulted, like the words Duke Evans spat were aimed at him and not Kaiser, and it confuses him more than anything.
The next thing Victor knows, there's a rough hand that envelopes his own. Victor stares down, realizing that Kaiser is kneeled before him, holding his hands as he rubs circles around Victor's palms, like he's trying to calm Victor down, tame the beast that's been on a rampage ever since he's met this tall, handsome man.
"I apologize, My Master." Kaiser said. "I did not know such an idea would make so many mad. I may have caused fault, My Master. If you must, I will accept any punishment-."
"You did nothing wrong." Victor said, forcing his eyes away and not down Kaiser's lose shirt. "Do not apologize for their selfishness."
Kaiser looks ups, his eyes wide and in shock, before he kindly smiles, and Victor notices the subtle dimple in Kaiser's right cheek and bottom chin, and it causes Victor to feel a wave of warmth run down his body.
"It appears as there are many things that I thought I knew about this kingdom that I have been proven wrong, My Master." Kaiser said.
"Like what...?" Victor asked.
Kaiser smiles, lightly squeezing Victor's hand.
"Like how truly kind and misunderstood the prince is." Kaiser said, "And I do not mind it, being proven wrong. It is strangely pleasant."
Victor shuts his eyes, his red eyes meeting with Kaiser's, down Kaiser's shirt, eyeing Kaiser's ripped arms and handsome face, and he almost gives into whatever voices are in his head to take Kaiser in his arms and claim him, to ruin him, and to see his smiling face tremble under him, and Victor doesn't know what demon is inside of him, tainting him so, but he almost caves, if not for Ron bursting through the royal hall's doors and striding towards them.
"That awful duke…!" Ron mutters, "Are you alright, Your Highness? That man always seems to try to test your patience."
"I'm fine," Victor said, "But the next time he runs his mouth so, I won't be."
Ron stares at Victor, his face surprised and mouth agape, before he clears his throat, letting out a short huff.
"Shall we ready for the rest of your schedule?" Ron asked.
Victor curtly nods, rising from his throne.