Au: Royalty
Tags/Warnings: F! Reader, Totally not a concept I saw on tiktok and wanted to try
Word Count: 1.5k
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You wish you could distract yourself with the architecture of the hall. The polished white stone arches, rich blue drapes that hung from the tops of the towering windows; the carved grotesques that hid in the frames of the walls, staring at the visitors from their hiding spots. You knew it all, and have counted the right angles, doorways, tiles and curtains many times over. You wish you could do it again, but a wailing jester, crawling by your feet as he played the mandolin, wouldn't let your attention stray from his checkered black and blue motley and jingling bells.
Oddly enough, part of you couldn't look away, as the horrific realisation that the fool had colour coded himself to match your decorations and dress for your birthday. The only other person out of hundreds in the room to do so.
Huffing, you wait for the next moment that the jester turns away to the crowd at the other side of the room to slip between the bodies of the castle attendants and make your way into the nearby hallway.
"Princess? You should be inside." On the other side of the double doors is one of the knights, pressed uniform fitted perfectly with a guard dog at their side.
"Oh, Dame Celine. I didn't know you were on post tonight."
The knight shrugged, making the ribbons on her uniform sway. "Sir Charles got sick; apparently, he's allergic to dog fur. So little Clementine here is on watch with me tonight." Celine lifts the leash to gesture towards the fluffy Akita, who stares down the hall with fierce determination and readiness to run.
Hearing the jester's mandolin through the door along with guests' laughter, you sigh and move to sit on the polished floor in front of the dog, dress puffing up like cupcake icing. Lifting your hands, you immediately grab the hound by the cheeks and begin to scratch through her thick fur,
"Has anything been happening with the lookouts lately?" There's another roar of muted laughter through the door, and you give Celine a pleading look to start talking.
"There's been some worries. The dogs don't seem to be a bit agitated, but sadly we haven't enough evidence of anything to really raise any alarms."
"That's more calm than normal."
"Surprisingly so. With your birthday, I believe most people assume there are more guards on posts, so a slimmer chance that they would be able to achieve anything." Celine shrugs and watches as Clementine finally melts into your hands and rests her head on your knees, making you coo. "She's a suck-up."
"Oh, I don't mind a little drool. How could anyone resist such a cute face?"
"Many, the palace dogs are very protective. I've lost count of how many people they've chased off the grounds...Or rather taken to the ground." Despite Celine's cautionary story, Clementine rolls onto her back, with her tongue lolling out and paws relaxed in the air. You immediately jump on the canine, placing dark cool-toned kiss marks around her muzzle while rubbing her belly.
"Oh, yes, you're so cute. Yes, you are!"
"If anyone but the knights saw you like this, they'd think you're insane."
"They think I'm some kingdom sweetheart. If anyone saw me like this, they'd think I managed to tame the castle beasts! And honestly, that would probably only cause you more trouble."
"Well, you better not let anyone see you then."
"Why do you think I'm hiding?"
Celine shrugged. "Oh, it could be a few things. For one, the jester."
"Ugh."
"So the Jester."
"He's entertaining, but I'm so tired of laughing at everything he does. My dad is killing himself trying to keep it together but won't make a sound. I'm just so tired." You bury your head into the dog's stomach, but without your scratches, she seems less willing to lay about and rolls back onto her paws, knocking your head back.
"Well, you may want to get going and find a more secluded place to hide."
"Why?" you whined at the guard from the floor.
Tapping her ear, Celine grins. "Bells. The jester must have seen you sneak off."
You gather your skirt and run down the hall, shoes squeaking, skidding, and sliding against the slippery floor. Sadly, you can't reach the hall's bend before Clementine barks furiously at a collection of ringing bells. You dive through one of the doors, landing into one of the many studies that staff often go to to do paperwork. Luckily, no one is inside otherwise, they would have been greeted with a sizeable poofy dress crashing into the floor and groaning in pain.
Wallowing and rubbing your bruised elbows wasn't something you could enjoy for long. Quicker as you had managed to hide, Clementine sprinted down the hall and followed you into the study, motley hat with bells clutched in her jaw. You squeak and crawl along the floor to duck behind the desk. Your dress tugs beneath your knees, nearly smacking your face against the floor. But, you manage, slipping behind the wood just in time for the jester to appear in the doorway.
"You think you're so clever, huh pooch? Okay, come here. I need that hat."
As his footsteps shift, the dog's paws shuffle, tipping along the floor and further into the room. Your breath hitches, and you catch it, holding it with your lungs full. It felt like you were going to pop. Shuffling beneath the desk, you hug your knees, trying to make yourself as small as possible and hide in the dark shadows.
Clementine walks into your line of sight, tail wagging happily.
"Clementine. Drop it." Celine had come to the rescue. Somewhat.
While Clementine knew her orders well, she had already entered your space and given you away. Giving you one last happy jump, the Akita drops the cap'n'bells onto your toes and prances away towards Celine.
The Jester, however, scrambles at the opportunity. The extra bells on his suit jingle, and he falls to the floor, crawling slightly to reach for his hat under the desk.
You're feeling light-headed at this point. The air in your lungs has gone bad and the need to breathe is strong. But you're so close, almost free from being noticed.
"Huff," You breathe.
The jester freezes, bells ceasing their jingling and he looks up at you through the dark. "Princess?" He's about to straighten up but with one hand on a layer of your skirt, he slips against the floor, smashing his head against your knee.
"Pfft," you snort.
"Princess. What are you doing here?" He's about to straighten up when you grip the edge of the wooden desk, making his head slam into the back of your hands instead of the sharp wood.
You peek around your arm. The Jester's hair is scruffled from wearing his hat, pupils wide as he tries to see in the dark.
"Um. Hiding?" He grabs your hands from the desk, gently taking them off the desk and holding them kindly. "Uh."
"It's your birthday. You should be enjoying it."
You continue to stare at his hands holding yours. "I believe I've enjoyed it plenty, thank you."
"Was my performance not adequate?"
"Do you wish for my honesty, or a sugared response?"
His hands grip yours tighter. "You didn't enjoy my performance? But I am here by request."
"By the King's request. He finds you quite entertaining."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"And you?"
You pause. "I much prefer your blunders. They're more... authentic."
"I see," the jester lets go of your hands, sulking into his spine. "So you don't love me like I love you."
"Where the fuck did you get that idea from?!"
The jester gasps. "Your Royal Highness. You swear?!"
You just stare at him blankly, mouth agape. "I'm exhausted of this." Kicking your legs out, you pat down your skirt and lean your head against the inside of the front wall of the desk. You sigh.
"Princess?"
"Please, just call me by my name. I'm tired."
"Then you should call me Kenji."
"Nice to meet you, Kenji." You grin. "Now, do you have other talents besides being a fool?"
He shrugs. "I don't know, It is my job."
"Do you do anything else besides your job?"
Kenji pauses momentarily, staring into the dark with what looks like a horrified expression on his face. He sucks in a breath and grimaces, "No comment. Do you do anything besides being a royal?"
"Um..." You have to do all the things your parents don't want to do. "Not really."
"Quite the pair we are."
"So long as you don't make a satirical song about me, we're all good."
"Just don't fire me."
"Deal."
You sit in silence for a few moments, "And please don't suddenly confess your love again. There's not enough merit to that confession."
He curls. "Okay."
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Wanna nap. This is shitty. -Bacon
Posted: 30/02/2023