"Mm," she murmured, continuing her work "I already know what your ’sothing’ is. It hails from Elarion, does it not?" saying that she heard a chuckle escape from Drayce. "What’s so amusing?" and she gave him a questionable look.
"You!!" he replied, "You know too well." Then after taking a deep breath he continued, "Elarion also...but, it’s princess, as well—she is... radiant."
That caught her attention and for the first ti, her hand stilled completely. She studied him. She could tell his eyes were not on her but fixed sowhere beyond on a mory. She knew full well that look since childhood.
"So what holds you back? Go on...take whatever you desire. Has that not always been Your Majesty’s way?"
"No, Eggie. Not this ti." his reply made the lady’s eyes slightly narrow.
"If you were already in Elarion, then you should have snatched the princess. After all, it wouldn’t be the first ti you’ve... claid sothing that way. I fail to understand why you let her go. It’s not like you at all."
Drayce stopped talking for two seconds before telling, "Yes, what you say is true, yet had I seized her then and there, although she would have been gilded by captivity, her worth would only have grown making her story brighter in chains. She would have revered back ho. No...this way is better. You just watch, Eggie.. I will have her co to Vortalis on her own feet....of her own will... to ."
"I can’t understand your pastis," she sighed before she heard so noise coming from her door, "Who’s there?" she asked.
"It’s lady Agnes." The door opened slightly and a little girl of no more than six years, with chubby cheeks and dark pigtails ca running inside with her small steps.
"Bwother!!!! I knew you would be here." she rushed straight past Agnes and threw her arms open.
Instantly, Drayce rose from where he lay and scooped the little girl up, lifting her effortlessly before throwing and catching her once up in the air. "Wow!" she laughed brightly. "You’re sooo strong now! Stronger than last ti!" she said, making Drayce chuckled.
"Aren’t you supposed to be in bed?" Drayce asked gently.
"No one knows I’m awake... I wanted to see you as soon as ... po—possible!"
"The princess has been waiting ever since word of Your Majesty’s return reached her." Agnes added now standing.
"Yes, bwother." she nodded her head in agreent "I have sothing veery important to tell you." She leaned closer circling her small arms in his neck in his hold to whisper into his ear "Soone in the pah-lace called you a devil." and she pulled back to look at him with her bright eyes.
"Who dares?"
"A few days ago, when I was playing in the fir... fir-gardens, I bumped into Nanny Ebrin. I said sowwy, of course. And do you know what she told her maid?"
Dracye nodded patiently urging her to continuing, "’Children are nothing short of the devil’s min-yuns.’ " she mimicked it like Ebrin closing one of her eyes, and then put forth her logic, "And because I’m your min-yun, that must an she was calling you the devil!"
Dracye lips twitched this ti, "I will most certainly punish Nanny," he declared suppressing his laughter.
"Ah... right, Bwother! I almost forgot, I’ve prepared a gift for you too." she added brightly putting her hands around his neck, "It’s in my chambuh. You always send gifts... Mama said I should prepare one for you this ti!"
"Have a good night, Miss Agnes," with that Drayce walked through the corridor and made his way to the young princess’ room as he carried her.
When they finally did reach the room, the little girl had still not let go of him. Pushing the door open with his shoulders, he stepped into her room and the princess wriggled in his arms and pointed eagerly towards a rectangle shaped thing which was covered up with white cloth.
Carrying her closer, dracye whisked away the cloth to find his portrait drawn on an easel. "How is it?" He was captured in the stroke’s perfectly.
"It’s perfect," she finally decided to let go of his neck by pulling away her hands as her feet found the soft mattress. "The pain-tuh has never seen you. She drew you only from pescwipshuns. I was the one who told her what you look like!"
"Oh? Is that so," Dracye who was now sitting on his heels replied, "Then such a gifted artist deserves to be rewarded."
"I tried to make her stay until you retuwned," her voice sounded serious with her lips set in a thin line of disappointnt, "But she told an aw-tist can’t winger in one place for too long... She’s alweady left."
"I shall have the ministers send word to her," Dracye said lightly patting her head, " She is to present herself before at her earliest convenience. There, now our little princess has nothing worry about."
And seeing her yawn, "It is far too late, you should sleep now!" he said ready to leave.
The girl was still standing in her night frock, looking at him, "You won’t tuck in, Bwother?" she asked with sweet and small voice of hers, "Papa... Mama tucks in evewy night."
"I am not your parent," but looking at the little girl he nodded his head, "Very well. Let’s get you in the bed," he was never cared for but he wanted the girl to never lack it.
Picking her up once again, he helped the little girl in the bed with few of her inanimate friends and pulled the covers until it reached above her stomach, "All tucked in, Mr.Toothsie is also sleepy," he pointed towards the elephant and stood up again, turning around to leave to hear the girl say,
"Bwother, night-ti stow-ies?"
Drayce fell silent for a while. The only stories he knew were of wars and sothing told him speaking about wars and blood would not be sothing she would sleep to.
"I am sure if you close your eyes and recall the lessons that your governess taught you, you will be able to sleep quickly without the need for night-ti story," Drayce stated. He then caught the sight of her sad face.
Walking back around, to her side, he lowered himself in her bed, "Here we go," her face brightened quickly and she turned her face waiting for him to start.
"Once there was a powerful man that went by the na Beasty. Beasty has this big dream of owning everything. He liked to capture and subdue those who didn’t listen to him."
"What’s subdoo?"
"It ans... convincing people to listen by staring at them very hard. Now.... he also liked to collect sparkling things. And then one day his eye caught one."
"What was it?" asked the little princess.
"She was a beauty nad Dove. So what happened was, one day the beauty nad dove went to her regular flying and stepped out of her nest in the wood. Just before she could sit on a branch, the Beasty ca and captured her in a cage as his toy. The end." said Drayce, getting up he pulled the girl’s blanket where she looked at him in horror, "Now go to sleep. Goodnight," and he closed the door.
Getting out of the room a small smirk made his way up to his lips.
When morning arrived at the dining table, Drayce was eating his breakfast when soone passed him a dish made of seasonal vegetables and spices. " My, my....even the way the little princess makes false assumption is adorable. Please eat well, Your Majesty, the chefs prepared your favorite dishes today."
Drayce who was cutting his steak, looked up from the piece of steak to look at an older lady in her mid-fifties, with grey braided hairs and band across her head. She also had an eye patch over one of her eyes. "How is it that you always know what I wish to eat? No matter how long I am gone, these are waiting for the next morning I return."
"How could I not know?" she replied simply. "I raised you, Your Majesty," and Drayce went back to finish his food.
After a mont as she studied him more closely, she asked "Yet you do not look pleased. You have been distant since early morning. Is everything... well? Does the food not taste right today?"
"No, no, Nanny Ebrin. The food is as fine as ever," He answered her comnt, setting his knife down with a quiet clink. "It is rely that sothing... gnaws at while I eat. To put it plainly, there is soone I wish to punish. Yet godfather has forbidden it. I may neither take his life nor strip him of his title. All I am permitted to do is banish him—and that is profoundly unsatisfying to ."
"Those are not the only ways to reprimand a man."
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