No Less Than Kingly____ Sinbadxafab!Reader

Part 5

All day you felt numb while everyone around you laughed and ran around excitedly. It was like a bunch of rural kids going to the city for the first time. Well, you were just some slum kids, now living in a castle by direct invitation from the king. In all reality, you all had every right to rejoice like children.


You just couldn't find the heart to do it, though. For the first time in your whole life you had your own room and you wouldn't even allow that to relax you. It was all because the king who welcomed you, was also one that entranced you unwillingly. He made you uncertain and you didn't want that.


The biggest fear you had was that he would someday convince you to not get your own country. That he'd convince you to just stay in his kingdom. You feared he would win and keep you around as a toy.


"(Y/n), this is the best thing you've ever done!" Ama exclaimed as he reclined on the balcony attached to your room.


"This is just cruel fate, Ama. All I did was work and it got me here." you answer, tracing the beautiful patterns on the quilt of your bed.


"Imagine if you had gone to Balbadd, instead!" laughed the silverette. "We'd be living in the slums again, I'm sure. But here, we've struck it rich! I love being right."


You didn't come up with this. Ulric did. you thought to yourself, now looking around the room. Ulric and Sana were also there, but Ulric had fallen asleep and Sana was immersed in some book the magician Yamureiha lent her. Everyone was content and that's what you kept telling yourself.


Eventually you would come out of this slump. Especially if you managed to find your control over this situation somewhere. You hoped Sinbad would gain a different interest and you knew that seeing everyone happy would lighten your mood more.


There was a knock at your door, polite but not something to ignore. You looked at your three comrades, all of them still content enough to ignore the knock. With a sigh you get up and answer your door.


"Good evening, miss (y/n)." Ja'far smiles, bowing slightly as he greeted you. "I just came to let you all know that there will be a feast tonight to welcome you to the palace."


"Oh, how kind." you reply, forcing a smile.


Ja'far doesn't miss it, his face dropping slightly before he asks, "Would you care to take a walk about the castle grounds? I believe you didn't come with us on the tour earlier."


You didn't go because Sinbad was there. Rather than deal with your nerves, you feigned to be tired and requested to sleep it off. And you did sleep, which is why you were a little restless now.


"I can assure you that we won't run into King Sinbad." Ja'far says quieter after he looks to your friends.


You sigh, looking at them yourself, before meeting the silver haired man's green eyes. He's been calm and kind to you so far. Ja'far also seems to understand, or respect, your aversion to the king. You feel you could trust him right now.


"Ok." you agree before telling Sana, the most conscious one, that you were leaving.


She just waved her hand, muttering something, but refusing to look away from her reading. You didn't really care if they knew where you were and you knew they wouldn't really care to look right now. That being thought, you step into the hall with Ja'far and slowly close the door.


"Is there any place you would like to see in particular, miss (y/n)?" Ja'far inquires, smiling sweetly.


"Call me (y/n), please. No 'miss.' And somewhere pretty and calm would be nice." you answer, smiling back lightly.


He lets out a soft laugh, answering, "I can surely do that, (y/n)."


The taller man leads you down another corridor then down a few flights of stairs. You go through a hall full of large opened windows, the curtains billowing slowly from the gentle breeze that cools your skin. It was nice and relaxing, but when Ja'far led you out an open entryway, you knew this would be your favorite spot.


It was a beautiful garden cluttered with many plants, which meant many places to escape to. Despite the young country, the trees were large, offering a nice amount of shade to the area. There were many beautiful flowers, most you hadn't ever seen before. Waist high bushes enclosed the area, parting it into six sections.


"I already love it here, Ja'far-sama." you tell him, giving the man a real smile.


"(Y/n), please, just Ja'far will do." he retorts, offering you his hand.


You look at him curiously before taking it. He then leads you in past a few trees where you assumed the center of the garden was. And in that center was a nice little pond, fish lazily swimming inside with more flowers and plants on its surface.


Ja'far then takes you to a bench, gesturing for you to sit. You oblige and he follows suit. The two of you sit, looking down at the pond in the filtered lighting with birds chirping and flying around the tree branches, and the fish catching small insects on the surface. It was all beautiful and nice and everything just flowed right before you.


"Forgive me for asking, but what is it about the king that upsets you?" questions Ja'far. "I mean, I understand that the king can be a little out of line than a king should be, but I would like to make sure he never caused you any harm."


You think for a moment, looking out at all the things before you. In reply to Ja'far, you say, "The King makes me stop what I'm doing. He makes me question my objectives. He has no shame. He's treated me like a toy- like winning my attention is just a game. He's undermined me, and demanded me to do things that were not my job... Honestly, he's annoying and too confident."


And he makes my heart race and my skin blush. He makes me want his attention and he makes me not want to look away from his gorgeous eyes. Sinbad makes me want to follow him and I hate that. I'm supposed to be a king, myself- no less. you think to yourself. Ja'far lets what you actually told him sink in. He bites his lip a little then looks to you.


"But he... He never actually touched you, right?" Ja'far requests more forwardly.


"He tried." you respond, blushing at the memories. "He pinned me to the doorframe of the wine cellar when I was delivering some with Cran... And then there was last night- he tried to get me to stay with him at the inn. If he wasn't so drunk, he probably would've won... I was able to push him off and ran."


Ja'far sighs in relief, smiling at you with pride. "You have more self control then some others who've fallen victim to the king... I admit, he's also being far more forward with you, and no offense, but before this morning there was little he could gain from pursuing you so feverishly, so I don't know why he's acting this way to a girl who merely did a merchant's labor. I just hope you're able to stick with your resolve to refuse him. Please, let me know if I can help you at all."


"Just keep him away from me."


"I cannot promise that. King Sinbad is a very independent, unpredictable man... I had to fight him for a few hours today just to do some paperwork. He's not a very stationary man, either, you see. He loves a good chase. Some advice: always keep everything locked- all doors, all windows. He has been known to appear when one is most vulnerable and coax them to do what he wishes. Also, do not ever be somewhere alone. Even here would not be safe alone, because he could appear from behind any of these trees and catch you."


"Great. So I have no freedom."


"My dear (y/n), you could have even less freedom if you succumb to him. I know you wouldn't do so willingly, at least at first, but, oh is Sinbad patient. That man will wear you down. But, I promise, he really isn't that bad of a man. Like I said, he just likes a good chase. This will all blow over, I'm sure."


He pats your shoulder before he stands up. You sigh, looking into the kind adviser's eyes that looked back at you with warning but worry, too. In response to the later, you offer him a small smile, following his lead in standing up.


"Thank you, Ja'far. For taking me to a pretty place like this. I really needed it. And for the advice and warnings. It's very much appreciated, but..." you hesitate, wondering how much of his niceness was genuine and how much was just polite. "But may I actually call on you for any help in the future?"


Ja'far was surprised by your inability to believe in his offer, as it was obvious on his face. He looked at you kindly, resting a firm hand on your shoulder, lowering his head so his eyes were at level with yours. You looked him over, waiting for him to reply.


"(Y/n), I admire your rejection of my king's behavior. I think it's good for him to see not everyone can be won over by his charms alone. He's gotten away with this behavior for almost the entire 15 years I've known him. If you keep going like this, I assure you, he will relent these flirtatious advances. I can tell that, one day, you will be a great ally to the Sindrian empire- you and all those in your household.That is why I truly mean it when I say I am here to assist you." assures Ja'far, releasing you from his grip.


"Thank you, again, Ja'far." you say, although you don't feel like it's enough. He doesn't even know you and yet he's so kind and confident in you.


Maybe he'll help you be the king you need to be.