Modern Monsters

Rommulus the Pegasus

Female reader x Male monster

Being heir and all, I was expected to marry, and since I was a woman, my father expected me to marry as soon as possible. It was a ridiculous notion to me, but to everyone else, it seemed so perfectly logical. I was barely out of my schooling and they expected me to drop it all and marry the first prince to walk by. I much prefer school to boys, and I wasn't going to let one deter me from finishing my education. After all, I think being literate is much more important for ruling a kingdom than a man.

Braewood was struggling financially, so my father had been trying to set me up with someone who had more money than common sense. I had been paraded in front of so many suitors, I was starting to feel like a show pony rather than the heir to the kingdom. While my father thought setting me up with a rich royal would solve all of Braewood's problems, I was trying to educate myself about it. I was writing up a plan to show to my father which would take unused properties on Braewood Royal ground and turn it into something that would make us money rather than just sit there.

One afternoon, the new cadets were being honored for graduating and passing the rigorous training course. It was the same pomp and circumstance as always, just a bunch of young centaurs waiting to go to war.

"Giovannia," my father calls me over before we go to the ceremony. "There's a special award going to one of the new cadets, I was hoping you could put the medal around his neck."

I sigh and shake my head. "What sort of meathead award is this?"

"It's a valor honor!" My father snaps at me as he places the case in my hands. "During their sample tour, they were attacked by harpies and he risked himself to protect his classmates."

I huff and keep my eyes averted. "Yeah, ok," I grumble.

I went down onto the stage when it was time to honor the cadet. I wasn't looking forward to it, the cadets always had a way of staring. Then again, after being in barracks with the same gross bunch of meatheads for months, I would probably stare at something different too.

"And now, to receive the special valor honor, cadet Romulus." The teacher of the military academy announces and the crowd erupts into applause. He opens the case and I take out the medal.

Romulus then comes on stage and he is the most terrifying creature I have ever seen. He is like a void walking towards me, all black from his hooves to the tips of his ears. His hair is longer than mine and styled with simple braids to keep it away from his face. As he stands before me, his power and height is overwhelming. I had always been a bit small, but he makes me completely aware of it.

Romulus' dark eyes glitter as he looks at me.

"I uhm-" I gasp, floundering a bit as I gaze at him. "I'll need you to kneel, sir," my voice quivers.

Romulus tilts his head and then he places his hand over mine. "As great an honor as this is, it does not belong to me alone. I don't deserve to wear it, if everyone in my troop cannot wear it."

"Really?" I blurt it out without thinking. "I mean, that's very admirable."

His posture is stiff and his shoulders are squared. He takes the medal and puts it back into the case. "Display it at the academy, in honor of all of those that have served before and will serve in the future." He turns and looks at me and bows his head. "It was an honor to meet you, your highness."

I am flabbergasted, but this young soldier had truly impressed me. He is the darkest of nights and so serious. I find myself thinking about him after the ceremony. At first, it is just an idle thought here or there. Soon I am wondering what sort of books he reads, if he likes poetry, does his deep raspy voice sound good when he sings? I am becoming enamored with a young man I barely know and I had only met once. I am also ashamed of myself for falling for someone who is tall, dark, and handsome.