The Ruby Empire

Sharif the Rakshasa

Male Monster x Female Reader

Originally, you had been hired on as a tutor for the twins of King Amit. Soon though, your position grew. King Amit then hired you to take care of the royal library. You still taught the boys, but since they were still very young the lessons were short. The rest of your day, you tended to the ever growing library the king was building. New books were delivered daily and it was your responsibility to take care of them.

It's been no secret that those in the castle considering your position a joke. The library had only been a recent development in the palace. It was also a rare one. King Amit had taken the throne and made some drastic changes to the Rakshasa court, leaning more towards education rather than the usual war and strength that previous rulers had pushed towards. Some in the castle blamed the king's bride for the changes. As such, your position on the king's staff was mocked and derided. No one really paid you much attention when they weren't trying to make a joke at your expense.

Word spread that the King's godson was coming to stay at the palace. His mother, a black panther, wished for him to have a fitting education. She then asked King Amit to take on her son so that he may learn his ways, rather than the old ways. Amit took the boy on and was preparing for his arrival. He had ordered a ton more books, ones in the boy's native language and about his country and heritage, things his mother claimed he took for granted.

You were kept busy, dealing with the twins and their early education, while also preparing a new section in the library. The books that came in were thick and heavy. Their pages were gilted and filled to the brim with places and words you had never heard of before. It was easy for you to grow lost in them.

You heard whispers around the palace talking about Prince Sharif. He had arrived without ceremony, coming late one night and quickly retiring to his chambers. The staff spoke of him like he was a shadow in the castle. They would see him here and there but only for a moment before he vanished again. He was spoken of like a spirit, something that children giggled about and then screamed when they scared themselves. Aside from that, you didn't really hear much about the new addition to the royal family. Prin ce Sharif was a recluse and kept to himself.

One day, after putting the twins down for a nap by the great wide windows where they were warmed in the sun, you went to the poetry section. It was one of your favorite places in the library as well as having a direct line to the twins sleeping. You've got a new order of books, this time a large shipment of poetry books the queen requested. You've been eager to put them out and now was the perfect chance.

One book was a soft purple and covered in golden flowers. The inside held pressed flowers and elegant drawings. The poems spoke of rolling hills and cascading waterfalls. The countryside it painted made you feel as if there was a breeze circling you and the sound of a babbling brook whispering in your ear. You then catch sight of something from the corner of your eye. You lift your head, glancing to the sleeping twins. You see something again and turn your head, seeing someone walking through the aisles.

"Hello?" You call out, but not a sound returns. You step off the ladder, hearing soft footsteps down the next aisle. "Hello?" You say again.

A book pushes from the opposite side of the shelf and you catch it quickly. "Careful!" You snap and look up, gazing into a pair of golden green eyes. The pupil goes from a thin slit to a thick, black circle. You freeze, clutching the book in your hand tight.

A black paw reaches out. "I was trying to reach for that one."

You stare at the paw, it's much bigger than your head. "Suh-sure." You place the book in his paw and he pulls it back.

"Thank you."

You inch to the shelf, seeing the silky gleam of his pelt. "I have a much better book on that subject," you speak softly. "If you're curious."