INDULGENCE - KILLER X READER (Medieval AU)

CHAPTER TWELVE: Liability

***PRINCESS (Y/N) POV***

"Oh, Ser Trafalgar, I did not expect to see you so early of a morning."

I often walked the Royal gardens of a morning whenever I had the chance, and I was surprised to find the mysterious lord seated by the fountain, where I had first officially spoken to him.

Instead of snoozing by his feet, Bepo was standing in an almost human-like way, dipping a paw into the rippling water, turning his head at the sound of my voice.

"Your Grace." Trafalgar Law stood and bowed to me respectfully. "Sleep is not a friend of mine, so I decided to take a walk." He explained, glancing to Killer, who was lingering close behind me.

The sun had barely begun to rise, but I could understand. Sleep had been evading me also, especially now since the date of my marriage announcement drew frighteningly near.

"Would you mind if I joined you both?" I asked hopefully, which took him by surprise. It wasn't that I was interested in him as a suitor. It was more like a morbid curiosity. He was far different to the others.

"This is your garden, Your Grace. You can do as you wish." Not the most inviting of responses, but it would do. Smiling, I turned to Killer, motioning my head back towards the castle.
"Killer, I will be fine. Go and get some breakfast for yourself."

Killer's body language said plenty. He didn't want to leave me with the dark-haired stranger, but he didn't argue. With a heavy sigh, he bowed to me, and gave a sharp nod to Trafalgar before leaving us alone.

At least he is starting to relax a little...

Trafalgar waited for me to sit myself down before he too sat, making sure there was a respectable distance between us.
"Tomorrow is the first day of the tourney. I would ask if you are looking forward to it, but I already know the answer."

It wouldn't take a genius to come to that conclusion. I enjoyed some aspects of the tournaments, but not the jousting, or hand to hand combat displays. It was the colours, the sounds, the smells. I never truly got to experience much of it, sitting up in my royal box, but I longed to.

"Truthfully, Ser, I would much prefer tying myself to a stone and throwing myself into the sea." I chuckled dryly, mostly joking. Bepo stepped down from the fountains edge, shaking his wet paw before ambling over to sit against my leg. He was a huge creature, but so adorably docile. I ran a hand through his soft, snowy fur.

"What a coincidence. I was contemplating doing that myself to avoid competing." The Lord snickered, though his lips had very little curve to them. "Have you given any thought as to who you shall be offering your favour too, Your Grace?"

Oh no, I forgot about that...

During special tourneys, knights and other participants are free to request or accept a favour. A personal item from a woman, usually of high born blood. I had given the occasional favour, such as a flower or untouched handkerchief, but only by my father's order.

"I forgot that would be expected of me..." I sighed, deflating and putting a little more of my weight against the polar bear, who didn't seem to mind in the slightest. "Is this your attempt at requesting it, Ser Trafalgar?"

Scoffing, though quickly trying to cover it with a cough, Trafalgar shook his head, waving me off with his marked hand, which caught my eye.
"Your Grace, it would be wasted on me. I don't fare well when it comes to jousting. Swords are more my game."

I hummed a little, distracted by what had captured my eye.
"Those are tattoos, are they not? I rarely see them in person. What is it that you have written on your fingers?" I questioned, leaning a little closer when he pulled his sleeve down to show me properly. "Death..? That is...rather dark?"