A Beast's Tale

Chapter 9

 I much preferred waking up to humming than to screaming.

It was not multiple people screaming or a series of screams. It was a single surprised shriek, followed by laughter and yelling. Outside my door. And I recognized all parties involved.

"Prince Clavis! Let me down!"

"Ha ha! Jin, look what flew into our trap!"

"Prince Clavis, if you don't—Prince Jin, not you, too!"

"Clavis, there are better ways to get a good look at a lady's legs, ha ha!"

I sighed and shoved the covers back. The two pranksters had caught the maid in a trap, hoping to provoke a reaction from me. And they would have one.

I grabbed my sword and headed for the door.

"What is wrong with you two? When I get down from here—"

"So, what do we do with her now, Clavis?"

"I don't know. I've never caught a little dove before. Oh, hey, Chev! He'd know. Chev, what should we do with her now?"

They'd set up a net trap at the juncture with another hallway, where the ceiling height rose enough to accommodate their mischief. She was squirming within the rope net above their heads, holding her legs together and her skirt down, her cheeks bright red and her cleaning supplies scattered across the floor below her. Clavis was grinning like a cat who had caught a mouse—or in this case, a leopard who had caught a dove—and Jin had his hands shoved in his pockets, a lollipop stick protruding from his lazy smile.

I drew my sword and sliced through the lead rope. The net and the maid dropped to the floor with another shriek from her.

"Ow..."

I sheathed my sword, picked her up, and threw her over my shoulder.

"Prince Chevalier! What are you—"

"Quiet."

Clavis and Jin were still laughing as I walked away, thoroughly enjoying the chaos they'd created, but the maid fell silent and grabbed the back of my shirt for stability. I'd deal with my brothers later. For now, I wanted to go back to sleep, and it was clear I'd have no peace this morning if I let her roam the halls.

Shutting my door behind me muted their laughter somewhat.

"Prince Chevalier, you can put me down now."

I tossed her onto the softest surface available—the bed. She landed with a startled squeak and scrambled to her feet.

"Not there!"

I went around to the other side of the bed, dropped my sword next to my pillow, and climbed under the blankets again.

"Prince Chevalier—"

"Quiet."

There was a moment's pause, and then she asked, "Is that normal?"

"For them, yes. I want to go back to sleep."

"And I'm just supposed to laugh that off?"

I sighed. "You are supposed to keep your mouth shut and stay here until I wake up again."

"But—all of my cleaning supplies are—"

She cut herself off when I groaned in frustration and pushed the covers back. Most of the books I kept in my room were about politics, but there were a handful of fiction novels I suspected she'd like. I went to the bookcase, selected one, and walked to where she stood in the middle of the room, green eyes wide and black hair in disarray. She took a step backwards. I shoved the book into her chest.