The Princess's Servant

109. On the Road to the Tower

"What was all of that about, anyways? It's not like you to... care."

"You think I care about you?"

"No. That's why I'm worried. If you're this invested in what happens with Sybil and me, then you must have an ulterior motive."

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm bored. It's been a slow evening."

"My father re-emerged after almost a decade in exile to stage a coup against my brother and kidnap my bride."

"And that was this afternoon. Now it's evening."

"..."

"... ...What?"

"..."

"Stop looking at me like that."

"... You know. Don't you?"

"Know what?"

"You know my father wants me to be the next emperor. You're trying to suck up to me now because you're worried you'll be screwed after all the horrible shit you've done to me."

"That's... not what this is."

"Except there's no use in sucking up because — like I told 'Warrick' — I'm not taking the job. So you might as well go back to trying to impress my brother because that's who'll rule once all this is settled."

"Your brother. Now there's a sinking ship."

"Right. Because if he's no longer emperor, you no longer want to serve him. Should have seen that coming."

"No... If Thomas is not emperor, then I can't serve him. My papers transfer to whoever rules. Which makes me... technically Warrick's."

"...Since when did you have papers? I thought you were just some Lailoyan Thomas had trapped in his house."

"I was, until maybe my fifteenth escape attempt. At that point, Thomas had my service written into law."

"... I. ... I didn't know he did that."

"..."

"But then, that would make you bound to him. How are you bound to the crown?"

"Ehhhh. Thomas had a lingering fear that if he bound me to his person, I'd just get rid of him. He'd already caught me standing over him in his sleep a few times that month. So he had the inspired idea to bind me to his crown. When he was prince, it was his princely crown. When he became Regant, his emperor's crown. And now that that crown has been stolen, so have I. And were that crown to be passed to you, I would be passed to you as well. If you were emperor, I would be your servant."

"...No, you wouldn't."

"Legally, I would."

"Sure. Except you wouldn't."

"Ohhhhh wait wait, is this a game? I wouldn't be your servant... because you'd have me executed for my crimes. Right?"

"..."

"Or is it imprisoned? Or maybe you'd give me one of those cute little trials you gave Sybil, except you wouldn't ride in on a noble steed and rescue me, would you? You'd leave me to perish? Is that the notion?"

"...If I were emperor, you wouldn't be my servant because I wouldn't want one. I'd release you."

"..."

"..."

"Bullshit."

"..."

"You're lying."

"I have never liked the institution of servitude. Never. I think the way my brother treats you is beyond reprehensible. If I were emperor, I'd free you, give you some land, and maybe a even title... if you were able to refrain from assassinating me, that is."

"Bullshit. You're just saying that to get me on your side."

"I'm not. But I guess we'll never know, will we? Because I refuse to be emperor, so you'll never get to discover that I'm telling the truth."

"You'd pass up the chance to get revenge? Just like that."

A world-weary sigh.

"Right. Right... No revenge... ... Everything you've said sounds great, but... to be honest with you, Holden. I don't think I can believe you."

"Is that so? Dare I ask why not?"

A pause. Servant looked to prince. "Because if I did, I'd kill Thomas and Warrick tonight."

Footfall stopped. The prince looked back at the servant. For a moment, neither said a word or moved an inch. After a beat, the servant tossed his head, continued forward, and they made the rest of the trip to the tower in silence.

A/N:

Decided to try something a little different w this chapter! This style will not be in other chapters, but only this one.

Thanks for reading and remember to vote!