The Stranger Beneath the Crumbling Crown

Chapter 4: A Scoundrel's Pet

A single year had passed... a year? Has it already been that long since I've come to this world? I mean technically its three years in my worlds terms, but it was still a year. Sometimes it feels like I've been here my whole life, while other times it feels just the same as the day I vowed to change. I adjusted my hair, moving my black ebony streaks behind my ear. The stream of vibrant gold fell onto the table below, a gold that was similarly alike to the boy in front of me's hair.

"Al? Are you alright? You look tired," the boy in front of me asked, concern peering underneath those vibrant red eyes. I smiled in reply, my eyes curling, as I practiced my memorised smile. A gentle smile meant to keep other's distance but still act kind... it was that kind of smile.

"I'm alright, your royal highness," I replied calmly. Unlike... our original meeting I had stopped with an innocent act. I suppose... I've moved to a more loyal servant-like act. Originally... I was foolish. Peering into his eyes I believed he was lonely and wanted a friend... but that would be a false idea of mine.

This boy didn't want a friend, but a loyal dog... so that's what I became. Something of a loyal knight... at the very most... I was no longer viewed as a worthless pawn. The more he would control me... the more he'd rely on me; the more he'd need me.

Behind the slightly opened door a few waiting maids lingered. I glanced outside of the door.

"Ah... but isn't he still the seventh prince's... I mean it's such a waste," the murmurs of a voice filled my ears.

"But he's just my type... even if he is working for that slob," the second maid mumbled back. Aren't they rather brave ladies? I mean... right in front of his room too. Although I guess they are the first princess's ladies-in-waiting.

"Isn't he considered a genius too?... Ah... but isn't he also with that snooty concubine—," the voices were cut off by a teacup being clattered down on the porcelain saucer. The noise startled me, as I turned back to the seventh prince

"Are you alright?" I asked, the same smile on my face. The seventh prince met my eyes, stuffing a macaron into his mouth. Swallowing it down, he opened his mouth to talk once again.

"Do you want to leave? Would it be easier to work for someone else?" He asked. His red eyes searched for an answer underneath my own golden ones. My own reflected expression shown back at me... it seems nowadays my acting skills and perception skills both matched.

"I promised I'd stay as long as you needed me... did I not? There's no need to worry," I replied. A memory arising in my head... how long ago was that? Perhaps 10 months ago? Ah... yes... when I truly dashed away my humanity.

— — — — —

"It seems like your studies are going well," the honey hair of a prince catching my eyes. My studies? Well... they were going pretty easily. Especially now that words gotten out about my hidden talents. My reputation had easily gotten raised... and my exotic appearance was doing me a favour now.

It wasn't difficult... actually... it was more simple than I thought. At first I questioned what to show, what to hide... but I figured going with a scholarly good-natured servant route would be most preferable for my goal. I merely showed skill in quick-learning... and adjusted from there. I got the title of prodigy. Well... it's not like it wasn't true. I've always been a fairly quick learner but I never paid much attention in school. The only subject I was good at was math... it always seemed simple to me... there was always a correct or wrong answer... it was simple.

My education seems to have still gotten me a pretty good boost. Even if I wasn't much of a study-bug I good grades, and I knew what I was doing, at the very least... and compared to this world's standard... I might as well be a genius.