Our Royal Duties

Masquerade

Arthur sighed, frowning down at the long gown he wore. If he had disliked his wedding dress, then he absolutely loathed this one. It reached past his ankles and covered his feet, the silky red fabric that completely surrounded his lower half breaking only to show stripes of white with hearts on them that got bigger as the stripe got wider. With the dress, as if it weren’t enough, he wore a little silver tiara with a red heart-shaped gem in it. He stared at his reflection a little longer. “Francis, this… this is silly.” He muttered, looking back at his husband. Francis only chuckled, moving to stand next to him.

“Nonsense cher, you look fine…” he chuckled, placing his hands beside the puffy shoulders of Arthur’s dress. His own costume was, to say the least, quite flattering. A trimming of dark maroon colored fur surrounded his neck, holding up the red cloak that framed his body nicely. They each wore the same red slippers though; dancing slippers.

“I just don’t feel comfortable with this whole costume ball thing…”

“Ah, it is not simply a costume ball. It is the masquerade, and we have one every November Eve. I’ve told you this multiple times now…” he chuckled, pecking a kiss to Arthur’s cheek. Arthur just frowned, squirming a bit.

“Couldn’t I have at least worn a costume with a looser corset? At least for the baby’s sake…” he mumbled, placing his hands on his belly. After four months the little bump was really beginning to show, although it was all but completely concealed behind the flurry of lace and little hearts and the bindings of the tight corset. He jumped a bit at the strike of the nearest clock, sending it a fiery glare before crossing his arms and giving a huffy sigh.

“Nine o’clock cher…” murmured Francis, his hands running lightly down Arthur’s gloved arms before locking their fingers together, twirling Arthur to face him. “And on we go, to a nice of dancing…” He smiled, a nice contrast to the frown painted across Arthur’s red lips.

“Francis, I… I’m not quite sure that I can do this…” he mumbled, gently pulling their fingers apart.

“Arthur, amour, you’re going to be perfectly fine.” He chuckled, going to the vanity and taking their masks- which also matched- and placing one delicately over Arthur’s eyes. “It’s just a few hours, nobody will recognize you, and at the end of the night the masks come off and we can come back upstairs, oui?” He smiled a bit, setting his own mask so that it sat nicely on the bridge of his nose. Arthur just stared for a while, his frown becoming more evident.

“Francis, what if I’m not fine?” he asked, looking almost a little upset. “What if I’m not every bit as happy about this little event as you are? You’re going to have your two friends here, but all I have is you.” He stepped back a bit, his voice rising with every word. Francis noted this and matched the other’s steps, standing before him and grasping his arms.

“Arthur, calm down.” He said firmly. “You’re just getting a little moody, that’s all, it’s probably because of the baby-“

“And you know so much about the baby considering the amount of time you spend with it!” Arthur snapped back. “I stay here most days while you go out doing who knows what in who knows where. Sometimes I feel like you go out just to avoid me!”

“Arthur, please-“ Francis was near begging now, his hands lowering to Arthur’s and holding them in his own.

“Don’t you ‘Arthur please’ me!” he shouted, tearing his hands from his husband’s. He could almost feel tears in his eyes from the innermost thoughts he was now spilling out so easily, with no restraint to speak of. He gave Francis a last look, somewhat satisfied with the shock on his face, and stormed out of the room.