The Servant Queen

The Strange Butler

Ani

"No," Walter said.

I stood up.

"Why not?" I said.

"You have no need to see that Guard. Right now, the only 'man' that you should be interested in is Prince Charles."

"I'm not interested romantically with Keith. He used to be my close friend! I just forgot about him," I said.

"Then he wasn't your close friend if you had forgotten him that easily!" Walter said, raising his voice.

"No, that's not it, Walter..."

He turned away from me and walked toward the door. "Go to bed, Ani. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow."

He opened the door.

"Walter!" I said, "Please... I need to see him. I have to apologize..."

Walter ignored me and shut the door. I didn't get up from my seat. A butler sat across from me, and he plopped one of the grapes in the bowl in his mouth. I didn't notice his presence until now.

"Yo," said the butler.

"Hello," I said, looking down and poking my food.

He laughed quietly.

"Sir Green seemed jealous," he said.

I looked up at him. "What?"

"Just talking to myself." He stood up and looked at me. "Do you want me to lead you to your bedroom?"

"No, it's okay," I said. "I want to stay here a bit longer."

"I shouldn't have asked you. I meant to say, 'I'm going to lead you to your bedroom.' Come on," he said.

I nodded.

The young butler had dark skin with white hair tied up into a small ponytail. He was light on his feet too. I followed him into the hallway towards my room. The wind blew from the large window and his black coattail fluttered. He had a fancy thin sword on his waist which the other butlers did not have.

"I can bring you to that Keith Plizge guy. We can go together," he said suddenly.

"But, Walter probably wouldn't let me..." I said.

"True that. That guy is such a party pooper. I hate him."

I laughed.

"You shouldn't say that. He's your boss," I exclaimed.

The butler gave a small smile. "Not really. I'm my own boss!"

He skipped a few seconds.

"Well, you're a strange butler," I said.

He poked my forehead.

"And you're a strange girl," said the butler.

We saw Ms. Weatherbottom along the way. I waved at her. I suppose Keith can wait. I have a whole life to meet up with him. I finally felt warmer this household as if this place was really my home. The people here seemed really nice. Ms. Weatherbottom's eyes widened when she saw me. She ran towards me.

"Ms. Ani!" Ms. Weatherbottom yelled out. "Get away from that man!"

I was startled.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

I looked at the butler.

"Yeah, what do you mean?" said the butler to her. He tilted his head with a hint of a mischievous smile.

"Ani, he's not one of the butlers that work here," Ms. Weatherbottom said.

I tugged onto his coat sleeve, gently. "What? Is that tru—"

He grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to his body. I accidentally cried out. He held out his slim sword near my neck.

"Shh, dear Ani," the butler said. "Scream out and something might happen to you."

"Let me go!" I yelled.

"Spy!" Ms. Weatherbottom screamed. "Intruder!"

"Ugh, you both don't really listen." He pushed me aside in Ms. Weatherbottom's arms and jumped onto the window's ledge.

"Hey, Ani. You're different than the younger sister of Walter of my imagination," he said. "I imagined a spoiled brat."

People were rushing from both sides of the hallway with swords and spears, yelling.

"But weirdly, I don't see one," he said. He stood up straight and fell backwards out of the window with his arms wide open.

When I suddenly realized that we were on the third floor, I rushed to the window to look down. He was standing up on his feet, unharmed, and saluted to me.

"Till next time, Ani!" he said and ran away.

A/N: Holy cow. Am I making a harem or what?

And I don't really want to ask for this all the time, but is it alright if you vote for my story if you like it? I would really appreciate it. :,)

Votes are my driving force for writing more. But, I'll continue to write even if I don't get votes anyways...