a butler's tale (EXO - TaoRis - fanfic)

On a day so bittersweet, where the sun shines and the sky cries…

“Get the hell out of my office!”

                Tao flinched from outside the door, heart racing at an incredible rate.  Inside, he heard feet running towards the door, which flung open a few seconds later.  A beautiful, almost perfect, blonde beauty ran out with tears running down her pale cheeks.  She glanced at Tao, shook her head, and ran down the wide, long halls of his home. He shook his head; yet another princess rejected.

                He straightened his coat as he watched her run down the halls until she disappeared from turning a corner.  Tao turned around and fixed his posture, raising his hand and knocking on the ancient door thrice.  There was a grunt behind it and he opened the door, stepping inside elegantly.

                “Pardon my intrusion, your Highness,” he greeted the prince, who was running his hand through his golden hair angrily. “Are you okay?”

                The prince lifted his eyes and calmed down as soon as they rested on his butler’s worried face. He straightened up and let out a sigh. “I’m fine, Tao.  Did you finish the preparations for tonight?”

                “Yes, your Highness,” Tao answered right away.  He took a few steps forward and handed the prince a file full of papers.  The prince looked up at Tao before looking down at the file and skimming through the papers.

                “What are these for?”

                “Your father requested that you sign these, but for reasons I do not know.  They are classified as to my knowledge, so I apologize, your Highness.”

                He shook his head once again. “Don’t sweat it Tao.  It probably involved yet another truce with the other princes at the castle, or something to do for my wedding.”

                The butler bit his lip.  His heart raced at his Highness’s last word.  They’ve been the best of friends since young, and his family took him in as a butler when they found him alone, starving, and cold on the street.  Tao’s family has been murdered by a rival nation when the nations went into war fourteen years ago.

                Now they are both twenty, grown, and both having responsibilities.  Him serving his best friend as his loyal butler, and his best friend preparing to be wedded with one of the neighboring princesses so he can take heir to the throne here at the Lao Tien Yeh Empire. The thoughts played through Tao’s head and grew sad.  Mentally, he shook his head and gazed steadily down at his beloved prince.

                Who knew one-sided love hurts this much?

                “Tao,” his Highness spoke up. “How much hours before the ball?”

                “Approximately seven hours and twenty three minutes, your Highness.” He responded smartly.

                He nodded and stood up; glancing down at the papers once again, “Take me to Vultaria Kingdom please.”

                “May I presume why?”

                Prince Yi Fan had a serious expression cross his face. “I just need to talk to Prince Yixing, and that is all I’m going to say.”

                Tao nodded briskly and left the office, a frown forming on his face almost instantly.  His Highness can’t be up to any good.  No one else would know him better than Tao.  Compared to the other princes, only he and Prince Chanyeol are the delinquents.  Tao nodded and bowed formally when her Highness Veronica, Prince Kevin or Yi Fan’s younger sister.  She smiled cheerfully at him and he hurried off down the halls of the castle.  Five minutes of quickly walking the halls and down the long staircase, he caught his breath once his face met the warm sun and he went towards the car.