Servienne (LGBT)

17-Self-Reflection

A/N: ^ Maxence Danet Fauvel

Maxence D. Fauvel + Wynston Shannon combined is my vision for Aaron. Light, auburn-blond hair, brown eyes, fair, etc. He'd be like 5'7 and a secret bookworm who hates work and always uses studies as an excuse. Right now with the rebels, he's sort of motivated, but he's just so done. It took me a while to find a good image for how I imagine him, and even this isn't perfect, but I thought it was close enough. Floofy hair and all. So yeah, enjoy the chapter!

**Mild Maturity Warning**

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    The next few days were hell. It was him smiling and laughing around his uncle as usual, but simultaneously trying to push what he saw out of his mind. It wasn't so much what he witnessed as it was his reaction to it. It truly birthed that question in his mind: what had changed within him? Perhaps it was his father's proclamation, which had forced him to consider treating the servants more humanely in order for him to secure the throne. No, he knew the reason, he just didn't want to admit it. The truth only hit him when someone knocked on his bedroom door and he called them in, and his eyes locked with Noll's. Dread washed over him as Noll smiled, walking in and coming over. How could he face Noll after what he had allowed to happen to that servant girl? How could he smile and pretend like he was fine with all of that and that it was something normal? Servants should be taught their place, not beaten into submission.

  Noll sat down on the bed beside him, furrowing his eyebrows. "Are you alright, Aaron?" He asked worriedly, and when he went to take Aaron's hands, the prince couldn't help but pull his hand away fast, turning away from Noll so that he didn't have to look at him. Noll fell silent, but Aaron could feel the man's eyes. The air grew tense, Noll's words slicing through it in the worst way possible.

    "Is it the servant girl?"

  Flinching, Aaron felt his whole face drain of color. "The servants all know about it, but as usual, it's kept on the down-low. But they say that you tried to stop Sir Ivor at some point. Not much else is known on the matter; I don't think the girl wanted to talk about it much. Though, most people are upset that you let it happen even though you initially spoke against it." Of course they were. Not that he cared how a scullion or a butler thought about him if they whispered, but he was already disappointed in himself enough. He didn't feel like hearing about it from others. He felt sick to his stomach, and it worsened as Noll wrapped his arms around his waist from behind, burying his face into Aaron's shoulder. "I know you tried, Aaron. I know you did. It's okay," He said softly into his ear.

  "It..." Aaron forced Noll's arms away, sliding down the bed and getting off, facing away from Noll. "It's not okay, you idiot! Are you kidding me?" He pointed to the opposite side of the room. "I let it happen right over there. I had to help two people carry her to the infirmary while my uncle left to go get a fucking coffee. You say, it's alright. Are you kidding me, Noll? Nothing about this is alright!" He heard Noll moving, and when the man placed a hand on his shoulder gently, Aaron turned, face twisted with rage and terror. "I don't know why I even care, it's not like she was going to die or anything, I just," He bit his tongue, trying to force away his thoughts, but they would not gift him any peace of mind.

  "What are you doing to me? I hate it!" He smacked Noll's hand away, looking up at Noll to find a calm, complacent face. It merely infuriated him more. "Care about this! Do you feel nothing? This is wrong! Everything about this is twisted, from being disgusted by that scene to being like this with you," He scoffed, placing a hand on his own cheek in dismay. "This is absolutely ridiculous, I shouldn't be doing this!" He said, brushing past Noll, but a sharp hand snatched his wrist, and before he could look, Noll was moving, pushing him back onto the bed, pressing him against the mattress, holding him down by his wrists, towering over his body. Looking up, he found cold, stony, dark green eyes staring back at him.