Snow's White | ✓

20. Wearing Red

Dawn just breaking, Keir pulled on his shirt and leather riding trousers, buckling his boots as he held his dark hair cord between his teeth. Pulling his dark hair messily behind his head, he secured it before grabbing his cloak off the edge of his bed. Despite being spring, mornings were still pleasantly chilly, warming up by the early afternoon. Before he left his chambers, Keir quickly grabbed a buttered roll from a tray left by his desk, chewing on it as he quickly walked to the stables. 

The prince did not sleep peacefully last night, only managing a few hours of shuteye when his mind completely collapsed in fitful exhaustion. He kept replaying last night's events in his mind, cursing himself for letting the drink and his desires consume him. Lucas's lips had been so warm and so soft, his lower lip fitting perfectly in the space between them. Before he knew it, he had been sent staggering back, Lucas's hands slamming into his chest. Keir sobered up quickly, dread filling him.

Grimacing, Keir briskly walked past the bowing servants and stablehands, going straight to Persephone, who pounded her hooves happily on the ground as she saw him approaching. Keir smiled a little as the horse whinnied, resting her chin on his shoulder as he stroked her neck.

"You always make me feel better, girl," Keir laughed, kissing Persephone's muzzle as she neighed happily, Keir feeding her a carrot to her delight.

"Prince Keir!" a bright voice yelped behind him, Keir turning around to find Finnian bowing deeply, almost falling over as he tried to do so with the large bale of hay in his hands. The shorter boy was swamped by his cargo, his mop of bright red hair just peeking about the top of the hay pile.

"Finnian," Keir laughed, as the bundles of hay wobbled, Finnian gasping as the top wad slipped off the tower. Keir rushed to the boy's side, chuckling as he stabilised the tumbling tower of hay, Finnian blushing in embarrassment. 

"Apologies, Your Highness. To make you have to help a lowly servant like me..." Finnian wailed, lowering the hay into the stable before falling onto his knees, bowing his head to the ground. "Please forgive me!"

"Finnian, raise your head," Keir laughed, pulling the boy to his feet as he sniffled, green eyes watery. "You seem to be working very hard. How are you faring?"

"I thank you for your concern," Finnian said, wiping his eyes as he grinned widely, wiping his dirty hands on the front of his dirt-streaked pants. "But this is the minimum I have to do! The person who had this job before me always cared for the horses to the highest standard, so I must do the same!"

Keir nodded sadly, remembering the way Ahri tended so carefully to the horses. Keir often found himself wondering where his former lover had gone, whether he went back to his homeland or found a job at some other nobleman's palace. Keir just wished he could have talked to the man one more time, but now it was too late.

Just like how it's too late to take back what he did to Lucas.

"Your Highness?" Finnian asked, and Keir blinked as he turned to the boy again, who was looking up at him with creased brows drawn down in concern. "Is everything alright?"

"Not really," Keir admitted, laughing as Finnian's mouth open and closed as he tried to find words of comfort, his fingers twiddling as he floundered. "It'll pass."

"Well, if there is anything I can do, please just let me know!" Finnian said earnestly, his eyes, as green as the lush leaves lining the forests, filled with determination. Keir found himself smiling at the boy before him. Something about his innocence and light-hearted nature made Keir enjoy his company, in a completely different way from Ahri. Where Ahri provided him with heated distractions with his body, Finnian's pure smiles and genuinely flustered attempts at trying his best made the prince feel lighter.