His Little Heir

Baby Steps

     Click... Clack.... Click... Clack.
The sound of her flats hitting the white tile made his heart pound. Heavier strides echoed hers, most likely Quill attempting to match her slower pace. The clicking grew stronger until the the pair appeared in the foyer.
     "This is it, Daya. Good luck!" Quill waved to his superior, clearly in a good mood.
     But Leon wasn't. His servant, nothing but a slave, had called her Daya, neglecting to use her title. Leon would have to teach that boy some respect.
     "Bye Quill, thanks for everything!"
     Her smile was genuine, it was real, and good lord, it was beautiful. Daya's posture was relaxed, something he hadn't seen when she came in. The energy that radiated off of her happiness was intoxicating.
     And he wanted more.
   
     She was dressed in a white v neck, it's dip teasing him, and black leggings that hugged her waste. Leon could feel himself melting for her; he hadn't even been alone with her and yet, Daya already had him wrapped around her perfect little finger.
     His anger began to dissipate. Of course, his servant still needed to know his place, but it could wait. Leon was much more focused on something else.
    
     Daya plopped down on the couch next to her father, who Brandon had brought in a few minutes before. Her posture immediately shifted. Daya sat up straight rather than leaning back; her thumbs twittled in her lap. The princess's breaths were short, shallow even. Her eyes looked everywhere but to him; Leon had to do something.
  
   "So princess, how do you like Faye castle?"
     Daya flinched, only to put on her plaster smile a second later. She was afraid of him, no doubt, and the sun had barely set on her first day in Fashad.

     "Is there something wrong, Princess Daya?"
     "Oh, no, n-not at all. The gold is just a little overwhelming for me."
     Stuttering, she was stuttering.

     Brandon's days were numbered

     "What do you mean?"
     "It gives me headaches if I look at it for too long, but i-it's not a big deal, King Leon, really. I'll get used to it."
     "I guess that means I'll have to replace all the golden furniture in our bedroom, then."

     Daya's face began to pale, her eyes widening. Our bedroom? How could he have been so stupid?

     Don held his daughter's hand: "I think what he means, sweetie, is when the two of you become more comfortable with eachother. Of course, the you can have separate bedrooms until then, right King Leon?"
     "Of course! Princess, above anything else, I want you to be comfortable with me. If there's anything at all you don't like, or are concerned about, please tell me."
     Daya nodded. "O-Okay. I'm sorry I just assumed-"
     "No, no. Please don't be sorry. If you're questioning the remarks my servant, Brandon, made earlier, I would never ever even think about laying a finger on you like that if you weren't okay with it. I wouldn't be able to look at you if I even thought about making you wear something like that. I-I couldn't live with myself."

He watched the coils of fear loosen around her as Daya alowed herself to lean back slightly; it wasn't the level of comfortable he wanted, but it was a start.

 
  "Will he be reprimanded?" Don was the first to break the silence.
     "Definately. Anyone with that level of disrespect should not be sitting among my most trusted staff, and for him to disrespect your daughter of all people... unacceptable."
It was getting difficult to keep his eyes on Quishea's leader. Leon felt his gaze shifting back  to Daya with every sentence, but he had to focus; she wasn't his yet.

    
     "King Leon?" Her voice carried a slight tone of hesitance.
     "Yes?"
     "Quishea' and Fashad have had, well, a troubled past. And if I were to marry you, I'm afraid your people may not..  handle it well."
     "You'll have plenty of time to learn Fashad's people and culture. And well, I think they'll love you. You've got everything we haven't seen in a queen in a long, long time. I can't say that they won't be opposed to it at first, Princess Daya, but with time, they'll come around."
     "And if they don't?"
     "I'm sure they will, but if not, I'll protect you."
     She narrowed her eyes. "Who says I'll need you to save me?"

     Good god, he was in so much trouble.

Don adjusted his glasses.
 
     "King Leon, I know our kingdoms have clashed, but please, let my daughter be a small portion of the peace we offer to you," he took deep breath, "However, Daya is still my little girl, and Quishea' my home. I want to make sure that both are protected here."
     "I assure you, you have nothing to worry about."
     "I'm sure that I don't, but I have to look out for my people. So, my first condition is that you will not immediately gain power of Quishea' and it's assets. That being said, I understand if you do not wish for Daya to have immediate power over Fashad."
     "Daya will rule by my side sir, and I by hers."
     "I understand your reservations, your majesty, but I have to look out for my kingdom."
     "I completely get that, but when will I be able to share Quishea's control with her?"
     "It's quite simple: You'll take control of Quishea with my daughter when the two of you produce an heir."

     Daya rose from the couch, but she wasn't fast enough; Don grabbed her arm.
    
     "Daya, please..."

     Leon didn't remember springing to his feet, but he was somehow standing up, towering over the older man.
     "Let her go."
     "No, she needs to learn-"
     "Let her go!" he didn't mean to shout, but the damage was already done. Don's grip loosened just enough for her to escape.
     He watched her run across the foyer, and out of his sight. Daya's flats clicked with every step, until he could hear them no longer.

     "Oh Daya..." Don ran his fingers through his hair, "I've been treating her like trash this whole trip."
     "I-I didn't mean to yell. I-I'm sorry."
     "She isn't usually like this, Leon. Can I call you that?," Leon nodded. 

The senior man continued: "Poor thing, she's just so tired. Hasn't eaten all day either.."
     "She hasn't eaten?"
     "No, she got sick on the plane. Barely could eat some crackers when we landed."
      "Well, how would she feel about some potato soup, Don?
      "I think she'd love that, Leon."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

     He stood outside her door, holding the hot bowl with a potholder. Leon raised his free hand to the black painted oak.
     "Hey, uh, Daya, can I call you that? Well if I can, I was um, wondering if uh we could talk."
     He got no answer.
     "Daya?" He raised his fist to knock again, but the door swung open.

     Her hair was a mess, springing out in all directions. The t shirt's fabric was wrinkled in a variety of patterns. Daya's eyes, he saw even when they were half open, were puffy, most likely from crying.
     "I-I brought you some soup. Your dad said that you didn't eat much so I thought..."
     She blinked a few times, still taking in her surroundings.
    "What?"
     "It's Leon, I brought you some potato soup."
     She rubbed her eyes and paused to look at his face.

     "The soup... is for me?"
     He couldn't help but find her adorable like this. Leon could imagine her laying in bed next to him after a passionate night together; her sleepy form just babbling away about babies and children, about what they would name their little heir..
   
     Baby steps, he needed to take baby steps.

     "Yes Daya, it's for you. Who else would it be for?
     "You're giving it to someone else?"
     Leon couldn't help it, his laughter fought his way to the surface.
   

    "Why are you laughing at me?" she put her hands on her hips like a pouting child.
    
     God, why was she so cute like this?

    "Your soup's getting cold."
     "Cold soup is gross." Daya furrowed her brow.
     "Exactly, so can I come in now?" Leon shifted the potato concoction to his other hand.
     "If you bring the soup."

     Before he could say anything else, she turned around, leaving the door open for him to follow. Leon passed the bowl to her, handing her the spoon. Daya dipped it in and raised it to her lips.

     "So, what do you think?" Leon watched as she swallowed.

     I think it's cold."

00000000000000000000000000000000

1,436 words! One of my longest chapters yet, so thank you so so much if you made it all the way through! Don't know when I will update next, but I'll try to make it about the same length since I haven't been updating as much. See you next chapter! 💜