His King |BL|

6 - Mistakes

It had been foolish of him to believe that the king would allow anyone but himself to meet his new consort. With wide eyes he looked to the handsome man, and then bowed immediately. "Your highn-" he began, but the man cut him off.

"Take a seat." He said. The king, who had moments ago been open, was suddenly short with Erick. It made his stomach churn. Nonetheless, Erick didn't say a single word and sat down quietly.

His heart was thumping deep in his chest and the anxiety was building.

Though the anxiety was very much prevalent within him, a part of Erick was completely enthralled and enamoured by the Kings' being.  He wondered whether his stay here would be as torturous as when he used to live at home.

Erick shook his head and tried to burry those thoughts. If the king was going to treat him like he had expected the king to treat him then there was nothing that would surprise him.

"Did you have a good journey?" The king asked, abruptly. Erick looked up at the handsome man.

"Yes." He responded, robotically, nodding several times. Everything that he had learnt about etiquette seemed to just go out the door. To be fair, he did not know how to respond. When Erick looked to the king again, he was caught off guard by the man's eyes. They were so bright and seemed to pierce right through him. "It was different from what I'm used to." he hastily added, "There is so much snow here. I have never seen so much snow in my life... it's so beautiful." He rambled nervously while looking at everything except at those blue eyes. But when he finally made eye contact, for a second time, Erick caught himself; "...Your highness." He added at the end. He wanted to slap himself silly; there he was, in front of royalty, and acting disrespectfully towards the king, again! It was outrageous.

Nothing prepared him for the chesty laughter that escaped from the king. The man's sharp features softened and his eyes crinkled at the corners. It was endearing. He looked so regal and delighted. He looked like a king, a good king; and nothing like the monster he had heard so much about. A strange sensation burned deep in Erick's chest; blood rushed to his cheeks making him blush.

For the first time in his life he was thankful for his tanned complexion because it never showed any signs of blushing; and in this instance, it had saved him from embarrassment.

"I'm glad to hear you have had a good time so far." The king said, "I apologise for my absence when you arrived, and not greeting you promptly. It was rather rude of me."

Erick smiled at the King, "It is quite alright, your highness."

"Please, none of this 'your highness' or formalities." The man spoke, raising a hand to silence Erick. "It would be too much of a hassle if my own consort had to call me 'highness' every time we spoke."

Erick nodded, not knowing what to say. It was considered discourteous and offensive to call a king, much less a King of his calibre, by their name or to be addressed by anything else other than their title.

It made him wonder; was the king as bad as the rumours made him out to be? The king was far from what the rumours had painted him to be. But then again, it could all be just an act.

"Perhaps, introductions are a good place to start..." He said, smiling at Erick. "It not kosher to start without a proper introduction."

Erick nodded; after all, agreeing to the suggestion was all Erick could do. Besides, he knew nothing about the man he was meant to marry; and a part of him understood that if the king liked him now then there was a chance that the king may spare him when the time came. Maybe it wouldn't end so badly, maybe he could get away with his life intact, or so he hoped.