WELCOME BACK TO

THE WORLD OF

…THE ROYAL BODYGUARD…

So Far in the Story:

'The Royal Bodyguard' (Completed)

Yet to Come:

'Alone Together' (June)

'Mein Schatz' (September)

'Red Banner' (December)

'The Royal Gardes du Corps Féminin' (TRB's Sequel)(2020)

On the Timeline:

- Set after the anime, and references the anime-original backstory therein.

- Set during Volume 7 of the manga.

- Set between 'Chapter 38: We Are Rivals!' and 'Chapter 39: Twinkling Love'.

Backstory

Manga and anime plot information has been combined and streamlined, with the idea that the characters are continuing through the manga storyline after having learned the backstory information from the anime.

Headcanons:

- (Dead!Queen) In an attempt to rationalise why the queen is barely mentioned in the series, I went this route. Volume 10, in which Adele vaguely hints that the queen is alive, was not in print at the time of writing. If the manga confirms that the queen is indeed alive, then I will rework that subplot to be canon-compliant when I edit the TRB series.

Personal Canons

- (Bodyguard!Canon-Compliant AU) Bodyguards are an established part of the TRT Universe, and if a character can be one and still be canon-compliant, then it's definitely happening.

Notes:

- Canon-Compliant: Yes

- OC's: Yes

- Warnings: Angst in spades, but this is more cute and fluffy than the main story. Enjoy.

- Spoilers: Obviously, anime spoilers. And if I ever need to include major spoilers for the manga in TRB, I'll tag that chapter with an Author's Note.

TRB Project Progress:

Once I've finished writing the TRB series, then I'll go back through and edit for series consistency and canon compliancy. Edited stories (a quick once-over) will be tagged '(Edited),' and revised stories (a massive overhaul) will one day be tagged with a '(Revised)'.

This Story Is Dedicated To:

Very-Dark-Grey Kitsune

Loved and admired more than you know.

And without further ado...

…IT'S TIME FOR A LESSON…

~ Heine ~

It feels stranger than it should to be holding a book instead of a gun.

I turn the pages one at a time, my eyes drifting over the words. It feels like slowly stepping into a bath, with a temperature so mild that you can't make up your mind whether it's cold or hot. After literally reading from sunrise to sunset, it seems that my concentration is starting to fade a little.

I may as well be trying to read with my glasses off and my vision is horrendously poor.

I close the book — a comprehensive guide to modern literary terms — with a thump that echoes throughout my room. My chambers are lit with a fading sunset, with an overly-large bouquet of fresh flowers spilling from the vase at my bedside. A fresh cup of tea smokes and steams beneath the flowers and greenery.

I exhale; push my glasses up, and flex my fingers. I confess, I often find that my height puts me at a disadvantage, but it was only after being confined to bed rest, indefinitely, that I realised how grateful I was for the little height that I had when I had the ability to stand. I only held the position of the princes' personal guard for a week, but that short period of time had long-reaching effects. It was a week of insane political drama and kidnappings and poisonings and shootings and we wrapped out all of that with a fight on the water that took down an entire ship. One that I hope was insured, for that matter…

But regardless, that mess is done and my time in active service has also come to an abrupt close, because of my injuries, amongst other reasons. Now my only task is to continue to groom the princes to the throne, and I for one am more than happy to work behind a desk once more, rather than in the shadows and behind the scenes.

The clock ticks, and I check my pocket watch.

Soon, the princes will show up for a 'group lesson' that I asked them to attend— a meeting where I'll have to give them some news. News that will likely upset their little royal solar system much in the same way that my arrival at the palace once did.

I check my pocket watch again. It's nearly four. The same time that I held my first ever group lesson with the princes.

Yet things have certainly changed since I came to the palace, and this time I don't have to wonder if all the princes will show up — it's only a question of how.

Bruno crashes into the room on the stroke of ten minutes to four, eyes sparkling and a stack of books under his arm. 'Master! I was able to arrive precisely ten minutes early! My blasted pocket watch was working this time!'

I smile wryly at his theatrics. 'Very good, Prince. It's nice to see you.'

He crosses the room and places the books in a neat stack on my bedside, dropping to one knee to adjust the pile and make it as symmetrical as possible. I notice that the titles are already alphabeticised. 'I fetched the books you asked me to bring, Master. …I recall you said that you had nearly finished the novels I brought you last time; did you wish me to find you some more?'

'I did finish them, thank you.' I pass him two hardback tomes. Collectively, they're thicker than my waist. 'I'd read the Gherman translations of "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina" during my teaching studies, but I figured that as I had the time on my hands then I should read them in their original languages.'

Bruno leans against the bed, and manages a laugh. 'My word, Master… Most people don't read one-thousand books in foreign languages for fun. Impressive, as always.' He takes the topmost volume and opens it up, tracing a finger down the words written in the language of Orosz. 'I don't read much fiction myself… perhaps I should attempt to rectify that.'

'We could begin some foreign literatures studies, perhaps,' I suggest. 'And on that note, you may find "Les Misérables" easier if you wish to attempt reading in a foreign language, as it's written in the language of Fonseine — '

The door slams open. 'Heine-doll!'

Bruno slaps the book shut and turns Licht, who poses with one arm on the doorframe and a confident grin on his face. 'Brother, how many times do we have to — '

'Yeah, yeah.' He leans back into the hall. 'Hey, girls?'

I can't think of a facial expression that fits with what I want to say. 'Why… exactly… do you have your entourage with you, may I ask?'

'Because they all have get well presents for you!' Licht says, and three of the prince's girlfriends dart around him like butterflies, loading him up with flowers and chocolate, then they push past him, framed in the doorway with teary, heartfelt expressions, and say in unison, 'Get well soon, Heine-darling!'

Bruno has to turn away before the view that the girls' leaning forward provides pushes him over the edge. I force a smile, yet I don't have to try terribly hard. The girls' concern actually appears to be genuine. 'Thank you, ladies.'

'You don't need to worry, my darlings,' Licht says, and takes their sniffling and sobbing on his shoulders all in stride. 'It could have been far worse!' He winks. 'I can think of many an injury to befall a such a handsome man and trust me, it could have been much worse — '

'Licht!' Bruno yells. 'I can't even be bothered grasping the specifics of whatever lewd insinuation you're making, but take your women and get yourself out of here now!'

'"Women"?!' one of the girls protests. 'How cold!'

'You're so cold, Prince Brunie!' the second wails.

And the third tops it off with the lament, 'He'd be perfectly fanciable if only he weren't always so cross!'

'What the de— OUT ALREADY!'

The girls sigh and sulk and smother Licht with such kisses that make me wish for a pitcher of water to wash out my eyes with, and with kind farewells for Licht and I and glares for Bruno, the girls take their exit.

'Licht!' Bruno snatches Licht by the collar of his jacket as he walks up and hauls him to the floor for a lecture. 'One: I told you to get out! And two: Can you leave your seraglio in your rooms and not bring those… shameless hussies with you whithersoever you go?!'

'Jeez, I'm meant to be here for a meeting with the rest of you, so how am I meant to… wait, what's a seraglio?'

'What do you think it means?!'

'I think it means you spend too much time reading the dictionary!'

'And enough of your flippancy!'

'And enough of your complaining, or you're not getting any chocolate!' Licht says and dumps his spoils all over the bed. He looks over at me, and his grin softens. 'Hey, Teach. How are you feeling?'

'I'm feeling fine, Prince, thank you.'

'That's good.' He takes my hand in his and gently rubs his cheek against the back of my hand, like an affectionate kitten. 'I'm glad.'

He lets me go and indicates the pile of glittering foil and paper packaging with a shameless gesture. 'Anyway, as I was saying. Sweets from the girls, and flowers too. A lot of them, as you can see.' He picks up a box of chocolates and gives them to me with a smile. 'These ones are from yours truly.'

'My, thank you.' I glance over at the half-empty box of confectionery that sits on a nearby sidetable. 'But I must confess, I have not even finished the last box of sweets you brought me…'

'Ah, well, I did only give those to you the other day.'

'On that note, why more…?'

Licht rummages through the confectionery, and examines a few of the packages. 'I was out with the girls and we found this great little confectioner's place by our favourite caberet, so I — '

Bruno groans. 'D_it, Licht, the chocolate's probably contaminated by proximity. You should return it to the shop at once.'

'Do you want some or not?' Licht demands.

Bruno hesitates. Then grumbles and gives in. 'Fine. If Master wishes to share it — as it's been gifted to him and is no longer in your possession — then yes, I would.'

'Oh. Eh… Heine?'

'Yes, yes, help yourselves. There's no way on earth I'll ever be able to eat all that, but thank you for the kind gifts regardless.'

'Yay!' Licht laughs and tosses a caramel at Bruno, who catches it with an unamused expression. 'Oh for goodness' sake, Brunie, you know those are your favourite.'

Licht picks up a bar of milk chocolate, and Bruno rounds in for the kill. 'Milk chocolate? My, how ordinary…'

'Geh…'

I gingerly open a box of individually-wrapped chocolates and taste one, only to realise that they're chocolate liqueurs. A treat, certainly, but anything alcoholic is probably not the best for my health, especially as I still have healing wounds. It's only been about a week since we managed to sink an entire ocean liner in our efforts to save the kingdom, and for two of those days I've been unconscious. So I'm far from being fully recovered, just yet.

Licht sighs and rests his elbows on the bed. 'Yeah, I know this is a little… much, but I was telling the girls all about how you got injured, and they were in tears, I tell you. They wanted to give you some get well presents, out of the goodness of their hearts!'

'Out of the depths of their pockets, more like,' Bruno mutters.

'Their pockets paid for that caramel you're eating, so — '

Kai slips into the room with a sheaf of paper under his arm. 'Hi… Teacher.'

'Prince Kai,' I say, and nod.

He crosses the room and greets me with a smile. 'I finished the homework you gave me the other week…'

I take the papers he hands over, and I flick through them. 'Wonderful. Thank you. That reminds me, you've had your week of school holidays as promised, so that means it's back to school next week.' Licht groans, and I bite back a smile. Even though they're princes of the realm, in some ways they'll always be ordinary teenagers. 'No fussing,' I say.

'Sorry, sorry,' Licht says, 'It was instinctive whinging.'

'Fair enough.' I hesitate, somewhat embarrassed. 'On that note, I… I'm still not… I've been told that I can't risk overexertion at this point, so I'll have to teach you from here. I'm sorry — '

'No, of course not!' all three of them protest.

I smile, but I still feel a touch guilty about it. 'I would come and teach your lessons as per usual, but your father previously forbade me to get out of bed… and my legs are not currently serviceable, either.'

'Stop worrying about it, Heine-darling!' Licht takes my hand again, and says, 'Besides, you're far more important, so take the time you need to get well!'

'Licht is right,' Kai says. 'We're all able to study on our own, and we can take your lessons here in your room when it's needed… It's fine.'

'…Mm,' I murmur. 'Thank you. But some would say that the education of the kingdom's princes was actually more important than…'

'Nyeh.' Licht makes a disagreeing noise. 'Bruno here is already an over-educated braniac genius child — so it's not as though he's going to drop back a grade the moment you take your eyes off him. And the same more or less goes for the rest of us.'

Bruno looks as though he doesn't know whether to confirm or deny, so he just glares at Licht. 'I suppose, but — ' His expression changes. 'Ah. Well, there is Leonhard…'

'What about him?' I can feel faint traces of panic beginning to well up. 'Has he been struggling with trying to study on his own again? I knew it, I — '

'No!' Licht protests, trying not to laugh. 'Bruno was speaking generally; he's fine! He'll probably be a little panicked at having to study on his own a lot at first, that's all! So stop worrying, Mom — '

Leonhard blasts through the door and trips and crashes headlong into the foot of the bed. 'OW!'

I raise an eyebrow. 'Prince, are you — '

His head pops up and he blurts out, 'It's not four, right?! I mean, it's almost four but I'm not late am I — '

And the clock strikes the hour.

Leonhard collapses over the end of the bed and gasps for breath. 'Oh thank goodness…'

'I thought Bruno was the punctuality freak,' Licht observes.

'Licht!'

Leonhard pulls himself together, and blushes in embarrassment. 'I just figured I'd try and get here on time… for once… Hey, Heine.'

'Hello, Prince.'

But then Leonhard registers the chocolates scattered over the bed, and his eyes light up. 'What on earth — a sweets party? Why'd you start without meee?!'

'Eh, well…' Licht shrugs and says, 'You're here now, aren't you?'

'Fair point.' And Leonhard pops the lid off a jar of chocolate buttons, offering them to Bruno as well. 'Chocolate, Bruno?'

'Don't I get any?' Licht teases.

Leonhard flicks a chocolate button in his direction, then passes the jar over to Kai. 'Don't eat them all — '

'Like you're one to talk!'

'How dare you! I'm a mature adult, and since when did I ever eat too many sweets?!'

'Uh, I don't think you want me to answer that…'

I smile, watching the four of them laughing and talking. And I decide that I better bite the bullet and get this over with.

'Could I ask you to help me clean this up, Prince Licht? I asked you all here to talk about something, not have a sweets party, I'm afraid.'

'Yeah, yeah — Bruno, clean it up,' Licht orders.

'Where on earth do you get off on that?'

'Delegating — it's an essential skill for all candidates of the throne.'

'I'll help,' Kai offers. He and Leonhard begin shovelling chocolates back into the boxes they fell out of, and placing those boxes back in their gift bags.

Bruno and Licht pitch in as well, and Licht remarks, 'It's almost like Valentine's Day with all of this stuff…'

'What's Valentine's Day?' Leonhard asks. He catches a few stray chocolates that I toss in his direction, but doesn't forget the question

'…I'm not even going to get started on that,' Licht says.

'It's a holiday where people give each other flowers and chocolates and things,' Bruno says wearily.

Leonhard perks up. 'Chocolate? Why haven't I heard of this before?!'

'Maybe because it's a holiday where lovers give each other flowers and chocolates and things as tokens of their fiery passionate luuurve and you don't have a girlfriend?'

'…What? Gross! Can't you just have the chocolate without all of… whatever you just said?'

'But that's the whole point! And there are some great kissing games you can play with chocolate — '

Bruno claps a hand over Licht's mouth and sits him down on a chair. 'That's enough of that nonsense, brother mine.'

'Fine, fine.'

'…Kissing games?'

'N-Nothing you need to hear about at your age, Leonhard!'

Leonhard frowned. 'But Licht is younger than I am and he's the one that brought it up — '

Bruno sits Leonhard down and pushes Kai into a chair and takes a seat himself so fast that he nearly tips his chair over. 'So what did you wish to talk to us about, dear Master?!'

'…Ah. Yes, right.' I collect my thoughts, take a deep breath, and exhale.

'I've asked you here because I need to tell you all something, something that is going to bring some changes to the palace…'

To be continued…