Little Princess
Ketti:Not my longest chapter ever or anything, but, psh. At least I'm posting again. XD A multi update because my fuzzy vision made it harder to focus on writing. I have a few ideas for this story for at least two more chapters. XD Inspired by the tea party in Juballi's Lost In The Dream. I can't help it if I like that one. *shifty eyes*
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The No Life King sat on his throne, looking over a scroll delivered scant moments ago when there was a small thud as something impacted with the double doors. He glanced up curiously, and watched as a little blonde child, surely no more than four, scampered into the room, giggling like a fiend behind her hands. The little girl wobbled for a moment as she stumbled on her skirts, and the courtiers watched with bated breath as she caught herself and jumped up the steps to the throne. Silence filled the vast throne room, all eyes on the little girl as she gave the King a gap toothed smile. "Ca'd!" She squealed, arms reaching up towards him, "Up, up!"
One of the Ladies took a step forward, hand outstretched, perhaps to stop the King from striking the child, only to stop in amazement as he bent at the waist and scooped the girl up into his lap. "Ca'd!" She repeated, bouncing eagerly on his knee, "Mummy told me to..." she paused, face screwed up in thought, "ask fo' a … fwiend. What's a fwiend?"
The King chortled, the sound dark and menacing to his court, and stood with the little girl tucked into the crook of his arm. "A friend, Little One? Hmmm…" He tapped his chin in thought, ginger gaze sweeping the Lords and Ladies who all froze and took a step back, eyes averted. He focused on the one who had reacted to the child's presence at his feet, and strolled in her direction.
"Lady Linwood," he purred, "can you tell the girl what a friend is?"
She swallowed, gold eyes darting about nervously before she straightened to her wholly unimpressive height, gloved hands fisted in her matching gold skirts. "Of course, m'lord."
Turning to the child in his arms, she smiled, dainty fangs glinting in the light of the vast room, "What's your name sweetie?"
The toddler blinked solemnly at her before giggling and waving excitedly, "My name is Sewas!"
"Hello, Seras," she curtsied, "the King tells me you want to know what a friend is," she announced with playful solemnity. Seras nodded excitedly, while the Vampire King watched with an amused twist of his lips.
"A friend," Lady Linwood began, "is a very special person, who cheers you up when you're sad, and will always play with you when you're bored or lonely. Having friends is a wonderful thing, Lady Seras."
Seras gasped in awe and looked up at the King, blue eyes wide with delight. "Can I have a fwiend?"
He tipped his face down to her, red meeting blue, and then he smiled – and a few of the watching gentry gasped in fear – his own fangs much larger and more impressive than Lady Linwood's. "Of course you can," he purred, squeezing her just a bit tighter, "can't she?" He looked up at his court with a menacing glare, and they all gulped nervously before nodding fervently, voices jumbled together in their chorus of agreement. "You see, Little One?" He cooed sweetly, "they'll be your friends."
Seras clapped her pudgy hands together and laughed, the sound angelic and pure. "Fwiends! Fwiends for Sewas! Yaaay!"
"Indeed," he hummed, petting her little head indulgently. "Now, Seras," he began, tone serious, "why don't you go play with your new friend? I have work to do."
Seras pouted a bit, but nodded obediently, and held her arms out to Lady Linwood, fingers wiggling. "Tea pa'ty!"
"Yes," he agreed, staring over her head at the Lady with a vicious smirk twisting his lips, "go have a tea party with your new friend."
Lady Linwood trembled, but bowed her head, curtseying once more as she reached mildly shaking arms out for the child. "Of course," she agreed, "we'll gather all your dolls, Seras, and have a grand tea party. Won't that be fun?"
The four year old clambered up the Lady's arms to wrap her tiny ones around the brunette's shoulders, waving behind Lady Linwood's back as they exited the throne room.
Silence followed their exit, and the King returned to his throne to finish reading the missive, as if nothing had happened.
In the back rows, some of the courtiers stirred with whispers; Who's that human child? Shh! Do you want Him to hear? Not so loud! She's His pet. Haven't you heard? No, I've been out of the country the past two decades. Well, her family has a blood debt to Him, and His Royal Highness decided he wanted the girl for his next bride. He's been grooming her since birth to be his perfect little toy.
He cleared his throat meaningfully for quiet and the room went deathly still as he looked over his scroll at the crowd of nosy nobles. He smirked nastily and waved a hand dismissively, "Court is dismissed. Get out."
"Of course, m'lord," they chorused in unison, bowing and curseying in synch as the more important Titles left first.
The No Life King watched them go before beckoning his scribe over and dictating his response to the plea for aid.
Whoever said that being a King was all fun and games was clearly an imbecile; it was hard work and listening to old geezers who filed the papers and did the math for him so he needn't bother. He had to keep his land safe from the greedy paws of neighboring countries and kingdoms, and from itself. His rules were strict, but fair – no one was above the law, no matter their rank.
He took great pleasure in handing out the death sentence personally, and his bed was never empty should he but open his doors.
And yet, there was still something missing. He heard the tinkle of childish laughter trickle down the halls, and his lips twitched.
Ah, yes, what fun he'd have with his Little Seras. What fun indeed.
Seras woke with a gasp, blue eyes watering with tears as she whimpered and clambered out of bed, little fist clenched firmly around the end of her blanket. Her Mummy and Daddy were asleep in the other room, and their door was locked. Sniffling, she wrapped the blanket around her shoulders and scampered down the winding hallways to the throne room, tears wetting her cheeks and dripping down her chin. The door was shut, but she pounded her little fists on it, and it opened for her without a sound. Stumbling on the gem of her blanket, she fell and cried out as she skinned her knee.
Little shoulders shaking, she cried until large hands scooped her up under the armpits and she clung to Card's chest, sobbing. "I had a bad dream."
He clucked his tongue and patted her head, gliding across the hall back to his throne where he settled her into his lap, fingers running through the five year old's hair soothingly. She sighed, and sniffled again, burrowing deep into the slightly cool warmth of his chest. Her leg didn't hurt anymore.
Cracking an eye open, she waved shyly to the King's guests before hiding herself in the folds of her blanket, fears and tears soothed by Card's presence.
He hummed and brushed the bangs from her face, wiping the tears from her cheeks with his sleeve, "Hush," he cooed, "Monsters shouldn't be afraid of other monsters."
Seras blinked up at him sleepily, then giggled, giving him her best 'grr' face. He nodded and she grinned, still missing one of her canine teeth.
"The Boogie Men are scared of the King," Seras announced solemnly, "Card's the biggestest bestest monster ever!"
He chuckled lowly and patted her head, pressing her against his side, "That's right, Little Monster. Now, go to sleep, or you'll be cranky in the morning."
Seras yawned and snuggled closer, eyes closing obediently as she listened to the emptiness in his chest. Her Mummy and Daddy's chests thrummed with a boom, boom, boom but Card didn't. He was the biggestest and bestest monster, he didn't need anything silly like a boom-boom-boom in his chest to protect her.
Within moments she was asleep, and the King leveled a hard stare at his court.
"If you wake her, you won't live to regret it," he purred the threat casually, hand resting on the child's head, and the courtiers shifted nervously, nodding silently in obedience to his command. No, none of them would speak above a whisper for fear of their unlives.
The King's little Princess slept through the remainder of the night, and he personally carried her back to her bed as dawn approached.