Chapter 1

Nicholas's eyes flutter open quickly. Feeling around in the dark, he lights a candle and glances at the old clock given to him by his parents. 6:40 in the morning; 20 minutes before it's time to serve breakfast. Jumping out of bed, he gets dressed, puts on his utility apron (his own design) and heads to the kitchen in under three minutes, a record breaking time.

It's not surprising though, since today is his last day as an apprentice; anyone would be as anxious on a day like this. Two months before an apprentice turns seventeen, they are released from their apprenticeship and are given the two months to decide on an employer before they turn seventeen and can officially be hired. This is the day he's been working up to for three years, and his ambitions aren't about to be squashed by sleeping in.

Nicholas is whisking some eggs together when David walks in behind him.

"I see you're already up and at 'em for the day. Probably couldn't keep you in bed today if I tied you to it with some rope," he comments, reaching in the cupboard for a jar of black pepper for Nicholas.

"I doubt you could keep me in bed even if you hired Nohr's best mage to bind me there," Nicholas retorts while beginning to chop up the pepper into fine grains.

"Now that's a little extreme don't you think?" David responds.

"Can't be more extreme than my excitement," Nicholas says, a small smile plastered on his lips.

"So you're excited then, are you?" David asks. Nicholas looks over at him with an amused and bewildered look on his face.

"Did you really just ask me that?" Nicholas questions ask he starts whisking eggs in a bowl.

"Just seeing if there's any chance I can get you to stay here," David explains. For a moment, a distant look passes over his eyes but Nicholas doesn't notice it. "You know I'm going to miss you, Nicholas," he states.

Nicholas's whisk slows. "Oh, don't be sad. It's not like I'm going away forever or anything, I'm just going to be getting an official job now!" he reassures. When David's look doesn't waver, Nicholas adds while turning back to his work, "I'll write to you too, I promise."

David smiles. "Much better," he affirms and goes off to find some ham for the eggs.

Eleven years working as an apprentice butler with a unique burning drive to do better at everything has made him quite formidable at his job. His specialty, though, is cooking. His cooking is famous throughout the neighborhood, as Sir Daniel often humbly brags about it to other aristocrats. He finds ways to express himself through cooking. If he's having a good day, he'll choose to flavor his meals sweet. If he isn't having a good day, Sir Daniel will often find things spicy in his food, though that's what he prefers.

After frying the eggs, pepper and ham together in a pan over the fire for a while, Nicholas dishes the meal out onto a plate, prepares a formal and respectable attitude, and steps through the door, with David in tow, into the dining room where Sir Daniel waits.

"Ah, Nicholas, good to see you today. What fine cuisine have you prepared for me this fine morning?" he asks jovially.

"I made your favorite today, sir," Nicholas answers hiding the plate behind his back.

"Oh, don't tell me. An omelet?" Sir Daniel guesses.

"Correct, sir."

"And let me guess, have you put black pepper and ham in it?"

"Correct again sir. You know me too well," Nicholas says with a smile.

"Oh, you spoil me," Sir Daniel says, returning the smile.

"Well, it is my job at the moment," Nicholas states.

"No, it is technically David's job. Though I doubt he would do the same things you do," the hungry aristocrat says, taking a bite of the omelet. "Mmm, delicious. I really am going to miss your wonderful meals."

Nicholas bows. "It has been a pleasure serving you," he says with a nostalgic look on his face.

"Do you have any idea who you will be working for?" David asks.

"Well…" Nicholas starts and pauses, not really sure how to explain. He doesn't need to because Sir Daniel speaks up.

"I would ask to keep you here, but I know you must have some ambitions, Nicholas, that I could not fulfill," Sir Daniel comments. "And you are always welcome to stay here with David."

Nicholas just stands there thinking.

Sir Daniel stands. "I would love to stay on the happy topic of your future, Nicholas, but I'm afraid there are more serious matters that I must discuss." He turns to address David. "It may come as a shock but, most regrettably, Gunter has passed away." A quick look of grief passes over David's face, but he hides it well. Whether Sir Daniel notices it, Nicholas cannot tell, but he continues. "I know that he was a good friend to you, David, and I'm sure that you will need time to grieve. The somewhat better news is that King Xander has also not overlooked your friendship and you are invited to his funeral tomorrow."

"It is very pleasing to hear that, sir. Please tell King Xander I am much obliged to him," David says stoically.

"I shall. And I should also mention that I will be attending also," Sir Daniel adds.

A brief lull interrupts the conversation.

"Well, I suppose I shall leave you to your other tasks for the day," Sir Daniel says, getting up to return to his room. "I am very sorry, David." Sir Daniel retires to his room.

"Are we going to the funeral?" Nicholas asks David who continues standing still.

"If I didn't go to the funeral, it would be an insult to our friendship," he says conclusively and heads off to clean the house. Nicholas stares after him. He's never seen David's usually peppy attitude shot down so quickly. But, Nicholas can't neglect his job on the last day, so he also heads off to help.

Throughout the day, Nicholas watches David and realizes that David never told him how he met Gunter. The thought buzzes around inside his head the whole day and eventually, around dinner, he decides to ask.

"Hey, David, can I ask you something?" he asks later that day.

"Sure," David responds.

"Well, I was just thinking about the news earlier and going to the funeral and I guess I just realized you've never told me how you and Gunter became friends. I figured I'd like to know since I'm going to the funeral," Nicholas says.

David smiles after a little bit. "I never have told you, have I?" he comments. "Sit down, I guess it's only fair I tell you."

"I suppose I should start at the beginning," Davis begins. "Gunter was a longtime friend of my father in his childhood. They grew up together in serving families like us and became good friends. So, because my parents wanted me to be a butler also, I got to know him a little bit, but not like I did later. My parents actually wanted me to apprentice with them, but I declined. They weren't exactly the most suited for their jobs and I wanted someone more experienced. I guess I never fully understood just how clumsy my parents were. It was only a few months after I got my job here that I received news that my parents had died." A hollow laugh escapes from him as memories resurface. "My mom was baking a meal and left it over the fire while she went to do something else. Then she forgot. The meal caught on fire and burned the house down, trapping them inside in the process," Nicholas makes a mental note never to leave anything on the fire. "With my parents gone, I found myself without a guardian to look to for comfort. I ended up spending a lot of time with Gunter because I remembered him as my father's friend, and he quickly became a good friend of mine. I've stayed in contact with him ever since. He reminded me of my parents whenever I wanted to remember them."

"Wow, I'm really sorry. I guess I never knew how close you were," Nicholas apologizes.

"It's not something for you to worry about," David says, picking up the plate he set down to continue. "What is important, is that we get this dishes finished so we can get some good sleep so that we can get to the funeral tomorrow."

"I concur," Nicholas agrees. Without so much as another peep from either of them, they finish the dishes together.

Nicholas ponders about David's story about Gunter. To have a close friend like that pass away would be very hard for anyone. An unusual wave of sympathy passes over him for he knows that David is hiding his feeling from him. It makes him just a little less excited to be getting his own job soon.

Nicholas has a hard time falling asleep that night. Aside from his sympathy toward David, so many worries float around his head about getting a job soon. He doesn't think he will be able to jump straight to a position in the castle and wonders where he should start working first. he wonders what his parents would say about where he should go, but he knows that they don't agree with Xander and probably wouldn't agree with his ambitions. Eventually, exhaustion overtakes worry and he falls into a restless sleep.

For the first day in a long while, David wakes Nicholas up in the morning. It's like his mind knows that it can take a break after many long years of waking up early and wants to take a much-needed break.

"Wake up, Nicholas. We have to get ready for the funeral today," David says shaking his body lightly to wake him up. As Nicholas rubs his eyes and attempts to drag himself out of bed, David continues. "Make sure you put on some darker clothing and be on your best behavior at all times."

"Alright," Nicholas says. Then to lighten the mood he adds, "When am I not on my best behavior?"

"Touché," David acknowledges. "Just be quick about it. Sir Daniel has graciously agreed to take us on some of his horses so that we won't have to walk. It would be rude to keep him waiting."

Nicholas forces himself out of bed and quickly gets dressed for the day. As he pulls out a black outfit for himself, his mind wanders back to David. For a brief moment he worries about how he will do at the funeral but quickly shakes it off.

A few minutes later, Nicholas mounts the sleek, black horse Sir Daniel provides for him and the three of them ride off to the cemetery at the edge of town where the funeral will be held soon.

As Nicholas rides through the paths of Nohr, he is introduced to a whole new side of Nohr he has never seen before. He hasn't ventured far from Sir Daniel's neighborhood and the local market. Now, he sees the beauty in the landscape of a country he previously did not know included the type of land he currently rides through. But Nicholas can't quite fully appreciate the view, for the purpose of the ride lingers on his mind.

They arrive midday with the sun just before its peak and head to the section of the cemetery where they can see a crowd of people gathering. David hasn't spoken a word to Nicholas since that morning. As they find their seats for the speeches at the beginning, Nicholas spots Xander at the front standing straight in a kingly manner, just as he would be expected to. Nicholas subconsciously becomes much more aware of his actions and manner.

Once the program starts, the funeral is just what Nicholas expects. A small podium is set up to the side of Gunter's grave stone where a priest stands. To start, the priest gives a speech about the many good deeds Gunter did during his life: his long devotion to Xander since birth, his hand in saving lives in the war with Hoshido, and how he stuck with Xander even when his body began failing with old age. Then Xander gives his own speech about Gunter, then Gunter's family, and so on. Nicholas glances at David periodically through the afternoon. The distant look in his eyes almost makes him put an arm around David's shoulder.

After all the speeches are over, a small reception is held for friends and families to talk. Sir Daniel excuses himself from Nicholas and David and goes to talk to some of the other aristocrats.

"What do you want to do?" Nicholas asks David after a few moments.

"How about I introduce you to some of my other friends?" David offers. He leads Nicholas to some of his fellow butlers he's met during his career.

While everyone else is talking, Xander stands still at the side, watching everyone with a wandering gaze, his mind never letting him stop on one thing long enough to take it in. Meanwhile, seeing Xander standing there by himself, Sir Daniel cautiously approaches him.

"Is everything alright, milord?" Sir Daniel asks.

"Oh, just pondering," Xander responds.

"If I may be so bold, what are you pondering?" Sir Daniel asks in return.

"I was just wondering how and who I'm going to replace Gunter with," Xander explains.

"Ah, I understand. It's hard to transition when you've lost a person that's very important to you. One often finds themselves with a sudden change they are unprepared to accommodate," Sir Daniel empathizes.

"Gunter was the only retainer I ever had. He and his methods are all I have ever known. I feel like another just wouldn't feel the same. Who would even be qualified enough?" Xander laments. Then he shakes his head and turns to Sir Daniel. "I'm sorry, this isn't like me at all."

"No, that's quite all right. Perhaps I can be of assistance. As far as someone similar in methods to Gunter, I cannot say who would fit that criterion. However, I do have a strong recommendation for a highly qualified person." he suggests.

"Is that so?" Xander says.

"Absolutely," Sir Daniel assures. "Look over there." He points toward David and Nicholas talking with other guests. Nicholas has perfect posture and a kind smile on his face. "See the young boy standing over there next to my butler? His name is Nicholas. He has been apprenticing under David for quite some time now and I can say with absolute certainty that there has never been a boy his age more qualified than him for a high position such as your retainer. I could rave for hours about his cooking alone."

Xander peers at Nicholas from across the cemetery. "How old is he?" he asks Sir Daniel.

"Well, as he has just finished his apprenticeship, he is just about 17 years old, milord,"

"Ah, yes. Of course," Xander realizes. "That is quite young, though. You would vouch for him?"

"Yes I would, milord," Sir Daniel assures.

Xander watches for a little bit longer as Nicholas, looking hearty and healthy in the sunlight, very politely shakes the hand of the person he just finished talking to and follows David to another group of people.

"I shall consider it," Xander says conclusively.

"That is all I ask, milord. I would not want to force a decision on you," Sir Daniel replies as he leaves to participate in other activities.

Then Xander ponders to himself, "Perhaps it would be worth it to consider him. His youth could lend well to the job. I think I'll need a second opinion though. I guess it's time to redeem a favor." Soon enough, throughout the rest of the funeral to the commencement of it, Xander forms a plan in his head.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Boy did I change a lot of stuff in revision here. Hope you enjoyed this beginning. More to come soon!

P.S. If you could vote on the poll on my profile that would really help for future stories of mine. Thanks! I appreciate it.