Chapter Fourteen: A Royal Tour
Bianca woke up very early the next morning. She had been thinking about what her Father said to her yesterday, about the Mouseking staying in her bedroom all the time. The young girl had an idea and was happy to see that the mouse too, had awakened early.
The King of Mice was standing on the large windowsill. He was quiet and still. The only thing moving in a precise rhythm was his ribbon trimmed tail, his pink eyes staring intently out the iced pane. The big regal rodent looked like he was contemplating… as she was yesterday morning. Bianca wondered on what his exact thoughts were, but she wanted to put out her idea to him before the opportunity was for not… Fortunately for the Mouseking, she did not inquire on what was going on in that vengeful mind of his.
Bianca: (Clears her throat and speaks softly) Good morning, King Arthur.
The two toned brown mouse blinked and came out of his world. He turned towards the child as she put on slippers and got out of bed.
Bianca: Did your majesty slept well.
The mouse looked at the gentle girl with quiet awe. Ever since Bianca gave him her Mother's ribbon, he began to have a very high amount of mixed emotions; feelings he had never dealt with. Before this girl; contempt and malice towards others was his life. All his subjects feared him, but why not this servant? Why not his Royal Nurse? Maybe she was not just another fearful and blind servant; but rather a true and willing frien-…
Bianca: (Concerned) Is the king alright? I hope your majesty had a good rest?
The mouse shook his head while coming out of his thoughts; which he was kind of relieved as his judgments were becoming bothersome. Judgments..? Why in the world was he thinking of that word!
The Mouseking: (Turns around and stammers) Uh… Yes, yes… Uh… your king demands breakfast!
Bianca: (Bows and curtsies) Yes of course, your majesty. May your Royal Nurse inquire if the king would like to accompany her?
The Mouseking: Huh?
Bianca: So you may view the house on where your Royal Nurse resides, your majesty.
The Mouseking: (Scoffs) Bah! (Turns towards the window)
The mouse's pose was resolute but his face said otherwise; his eyes darted along the bottom sill. For he may be the Mouseking, he still was a curious mouse by nature… just a very big, stubborn one.
The Mouseking: (Turns around) Will there be breakfast?
Bianca: (Smiles) Certainly, right after the royal tour, your majesty.
The Mouseking: How about… during the tour?
Bianca's smiled widened. She found the mouse's tone childishly cute whenever he asked about food.
Bianca: (Bows and curtsies) Whatever your majesty's wishes. (Puts out her hand) Shall the Royal Nurse escort her king?
The Mouseking jumped down from the window's ledge and nodded at his nurse's accepted request. They went through the bedroom door, but Bianca paused and excused herself. She went back in for a moment and joined the mouse again, who looked up at the girl with question.
Bianca: (Speaks softly) Just performing safety measures, your majesty.
The mouse and the child walked in the hall upstairs. Bianca was worried he could not keep up with her and thought of taking a slow pace. But she was impressed on how quickly he was moving and soon she had to walk a swifter stride just to keep up with him.
Of course they did not go into the bedrooms since Doctor Johnson and Ms. Francis were still sleeping. As the pair went by one of the chambers, they could hear the housekeeper raucously snoring.
The Mouseking: (Pauses) Do you… have a bear in there?
Bianca clamped her mouth from letting out a laugh. The girl shook her head and put a finger to her lips to politely remind the Mouseking to be quiet as a… well, you know.
Bianca offered to help the mouse down the spiral stairs, but with his usual 'Bah' and paw up in defiance, he went down himself. The child was amazed on how strong and independent this recovering rodent was… she figured he had to be… since there was no one else there for him before… before her.
The two walked through the rooms. The house was bright even without any lamps; just the mere dawn light alone enhanced the illumination of the home. The house was beautiful and well put together. Although the residence was not extravagant as Clara's, it was still large, especially if one observing was a rodent.
The Mouseking and his Royal Nurse came into the pallor. From a previous experience, the wide mouse gave a guarded glimpse towards the tall grandfather clock, but he was mutely relieved that this timepiece appeared non-enchanted.
The two stopped walking when they came to the Christmas tree. The Spruce looked young, for it was not nearly as tall as Carl and Ingrid's tree, but it made up for its height in width, full of branches. It was wonderfully decorated with candles, bells, beaded tassels, glass balls, and gingerbread cookies that Bianca made herself.
At first, the young girl thought the Mouseking was admiring the tree. But in reality, he was remembering that nightly Christmas battle; when he and the Nutcracker Prince clashed swords.
A quick flashback fused with his past nightmare made the mouse clasp his chest and look away from the Holiday tree. Bianca of course, noticed his distress.
Bianca: (Concerned) King Arthur? Is there anything the matter?
The child's serene voice helped calm the anguished mouse. But being bent with keeping his past to himself, the rodent would not admit anything to jeopardize his revenge. The Mouseking looked up and pointed to his nurse.
The Mouseking: What the matter is… is that I haven't had my breakfast yet!
Bianca: I'm sorry, your majesty. (Looks at the tree) Would the king like a sweet treat for his royal breakfast?
The young girl gestured to the cutely iced gingerbread cookies. The Mouseking gave a grin and licked his mouth. Alongside cheese, the big weighty mouse had a sweet tooth; hence the reason he was so quickly fooled by Clara's offering of chocolates.
Bianca smiled when she saw the mouse's hungry, happy expression and she went closer towards the tree.
It was then, the Mouseking noticed something different about the splendid Spruce. The mouse pondered while twitching his whiskers.
The Mouseking: This isn't like other Christmas trees.
Bianca: (Points at a pot) This tree has its roots your majesty. My Mother never liked the idea of throwing our Christmas trees away afterwards. So Father and I kept the tradition and plant them around our house every New Year's in her honor. (Softly giggles) Our yard will look like a forest someday.
The mouse was still puzzled. That wasn't what he was remarking on. Despite the tree being fully decorated with all sorts of trimmings and tassels, he of all mice realized a type of certain décor amiss…
The Mouseking: There are no dolls on this tree…
Bianca's hand stopped reaching for one of the cookies. Indeed he was right. Usually toy figures are stringed along with other ornaments, but here, they were absent. Even the gingerbread were shaped like toy bears and candy canes. Not a single doll shaped design was in view.
Bianca: (Pauses) You are correct, your majesty. My Father respects my wishes and we omit toy soldiers and ballerinas.
The curious mouse arched a thick eyebrow as he walked up to the child.
The Mouseking: Why?
Bianca picked off a gingerbread bear.
Bianca: (Sighs) To help refresh my king's memory… I… don't like dolls.
The mouse gave a small smirk. The uneasy girl pushed strands of unbraided hair behind an ear and hid her neck between her shoulders.
Bianca: (Stammers) I…I never liked dolls, your majesty. I just… They're just… (Shivers) Where ever I turn, their creepy eyes seem to follow me!
The Mouseking gave a low contented chuckle. He enjoyed the kindred hatred that he and his Royal Nurse shared; concerning dolls.
The confused girl folded her arms and raised a light eyebrow at the rodent who was covering his mouth to try to stop himself from sniggering… which was useless.
Bianca: (Tilts her head) May the Royal Nurse ask why your majesty finds amusement in her disliking of fake, little people?
The chucking mouse went silent with wide eyes. That was all he had to hear. He burst out in laughs as he bent over, holding his belly. The child became startled from the loud sounds; not from the amused mouse, but from the heavy footsteps coming from upstairs. Only she could make such noticeable stomps.
Bianca: (Gasps) Oh Gee! (Puts cookie in her night gown's pocket) Pardon me, your majesty!
Not wanting to be seen, Bianca picked up the laughing rodent. She put her finger to her lips again to compose him. All the rooms were open. Where could she take him? Her Father's office, of course! That room had a door that actually locked. Father would understand. She ran to the office door and took the door handle… which was locked.
Bianca: (Thinking) DOUBLE GEE!
Bianca listened intently. She could hear the stomps… they were in fact coming from her bedroom. Bianca carrying the mouse, crept up the stairs. Her door was open a jar and she was right… Ms. Francis had awoken early to continue her mission with tidying the child's room. It was quick thinking that Bianca covered her big pillow to replicate her sleeping so Ms. Francis would not see her out of bed so early. It worked well and yet despite with trying not to awaken… Bianca, the housekeeper couldn't be nimble; she was even loud at being quiet.
The Mouseking, still amused from his nurse's doll comments tugged at Bianca's nightgown sleeve.
The Mouseking: (Snickering) Is… there… a basement or… an attic?
The girl smiled. Good idea! Rodents were notorious hiders. No basement… but…
Quickly, Bianca went down the hall and started jumping up in the air. Being tall for her age, she managed to pull the tassel to the attic's folding ladder down and carefully climbed the ladder with one hand, her other around the chortling Mouseking.
In the attic, she placed the mouse down and as she quietly pulled up the ladder, the King of Mice let out another laugh, holding his face.
The Mouseking: Ha! Fake, little people! AH-HA-HA!
Bianca: (Whispers) Shh! King Arthur, please… Shhh!
The two voices were muffled silent as the attic door latched closed while Ms. Francis busily attended to Bianca's bedroom.
Ms. Francis: (Thinking) This will demonstrate to the slumbering young lady that I am wholly capable of accomplishing tasks. Miss Bianca will realize that I will always be on top of all things in this residence!
And full of herself, the completely unaware housekeeper dusted the bed side bureau and
walked past the pillow-shaped… false, slumbering, young lady.