(AN: Yep! Here's chapter three of RB all fixed up for you! I didn't really have to do that much here, though. ~*~Tams~*~)
Royal Blunders
Chapter Three: Sir Recburg Versus The Slayers, Round One!
Amelia yawned. It was around 5:34 when the young princess awoke from an impatient slumber, and slipped into a pair of fluffy pink slippers. For an unknown reason, she stumbled into the hall and, being half-asleep, pushed open the nearest door, searching for her closet.
But oddly enough, when she opened her eyes and yawned softly, she found herself in Zelgadis's room.
She panicked, thinking she had awakened him, but the chimera remained still. Amelia was angry at herself for intruding on him, and wondered who had put Zelgadis in the room across from hers, when she could easily walk in there without a clear head instead of her closet?
Oh yeah, she thought. I did.
She sighed quietly, and remembering how early she was supposed to wake up, she decided Zelgadis should get up as well and escape the morning horn. It being their first day into their royal training, some sympathy was to be expected on the behalf of the princess. She tiptoed over to his bed, still feeling a bit chagrined, when Zelgadis turned over in his sleep.
He held something very small, clutched in the palm of his hand, and Amelia noticed that it was a miniature doll, one she had frequently heard called a "plushie". She looked closer.....it had green boots.....a white cape...and strangely familiar black hair-
"Ame....lia?" . Amelia jumped, stumbling backwards with an "Ahh!". Zelgadis was awake, and rubbing his eyes sleepily, his feet swinging over the side of the bed as the blushing princess twiddled her thumbs and stared at the floor.
"I'm so sorry, Zelgadis-san, I was going to try and wake you up so you wouldn't be bothered by the horn, and-"
"No it's o....o.....okay..." yawned Zelgadis, his hand released on the plushie. Before she glanced at it again, Amelia inquired, "What plushie is that, Zelgadis-san? I didn't know you had one."
Zelgadis's face wore, for a split second, an expression of confusion before turning into a red-faced panic, and he stuffed the plushie hastily under his pillow and looked at the floor rather sheepishly, his face flushing hot for a moment. "It's nothing…found it on the floor…must belong to the maids. So, what time is it?"
Amelia blinked, puzzled, before she leaned back on the balls of her feet calmly. "It's a quarter 'till six…you still have a few minutes before the morning horn, but I thought I should wake you up so you wouldn't be startled. I'm sorry, Zelgadis-san…" Her wide blue eyes were still brimming with chagrin.
"It's really alright, Amelia," said Zelgadis, a half-grin forming on his face so Amelia smiled as well, though her own was a brief one, owing to the fact that she had just remembered something that could entitle her to a lot of blushing and awkward questions. Then Zelgadis arose from the bed, still in his traveling apparel for lack of a larger wardrobe, and headed towards the closet behind Amelia.
As he walked by Amelia, she turned quickly the opposite way and faced him. "Uh...Zelgadis-san, do you need to know where to go for breakfast?" She took a few steps back to ensure that he wasn't seeing her back.
Zelgadis walked out of the closet, his arms folded as his eyes darted around, looking for his clothes. "No thanks, I think I remember.... downstairs, left corridor, third door on the right, am I correct?"
He walked back to the bed swiftly, and Amelia made a sharp swerve with her back now to the closet. Zelgadis scratched the back of his head as Amelia smiled sheepishly, swaying back and forth. "Um....right, Zelgadis-san. Are you sure you didn't need anything else?"
He nodded and began walking towards the dresser drawer behind Amelia, and Amelia turned quickly and backed up against the closet door. He gave her a look and watched her as she once again spun in a circle as he passed. Her eyes were now swirling with self-induced dizziness.
"Amelia, are you alright?" he asked, folding his cloak and watching her with a raised eyebrow and thoughtful frown. Amelia nodded, her hair bouncing up and down. "Just...excited, Zelgadis-san."
Zelgadis shrugged to himself and turned his back. "I'll see you at breakfast then...." He sat down, back to Amelia, and began to search through his bag. Amelia walked backwards towards the door, opened it clumsily with a backwards hand, and closed it quickly as Zelgadis turned to watch her again. He shook his head out of pure puzzlement and went back to folding, murmuring, "She needs to stop eating so much sugar."
Amelia let an enormous sigh of relief as she scampered into her room, and once inside, she locked the door to change. After she was safely inside, she tossed aside her pajama shirt. On the back was a messy-looking picture of Zelgadis, and underneath the picture was this, scrawled in loopy writing: Zelgadis-san Is Cool!
~*~(^^;; I had to do it.)~*~
An hour later, Amelia walked into a decorated room, waiting for the others to finish their breakfasts. Zelgadis was already sitting in the same room, checking the clock.
"Aren't they done yet?" he asked quietly, rolling his eyes. Amelia shrugged. Her morning dress ruffled as she peeked through the door.
"No, Zelgadis-san....wait, they're coming in!" She backed up and looked happily at the door, where Gourry and Lina came in, rubbing their stomachs.
"Mmm! Great stuff, Amelia, I hope it's the same tonight! " said Lina, sitting contentedly in a chair.
"Yeah!" piped up Gourry. "But I think Phil was kinda scared...'specially when I ate the turkey whole..."
Lina continued. "Except I really didn't wanna wake up by hearing some stupid, loud horn....weren't you tired, Zel?"
Zelgadis answered nonchalantly. "No, I got an early wake-up—"
"By who?" asked Lina, grinning maliciously, and Zelgadis sat up, realizing what he said. " .....The butler came and told me I should, uh, wake up early." He crossed his arms and glasred at her, wearing an expression that dared her to inquire more. Lina smiled innocently. (*snort*)
Amelia felt a rose colored blush coming onto her cheeks, but stood up when an elderly looking man entered the room, standing up straight as said butler.
"Please sit," he said with a regal air. Amelia and Gourry sat down.
"Your royal training begins now, Sirs Gourry Gabriev and Zelgadis Graywords and Lady Lina." Lina perked up, looking extremely important. Gourry played with a string that was wearing out of the armrest. Zelgadis watched the man curiously.
"Princess, you may remain to oversee their sessions if you wish," said the man, and Amelia nodded solemnly, her smile reduced to a business-like frown.
"Now, I am Sir Recburg. I am here to instruct you three in lessons of learning manner, grace, and poise." Sir Recburg's large, curling mustache quivered. "To be a member of the Royal Court, you must know the proper traditions and history of our fair city." He emphasized "proper" and stood, if possible, even straighter, indicating that no one should question the proper ways of Seyruun Royal Court.
Gourry looked completely dumbfounded. "Um...what's poise?"
Sir Recburg opened one drooping eyelid. He surveyed Gourry's dazed expression and drew himself up. "Lesson one. Do not interrupt any person of the Court when he or she is in the process of speaking."
His mustache quivered again, and Gourry leaned back, seeming to catch the drift. Zelgadis and Lina both raised an eyebrow, but Amelia could hardly seem to stand the tension. Sir Recburg shook off the momentary discomfort and peered around at them.
"Now. Your first official lesson is dining manners."
Lina and Gourry both perked up at this.
"To the Dining Room, if you please."
~*~*~*~*~*~
Soon they all sat at the large table. Sir Recburg sat himself down, his back as straight as a board. Amelia stood by, grinning widely. They were sure to be good at this.
"Now," repeated Sir Recburg. " We shall began by instructing the order. First-the beginning course."
As if on cue, three waiters, as straight-backed as Sir Recburg himself, set three plates of lavishly decorated salads before the three of them.
Zelgadis remained expressionless, and Lina and Gourry were trying to sit as still as possible. Gourry fidgeted.
"We began with the salad fork."
Each of them stared at the silverware. Three forks, two spoons, and three knives were next to the plate, followed by a few other minor utensils. Gourry scratched his head, Lina grunted in frustration, and Zelgadis looked over at Amelia.
"Start from the outside and work your way in!" she mouthed at him, and he turned back to his plate, picking up the smaller fork. Lina and Gourry did the same, looking impatient and bored.
Sir Recburg didn't even looked pleased in the slightest. "Now, what we do is-"
He stopped, both eyes open and utterly horrified. Lina and Gourry were already digging in, droplets of dressing flicking everywhere.
The gobbling noises seemed to echo throughout the silent hall, making it even more unbearable. Amelia looked somewhat scared, Zelgadis was sweatdropping, and Sir Recburg's mustache was close to falling off, it was quivering so much.
"Pardon me!" he said, clenching his mouth. Lina and Gourry paid him no heed.
"Good stuff!" said Gourry, spewing bits of lettuce forward. Zelgadis looked at him, and had to bite back the laughter.
Sir Recburg's polished face was covered in specks of lettuce, and even Amelia had to giggle. Sir Recburg looked at her furiously.
"Does this not shock you, Princess?!" he said, and Amelia's smile disappeared immediately.
"I apologize, sir." She looked at the ground, not only in shame, but to hide the grin that was coming back. Another mustache quiver. Sir Recburg cleared his throat and Lina and Gourry paused, bits of food stuck to their faces.
"You are not to start eating until the dinner bell has been rung and you will most certainly not eat like....like that!" stammered Sir Recburg disapprovingly.
Lina crossed her arms after wiping her face. "Calm down, Gramps, we're just hungry."
"You will address me or any member of the court as 'Sir' or 'Lady'. Any such nonsense as the word 'Gramps' will be highly discouraged!" sneered Sir Recburg.
Lina glared, but swallowed her pride and sat back. Gourry wiped his mouth, smiling nervously, and Zelgadis was sitting there, not sure whether to think it was hilarious or disgusting. Amelia was wringing her hands sheepishly—she felt exactly the same as Zelgadis. Sir Recburg cleared his throat and managed to look dignified again.
"Since you are most obviously unfit to learn dining manners from myself"—Lina snorted—"We will practice a proper waltz."
Zelgadis went pink. "Waltz?"
Lina noticed his blush and grinned. "Yeah....as in slow dance."
Zelgadis went even redder and glanced at Amelia, who would have looked positively delighted if it weren't for the blush creeping up her cheeks. Sir Recburg stamped his foot, and everyone turned their attention to him again.
"Yes, Sir Zelgadis....a waltz. You will be paired off with the Princess and Lady Lina and Sir Gourry will be paired off as well. You do not object, Princess?"
He looked at the giddy Amelia, who looked taken aback. "Uh....of course-of course not, S-sir Recburg."
Gourry glanced at the both of them. "But Zel, you and Amelia-"
"PRINCESS Amelia," said Sir Recburg shortly. Gourry scratched his head.
"No, I'm Gourry."
"I just stated that princess Amelia-" began Sir Recburg.
"Yeah, that's Amelia over there," said Gourry, pointing in Amelia's direction.
Sir Recburg was seething. "Princess Amelia! I was directing my statement towards the Princess!" He was pursing his lips as though he ached to shout at them. "Fine! We shall have someone else conduct your lessons, other than me!"
Lina walked over to Gourry and bonked him on the head. "You stupid Jellyfish, he meant Amelia!"
"Excuse me, Lady Lina, but there will be no physical pain inducing in the presence of the Princess."
Gourry's head came back up from beneath the table. "Presents? Where??" But he was under the table again with another bop from Lina.
Sir Recburg clutched his face in agony. "Why can you not listen to me?!"
Meanwhile, Zelgadis had retreated to Amelia's side. "Do you think they'll learn anything today?"
Amelia shook her head, sighing. "I think it may take a while, Zelgadis- san...or at least until Gourry-san wakes up."
(Enh, I didn't like this chapter as much. *shrug* )