Ne, ne, here we are with another chapter~
I'm sorry it's so short T.T
*Nitroglycerin is a highly unstable liquid explosive. And in this AU, there are few modern things, such as headsets~
Also, before I forget, here are character ages:
Roppi- 17
Psyche- 16
Sakuraya- 15
Hibiya- 14
Delic- 18
So, um, I think that's all. Anyways, enjoy~
My first duty as the butler of that spoilt little brat was to get 'washed the hell up before I stink my way to high Heaven', as Izaya put it. I was taken to the bathhouse, which was really a steamy room with no more than two tubs full of lukewarm water and hoses. On the shelves were soaps and shampoos, and well as stained towels and moldy washcloths.
There were men already in there (butlers for a butler?) without shirts on, and they bullied me into stripping down to nothing. It felt terribly awkward, standing there, naked as the day I was born. I saw on of the men looking... down there, and I felt a little self conscious. One of the bigger guys grabbed me by the arms, and, had I my father's strength, I would've knocked him across Ikebukuro. Unfortunately for me, I didn't, so I squirmed and struggled as he shoved me into the bathtub. The water in the tub was okay, and I think it might've had salts or bubbles or something in it. Everything was fine until another guy grabbed a hose and hit me square in the face with icewater. They scrubbed shampoo into my scalp, despite my protests, and massaged me with scented soap. This entire ordeal was a terribly embarrassing experience for me, so eventually I gave up struggling and let my mind black out.
After the had decided they'd put me through enough, they grabbed a white suit that had been laying on a hanger. "This used to be Prince Psyche's butler's uniform. He was about your size." A man told me, and they dolled me up and brushed my hair and then shoved my face into a mirror.
I gazed at my reflection with pride. My, I do clean up nicely. My previously messy and mud-brown hair had been washed clean enough to reveal an array of sof6t golden locks. The suit, no matter where it had been before, was stiff and new and it had a not-very-manly bright pink undershirt, but it felt good to be clean in clean clothes for a change. I was also in rather comfortable white dress shoes and wore a tie around my neck. A man carrying a strange object came over and held it out for me to grab.
"What is it?" I asked.
"A headset. There is a valve of *nitroglycerin in the left ear, so His Majesty won't have a difficult time killing you should you try to escape." A servant-man replied.
What the actual hell?! "W-Why would he do that?!"
"His Majesty likes keeping castle servants in check, one way or another. Please, put it on."
I set the headset on my ears, and felt it lock in place. Damn, I'm not gonna be able to take it off and it's gonna get annoying.
"Now, Mister Thief, Master Hibiya is waiting."
I walked out of the hot room, deciding right there and then that I was going to make Hibiya's life a living hell. "I'm sure he is."
"Tch. So, you tried to steal my crown, huh?" I walked back through the flawless brass door and into the enormous room where the brat was laying on his bed, his legs kicked up and facing the ceiling. His head, which was laying against the soft comforter, was titled so he could face me and smirk that acid smirk that he probably inherited from his father.
"Indeed I was." I retort, my voice dripping with venom.
He snarled and sat up and then smirked again. "It's very valuable. But not the most valuable thing you've seen."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
He slowly placed his hands on his chest and smirked wider. "...Me!"
I felt like insulting him, or perhaps shouting something mean back, before I noticed how... cute he was. Oh, I could have fun with this. I was going to drive him crazy.
I walked up to the short and shrewd Prince Hibiya, placing my experienced hands on his hips, and leaning down so my face was no more than a few inches from his. "You know what?" I asked, then I mushed my body against his. "I think you're right..." I murmured seductively, leaning in for a kiss when he bounced back in shock and disgust, just as expected.
"Ugh! Filthy rat! Street shit! Gutter scum! How dare you make advances on me?!" He shrieked, and I couldn't help but double over in laughter. "Oh, you think this is funny, peasant?! Just wait until my father hears of this!"
I gave him a glare of surprise. "But... you father's the one who hired me."
His right eye twitched, and he burst into fits of rants. "What?! Why would he do that?! I thought he hated gutter scum!"
I laughed all throughout this comical experience, thinking maybe this wouldn't be so bad. That is - until Hibiya regained his composure.
"You!" He said firmly, pointing a gloved finger at me. "Are a butler! My butler! And you must do what I say!"
"And just what do you have to say, O Informed One?" I snort back mockingly.
However he flashed me a devious smirk, and a bad feeling sank in my heart. "I want you to go play with my brother Psyche. You see, I usually have to right about now, but I think he'd like you better than me." There was something in his voice that I didn't like at all.
"Um, okay..." I said without as much confidence as I had hoped for. "Um, where do I go to find him?"
"Oh, he should be out in the courtyard doing-God-knows-what. He'll like you, I'm sure. Now get along."
I followed my orders, and it took me quite a bit of time to find the courtyard. There were gardens and mazes and patios to sit at, and I was looking at a rather lovely solid gold fountain when I realized: I had no idea what Psyche looked like. I knew he was the second oldest, and that he wasn't good king material for some reason, but that was it.
I wandered around aimlessly when someone finally pounced me from behind. My attacker then licked my ear and said, "What do we have here?"
