Her brother abandoned the kingdom the next morning, mounted upon the back of an obsidian stallion. He'd offered little explanation to his people other then that he had important affairs to tend to in the kingdom over and during the duration of time he was away his sister, Princess Rio would take to the throne. Many had been unsettled at that fact but had not worded their anxieties, after all the king's word was law.
"..." Two maids sauntered through the luscious foliage, vibrant flowers adorning emerald rods. Their faces were contorted with great concern and their words were kept hushed, avoiding anyone over-hearing their conversation. "Aren't you nervous...?" One whispered, shifting her weight from foot to foot. "Princess Rio... I heard the other night from Rayela about the fact that she beats the other members of the staff... Should we not be worried for our own safety my friend?"
The other's lips fell to a scowl in response "She would not do such to the staff, despite her exterior the princess is still the princess and acts as such, are you sure you're not just allowing yourself to be mislead by the news of the day?" The brunette maid intertwined her fingers looking slightly more anxious now that her friend had attempted to but her worries to rest. "I understand... I should watch what I believe and what is Fairy tail?" The other maid agreed with a duck of her head before guiding the younger employee through the large glass doors, never quite aware of the piercing stare that loomed down on them.
"What little witches..." The princess seethed, pacing two and fro within her quaint chambers. How dare they speak out of turn using /her/ name! Perhaps it was time she displayed her power, showed the staff where they stood, their rankings and even with her brother absent these would not alter in the slightest.
Knock Knock Knock...
"My Princess? Are you ready for your bath?" a familiar stoic voice resonated through the expanse of her bed-chambers, rousing the irritated royal from her rhythmic paces. Gliding over to the door she pulled it open, only ever so slightly ajar. Before her stood a male who, unlike the spiteful maids was aware of his standing. "Of course I am," her lips curved at the corners, abandoning the desolate chamber in order to flank the knight. "Also, Knight Kite, I'll be requiring your company during this particular endeavor."
Kite's bleak facade easily masked his surprise but she could read the storm that was brewing within his ocean-like oculars and it made her quiver with delight. She adored provoking the blonde before her, loved seeing those conflicting emotions written within an emotionless visage, it was exhilarating.
"Very well..." Was Kite's only answer when he finally mustered one, flanking the lavishly dressed royal. I did not take their venture long to come to an end, right outside of the bathing quarters, generally men were forbidden to enter such a room but under the princess's direct orders the knight strode in beside her, barely taking notice of the bare state some of the other staff bathing took. Soon, any who'd before joined them in the long-bath tub had dissipated, uttering whispers of how unsightly it was to see the princess bringing a /man/ into a room distinctly for women!
"..." With heavy lids her fuchsia hues slipped closed. Having someone else dress and undress her had became a mundane and tedious task and having it tended to by a male was no different then having her personal maid attend to it. Fluttering lashes insinuated their re-opening, lingering on the face of the man before her. How handsome was he? Be he a prince or other royal figure head she probably would have approached her brother with the proposal to have him remain by her side, after all he was about as loyal as any dog could hope to be, he followed her word no matter what the consequences and in her eyes that was quite the redeeming quality.
"So, Kite." She mused, slipping into the warm water and stretching out her arms across the rim of the bathing-pool "What do you think? Is this place as magnificent as you always dreamed it would be?" Her icy voice held a teasing tone, the Knight had never once shown interest in the other gender and she was curious- Did he too seek a sexual partner? Was he influenced by hormones as many others were? She could only find out~
"It is, as the male bathing quarters are my princess," He offered, sitting upon the edge of the pool. With his armor stripped away, Kite now was clad in a tight-fitting dark shirt and track pants, his bare feet causing miniature ripples on the warm water. Her brows worked together, although a canine at best he tended to avoid creating any form of conflict with others, his monotonous personality easily keeping any at bay and barely instigated conversations with any other then his princess.
"You can't be happy living like this." Rio muttered, closing her eyes once more and allowing the liquid to relax her tense muscles "Serving us day in and day out, just like a dog-"
Kite lifted his head to peer at the visage of the royal, although his emotions never did quite reach his features the Knight was very aware of his status- a dog, a canine that was held on a short leash and offered no freedom what so ever, it was his birth-right and didn't bother him in the least. "One whose born a dog doesn't expect anything other then the life of a dog my princess, so I am content with living as I am."
Rio's hand graced the water, tracing small curves on the waves that formed "I see..." He was being uninteresting again, what a pity- Sometimes she inquired why she kept him around... But there was something about his presence that gave her peace of mind, although he could have been slightly more entertaining to provoke.
The princess rose to her feet, droplets cascading down her alabaster flesh as she ascended the steps out of the bath, her hair clinging with determined dampness to any piece of skin it could locate. Infact, Rio resembled something that had emerged from the sea rather then a member of he royal family. This movement also drew Kite to his feet, who reached out a hand and collected a towel offering it the petite female before him. Accepting the offer, she curled it around her self, hardly bothered by the opaque puddles that formed around her feet. "I have things to tend to... I'll see you tomorrow."
He hesitated and for the first time in the day's expanse his features contorted, brows working together ever so slightly "Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you to your dorm My lady?" Her fingers curled into a ball, eyes narrowing as they landed on his face "Don't question me, return to your own room at once- You're dismissed!" She didn't wait for him to answer, striding out of the bathroom, the towel her only form of attire.
It was later that evening that the first disruption occurred, Rio had effortlessly located the female that had spoken such venom toward her, cornering her within the darkest depths of the castles walls. "I heard what you said about me..." She murmured, advancing a step- two and with each she moved forward the Maid moved back, clearly stating her submission but that didn't deter the princess.
"I-I didn't mean It I'm-" The maid raised her hands, only to have a delicate hand shoot out and capture her by the air, dragging her back to her feet, so that both women stood eye-to eye. "You really assume I'm going to forgive you?" She rose a brow, her lips parting into a heart-chilling smile. "You're right- I will, but only after I've taught you what happens to those who defy me."
Another rough tug to her scalp, causing the woman to utter a whimper of pain but she didn't dare raise her voice- even when Rio's boot came down on her gut, even when the fingers of the princess curled around her throat, determined to prove her point. Hot tears flickered in the corners of the employees eyes but she never once uttered a word, not during the whole ordeal and when it was finally over she bowed her head and thanked the princess before rushing off toward her quarters.
She'd learnt where she stood, the princess was finally satisfied.
Little did she know that from across the courtyard she was being observed, cerulean eyes swelled with concern and consternation. What would come for the palace in the King's absence? With the princess running rampage?
The second thread, scarlet in its hue had fallen.
Drawing one to madness while the other would fall in tow.
What could next befall the two was something quite, unexpected.