A/N:

Chapter 4 should be now edited, there were some minor chages:

most significant were these two:

1. strange old lady's name is Bertha as I forgot to mention her name in the chapter

2. the great war is now called great blood war.

5. The truth in cards

It was night already when Zero woke up. He had slept for surprisingly long time, yet he still didn't feel like getting up for a while. So he lied on his back instead, thinking about what happened that morning. He grimaced as he remembered the mud fight. What were they five years old? It was quite embarrassing but funny at the same time. It just seemed right at that moment. Not counting his brother, Zero didn't know many children when he was small. Was that what it felt like to have a fun with friends? Friends... No, that wasn't even possible. Kuran was the king of the vampires, the same creature that was responsible for his parents' death. And Zero was supposed to be his assassin. He was here to kill him. There was no way for them to become friends. He should get it straight in his head and draw the line here. Zero was just trying to gain kings' trust. That was all.

That reminded him, in a week when the full moon comes, he was going to meet Yagari, to get new orders and tell him about his progress. But what will he tell him?

Zero finally got up. He was also supposed to meet the king this evening. Zero glanced out of the window; it seemed he will be a little late as it was night already. Yet he seemed quite reluctant to go there, because of their previous meeting. So he decided to go to the kitchen first, surely the king could wait. He made Zero wait for a whole week anyway. The hunter would be damned if he didn't get some kind of retribution for that.

The side kitchen was empty again, except for old Bertha who was sorting out silver cutlery and plates humming some melody to herself. As soon as she spotted Zero, she gestured him to sit down and brought him big bowl of porridge and a jar of the same red liquid he got the first day in castle.

"Oh, dearie, I hoped you would come today again. I saved you something on the side." She said with a broad smile.

"Uh, thanks." Zero really wasn't used to being taken care of like this. It was kind of nice. And the food was delicious as expected. He glanced suspiciously at the jar, he was really curious. It looked very similar to blood but the smell was a little off. "Uh, Bertha? Is that a human blood?" Zero hadn't noticed any 'human food' around, but wouldn't be too surprised if it appeared there are some dirty secrets in one of the castle's dungeons.

"Oh, don't be silly, dear. Of course it's not human blood. It is just animal. I know it doesn't sound very delicious but the taste is surprisingly good. The court alchemists came up with some fancy formula that allows them to produce this liquid. It works as a good replacement for human blood. Our majesty encourages its production for the sake of strengthening the peace between vampires and humans. Some accepted it, but some nobles just see it as king's eccentricity or even weakness." Bertha added the last part in whisper. "If you ask me, it's a very good idea. I still remember those dark barbaric times before the great blood war."

Zero found it all really interesting. But he still was not very eager to touch the liquid. Bertha seemed to notice his reluctance. "Well, you're still young and pretty so I'm sure you can find yourself a pretty merchant girl in the town if you prefer human blood. Just don't forget that killing humans is now prohibited in this kingdom!"

Zero sighed as he took another wrong turn. He was lost. Why were they building the castles so big anyway? Sure it looked pretty magnificent with all those towers and marble walls from the outside, but it was totally unpractical. The last maid he asked for directions said that the king's study should be somewhere around here and finally, he could hear the pureblood's voice. It seemed to come from the other end of this hall. Zero spotted the two guards standing by the entrance and wondered shortly if there will be some kind of trouble. But it seemed that they were expecting him as they uncrossed their spears and let him in.

Kaname was sitting by the large oak table that was in the middle of the room. As soon as Zero entered he looked up shortly from the numerous parchments that were spread in front of him. A strange look crossed his face, but it was gone just as quickly and the king continued as if he didn't even notice the new presence. The two fancy looking advisors standing by the kings' desk were casting dirty looks in Zero's direction but fortunately decided to not voice their opinions about the level D's intrusion.

After a while of awkwardly standing by the door waiting for some acknowledgement, Zero begun to wonder if the king decided to ignore him just to reprimand him for showing up this late. The hunter had enough of looking like an idiot and as he cleared his throat to announce his presence, the king put down the seal with a little more vehemence than necessary.

"Let's take a break." The pureblood spoke finally.

"Of course, your majesty." The two advisors bowed trying not to drop all the parchment they were holding and disappeared gladly in the hallway. They weren't very eager to find out what made the king so edgy suddenly.

"So Zero... I'm glad you finally decided to show yourself." The king addressed the ex-human finally, but surprisingly, it didn't sound angry at all. The king got up from his chair and stretched his back. Kaname was tired of all that paperwork and actually quite grateful for the little escape that Zero's arrival provided him. He walked to the window looking at the gardens. He saw Yuuki with her ladies in waiting and smiled a little. Otherwise, he stayed silent and seemed to be waiting for the ex-human's response.

But it seemed that Zero wasn't about to offer any kind of apology for his late arrival. It actually amused Kaname. Really, this boy had some nerve. Was he rude intentionally or was he just oblivious? It actually intrigued him. Maybe that's what he was looking for. "Just to make it clear, I won't tolerate such a thing for the second time. Not with the job I am to offer to you... To be honest, I wasn't too eager to trust you so soon, but Yuuki spoke quite vehemently in your defense. And of course, I also owe you for saving her life."

Zero stepped to the window right next to the king, looking out, too. "Then, what's the job?" He glanced at the other and noticed that the pureblood tensed suddenly. He wasn't sure what was wrong for a moment until he realized he might have overstepped some boundaries. He remembered Seiren's shore lecture he got the first day in the castle. He was in the presence of the king, yet he was behaving as if he was just chatting with some pal he just met in a pub. Zero cleared his throat quickly. "I apologize for my rude behavior, your majesty. I should watch my manners." He started to make some acceptable distance between them, but Kaname caught his arm suddenly. Zero looked down at those long fingers gripping his sleeve not letting him back away.

"No, it's okay. I give you permission to act freely in the king's presence." The pureblood reassured him with strangely amused look on his face. He should be offended by ex-human's behavior, he should demand an apology, but it was kind of refreshing to have someone like this around. Except for Yuuki, it was a long time since Kaname was in the presence of someone who treated him normally for a change. Not just another person acting like he should watch himself every second in his presence or waiting for any sign of weakness.

"Say Zero, what would you say about being my manservant?" the pureblood asked still holding the other's gaze intently.

"Manservant?" Zero actually tried to back away more seriously now. He wasn't sure what manservant was supposed to be but it gave him creeps. It sounded somehow wrong, even dirty.

Seeing as the ex-human was probably getting the wrong idea, Kaname tried to explain it better. "In other words, my personal servant or assistant if you prefer. You'll be required to assist me in everyday matters. The old one that served even my parents died some time ago and I think it's the highest time to find a new one. Right now Seiren is substituting for him, but I can't overwork her like that for too long."

"Oh, I see. That sounds... good." Zero sighed in relief, shooing all those images the word gave him away.

"Good, I'll let Seiren know that you can begin your training today."

And so the training began. They started with fighting skills and after some time, Zero was quite sure Seiren must be bent on beating the hell out of him. It was harder than any training he did before. But the hunter survived Yagari's drills; there is no way he would give up now. Zero wondered why the hell servant should be skilled in fighting, but Seiren just answered in her usual stoic manner that as a personal servant of the king, he should be also capable of protecting him if the need arises. Zero smiled at the irony.

It was actually quite interesting. The fighting style was very different from what he was thought as a hunter. It was more focused on his vampire abilities, more instinctual and less planning ahead. Zero was slowly finding a lot of things about his vampire side and tried not to think too much about how he seemed to enjoy it.

But the physical training wasn't the worst. No, the worst were all those etiquette rules he had to learn, like what fork went where, which color of clothes was best to which occasion, how to greet lord properly depending on their titles, proper way of bowing and many, many more. It made his head spin and after a while Zero wasn't even sure he could breathe in certain direction without offending someone.

But after a few weeks the training was coming to its final stage. Zero hadn't seen anyone form the castle during that time, he was just glad to manage to drag himself out and into the bed. But Zero was quite a quick learner and Seiren even forgot herself a few times and actually praised Zero's performance. He wondered how she managed to train him and still do all the other work for the king. But it seemed she too was getting tired and both of them were quite relieved when the training seemed to come to an end finally. Zero was still expected to come and hone his fighting skills with Seiren occasionally, but the worst seemed to be over.

After that last training session Zero decided to head back to his room and call it quits for the rest of the night. He was tired but he couldn't fall asleep. The hunter couldn't help but feel a little bit nervous about the next day, his first day of job. He tried to remember all the things Seiren literally tried to beat into his head. It was maddening, all those rules. But deep inside, he was a little impressed. The servants sure didn't have it easy, always careful not to screw up or to anger any of the nobles. But whatever, if some noble behaved like an ass, Zero wasn't going to just bow and apologize. No, he was going to give him a piece of his mind, screw the rules, he wasn't anyone's thrall. Zero swore he wouldn't be able to look at fork or spoon the same ever again. And it was not as if the manservant was supposed to arrange royal cutlery or clothes and other things, he just had to know the proper ways in case one of the other servants screwed up.

Just as he was finally drifting off to sleep he heard a soft knock on the door. Zero reluctantly dragged his tired body out of bed. There stood a small hooded figure. Oh, he knew this figure quite well. "Your majesty...wha-" Zero's sentence was cut off by Yuuki's hand clamping over his mouth.

"Shh!" The princess silenced him and looked around nervously. It would cause all kinds of rumors if she was caught lurking in the servants' building. Not to mention visiting a male. Fortunately, most of the servants were still working at this time.

"Not here, come with me." She grabbed Zero's hand and started to drag him somewhere quickly. The hunter too tired to protest too much. Moreover, she was using that inhuman strength of hers and again, it made him wonder how much more power could be hidden in such a small frame.

She couldn't be thinking about another secret trip to the town, could she? But he wasn't left wondering for too long as he found himself in front of the door of Yori's cottage. "Here we are." The princess grinned happily as she pushed Zero inside. Yori was standing inside obviously expecting them.

"Surprise!" Yuuki and Yori shouted in unison.

Zero looked at their grinning faces and around the small room that was probably supposed to be decorated for some celebration. There was a big wooden table in the middle full of deliciously looking food. "What is it all about?"

"It's a celebration for successfully surviving Seiren's training and start of your new job, obviously." Yuuki explained as she started to stuff her face with a cake already, almost purring in satisfaction. "So delicious... Bertha's cakes are the best!" She proclaimed happily with her faces full.

Yori chuckled at her antics and beckoned Zero to join them at the table. Soon, they all started sampling various cakes. The ex-human tried to avoid the ones that looked like they posed a high risk of sugar overdose. He listened as the girls started describing their adventures from their secret trips. Looking at them now, Zero couldn't believe he was looking at the pureblood princess and her supposed thrall. No, it was more like watching two close friends.

"I know! Let's try reading some tarot cards!" Yuuki blurted out suddenly, quickly finishing her third cake and jumping to her feet. "Wait! Try not to wake my father-" Yori tried to warn her, but Yuuki was already out of the room. Yori explained shortly."We bought the cards form one of the merchants in the market. Since then, Yuuki tries to read everyone's destiny but most of the ladies in waiting call it strange witchcraft and refuse. So it's usually just the two of us. She must be happy that she has another, uh, victim. "

And soon enough, Yuuki was back with a deck of suspiciously looking cards in hand.

"Pick three cards, Zero." She handed him the packet, looking at him expectantly. Zero from time to time met the so called 'witches from south' in town. The dark skinned women who were eager to read anyone's destiny for a good coin, but he never believed it and certainly never tried it. But the princess looked so serious about it, he decided to play along. He picked up three cards and put them on the table.

"Let's see... uh ... a king of swords means..." Yuuki's eyebrows knitted in concentration. "Oh, I know!" She grinned triumphantly. "You'll meet a dark stranger and it will be the love of your life... Oh, that's so romantic!"

Zero rolled his eyes; he should've expected something like that.

"It's possible you met that person already." Yori chuckled at that revelation, as she peered from behind Yuuki's shoulders. She too didn't take the princess' new hobby very seriously. But it fun.

"Wait, there is more." Yuuki didn't pay attention to their scepticism. "Tower... the hard times are coming. Zero, it seems that soon both your fates will be in your hands." Yuuki became serious all of sudden. "You must make the right choice or you will lose everything! You must be careful, please."

A/N: This chapter is yet unedited so beware of mistakes or awkward wording. I'll definitely come back to fix it later.

All those that reviewed or favourited the story thank you so very much! You motivate me to write more.

If anyone is interested in the cards' meanings:

Credit goes to biddytarot site, if you are interested in more, you can check the site. I think their descriptions are very apt.

A king of swords:

This ruler is the epitome of intellectual power and represents judgement, command, and rulership. His character indicates the stern leadership of a judge, lawyer, or military commander whose emotions must be kept in check under the pressure of battle.

Physical Description - Dark brown hair, gray/hazel or blue eyes.

Personality Traits - His application of intelligence has made his heart cold, and he holds back any subtle feelings. He understands human nature, and uses this understanding for his own advantage. In position of trust and authority. Logical and calm. He dislikes overt displays of emotion. Requires a lot of mental stimulation.

Tower:

The image shows a sudden thunderbolt striking a tower, knocking off its crown and hurling two occupants head first in a downward decent.

That sudden realization that our comfort was based on an inadequate foundation of thought, belief and action is a humbling, frightful but necessary experience. We will feel afraid, shaken and insecure. It is a time of great turmoil as we seek to understand how we could have been so wrong, so fooled, so naive, or so blind.

Soul shaking experiences though difficult are necessary for they literally force us to grow beyond our present level by blowing us out of our comfort zones. Once we hit bottom the choice is ours, we can revert to the self-defeating, bondage of self (Devil) or reach for the Star.