Title: The Lucky Unlucky Situation
Summary: Of all the things life could throw at you I'd say being slave to Prince Kheel himself is of the worst found luck. Mello/Matt
A/N: This Chapter is for Plot development hope you like it I couldn't add as much humor and misc. as I'd like to but it'll suffice.
Chapter Four: Good Labor Builds Good Character Part2
I shakily chucked a hay bale into the last stall and smiled halfheartedly. I was—if possible—sweatier than this morning and even more irritated. My hands reached into a tan burlap sack to grab a handful of chicken feed when an idea struck me. There were two small holes near the bottom of the sack that I could use to my disposal. I shoved a finger into each hole and ripped it open larger bringing forth a small flow of grains and seed.
The next thing the whiny prince saw when he came up the hill left him in question. I currently was running in mad circles at full speed with an army of chickens behind me clucking and harvesting all the flowing feed that spilled to the floor. When the bag began to feel lighter and the clucking died down I turned to see if most of the hens and chickens had been fed. There were only about two or four left so I slowed down into a jog. I flashed a cocky smile towards the blonde whose arms were crossed carelessly. He had a smug smile on those irritable pink lips and his eyes looked thoroughly amused.
By the time I looked forward I had tripped over an old carriage wheel and was flying into the ground. I shielded my face from the blow as I skidded across the hay and dirt covered ground. I bumped lightly into a stack of sun dried hay and could already feel the sting of a shoulder and torso scrape. I bit my lip as the less than soft hay tickled my new found wounds. No matter what I do, I always seem to end up looking like a complete fool in front of him…
I got into a sitting position and then stood, patting away the dust as I nobly approached the prince satchel repositioned across shoulder and shirt clenched in hand. The crystal blue eyes surveyed the damage, let out a chuckle then gestured for me to follow him.
Evidently at this point I'm not worth a scold, insult or even a mocking gesture.
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"Since you failed to have the royal bath cleaned before I returned from bow training, you have twenty minutes to clean it! If you can't manage that then I'll throw you into the dungeon where you can have a whole week's worth of meditation on how you can get your lazy ass moving! You pathetic excuse of a farm boy!" That would be the response I was expecting earlier.
"Get my ass moving got it!" I said mockingly as I hopped into the drained miniature spring and began scrubbing at the mucky walls. The prince sat on the edge of the bath one knee drawn up with the other leg dangling. His elbow was poised on top of his knee where his hand supported his side lain head. He was watching as intently as always as I climbed up the oversized basin, rinsed off a portion I'd already cleaned and went back to work again. Once inside of the much cooler castle I had redressed myself with my shirt and was starting to regret it as the accidently soaked bottom half clung uncomfortably to my back and irritated my torso scrape.
By the time I finished the whole basin I was completely wet save for a few dry spots here and there. The bathing quarters maids then cranked the lever which lifted the levee and filled the humongous basin once again with fresh water. They each poured calculated amounts of vials into the spring filling the place with beautiful aromas and turned the water a light majestic green.
I watched as they picked up lilies one by one and placed them in the water, gently pushing them so they all could drift to the middle like small boats. I walked over to the pile of flowers and picked one up with a devious glint in my eye. Mihael looked startled as I walked up to him and brushed a few stray blonde strands behind his ear and placed a lily in his hair.
"You remind me more of a princess than a prince." His cheeks dusted pink for a moment then, well, he socked me in the stomach. I doubled over and sputtered for air. It was still worth it to see the royal pain in the ass's priceless look.
"I believe a princess could never posses my strength farm boy. But…" Nimble fingers plucked the delicate flower from the gold strands and brought it to his nose.
"Thanks for the gift anyway." He tossed the flower behind him and began to strip for his bath.
"Don't M-mention it." I gave him my best smile and hobbled towards the kitchen. Man that kid could throw a punch. Though this one was not nearly as hard as the punch I got yesterday for sharing the love in my stomach.
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The first thing I did when I got to the kitchen was search for the inky black haired cook. I spotted him at a table with the same old guy from this morning and sighed in relief.
"I'm starved; can you whip me up something good?" My butt met chair and I flashed them.
"We're off duty ask someone else." He said simply as he piled three slices of pie onto one plate and poured himself a goblet of ale.
"Come on, you guys saved me this morning and I'm really starting to like your cooking." He shoveled a piece of cherry pie into his mouth and stared at me bored.
"Shouldn't you be mopping our floors by now they are getting to be quite sticky?" His lips pursed in distaste as he sat down his fork and scanned the floor.
"I'm all out of energy whip me up some din and I'll mop your floors and clean your dishes." His eyes sparkled and he nodded in approval. Did I just pile on more work for myself?
"You stay here and watch my pie, watch only!" I take it he likes his sweets. He began gathering ingredients from the kitchen and I yawned.
"Hey my name's Mail, what's yours?"
"Lawliet." He began chopping vegetables and heating the skillet. A small snore broke out through the kitchen. The old man had fallen asleep head titled back in the chair.
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Lawliet had graced me with roasted pork, smoked vegetables and a baked yam for din and as promised I in return mopped the floor and cleaned the leftover dishes. By the time I finished those tasks the moon was in the middle of the sky. I walked the purple carpeted pathway back to the personal servant living quarters and was met with Near waiting in front of my door.
"Hey Near what's up?"
"I just wanted to see if you survived your first day." He spoke this sentence in a blank tone that would for any normal person erase the sincerity of the whole statement.
"Thanks." I unlocked my door and walked in. Ok, Near is still standing at the entrance how awkward...
"Would you like to come in…?" He nodded and took a seat on the edge of my bed.
"You can only stay shortly because I have to hit the hay soon ok?" I yawned and scratched at my red locks and shut my eyes sleepily.
"Fran's going to kill me if I come to her too stinky again tomorrow…" I mumbled quietly to myself.
"You don't smell that bad." He offered a small smile and I shrugged.
"Thanks…Um was there any thing else you wanted to talk about?" He was quiet for a moment then he spoke.
"You're the only one who attempts to talk to me. Everyone else finds me horrendously boring or freakish because of how I look." All I did was invite the kid in… He curled a lock of white hair around a pale finger and stared at the wall.
"You've only been here a day and everybody's already talking about you, how'd they'd like to meet you and how nice you look." Right about now Near was starting to sound a little sad if not envious of me as he finished his sentence. I didn't ask for all of this…
"Tell me, how do you do it?" I'm so tired... Do I have to deal with this now?
"I haven't said a word to hardly anybody I think you're over exaggerating a bit." I rolled my shoulders and yawned once again.
"Is it the hair?" I raised a brow as his thin fingers awkwardly touched my bangs then withdrew.
"I doubt it Near, just be yourself and if you are an emotionless talker it doesn't make you the least bit interesting in my opinion it makes you more entertaining." It was partially the truth but I figured it did its justice. He gave me another smile and nodded his head once.
"Thank you…" He got up from my bed, bowed then wished me a good night's sleep with a blush adorning his cheeks. There wasn't one word that could describe what just happened now other than strange. What ever I'm going to bed! I stripped myself bare, dove into the blankets and dozed off almost instantly from fatigue. That night I dreamed of me and Dad playing swords with the farming tools like we used to when I was a kid. Just like before mom scolded us from a distance but there was something new to this scene. The prince was there back lent against the old stone well with his crystal blue eyes shining brightly observing me as I played.
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I woke up feeling like something was amiss. I felt too well rested which means… I slept too long! Another day off on a bad foot it seems… I shot up in a panic this time remembering to yank my pants on as I rushed out the door and into a direct collision with Near.
"Good morning Mail."
"No time to talk I need to-" He cut me off with a thin finger to my lips and chuckled.
"I took care of his breakfast, garden flower and his wardrobe, so you could be well rested and have enough time to eat and wash up." The finger removed itself from my lips and I smiled nervously as I nodded. Oh Lord…
"Thank you?" He blushed and rushed down the hall. He's probably just not used to talking to people and it's uncomfortable to receive a compliment when all of his life he's been yelled commands by the psychotic blonde. I shrugged my shoulders and headed towards the servant bathing quarters.
A familiar Knight appeared into view and I raised my hand to wave but stopped when I caught on to his expression. Matthias looked very tired and downtrodden he was not the same guy from yesterday who eagerly refilled my goblet to the brim.
"What's wrong?" He removed the gauntlet from his right hand and rubbed me on the head in a way a father would to his son.
"Not good news lad, not good news at all."
"What's going on?" Matthias sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"We have been notified that Burkhart Castle is due to attack Kheel Castle any day now. The people have been informed and have already set out to the mountains through the forest passage just behind the castle." My stomach dropped and my face paled. Why? The question rang in my head but I couldn't muster up the courage to ask. What if it was our fault? How was I supposed to feel about that then.
"We already have most of our soldiers in Switzerland we're doing pretty good there. But our new main objective is to protect the King, the Prince and the Castle with our remaining forces ."
"Why not send the Prince off into the mountains now to secure his safety?" The Prince annoys the hell out of me but he is my future ruler and hopefully by then he won't be such a pompous asshole.
"That's what they're waiting for, sign of a fancy carriage guarded by knights. We could also use a commoner carriage guarded by two but it's far too dangerous. He'd have to leave the same time as the battle begins to occupy them and prevent any soldiers from being outnumbered until the prince has reached the mountains." Well the shiny armors were far smarter than us common folk depicted them to be.
He patted me on the head again.
"Don't worry though you'll be safe." With that he replaced his gauntlet on his hand and left. I wasn't worried at all about the victory of Kheel castle after speaking with Matthias. If we had hundreds of soldiers as wise and skilled as him then I had nothing to fret about. I stripped my clothing and turned to greet Francesca who wrinkled her nose again upon my arrival.
"I'm sorry Fran I've been working hard." She playfully slapped my wrist then began my bathing ministrations.
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I developed an unhealthy fascination with staring at Prince Mihael's irritably pink lips. I can't fathom how such soft and delicate looking lips could be put on such an ass. I tore my eyes away from the golden fork disappearing into those lips for the umpteenth time and growled angrily at myself. Stop this he is a man! A prince at that and he is King Lukas's son.
Another moment passed before the Prince spoke.
"I will permit you to eat breakfast with me if you wish to." I smiled and raised a brow.
"What's with the change of heart?" I took a seat.
"You've been staring hungrily this way for the past ten minutes." I would say its bad that I wasn't staring at the food. Almost instantly a plate of food was set in front of me with smoked sausage, hot bread—with the butter still melting off the top—and an assortment of ripe melons and berries. A goblet of freshly squeezed juice was sat next to the plate as a dusty blonde cook bowed and left. I did an internal happy dance as I molested the plate with my eyes.
I began to eat, my eyes closing happily as I took in the delicious flavors.
"Did you work with just crops at your farm?" He's actually making conversation? I was dead silent with a strawberry poised at my lips as I stared at him.
"It's not a crime to want to know a little more about your personal servant." I continued to stare dumbly.
"Forget it!" I continued on eating. My ears perked as a sigh escaped his lips and he picked up his fork and knife. I can't believe I'm doing this.
"We have two horses Ryuk and Sidoh ones black and the others an off white grayish color. I took care of them since they were ponies."
"Were they riding horses or Carriage horses?" His eyes were bright with interest as he spoke. Figures he's like this, he probably doesn't get invited into too many conversations with him barking orders as a hobby.
"You'll have to answer a question of my own first to receive an answer." He picked up the whole sausage with his fork and then took a bite.
"Deal." I mentally slapped myself hard as he went in for another bite. He has a fork and a knife why doesn't he just cut it into pieces then eat it!
"Your highness?"
"Yes?"
"Is there a reason why you don't cut your meat before eating it?"
"I find it more satisfying to bite into it and feel the juices in my mouth..." He looked at me with childishly big eyes as he stopped mid bite of eating the sausage. Oh lord…
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WOOT countdown until Mello's POV about 2 more chapters hang in there the story's going to get good, if not already. Review if you deem it worthy!