After the day he made the decision that he wished to place his faith in Princess Lily, his every day life - from lifelong enslavement, to becoming her manservant - changed drastically. It started with the day he was awkwardly introduced to the entire Palace kitchen staff. The tension in the room had been severe and tangible. The quiet whispers about his beat up appearance, cutting. After he introduced himself with his given name with the Princess standing next to him, however, everyone went quiet. The Head Palace Chef, Miss Margery, a boisterous but strict, middle-aged woman which the scent of spices followed everywhere…was the first to approach him and tell him she would put him to work and he was in good hands. Soon, he followed Miss Margery too.
They’d given him the responsibility of observing the process of cookery and light dish washing first. Careful to mind his battered recovering condition. Such decency was so foreign to him, he kept waiting for them to treat him unkindly. Yet, Lily’s ordered seemed to like a magic spell. He was treated just like the other servants of his new rank within the kitchen - with only the exception that he brought Lily her meals far more frequently. Learning to cook hadn’t been the worst part like he’d imagined, keeping himself from ignoring his instincts to eat it before it disappeared was. He did make a plethora of mistakes. He dropped precious China once onto the feet of a Butler by the name of Mr.Mason, and then upturned the cart Mr.Mason had been wheeling. He’d thought for sure that would be the end of him, but Lily stepped in - and surprisingly her head maidservants - and explained he had broken ribs. Although they were but fractured. From then on, the tasks were lighter, which felt slightly insulting and made him overwhelmingly grateful at the same time. The next task was learning to clean, and make Lily’s bed.
Her maidservants patiently taught him both and despite that he’d never done these things before, it was perhaps his greatest pride ever, the day Miss Margery told him he was a fast learner. Yet, he knew it was all due to Lily. He would not have been here without her. Nor would everyone have been so lenient on him where others who made the same mistakes might be kicked out of the palace. He had mixed feelings about it, but nothing moreso, than a growing sense of…safety. This was further instilled in him with each day that Lily called him back to her quarters. Sometimes he felt Lily was making up things to do simply to see him and check up on him, and for some reason, it left him with the warmest feeling in his chest he couldn’t identify. Despite that some of the other servants quite clearly resented him with a burning passion for her attention so focused on him, but one fact was the same, every member of Lily’s staff adored her to death. He’d never seen one person who possessed the love of so many. It was fascinating. And he felt so fortunate…to simply be here. Everything he was being given, all the promises Lily made - everything she said had been true.
Today was no different, he’d thought. That Lily would simply have him make her bed, they’d talk for a time, and then he’d be sent out. He hadn’t expected her, by any stretch of the imagination to ask him to touch - to brush - her hair. It was overstepping his bounds he knew, but it was Princess Lily. They’d already done many things that weren’t quite appropriate and he was gradually growing used to this servant and master relationship that sometimes felt like something he couldn’t identify. Something he wouldn’t dare to think. What he imagined a friendship might be like, but he was but a servant and he knew that and thus, kept such sentiments to himself. But that she had grown to trust him this dearly, that she requested this, it made him so…
❝ As you wish, Your Royal Highness. ❞ He bowed his head formally with his hand properly placed over his heart, in case he and Lily were being overheard, and gently closed her bedroom door behind them. He only called the Princess Lily in private.The other servants and the rest of the palace would be beyond aghast if he spoke so familiarly with her in front of them. With only a moment of hesitance - a testament to the progress they’d made - he was standing behind Lily, gently removing the brush from her hand, his heart fluttering just slightly with an odd sensation, before he so very gently started with the ends of her hair like he’d watched her handmaidens doing a couple of times.
❝ Like this? ❞He asked, working slowly, carefully, and with a hint of caution so as not to pull on a single strand that would hurt. His hands only trembled just slightly in the beginning. So surprised by the sheer softness of her angelic golden locks, the way they shone and glittered with each pass of the brush. It was like the most silken of golden threads. Even her scent was beautiful. He kept his eyes lowered on his work, his healed features schooled into something he hoped appeared professional, so that crystalline orbs would not stare at her in the mirror like he somehow knew he would. Because it was often a challenge not to most days.At the inquiries of concern, he narrowly stopped himself from smiling. She was still the only one in his life who ever asked how he was.
❝ …Yes. My wounds have recovered. The servant doctor tells me that I will be most likely be fully healed within a matter of a couple weeks. Thanks to you, Lily.❞ He lifted his eyes to her in the mirror, his gaze swimming with gratitude. ❝My life is... ❞ He started, admitting, ❝ It still feels…like a dream. ❞ But there was something in her emerald hues that concerned him, now that he was daring to look. Her expression was not as vibrant or playful, more subdued and thoughtful.And his instincts were supporting that. He shouldn’t ask this, he should know his place, but… ❝…Is there something troubling you, Lily? ❞
He was still so timid, somewhat shy. Though who could blame him? She knew that he still wasn’t quite use to the life he had been given. It still felt like yesterday when she threw gold at that man to purchase him. It still somewhat left a bad taste in her mouth to have actually bought him, but she hoped that he would forgive her one day. That maybe one day, he would be seen as just another ordinary man, instead of the slave or servant he currently was. That was something she hoped for him. She hoped that most if not all slaves could be given a better life then what they had been given before. Maybe it was foolish thinking, but Lily wanted the world to be better then what it was. Sure, maybe the royals had an easier living, but she had walked among those who suffered. She looked at him, barely able to keep themselves alive. Scrambling to find any sort of food or water they could get their hands on. Sure, Lily did what she could to help provide food etc to those in need, but there were far more that needed help then her poor, two hands could help. That was why she wanted to be able to make a change, but she was merely just a woman, a princess. Had she been born a prince she would have had much more power then she did now.
He hadn’t forgotten to call her by name, she knew this, since the door was open. She always made sure to be careful around him as well. She didn’t wish to cause him trouble or get him in any trouble. He was very careful, cautious enough already. She didn’t want to bring him any type of distress. The door was soon closed and she could hear his footsteps getting closer to her. She wondered if he had ever done something like this. Probably not, she knew most slaves didn’t come into physical contact with many, not even their own. To be so devoid of touch, she wondered how they managed to keep pushing forward. It was no wonder he had jerked away from her when she had first brought him here. He was so deprived of human interaction, it almost as if he really wasn’t human anymore. Slaves were never seen as such, but they were to Lily. They were just as human and mattered just as much as herself and her father. That was something that she would never change her mind about.
Smiling, she could feel him being so very careful while he brushed her hair. Her eyes closed, it was soothing. She often enjoyed when her maids brushed her hair, it reminded her of her mother when she was a child. She had always brushed her hair and would tell her how pretty she was and hug her. How she really did miss her, but that was in the past. Her eyes opened as she looked in the mirror. Her emerald hues looked to his blue ones that were searching for some sort of reaction from her. He seemed so on edge that Lily couldn’t help but giggle ever so lightly. He really was precious in his own way. So innocent, even though he might have been even older then she was. If you looked at him you’d see a slender, fit man. And yet, sometimes with how he acted, he seemed more like a child who wasn’t sure if his actions were the correct ones or not and was constantly looking for guidance. “Yes. You’re doing a great job.” She praised him as she closed her eyes once more. Letting herself relax as he continued to brush her hair. It was small moments like this that made her feel normal. Made her feel like all the pressure in the world couldn’t touch her.
She was glad to hear that he had healed properly. She noticed over time, that he was moving around a lot better then before. A dream huh? Sometimes she wished that this really was nothing but a dream. That she could wake up somewhere in the world and just be a normal girl. Despite that thought, she was overjoyed that he had thought this way, letting her know that her actions had somewhat helped him heal and calm him somewhat. She knew life here probably wasn’t simple, but she was sure deep down that it was at least a little better then the life he had before. Where he was constantly beaten and given tasks that no person should ever have to strain themselves to do. “There’s no need to thank me. I’m overjoyed that you are finding life here good.” She replied as she opened her eyes with a soft and tender smile. Even though his physical wounds would heal, she knew that those scars in his heart and mind would never heal. To live most of his life treated like he was worth nothing. She couldn’t imagine what that would do to someone’s mind. She was surprised that he hadn’t been hateful or even tried to murder her or something. Yet, when she first saw him, she trusted him, believed in him.
Her thoughts were interrupted as he asked her what was wrong. Her smile fading as she realized he must have noticed her thinking about the event in the evening. Her head tilted down to stare at her hands that were folded neatly in her lap. “It’s...” She wanted to tell him it was nothing. Yet, she wished deep down she had someone to talk too. Sometimes she talked to her maids, but even with this it was hard. Could she really confide in him this? “This evening, my fiance will be joining us for dinner.” She stated softly, in a hushed tone that sounded as though she wasn’t very excited about the idea. He was a handsome man, but he was not the type of man she had ever pictured herself getting married too. “This marriage will unify our kingdoms, so it’s very important to my father...” She trailed off for a moment as her eyes darted to the side. She sometimes felt as though she was just a trophy, a token to be pawned off. She really didn’t want to go, but what choice did she have? Sitting alone next to that man and with her father as well who would only hard stare at her if she tried to speak out of place. Though after a moment of silence she perked up. “Wait, Germain, you are helping with dinner tonight are you not? That means you’ll be there to bring and take our plates.” He’d be like a waiter and stand probably behind her a few feet. It made her feel a bit better to know he’d be there. He might not have seen them as friends yet, but Lily would have liked to consider him as one. “Thank goodness...” She sighed under her breath.
