A Fluttering Annoyance | Leona Kingscholar X Reader (Valentine's Special)
Prompt:Ā "I think I've fallen in love with my self-professed mortal enemy."
Synopsis: Leona hated his attendant. They were always buzzing around, making a nuisance of themselves, and sticking their nose where it didn't belong. Leona hated them. But with that said, Leona was also the only one who got to tell them off.
Extra: The reader is not Yuu (They are implied to be a bird beastmen, but you can ignore it.). The Reader is also gender-neutral in this. They start off as children.
Leona watched in a mild feeling of horror as he came to a dawning realization upon looking at the child before him.Ā Kifaji's cousin's child they had said. Someone that was set to become his retainer.Ā Kifaji himself was bad enough, but now he had to deal with his relative? Leona knew that this kid was going to be his mortal enemy. His worst nightmare.
Leona didn't even know why they bothered with giving him a retainer, seeing as he was only the second prince anyway. He would never amount to anything, but here he was. With a too-straight-laced child staring at him with a much too serious look.
"I'll be at your service, Prince Leona." They practically chirped. Leona didn't say anything, until he was nudged by his older brother forward.
"Just try not to make my life difficult." Was all Leona said on the matter. His brother look disappointed, but Leona couldn't find it in him to care. Instead wondering when this meeting would be over with.
In the end, Leona's retainer did nothing but make his life more difficult. Not heeding to his one request. But what was he expecting. For someone to actually listen to him, the second prince? They were always nagging him. And when they were around, he could never manage to get any sleep.
"Prince Leona, it is time for your morning lessons." (Y/n) declared, ripping the blankets right off of him. Leona growled at them, but all they did was give him a blank look in response. Not at all caring that a predator was in front of them. The fact that Leona couldn't even manage to ruffle their feathers slightly always put a sour mood in his mouth.
"Yeah, yeah. I'm up, I'm up." Leona huffed, sitting up. Glancing towards his door, Leona noticed some of the palace staff cowering. He thought it was odd that they decided to send in the baby bird. Turns out, they're all just a bunch of cowards.
Though (Y/n) was far from cowardly. Walking around the room, as if they owned the place. Pulling out Leona's clothes for the day and plopping them on the table.
"I expect to see you in the dining hall in half an hour. And in your morning lessons an hour from that. Prince Leona." They stated, walking out probably just as quietly as they came. Not at all worried that Leona may retaliate.Ā Leona gritted his teeth, not being able to stand being called 'Prince'. For it was just a reminder of when he was born and who he was born after.
His new retainer's meddling didn't just stop at waking him up either. They also didn't seem to have a problem bossing around and nagging the rest of the palace staff. So, Leona supposes he isn't special in that regard.
"Crown Prince Falena is such a bright and cheerful young man. I don't understand why his younger brother has to be so moody all the time." One of the palace workers whispered to another worker beside her.
"And he possesses such a terrifying power! Imagine being able to turn anything to sand!" The other whispered back in agreement.
"Both of you, cease this conversation right now! What if someone overhears you?!" Leona scowled at those words, choosing to hang back and not intervene. Not saying anything. If he did say anything, it would just end up being the moody second born being dramatic over nothing.
"Oh? So if someone didn't have the chance to overhear, it would be fine to say anything then?" A familiar voice called out in a cold tone. Leona peaked his head out to see his annoying little retainer that was always fluttering around glaring at the palace staff.
"It's true isn't it? You should know that better than anyone else here, (Y/n)!" The first voice retorted, but (Y/n)'s expression didn't change. They never flinched, still looking just as cold as before.
"I think if you are such a coward that you must whisper between one another like a bunch of rats, you deserved to be turned into sand." (Y/n) snapped. Not at all caring when the other palace workers flinched back from them. "Learn to hold your tongue and acquire some manners. Second born or not, Prince Leona is still just that. A Prince. And you will treat him as such befitting his station. If I ever hear you all saying such words again, if you even imply it, I will have you thrown out of these walls myself!"
Leona remained silent. Not getting involved. If anything he found it to be a bother. The rumors would probably get worse. Only now it would probably turn into the moody second born prince and his tyrant of a retainer that's let the power go to their head. Leona sighed to himself, not wanting to deal with the oncoming headache that he knew was coming. Instead choosing to walk away from the situation entirely.
And (Y/n)'s nagging didn't just stop there. They even pestered him about something as small as the things he ate.
"Prince Leona, you still have food on your plate." (Y/n) pointed out, pointing towards the vegetables that Leona had intentionally avoided eating. He was a carnivore, not a herbivore.
"I don't like it. So I'm not going to eat it." Was Leona's firm reply. He smirked once he saw how (Y/n) puffed up in annoyance. Seems he's finally found the right buttons to push.
"Vegetables are important to a healthy and nutritious diet. You can't just refuse to eat it, Prince Leona." (Y/n) all but demanded, waving their hands around in a way that was most familiar. Something they did when they got particularly animated while talking.
"Hah? Aren't you the one always telling others to respect my station? And yet you have the gall to made demands of me?" Leona retorted, in a tone that was almost teasing. (Y/n) began to shake. Not from fear like the other palace workers. But instead from annoyance.
"No, I'm not making any demands Prince Leona. However, I highly advise you eat the rest of the food on your plate." (Y/n) affirmed not backing down, even having the courage to push his plate even closer to him.
"You said it yourself. You're not making any demands of me. So I, the second born Prince, am choosing to ignore your suggestion." Leona pushed the plate away from himself, standing up and began walking away. His tail swishing behind him in a way that he knew would only set off (Y/n) more.
Hilariously enough, the very next day, they barged into his room with a thirty-page report on vegetables and their nutritional value and why it was important to eat them and the determents to not eating them. Leona laughed and laughed and laughed at the report. He didn't think he had gotten under their tail feathers that much.
"What's this baby bird, still pouting over yesterday?" Leona teased, waving the report around. Still laughing as if it was the first time he had laughed in his entire lifetime.
"I am not pouting! And this is not a laughing matter. You must take this seriously, Prince Leona!" (Y/n) demanded, their words not having any real bite to them. "Not eating your greens can increase your risk of chronic disease, possible bowl troubles, nutrient deficiencies, among other things!"
(Y/n) was incredibly passionate in the way that they spoke, but Leona couldn't bring himself to take them seriously. And surprisingly, he couldn't even find himself being annoyed with their actions. Instead laughing at the sheer amount of gall that his too-straight-laced retainer always seemed to show.
"And is that an order, baby bird?" Leona taunted with a grin on his face, swiping at them with his tail. (Y/n) sputtered, swatting his tail away, and giving him a look that Leona found as about intimidating as a kitten.
"It is not an order, Prince Leona! It is just a highly advisable suggestion!!" (Y/n) deflected.
"Then I'm choosing to ignore your suggestion!" Leona countered. (Y/n) squawked in annoyance, stopping out of the room. Not being able to stay in the same room as the prince that kept laughing at their pitiful attempts for negotiation.
From there on out, Leona would find post-it-notes all over the place. Always listing dietary reasons as to why it was important to eat vegetables, all written in (Y/n)'s penmanship. Words that never failed to bring a smile to Leona's face, completely failing at their chosen directive.
(Y/n)'s overexuberance didn't stop there. It was like Leona could never get a moment for himself. For anywhere he went, they always managed to track him down.
"Prince Leona, what is it that you're doing all the way out here? Do you even recall what time it is currently?" (Y/n)'s voice tittered. Leona opened his eyes, coming into contact with a pair of sharp (e/c) ones. Leona sighed to himself, not bothering to get up from his spot.
"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm taking a nap." Came Leona's affronted reply.
"At least do it within the palace walls. Not outside Prince Leona. This is hardly dignified." (Y/n) lectured, and Leona couldn't help the shot of anger and annoyance even if he wanted to.
"What? Am I not princely enough for you? Sorry, but you'll have to seek my brother out for that one. Or should I say kingly enough in that case?" Leona snapped. (Y/n)'s eyes widened before their lips set into a firm line. But in the end, they didn't say anything. Instead, stomping back into the palace.
Leona ignored the part of himself that wanted them to stay. They were just an annoying baby bird that was always fluttering around him after all, he should be happy that their finally gone. Just like everyone else.
But in the end, and Leona really should have expected this, they continued to defy his expectations. Instead coming back outside with an arm full of books, plopping themselves beside Leona and opening a book to read.
"What are you doing?' Leona asked, curious despite himself.
"Well, someone has to look out for you. As you seem to so often forget, you are a Prince of this country. Leaving you on your own simply isn't an option." (Y/n) huffed, rolling their eyes at him.Ā
"I don't need any protection. Especially not from you." Leona all but growled. But (Y/n) wasn't intimidated, they never were. And Leona was beginning to think they never will be.
"Of course not, Prince Leona. But it is time for you lessons, and as you have seen fit to skip those very same lessons to come out here and nap, I will read them to you." (Y/n) decided all on their own. Leona had come out here to skip those very same lessons, already knowing everything.
"The point of coming out here was to get some peace and quiet. If you expect me to engage in your little mock lesson, you're sorely mistaken." Leona firmly stated, rolling over to continue his original endeavor. Not even wanting the possibility of looking at (Y/n).
"I never asked you to, Prince Leona." Came (Y/n)'s oh so antagonizing reply, before they began to read off some of the most boring information they possibly could. Against his will, their voice seemed to soothe him to sleep. Coaxing him into a peaceful slumber that he hadn't been able to achieve in a long while. Damn song bird.
He can't believe he's fallen for a tittering little brat.