#here you be

[growlerbites]

How do I politely say that I want to eat him?

lmao I’m sorry @sedatedcoldpizza

[i-read-by-lamp]

34. “You work for me. You are my slave.”

I hope you like this! I was trying for some Cinderella but the story got away from me so I ended up with a very loose Rapunzel type of story!

Warnings: mental/emotional abuse and manipulation. Mentions of gaslighting but nothing graphic. Roman is definitely brainwashed into one way of thinking but there is a hopeful ending!

Roman had lost count of how many times he had heard those words. For as long as he could remember it was always the same, anytime he dared to step out of the line the scolding that would follow would include those words.

“You work for me. You are my slave.”

If his stepfather had ever sounded ruffled or angry it would be different. However, the words were always delivered calmly, no anger in sight, with such certainty that Roman couldn’t help but think the words were true. He didn’t have any grand skills and he didn’t stand out; despite his big dreams he would never accomplish anything because he was needed here.

Wasn’t he?

If he wasn’t there no one would clean the house. Who would make sure everything was just the way his stepfather liked it? The fireplace kept warm and the stairs always clean. Roman made his favorite foods and without him around what would the older man in the house do?

No. Here Roman was needed. There was no way he could leave. His stepfather never yelled but he corrected Roman when he was wrong. And Roman was wrong a lot. He never did things right the first time and he was very forgetful. There had been plenty of times when he would have sworn his stepfather told him put things a certain way, only to be told later that it was done wrong and his stepfather’s instructions had been completely different. So Roman knew he wasn’t the most reliable when it came to his duties, but his stepfather always corrected him without raising his voice and reminded Roman how lucky he was that the older man had the patience of a saint. (And he truly did, Roman knew how difficult it must be to deal with all of his mistakes.)

That was the way it was. Roman desperately trying to do things right and never managing it. Each day brought on more mistakes and a deeper understanding of how incompetent Roman must be. By the time he turned 18 he knew there was no way he could leave. He would never make it out in the world by himself, his stepfather told him so.

Roman’s stepfather never lied.

 So Roman’s life continued as usual, until one day when his step father had left for a trip the strangest thing happened.

 He had been tending to the laundry and desperately trying to fold it all just right so his guardian wouldn’t have to worry about fixing the mistakes when he got home, when someone knocked on the front door. Roman didn’t know what to do, his stepfather was gone so no one should be visiting. But what if it was important? Surely, he wouldn’t want Roman to turn them away. Or maybe it would be best to let them think no one is home so they would come back later? What would his stepfather prefer?

Ultimately Roman’s decision was taken away from him because of the voice that called from the other side of the door.

“Hello? Urgent business from the palace! Open up!”

Roman bustled over to the door and yanked it open, feeling bewildered.

“C-can I help you?”

The man on the other side actually seemed to stop and stare for a moment before blinking several times and muttering to himself,

“Well that was easier than I thought it would be.”

This made Roman even more confused.

“I’m sorry, I don’t understand. My stepfather is gone for a few days, if you could come back when he’s returned, I’m sure he could help you. Good day.” As he went to close the door the other man stopped him.

“I’m not looking for your old man, squirt.” Roman wanted to scrunch up his face at the nickname, but knew from years with his stepfather that it would be frowned upon.

The man continued,

“I’m actually looking for a young man about your age and I’ve been ordered to gather you all at the palace. The King is looking for someone and I daresay you may be one of the ones he’s searching for.”

Roman glanced back into the house uneasily, he’d never left unsupervised before. However, a royal summons was serious business, surely his stepfather would understand…

“I suppose if it’s for a short while…” Roman told him hesitantly. He wouldn’t be gone long, he assured himself. Just long enough to sort this out and he’d be back in time to finish cleaning the house the best he could for his stepfather’s return. Even thought he knew it wouldn’t be right, maybe this time it would be less tiring for his guardian to correct all of his mistakes. If he took care of this now then it was one less thing for his stepfather to have to trouble himself with upon his return.

“Alright.” Roman gave in, the man nodded as if he knew the turmoil Roman was going through.

“Then let’s get going.” He swept his hand out and Roman took a few hesitant steps out the front door, still in his cleaning clothes and able to hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears, he hesitated.

The man seemed to soften at the clear anxiety on Roman’s face.

“Hey, look at it this way. If I’m right, and I usually am, then the King will be very happy to see you. If I’m wrong then you can come right back here. Just think of it as an adventure.”

Roman felt himself lose a bit of tension, and stood a bit straighter. He’d always wanted to go on an adventure. Just one couldn’t hurt, could it?

His next steps were more confident as he followed the man to his carriage. The official royal crest embedded in the side. He gave the man a small but sincere smile. After it was returned, he set his gaze to outside the window.  As he felt the soft breeze brush through his hair and the sun warm his cheeks his face lit up, a spark lighting behind his eyes and he felt giddy.

He couldn’t help the wonder he felt as he settled into the ride

‘I’m going on an adventure.’