Chapter Text
The very last of his assignments tonight and then he could finally get back to the real job. Vexx stood straight, arms behind his back, eyes roaming all around the excessively large room. Empty save for a table in a middle, over a dozen fancy chairs with high backrests and those fourteen people seated around it. Not counting a few fellow guards by his side.
That’s one messed up family, Vexx mused derisively as he watched the royals eating their dinner and tried his best to keep the thoughts off his face. Not a word between them, they ate in complete, cringy silence with only clatter of cutlery punctuating it. Not only was it cringy, but also revolting, repulsive and boring. He found himself almost longing for those evenings when they had decided to speak, but then remembered what kind of rubbish they chose do discuss over their meal.
His eyes examined their faces though, one at a time, recognizing those facing the room. King Fenris sat in the middle, high and mighty, arrogant and cruel as ever. Then his three wives sat by his right hand; the beautiful one, the crazy one and the bitter one.
The eldest child, the heir, Nerissa, sat by his left, followed with the twins – Vexx had no idea which was which, and cared even less. Then there was an empty spot for Elettra.
The rest was too unimportant to face the room. There was the fifth heir with his head slightly bowed between his shoulders, eating silently. Sorenn, just like his superior Orsanna’s Guard sister, was missing. The rest was there.
Vexx knew the names, obviously, but the faces weren’t as known, or weren’t known at all. Some might consider this a priceless opportunity to see the rest of the family, but that was not why he was here.
No distractions. Do your job and get out of this hellhole, Vexx reminded himself, blinking when there was the sound of chairs screeching across the floor. Making certain his face was a perfectly neutral mask, Vexx stared ahead when the king stomped outside the dining room with two of his queens in tow. Ta’jean remained seat for a few more moments before grimacing and leaving as well.
That was good. Meaning the obligatory part of the evening meal was over. Soon the royals would start leaving.
Finally, he mused when first of the guards left as well, following the king and queens in the unending task to answer to their every whim. More thoughts along the line followed as first of the children started to disperse as well, and soon only a handful guards remained behind.
Those Vexx didn’t recognize lingered a little longer before they started trailing out of the room as well. All of them were unaccompanied by guards since only the most important family members were assigned one inside the palace, which left only four people in the room. The youngest brat, judging by her sitting at the far end of the table, and the heir to the throne with her guard. Damian’s eyes followed his princess’ movements when she rose to her feet and moved around the table. Her high heels clicked loudly, the sound reverberating around the empty space.
Instead of heading to the door, she continued alongside the table until she took a seat next to the last remaining royal.
Next to Vexx, Damian sighed quietly. Vexx caught his eyes and the senior guard shrugged, making an annoyed grimace.
But them his attention was drawn forth at the sound of Nerissa’s voice. “Why the long face?” She spoke quietly, her tone soft and meek while addressing her younger sibling.
The answer was lost to Vexx, but whatever it was, the youngest Peg’asi hung her head and pushed away the plate in front of her. She had barely touched the meal, Vexx noticed and couldn’t help but lift a corner of his mouth in contempt. People went hungry out there while this brat turned up her fancy royal nose at the feast!
“Well, maybe next time you should be more careful. Father noticed your sour looks,” Nerissa replied with a small smile.
“As well as he should,” the youngest – Zaeera, Vexx recalled – retorted with undignified snort.
“Oh? What brought this on?” Nerissa asked, still sounding amused, as she reached out to put a free strand of Zaeera’s hair behind her ear.
Sighing deeply, Zaeera twisted in the seat, turning to face her elder sister. Vexx studied her glowering profile with slightly lifted eyebrows. Whatever she replied was too quiet for him to catch, but Nerissa’s reaction was pure horror.
“On your own?” she all but exclaimed, rising to her feet.
“Yes, on my own. Do you see anyone else sharing my interests around here?” the younger princess retorted, rising to her feet as well, albeit more slowly, almost wearily. She was only a bit shorter than the heir, though the heels they both wore probably created or hid some of that difference.
A flash of anger crossed Nerissa’s face. She made a step forward to close their distance. Vexx strained his ears to hear. “There’s protocol for these things for a reason. Something could have happened to you. When I showed you the way, I didn’t do it so that you could kill your boredom and risk your life.”
“It wasn’t like that,” Zaeera opposed calmly. “It opened my eyes to a lot of things, Neri. Isn’t that worth a little risk?”
Nerissa took a breath to speak, but the youngest was quicker. “And I wasn’t in any danger. You see, the thing is...they didn’t recognize me. No one knew my face. That’s how important I am. That’s what my life is worth,” she hissed through clenched teeth, her voice shaking.
Now it was Nerissa’s turn to speak so quietly Vexx failed to understand.
“For my protection?” Zaeera laughed. “If father was so concerned with my safety, why not give me a personal guard,” she continued, waving her hand towards the entrance where Vexx and Damian stood unmoving, both pretending not to listen.
But while Damian seemed gradually more and more uncomfortable, Vexx found himself leaning forward with interest.
“I’ll tell you why,” she continued, lowering her voice. “I’m just a contingency plan of a contingency plan of a contingency plan. All I’m allowed to do is stay in my wing of the palace, sit and be quiet. I’m nothing around here, and I’m even less out there and...and-“ she choked up, turning away from her sister.
Nerissa closed her eyes briefly. “Zae,” she whispered. Then she moved slowly, almost hesitantly, and pulled the younger woman into her arms. Vexx could see her lips moving, but didn’t hear what she said as she stroked her sister’s hair.
Vexx glanced at Damian by his side to find him frowning at the scene with obvious disapproval. His mouth was set in a tight line before he finally reached his patience at the drama in front of him and cleared his throat. “I apologize for the intrusion, Your Highness,” he said in a hoarse voice. “I’m afraid we have places to be.”
Nerissa answered with an unhappy scowl, but nodded. She closed her eyes again and squeezed her sister before taking a step back. The younger princess turned her back to the two remaining guards, wiping her face with the back of her hand, Vexx noticed. “Yes, of course. Thank you for reminding me,” Nerissa said as she briefly touched Zaeera’s arm. She seemed very reluctant to leave.
She looked over her shoulder twice before she stood side by side with Vexx. But instead of leaving the room at last, she paused as her eyes fell on Vexx who squared his shoulders under her attention.
Damn. Attention. He wasn’t supposed to get any. Especially not from the heir to the throne. His heart picked up its pace.
“I haven’t seen you before, have I?” she asked after a short moment.
“I have been working at the palace for three weeks, Your Highness,” Vexx replied, unsure whether to meet her eyes or not. It felt like he wasn’t supposed to. Until she smiled at him.
“What is your name?”
“My-?” Vexx stuttered, ignoring Damian’s rolling his eyes behind the princess’ shoulder. “Serif, Your Higness. Lieutenant Serif,” he added quickly.
Nerissa shared features with her father, but there was nothing of Fenris’ anger and disdain in her eyes when her smile widened. “Nice to meet you, Lieutenant Serif. I hope you’ll enjoy your service as a Royal Guard. Also I’d like to ask you to accompany my sister to her room.”
Vexx’s eyes moved to the woman at question on their own accord.
“I can get there on my own,” Zaeera spun to look at her sister, her flowing, dark blue skirt whirling around her. Tiny gemstones dusting the light fabric glittered with her every move. Vexx’ eyes rose up her slender body, long neck and finally rested on her face.
Zaeera didn’t quite reach her mother’s unearthly beauty and elegance, but she made a very decent attempt. Dark blue eyes shone from her face, still red from crying. Her nose and cheeks, paler that her sister’s, were powdered with freckles, and her small mouth was set stubbornly. Her dark brown hair spilled over her shoulder at her sudden motion and she flicked it away impatiently.
Well, she was definitely on the pretty side of the family, Vexx thought. Almost a shame the king was hiding her.
And then he realized Nerissa still watched him. He met her eyes and resisted shifting his weight when she lifted her eyebrows infinitesimally. She’d caught him staring even if the younger princess hadn’t. “Yes, of course, Your Highness,” he replied curtly, his shoulder stiffening.
“Good,” Nerissa nodded.
“Don’t treat me like a child, Nerissa,” Zaeera hissed, her heels clicking loudly as she made her way towards them.
“I’m just trying to protect you, Zae. We’ll talk about this more, I promise, but now I really need to go. Before I do however, promise me you’ll stay where you’re supposed to. I don’t want you wandering on your own.”
“But-!”
“Promise me, Zaeera, please,” Nerissa whispered, using softness against her sister’s anger.
Anger that ebbed away instantly. Zaeera looked at Vexx with a small frown, sizing him up. She held his eye shortly. For a very brief moment, so fleeting Vexx wasn’t certain if it was there at all, she smirked at him. But then she looked at her sister again, all meek and resigned. “Fine,” she said softly, bowing her head a little. “I promise not to wander on my own.”
Nerissa held out a hand and touched her cheek briefly, making her look her in the eye again. “Thank you. I love you, little sister. Please don’t you ever forget that,” she said instead of goodbye and turned on the spot. Her footfalls echoed down the corridor, followed by Damian’s. Zaeera stood unmoving until they couldn’t be heard any more.
“Do you have anything important you wanted to do tonight?” Zaeera asked as she watched the empty corridor. It took Vexx a few seconds to realize she was talking to him.
“...no?” Vexx replied hesitantly, not certain where the princess was going with this. “...Your Highness,” he added quickly although it seemed she cared little for the honorific.
“Then I might use your help. Come, I’ll explain later,” she nodded, smiling a little, and begun leading the way. Vexx trailed behind her, confused and maybe a little annoyed. Babysitting royal children was not how he had planned tonight. Though he could hardly wriggle out of whatever the princess had in mind explaining that he had a job to complete for Zovack, right?
They reached Zaeera’s rooms and Vexx was baffled when the princess stopped at the door and called at a few people inside. When no one answered, she hurried in and beckoned him in as well.
Vexx hesitated, pausing at the threshold.
She clicked her tongue at him. “Guards are not usually posted outside my door. It’ll look suspicious. Come in,” she hissed as she disappeared further into her suite.
He closed the door behind himself and swallowed heavily, looking around. This is bad, this is bad, this is bad, he chanted inwardly. No one was supposed to notice him. No one was supposed to remember him. That’s why he always volunteered for the most boring jobs, the kind no one else wanted. Not even in his wildest dreams would he have imagined ending up in private chambers of one of the Peg’asi brats.
Slowly whirling around, he took in all there was in here. There was a sofa, the one-sided kind where you lie on your side, a table, a couple of chairs. All that fancy royal sort with heavily decorated wood and big, puffy upholstery. The furniture looked so pristine Vexx felt dirty just by standing next to them.
Dark blue, Vexx thought, a finger running up the armrest. The fabric felt soft and warm. No flowers, no jewels, no fancy pictures on the walls, his mind continued the list inwardly as he examined the room. No ritzy tea set or other kinds of baubles that are supposed to impress your guest. For a royal person the antechamber, waiting room, whatever the hall was called, looked quite plain, Vexx decided.
Then something at the edge of his vision demanded he brought his attention to the door leading deeper into the suite.
She stood there, her hands joined in front of her stomach. Gone was the robe. Now she was wearing black trousers and a dark red jacket. Her hair was pulled into a high ponytail. She wore no earrings, no necklace, no bracelets or rings. Her shoes had flat sole.
On their way back up to her face Vexx eyes noticed the way she wrung her fingers. Is she nervous?, he wondered, narrowing his eyes at her.
She noticed and let her hands fall freely alongside her hips, then pointed at one of the chairs. “You may sit down.”
Vexx looked at the offered chair, but didn’t move.
Zaeera sighed and moved a little closer. Suddenly she was quite short, hardly reaching up to his chin. “I...I wanted to ask for a favour, I guess?” she started.
A predatory smile almost forced its way to Vexx’s lips. Having a Royal owe you one? Sounded good.
When he didn’t react, she looked away briefly and touched the back of her neck. Nervous and insecure. Interesting. I thought they taught them to conduct themselves in some fancy royal fashion.
“I...as of late I kind of realized that things in here and out there were different,” she started saying at last, “and I...I have made the habit of sneaking out of the palace to learn more about our people and their lives and opinions...”
Vexx’s eyes widened, then narrowed as he watched the princess while she spoke.
“...and you just heard that I promised not to wander on my own. But...if I had someone with me, maybe I...could? And it would be good to have someone with me who also knew the city.”
“You managed to sneak out of the palace? On your own?” The wheels turned in his head at the speed of light. “No one noticed you?”
Misinterpreting his questions, luckily, she looked away as she nodded a few times. “I know this could land you in a very big trouble if they caught you. And I know I have no right to ask this of you. You have no reason to believe me that no one will see us. And if you say no, which is okay, really, all I ask is that you keep this conversation to-”
Making an involuntary step forwards, Vexx cut her off. “It would be my honour, Your Highness.”
“I understand completely, don-“ she paused, looked at him with wide eyes. “What?”
Straightening his uniform Vexx repeated, slowly: “It would be my honour to accompany you, Your Highness, as well as my duty to make certain nothing harms you.”
And inside of him fireworks exploded and technicolour lights flashed. He’d been weeks at the palace already with nothing to show for it. He couldn’t believe his luck that had just fallen into his lap without him having to lift a finger!
She beamed at him, all but jumping on the balls of her feet. “You would go with me?”
“It’s my duty to protect the royal family,” Vexx kept on droning. She seemed to be happy to hear it.
She bit her lower lip, took a deep breath and held it for a moment. Her eyes were big and excited and she suddenly seemed like a ten years old girl instead of an heir to the- well, a contingency plan of a contingency plan. How apt and self-reflective of her.
So they set off, Vexx once again following her steps. She walked surprisingly quietly, gliding rather than walking, really, or maybe it was her enthusiasm she didn’t quite manage to hide.
And then it was Vexx’s turn to try to hide his enthusiasm. Zaeera had just stopped in front of an ordinary wall...and made it slide aside with only a soft click.
And here they thought it wouldn’t be an easy job, Vexx smirked before he followed the princess inside a dark tunnel.