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“I’m sorry you feel that way, Rouxls.”
The Duke of Puzzles could only look on at his King incredulously. He neared the large oak desk that occupied nearly as much space in the shadowy study as the Spade King and slapped his hands down. Rouxls couldn’t hold his tongue anymore.
“Sorrye I feel that way? Sorry I feel thatte way?? Sire, with all due respect, we’ve not even the fayntest of clues as to where this Knight hails from!” protested Rouxls, a crease forming in his slowly melting brow. “What if it's- it’s a spy?! What if it’s another kingdom sending someone to try to control our own?! Or-”
The King rose with a grimace, making the Duke silence himself immediately. Leaning over the desk and soon, Rouxls, the King merely stared with a measured fury behind his eyes.
“You are stepping out of line, Kaard.”
“I-I’m sorry, Sire…” Rouxls stammered, leaning away from his monarch. He could feel his tell-tale heart beating away rapidly in his chest. That… rage. It frightened him.
“I-I just think–”
“I do not CARE about the thoughts of a mere pawn in the elaborate game that is mine and my Knight’s,” hissed the King, making Rouxls flinch. Taking hold of Rouxls’s collar with a vice-like grip, the King continued, “I only care that you do your job and keep OUT of my way and OFF of my nerves, as you’re failing to do now. As a result for this… impudence, you’ll be punished.”
Snowflake-like lashes parted wide to reveal nothing but horror in the Duke’s eyes.
“N-no, Sire– Please, forgive me, I knew not what I spoke of-!”
“Stop your sniveling; it’s far too late now, Duke. And besides… It’s only a new duty, seeing as the similarly disrespectful dungeon warden got executed last week,” the King all but purred with a dagger-sharp grin.
Amongst the other tasks he already had piled unto him with his new station he was failing to keep up with, Rouxls thought death a kinder sentence. If his hair weren’t already white from his own biology, he was sure this new dukeship would silver it in the span of an hour.
“Y-yes, Thy Majesty… Whatever thou needest of’t me…”