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"Alright, alright Specs. The flower has enough water now." Virgil tilted the watering can back and gently took it from the toddler so that the garden he was helping wouldn't become as wet as the moat. The palace gardener was nice enough to allow Virgil and Specs to join her on her duties, and Patton didn't need or want his butler for the day so Virgil could supervise the fun activity instead of the boy being thrown onto whoever was free.
Virgil wouldn't lie when he would say he loved days like this. The weather was sunny and calm, birds were chirping on the nearby trees, he had no stressful duties to keep Patton to, and Virgil could just undo his top shirt buttons and sit on the grass to watch Specs. The ever-curious and cautious baby-face Specs. It was a life Virgil dreamt of, although he dreamt of sharing the life with someone else though - someone he wouldn't dare utter the name of in that context around anyone else.
"Oh wow! Look at this new garden!" All of a sudden the cursed name appeared beside Virgil and Specs, kneeling down quick enough that his crown fell a little (but he managed to catch it in time). It was a blessing that Virgil remembered to remind Patton to wash his golden hair this morning. It was still a little wet but a little curled and framing his face beautifully...
Back on the straight path Virgil. You're the Patton's butler - you'll never be anything more.
"Are you helping Valerie with the garden Spec-tickles?" The prince cooed, grabbing the nearby four year old for a tickle as he looked so proud of himself for hydrating the blossoming plants. As soon as Specs escaped the royal's grip he ran back over to Virgil and grabbed onto the small satchel around his chest that held all the seeds for the new seasonal plants. Without a response, but not needing one, Patton sat beside Virgil with a small smile and watched Specs scatter seeds all across the grass while disregarding the gardener Valerie's instructions. "I wonder what he'd be saying right now if he could speak." Patton whispered to his butler in his usual sing-song tone, making Virgil chuckle to himself and wipe his cheeks to avoid them going pink.
"Probably something like 'if my hypothesis is correct I should be really pissing off Val in five minutes'. He's a smart kid." Virgil mumbled back, calling Specs over and silently teaching him how to actually plant the seeds he needed to. Specs looked overjoyed at this revelation and immediately began planting the flowers semi-correctly. "He really is a little nerd though."
"It really is sweet how gentle you are with him." And that sentence caused the... thing... again. Ever since the ball that introduced Specs into the prince and butler's life Patton had been doing this thing that would drive Virgil completely up the wall. He would just be speaking calmly and quietly and then suddenly Patton would lay his head on Virgil's shoulder like it was a totally normal thing to do. Sure - Virgil had been in Patton's life since they were young children but that doesn't mean he could suddenly spring this weird type of affection on him like it was nothing. Hopefully Virgil's cheeks weren't red.
Specs was the first to retreat to Virgil's side before anyone realised what was going on, grabbing his blazer and letting a small alarming mumble go like he usually did when he was scared. "What's up nerd?" Virgil chuckled at first, before feeling Patton's head quickly lift from his shoulder and a boom come from the other side of the expansive courtyard.
"PRINCE PATTON MORGAN SANDERS OF GAINESVILLE!" Patton's full address was only used when the prince was in severe trouble, especially when it was shouted by the ruler of the kingdom. Both Virgil and Patton stood immediately and Virgil clutched Specs close to his chest and stepped back. Patton stepped forward with his hands behind his back and his back straight even though he looked petrified.
"Yes father?"
"Care to explain this?" The King ushered towards Virgil and the young child, making the butler feel vulnerable enough to shield Specs' head as if protecting him from the noise and fear. "Why is there a weak village boy on castle grounds?"
It wasn't the first time Patton was rendered to silence by his own father, he wasn't that confrontational so often just silenced whenever his father shouted. And usually in situations like this Virgil was then the one to be shouted at as he'd definitely get a reaction especially when Patton got upset.
"I'm sorry we've bothered you with the fact we're helping your kingdom." Virgil growled, standing by Patton's side. If he had a hand free he'd nudge Patton somehow but closeness would have to do as Specs was refusing to let go of Virgil's shirt. "This child would have died the way we found him if your son wouldn't have taken him in-"
"You've been an issue for my son ever since I hired you Mr Maro, I don't know why we keep you around." Usually a sentence like that was only said when Virgil was at the strong end of an argument as an ultimatum, and even though that threat was uttered almost once a week it seemed to upset Patton almost every time it was said. The threat would make Virgil retreat but this time he didn't. He couldn't let Specs go out of the palace and back to the impoverished village again.
"Fire me." The butler commanded, glaring daggers at the King who ruled over him. You see, Virgil really did know the power he had. He knew that once a villager was fired from his job at the castle the entire country down the hill would go riot and the royal rule would be soon over. And the King knew that too. "Or, we can have an agreement where we can keep Specs safe here and he can work for the palace when he gets of age."
The King sighed and nodded, rubbing his eyes and admitting defeat. It would be helpful to have some extra hands in a few years anyway. "Alright." Both Virgil and Patton smiled wide at that and even Specs raised his head. "But you both have to find out his real name in the village. I'm not calling this child a silly name like 'Specs'."