Chapter Text
The day started as usual.
David had been awoken by his personal assistant, Exer. Or, he at least tried to.
It was a struggle for David to be around him everyday. Not because Exer was a bad person. It was the exact opposite, actually.
Like he was too good to be true. Near perfect at his job. Charismatic and charming personality. Looks amazing, even in the wee hours of the morning. His hair slicked back with no stray hairs, teeth sharp and white, his fluffy ears twitching every once in a while. He was one of the only werewolves that the kingdom tolerated. Some people still refused to acknowledge Exer, others would constantly throw insults and threats his way. There were few who trusted him, knowing Exer was completely harmless.
He was dressed in all black, a long coat that was fitted perfectly, enhancing his features nicely. The vest underneath showing some of his chest, making David’s face go red. How he looked so presentable at five o'clock in the morning was one of the things David would never understand.
And then there was David, who was still in his sleeping clothes. He pushed his face into his pillow, trying to hide his flustered face from view. “Nooo,” David’s voice muffled. “Just give me five more minutes.”
Exer sighed, “My lord, if you don’t get up now, you’ll be late for breakfast.” He went back over to the bed and tried to pull him out of the sheets, but David made his whole body go limp, making it nearly impossible for Exer to get him to comply.
Eventually, Exer quit his attempts and let go of David, causing his body to fall to the floor with a loud thump.
The audacity, David thought. He was the prince of a prestigious kingdom. “Just go on without me,” David said dramatically. “I need my beauty sleep, Ex.”
“Okay, your highness. Whatever you want,” Exer chuckled under his breath. “I’m leaving, then. I’ll eat your food if you don’t want-”
David tackled him to the ground before Exer could even finish his sentence.
X
He had eventually got David off him.
Maybe threatening to steal his food was a bad idea. But it did get David out of bed, so Exer considered it a win.
He waited in the hall outside his room with his notepad, dotting down errands that they needed to do for the day. Sword training, council meetings, David’s class time, going into town, charity work. A typical day for Prince David.
“Exer!” Pamela called to him, “Hey!”
When he looked up from his notepad, she was walking towards him, most likely coming from Princess Brenda’s room, Pamela being her assistant. She was a sorceress, but no one would have been able to tell if it weren’t for her green skin. And she was an excellent sorceress at that, using her powers and spells to help the kingdom. Her and Exer had been friends since the first time they met, bonding over business and the stresses of their work.
“Hey Pam,” Exer responded, “How has your morning been?”
She laughed, “It’s been alright, I suppose. I am waiting for Princess Brenda to finish getting ready.”
Just then, David came out of his room. He was wearing a suit made from expensive silks. It was made for the royal family, no other material quite like it. David’s coat was made from soft, baby blue fabric with golden embroiderment, a white shirt underneath and black trousers hugging his thighs.
Exer tried his best to not get flustered at the sight.
X
David and Brenda went to breakfast. They were having fun talking with Pamela and Exer before they entered the dining room, but the two had to go to the servants kitchen.
As soon as the two siblings went into the room with their parents, they were overwhelmed with a wave of tension. It was clear on their faces that they had had another argument. Their father, William, hadn’t even looked up when they entered the room. Their mother, on the other hand, immediately showered them with her love.
“Oh, my babies!!!” She got out of her chair and hugged them both, giving them a peck on the cheek. “How did you two sleep-?”
“My god,” William groaned from his chair, “You treat them like little kids. They’ll be taking over the throne, no need to baby them.”
And so their day begins.
X
In the servant’s kitchen, Pamela and Exer were able to talk more. The royal secretary had informed them of additional errands they were to complete today.
As Exer went off to prepare for David’s fencing class, Pamela went over to the outbuilding where they kept the animals and creatures. It was somewhere she could clear her mind without any unwanted disturbance, as well as help out in any way she could. But as she walked closer, Pamela felt a sense that someone new was inside.
Even though there were a few different workers in the outbuilding, three in particular were the ones who did most of the work.
There was Jolie, Ken, and Timothy all doing their own thing. Jolie’s a gorgon, which is why she always wore a scarf over her head, hiding the snakes that would stone anyone who looked into them. She had dark brown eyes and long lashes, freckles over the bridge of her nose and scattered on her cheeks.
Ken is what people call a dracotaur–a half human, half dragon hybrid. He had large, dark red wings with purple patagium. His eyes were golden with slits as pupils. There were scales littered on Ken’s skin, on his jawline and the edges of his face, parts of his hands and on his joints. Several of the workers were terrified of him, and it didn’t help that Ken would consistently play practical jokes on anyone he could without getting in trouble.
Timothy is a wood elf who was somehow always in a pinnacle state of cuteness. Anyone who had the honor of meeting him would agree that he was the most adorable person who has ever walked this earth. Timothy was a short boy with raspberry hair and pointy ears. His eyes were bright, a soft amber color with large square glasses that made them look huge.
Apparently, they were forced to work in the barn as a punishment, but the three would just snicker if anyone asked what they had done. There had been several rumors, all varying in severity. Besides, the three had grown to love working in the outbuilding.
But Pamela paid no mind to the gossip. She just wanted to see the creatures they took care of. But when she got there, Jolie went to tell her some surprising news.
“Lady Pamela!” Jolie cheered. “You haven’t visited in a few days. The animals have missed you.”
The royal family housed an array of creatures, varying from pegasi to dragons, hippocampi to griffins, all trained for years until they were ready to be used during wars or expeditions, sometimes just to travel into the city.
“Please, Jo,” Pamela sighed with a smile on her face, “There’s no need for formalities. We’re friends.”
Jolie snicked, “That may be so, but you are still a high-class servant. So, you shall be addressed as such.” She waved for Pamela to enter. “There’s someone I would like you to meet.”
Before Pamela could ask who, Jolie ran off. As she walked through the building, she ran into Ken and Timothy in a stall. It seemed as if they were attempting to give a pegasus a wash.
She wanted to offer assistance, Ken reassured her that they were fine.
“We are not fine, Ken!” Timothy yelled over the commotion, trying to keep the creature’s wings from flapping and hitting someone unconscious.
Ken grabbed a bucket, “We’ve got this-!” He barely got his sentence out before Timothy’s grasp on the pegasus’ wing’s faltered, causing one to hit him hard enough to knock him to the ground. Ken barely had time to move out of the way as the pegasus lunged out of the stable, still covered in soap and running through the building.
Pamela snorted, “I think you guys need help.” The sound of the trotting becoming more distant.
X
Once David was finished with breakfast, he had gone straight to fencing. Part of the daily routine he had. Wake up, eat, train, meetings, eat, other princely duties, train, eat, more meetings, train, sleep, repeat. He loved being royalty, but sometimes he just wanted to do what he wanted. Have the freedom to act like a normal person.
But that wasn’t an option for him.
His father was always harder on David than he was with his sister. Trying to fit in as much into his schedule without causing David to break, making sure he did whatever activities the king saw fit. David got no say in the matter.
He met with Exer in the training room, who was talking to David’s teacher. Upon seeing him, David was sent to change at once, not even having a chance to say anything to Exer.
When he did come back ready to practice, Exer was long gone.
“Where did Exer go?” David asked his teacher. “He normally stays until the end after I have finished training.” In all the years Exer has worked for him, he had never left during any of his sessions.
“King William had requested an audience with Sir Exer,” He said, as if this was nothing to worry about, “He should return shortly. Now, enough talk and let us begin.”
If his father was involved, all David could do was worry.
X
When the king had come to the salle and asked to speak to Exer privately, his heart rate had immediately started to pick up speed. As they walked through the spacious halls in complete silence, it was as if all sound was amplified, Exer’s sensitive ears working overtime.
When they made it into an empty board room, the king began explaining why he needed to talk to Exer.
Well, not explain. More like tell Exer some unexpected news and assume Exer would know what to do with such information.
“Prince David is going to be part of an arranged marriage with Princess Mariah.” He started. “I expect you to make sure he goes through with it and doesn’t get any ideas of going against this plan.”
What?