Chapter Text
Dream stared at the offending man, an intruder in his eyes. How could the Antarctic Empire call this a gift? He’d received the declaration a week before the arrival, the empire’s King, a man not known to their kingdom, declared he was sending a personal knight for the new king to congratulate him on his coronation. “The empire’s finest, he’ll need the protection as a new king,” the letter had claimed. Dream truly doubted it, but he couldn’t deny he’d have fun testing this “empire’s finest”.
He didn’t bother tilting his head down to follow as the man knelt into a bow, staring at him from the bottom of his vision and keeping his chin up high. He could admit as he watched the man that he was wearing quite heavy armor, not to mention expensive. And his hair was ridiculous, what court would allow their soldiers to have pink hair? Dream would have to fix this disgrace.
He rolled his eyes as the soldier just stayed there, kneeling to him. “At least you understand your place already, stand up. The king had a meeting this morning, so you’ll have to greet him once it's finished, and you can’t greet him with dirt on your knees,” he spat. The man raised his head slowly, and somehow Dream felt those red eyes might see his soul as they locked onto his. “Don’t make eye contact with anyone, unless you’d like to return to your empire with your head at your feet.”
He swore he saw the corner of the man’s lips twitch up into a smirk, and he would’ve snapped at him if it weren’t for the incessant tapping at his shoulder. He spun on his heel and growled at the boy behind him, “what!?”
The boy flinched and sputtered, “my apologies advisor, but the King’s meeting has concluded and he is awaiting your arrival in the throne room.”
Dream sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, “we’re late, wonderful. Let’s go, keep up.” He didn’t wait for the knight to stand, simply shoving past the boy and walking into the castle. “We won’t have time for you to clean off your armor. In the future I expect you to be better, understood…. What is your name?” He didn’t stop to look back at him, he could tell the man was right behind him by his heavy footsteps.
“Technoblade, sir.” His voice was much deeper than he expected, gruff. Somehow, it irritated him even more. He decided this one would not last long here.
He pushed past two large oak doors, revealing the polished throne room. There were three thrones set against the back wall, yet only one tiny boy sat on the middle, largest throne. He couldn’t have been older than 13, and looked absolutely terrified of his surroundings. The crown on his head wasn’t made for him. It was far too big, made for an adult much larger than the boy, and had tipped to the side, nearly covering his right eye completely.
Dream walked to the end of the throne room with the confidence of a king himself, as if he was the one who owned and ruled the place. He stopped right in front of the boy and turned to the side, watching Technoblade bow to the young king.
“Tommy, this is the gift you were promised by the empire. The knight Technoblade.”