Chapter Text
Chapter I
I walked behind the sole heiress to the Rosenwell name, Miss Naomi Rosenwell. She was, to say the least, interesting. She did not carry the expected mannerisms of a noblewoman; she slurped her tea, didn’t speak elegantly, and snored. I had unfortunately become accustomed to the raucous sound that kept me awake during the night shifts guarding her room. Despite all that, she was still a beautiful woman of status, one who had taken me on as a friend and her personal guard, so I couldn’t say she was all bad.
Coming to a halt outside her room, I watched the bustling servants rush in and out of her door. It was an organized chaos of maids carrying dresses and jewelry into the heiress’s room, but not without reason. They were helping her prepare for the upcoming ball that night, the monthly event hosted by the king to encourage nobility to socialize and build relationships.
However, this particular ball was special; Naomi Rosenwell was arranged to meet her betrothed. Her mother kept the reasons behind the marriage behind closed doors, but it was clear it had something to do with the wealth, or rather lack thereof, of the Rosenwell house. It was strange that a nobleman would be willing to marry into a poorer house, but I suppose most political marriages had some sort of benefit for both parties.
Who she married was none of my concern, so long as the man brought no harm to her. My role was to serve as her blade, a guard to protect her from harm, not just because it was my duty, but because she was a very dear friend to me..
✿･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✿
The ballroom was extravagant, with the theme “Blackout.” The pillars on the sides of the ballroom had been draped in ebony curtains, dark roses had adorned the tables, and the chandelier was decorated with obsidian and black candles. The room had been crowded with nobles dressed in their finest attire. Women’s gowns billowed around them like shadows, their inky skirts sweeping the polished floor with every graceful movement. I couldn’t let my gaze wander for too long; my main priority had been Naomi. I needed to keep an eye on her to ensure her safety. Despite the knights stationed at every corner, I could never be too careful.
Naomi displayed elegance in a slim off-shouldered dress. Her amber skin had been accentuated by long black gloves, and her auburn hair had been styled in a loose half-bun. I had followed close behind her as we searched for her prospective suitor. All I knew was that he had been a man of her age, from a wealthy family, House Pyrrus.
It hadn’t taken long to find him—the distinctive Pyrrus strawberry-blond hair stood out vividly against the sea of black. He had been short, at least compared to me, with a thin frame typical of most nobles. His hair had been cropped short and swept to the side, and his red eyes had been filled with an arrogance befitting a spoiled heir. As soon as we made ourselves known, what I assumed to be his father and Viscountess had gone off to discuss the terms of the marriage, leaving the two engaged nobles to interact and get to know each other better.
With a poised and practiced smile, Atticus had stepped forward, offering a slight bow. "Miss Rosenwell, I am Atticus Pyrrus. It is an honor to meet you.” He had given a light kiss to her gloved knuckles.
At least he had manners, I thought.
“Er…yeah, nice to meet you too, I guess,” Naomi had pulled her hand back, offering a polite smile.
Atticus, seemingly unperturbed by Naomi’s lack of formal enthusiasm, had straightened up and surveyed her with a scrutinizing yet oddly indifferent gaze. He had briefly glanced my way, sizing me up before turning back to her. After a moment of awkward silence, the music began playing.
“May I have this dance?” Atticus had asked, offering his hand to her with a small smile. Naomi had nodded and taken his hand, and they began to walk toward the dance floor, leaving me to watch from the sidelines.
As they danced, I could only catch snippets of their conversation. Her patience seemed to wane as Atticus’s observations grew more pointed. “You know,” Atticus had started, his tone blunt, “your mannerisms are rather unrefined for a noblewoman. Perhaps you should consider adopting a more graceful manner.”
Naomi's lips had tightened at the comment. I could see the brief flash of irritation in her eyes before she masked it with a smile. Her voice had been steady but carried an edge. "I suppose your lessons in grace have been the highlight of your upbringing, Mr. Pyrrus?”
Atticus's smile had faltered for just a moment, but he had quickly recovered. “It’s simply a suggestion,” he had replied, his tone almost dismissive. “After all, elegance is not just about appearances but also about how one carries oneself.”
I change my mind about him having manners, Atticus can eat a —
I let my thoughts trail off as I watched her ‘accidentally’ step on his foot. Atticus winced slightly but quickly masked his discomfort with a strained smile. Naomi's eyes gleamed with a hint of satisfaction as she offered him a sarcastic apology.
Good, that prick deserves it. I smirked.
The song came to an end, and I made my way back to the tables at the side of the room. I retook my place behind Naomi and fixed a cold glare on Atticus. Viscountess Rosenwell and Baron Pyrrus were still engrossed in their conversation about the marriage terms, leaving the two of them to navigate their uneasy truce alone.
The night continued to be filled with awkward tension and judgment on both sides. Atticus scrutinized the Rosenwell heir, I glared at the blonde, and Naomi quipped back at him with her sharp words. It didn’t help that I learned he would be staying at the Rosenwell manor until the wedding. Supposedly, it was to help them get along better. I couldn’t imagine how this would be a fun six months..
✿･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✿
When we returned to the manor, it was clear that none of us desired the living adjustments. Atticus had worn a sour expression, likely because he had to live with the fiancée he deemed “unladylike.” Naomi was clearly irritated with Atticus’s traditional way of thinking, and I didn’t want her to be near him, much less marry him.
I found myself on night duty as usual, which meant I was to keep watch outside of Naomi’s room until morning. That’s when I heard footsteps approaching from down the hall. I looked up and saw Atticus in his nightwear, holding an oil lamp.
“I don’t recall your room being in this hall, Mr. Pyrrus,” I narrowed my eyes at him.
“Then clearly you did not pay attention to the viscountess. I was informed I was to sleep in the same room with Miss Rosenwell,” Atticus said blandly.
Sleeping in the same room before wedlock? How absurd, improper, and downright scandalous. I shot him a glare, my grip tightening on the hilt of my sword.
“That’s not how things are done, Atticus. You may be the son of a Baron, but there are rules to this society that you seem blissfully unaware of.”
Atticus rolled his eyes, an exasperated sigh escaping his lips. “It’s not as if I requested this. If I had a say, I wouldn’t even think about sleeping beside her before the wedding. But no, the lady of the house insisted that I get acquainted with my future bride.”
My grip did not loosen as he spoke; his reasoning was ridiculous.
“Her reputation is on the line. Do you realize how this could tarnish not only your standing as a gentleman but also her status as a lady?”
Atticus scoffed. “Of course I do, but it’s not like I have a say in this matter.”
“You may not have asked for it, but you can still refuse to engage in such impropriety,” I retorted, my voice low but sharp.
“Last I checked, you are her guard, not her keeper,” he sneered. “So follow your orders, and I’ll follow mine. Know your place.” The ginger pushed past me and entered the room.
If he weren’t Naomi’s fiancé, I would have wrung his neck; that spoiled piece of shit would die by my hand. Who was he to give me orders? He wasn’t even the man of the house yet.
Yet
The mere thought of Atticus Pyrrus taking the position of Viscount of House Rosenwell—and becoming my boss— was enough to send a throbbing ache through my head. I did not get paid well enough to deal with both Naomi (bless her, as much as I loved my dear friend, her aptitude for trouble made it difficult for me to keep her safe) and Atticus’s audacity.
Shaking my head to clear my mind of the horrid thought of taking any more orders from Atticus, I shift my stance outside of Naomi’s room. I could hear a hushed argument from inside dying down as they seemingly came to an agreement, and a moment later, the muffled snores of Naomi. I couldn’t help but chortle. If Atticus were any other man, I would have felt bad for him. But seeing as he is about as charming as a rotting skunk, I believe he was deserving of it.
The night progressed slowly, taking the night shift of guarding all the time left me with permanent eye bags and a drowsy mind that was not fit for guarding Naomi during the day. Thankfully, I had managed to last until the next shift change, at the very crack of dawn. Despite Naomi’s loud snores, I had been starting to fall asleep on the job, how foolish of me.
With one last glance behind at her door, I made my way to my quarters to turn in for the night. I’ll deal with the Atticus problem in the morning.