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“Thank you all for gathering here on such short notice.”
A gathering. A sea of frills and dresses and enough food to feed his entire home town. Tables full of meat, fruits, desserts, privilege. Chandeliers that sparkle like the sun on a body of water, gaudy decor which could only be as eccentric as possible, a swarm of people dressed with lace and high heels.
Yes, quite a gathering.
The king stands at the head of the table, the chattering of the guests dying down as he begins speaking. Nearly every seat is filled with the bodies of the most affluent families in the kingdom. Beside the king sits his daughter, heir to the throne. Princess Mira, with her beautifully pale skin and soft blue eyes too easy to get lost in when they crinkle with laughter.
Toby stands in the corner, preparing to entertain the crowd, though the only person he wants to see is her. The table is full of young and beautiful princesses, and this jester cannot help but fall for her encapsulating beauty. Tonight, she is dressed for the occasion, adorned with emeralds to accent her gorgeous pink dress. He cannot keep his eyes off her, even as he mentally rehearses the words he’s been practicing for weeks.
He knows that it isn’t right, by any means, to think of the king’s eldest daughter that way. Hells, he spends most days mocking and insulting the royal family for a laugh. His duty to play the fool is unwavering. However.. He cannot help but desire her, this seemingly untouchable girl in a pink dress, for she is everything he could ever dream of.
Even though he has only known Mira for less than a year, he finds himself fantasizing about a life where he could have a real chance. One where he is proper, well-mannered, and fit for a beauty like her. It’s utterly pathetic, how much he has come to adore this princess.
“I would like to welcome you all. Truly, it is such a beautiful night. As you know, it is my daughter’s eighteenth birthday,” the king holds a glass of wine, his voice calm with authority as he nods toward the younger daughter at his other side, Natalie. She sits in an elaborate purple dress, smiling as the guests cheer and clap. “Though that is not the only thing I would like to celebrate, for our men have returned from a year-long expedition. They have brought good fortunes and exotic plants, a true agricultural blessing.”
A collective ‘ooh’ rounds the table as the king snaps a finger, prompting about a dozen servants to enter. They roll in carts carrying a wide selection of fancy wines paired with chocolates and cheese, alongside pastries and appetizers beautifully crafted by the palace chefs. A plate of brightly colored fruits sits at the center of the display, and Toby is increasingly sure that this night is, in fact, a dream.
After a long, duly-prepared speech from the king, the celebration commences. Enough food to fill a whole family is placed on each guest and royal plate; dark red wines are poured into tall glass cups for every attendee. A loud chatter fills the room, enveloping the large space in that celebratory warmth. Toby watches from the sidelines beside a guard, who stays completely silent.
He looks at her, just for a split second, and their eyes meet. She offers this comforting, gentle smile. He might have melted on the spot if he wasn’t acutely aware of all these witnesses in the room. His stomach churns from nerves, adjusting his cap awkwardly.
“Ah. Toby, my dear,” the princess calls, drumming her perfectly manicured fingers on the tablecloth. He glances up again, blinking; he processes her order and approaches. She smiles. “Come closer.”
He takes another step forward as she plucks one slice of a large apple from her plate, turning towards him. He looks down at her with a questioning gaze. He thinks he is offering her food, just for a moment.
“How troubling,” she mutters, tilting her head to the side as she realizes he is too tall. He swallows, feeling the weight of all eyes on them. Not directly, but it feels as if their judgment stares daggers into his side. “Kneel, darling,” Mira commands, her voice pulling him from his thoughts.
He doesn’t waste a moment hesitating, immediately dropping on to one knee. She picks up the apple, holding it in front of him. “Good boy,” she coos, and he takes a bite of the fruit. It’s sweet, incredibly so, but nothing is comparable to the warmth that blooms inside of him at her consideration.
“Thank you, Mira..” he whispers, voice thick with reverence. She giggles, reaching her hand out to adjust his hat. The gossip and murmurs from the rest of the table draws closer, though she does not pay them any mind. She picks up another piece of fruit and pops it into her own mouth.
After the meal is over, guests are redirected to an elaborate ballroom big enough to fit an entire kingdom. Toby stands on stage as the group dances and laughs along to the music played by live orchestra. He searches the crowd for Mira as he’s setting up around the instruments, but she is nowhere to be found.
“There’s no way she actually cares for that fool,” a young voice exclaims from the back corner of the room, followed by a round of giggles. “She should never stoop so low as to be seen with a buffoon like him! Look at him!” A blonde girl in a green dress points toward the stage, locking eyes with Toby almost instantly.
He scans the group. Mira stands in the corner as she watches a few other girls, seemingly of nobility. Her eyes are narrowed and her fists remain clenched at her sides. They seem to be making fun of her, each one adding a cruel remark to the mix. Toby’s face drops as he realizes what’s happening, and without giving it much thought, he jumps off the stage.
“Ladies! How is thi-this party treating you?” He greets in a sing-songy tone, though the way his voice cracks gives away the irritation hiding beneath. “Such wonderful guests joining u-us tonight,” he grits out, a smile plastered to his face as he places a hand on two shoulders. “Perhaps you would like t-to partake in my opening act?”
“Well, well, if it isn’t the princess’s little errand boy? He seems quite.. unrefined,” the other maiden remarks with a snicker, prying Toby’s hand from her shoulder. “Not to mention, your little.. h-ha-habit,” she mocks with cruel amusement. Mira’s face shifts into a more confused expression, and he just grins.
He leans down, now eye level with the young woman. “I am n-not sure who would raise such a cruel thing l-like you,” he whispers, voice eerily calm, “but I would suggest you cease this s-senseless mockery of the princess. Her life is worth f-far more than y-yours ever will be.”
The girls still, exchanging a look of mutual frustration and perhaps disgust. Toby doesn’t care. Until one of them produces a loud shriek, unexpectedly pushing him away with haste. He stumbles slightly, his hat falling to the floor as he stares at them with confusion and the crowd stops. Heads turn in his direction almost instantly, drawing the attention of the king.
Heavy footsteps echo through the large ballroom, silencing the entire party. The king holds a sizable glass of wine as he assesses the situation in front of him. “What is the meaning of this?” He asks, addressing the jester.
Toby is about to speak before the poor little damsel decides to answer for him. “Your fool is behaving like a savage! Going around and placing his hands on us,” she accuses in a shrill voice. The other girls nod in agreement. The king furrows his brows.
“Is this the truth, Toby?” He stares down at the young man, who shakes his head in response. He hums. “I see..” he mutters, taking a slow sip from his glass as he mentally weighs his options.
“Wait! Father!” Mira stands in front of Toby, looking up at her dad. “He did nothing wrong. These girls are being untruthful,” she insists, voice firm. Toby glances at her, and he thinks he would fall in love with her all over again if it weren’t for the situation at hand. She meets his gaze with her own, her eyes softening almost imperceptibly at the astonishment on his face.
“..Very well. Toby, how about you head to your chamber for now? You are dismissed from your duties temporarily,” the king states, and Mira visibly relaxes at his words. The other girls almost protest, but their own families have found them from the crowd by now and are dragging them off to hopefully lecture them. Toby accepts the king’s demands and bows before turning to leave the room.
The shadows envelop him in the dark hallway as he walks back to his own quarters, when a rush of familiar footsteps brings him to a halt. “Toby!” She calls, heels clicking against the palace flooring. He turns, watching her approach with a glimmer in his eye. Mira stops in front of him to catch her breath before holding up his hat, grinning. “You dropped this.”
He looks down at the hat, then into her eyes. She’s standing so close, always so close. Those words briefly echo in his mind. He doesn’t mean to frown, but he can’t help it, even as he’s gratefully taking the hat from her. “Th-Thanks,” he says simply, voice low.
She nods, gazing up at him. “Are you still joking? Thank you, darling!” She smiles, taking his hands in hers. “I apologize for what those girls said about you.” She looks up at him with such kindness, it makes his heart melt. His gaze softens at her words, adoration taking hold of his body.
“It-it’s alright,” he insists with a giddy smile, cheeks pink. She’s so close, he can smell her sweet perfume, his personal favorite on her. “You we-were beautiful tonight..” he whispers, averting his gaze.
“Thank you,” she grins, cheeks reddening slightly. They stand in the hallway for a moment, breathing in each other’s presence. She eventually speaks first, her voice quiet, “are you turning in for the night?”
Toby responds with a small nod, and she tilts her head. “Perhaps.. I could join you?” She requests, an underlying suggestiveness to her words. He swallows, his stomach doing flips. Is he dreaming?
“Y-yes, I would.. like tha-that very m-much,” he admits. She doesn’t say another word, already heading forward after she intertwines their fingers. His heart flutters as he walks beside her, giving her hand a gentle, affectionate squeeze. Maybe he isn’t dreaming.