Chapter 469 - 470: Casually.

Chapter 469: Chapter 470: Casually.

Huh , he’d never really paid much attention, but there really is something oddly lifelike about her eyes. Like if he were to back away slowly they would follow him.

It makes his skin prickle.

He swallows, and bows again.

"...I won’t let you down, Your Majesty."

He’s said that before, only to chase a young prince Loac through a barn and a sty, then been attacked by several very upset roosters only to lose him again that very same day. But he’d always meant it when he said it, and that hasn’t changed. He’s pretty sure Xena won’t douse him in chicken feed from the rafters of a barn to make chickens chase him, but he gets the impression that she’s got a mischievous streak of her own so there’s really no knowing.

He bows again, which is maybe overdoing it, but he figures better safe than sorry. And then practically leaps out of his skin when he turns to find a familiar figure leaning up against the corner, appraising him.

"Shit, Loac –" Ah shit, there it goes, just slipping out again. " L-Loac ! You gotta stop doing that!" Montrel splutters, hand flying instinctively to the sword at his hip but stopping short when he realises just who’s snuck up on him.

Loac catches the movement and raises a mocking eyebrow as if to say really ?

Oh , this brat needs a good kicking.

" Huh , you really came," he states, as Montrel grinds his poor teeth. At this rate he’s gonna have none left and it’s definitely gonna be Loac’s fault.

"You were the one who told me to in the first place," he growls back, suddenly immensely self-conscious about how overdressed he is to be just wandering around the halls. If one of the guys sees him before he can get his ass back to his family’s quarters they’re gonna start thinking all kinds of shit. Ma has already caught him and asked what he’s up to sneaking out all dressed up, and she’s gonna grill him when he gets back for sure.

She’d been over the moon obviously, to hear about his courtship of the princess. Furious with him, also obviously , for not having told him sooner. But Montrel knew his Ma. Well meaning or not, one word about it and she would’ve gone blabbing to her friends and they would’ve blabbed to theirs and then he would’ve had no peace. As it is, she won’t give him a break, going on about meeting with the princess and a wedding and finally getting some grandchildren out of him. Finally she says. Like he’s been keeping her waiting. Gods, he’s not even thirty yet, what’s the woman even talking about?

Grandchildren, huh ?

Xena would make a real sweet mom.

Montrel immediately feels himself turning red. It’s way too soon to be thinking things like that! And she’s probably expected to have kids, being the Crown Princess and all –duty to carry on the Royal line and stuff seeing as Loac and Khobi aren’t exactly equipped for that sort of thing, but maybe she doesn’t want them. Which would be just fine, too. She takes her duty real serious, but there’s more to life than duty.

Maybe he’ll ask her.

The list of important questions he’s gotta ask her is starting to grow.

"...So, how’d it go?" Loac inquires casually. Montrel eyes him suspiciously, unsure as to whether he’s making fun of him or not. But when he just meets his gaze, somewhat expectantly, he deflates some.

"Good. I think? Hard to know," he shrugs feebly, and after a beat, tentatively lowers his voice to venture, "...Uh, Loac? How would I know? If she was okay with it?"

Loac just quirks an eyebrow back at him. "...Do you think she was?"

Montrel gives him a helpless look. Lightning didn’t descend from the sky or anything. Spiders didn’t fall on him and the painting didn’t like, spontaneously burst into flames or anything. Nothing bad happened, so...

"I...guess so?" If he was hoping for further explanation, he’s left wanting, and Loac just claps him on the shoulder as he passes him by; leaving him more at a loss than he was before.

"Wha-what are you doing skulking around here anyways??" Montrel grumbles, face reddening because there’s every chance that he heard every word of what he’s just said. At least he’s not making fun of him. To his face.

In answer to his question, Loac juts his chin in the direction Montrel’s just come from. "Came to see my Ma."

"Oh." Ah shit, Montrel suddenly feels the weirdest pang of guilt as he straightens his cloak and takes his leave; not wanting to linger here any longer now that he knows Loac’s been here this whole time. He didn’t even greet her or anything. Was he supposed to? Loac didn’t say anything about that !

Ah shit, he can’t help but think, shooting a lingering look back over his shoulder to find that Loac’s casually dropped down into the seat opposite the painting. Hopefully it’ll be fine.

...

It’s becoming somewhat of a bad habit of Binny’s, barging into Vector’s quarters like they’re his own. The same could also be said for lingering there. He probably shouldn’t –his sister still worries even though he’s told her quite plainly not to –and even though technically there’s nothing wrong with him being there, he’s not sure Vector’s quite ready for the backlash that he and his family will no doubt face if it gets out just who’s been frequenting his bed at night. He’s a soldier now, but he still used to be a servant.

He always knew that was going to pose obstacles; there were just some that he hadn’t foreseen.

It’s a pity his eyes don’t work like that.

Because even though he’s been a servant his whole life, now he’s a soldier, and as such those same servants he used to work with, eat with, laugh with and whisper about the noblemen in secret with...don’t seem to know whether they’re allowed to do such things with him anymore.

If he goes down to the kitchens they will, because the kitchens have become a sort of safe haven for that sort of thing. There, the prince has always talked to them like they’re more than servants, and Khobi had done the same. But beyond that; out in the corridors where the castle’s ever watchful eyes can see, they keep their distance and hold their tongues, because servants aren’t meant to talk to soldiers so casually.