Side Chapter: Each Problem.
Narrator's POV
The spell jousting competition was over as they all went home.
[Kein and Vincent's time]
"Alright Vincent, now that we're home! Let's do that promise we made!" (Kein) said as he dragged Vincent away from his parents.
Vincent was confused at the sudden tugging but his parents didn't mind it at all. They didn't mind that a commoner was being friends with Vincent, they just thought finally- their son has a friend now.
A real one.
They were happy.
"Nigel you come too! Come on, Nigel." (Kein) beckons the family butler in.
Kein closed the door to her room as Nigel stood in the corner. Vincent was quietly confused but was still quiet. Kein confidently puts her hands on her waist, "Alright, Nigel can you get these dresses out for me and lay them down by the bed."
She opens the closet where there were almost a dozen beautiful dresses that were sent by Vincent's mom, Duchess Viviana. And since Kein did say that, Vincent gave Kein his second hand clothes. She's going to have fun playing dress up with him in secret.
"Certainly, Miss Kein." (Nigel) says as he did what Kein told. He takes the dresses off one by one laying them down the bed by color.
"Thanks Nigel, now as for you." (Kein) turns to Vincent who awkwardly holds his arm. "We're going to play dress up until we're tired from this shit. Now which dress looks cute for you?"
"Lady Kein, you were serious about that? From before?" (Lord Vincent)
"Yes? Wait- did you really think I was kidding when I said we would have a fashion show by the time we get back to your home?" (Kein) asked her hands, stopping to hold the beautiful blue dress.
"H-Hold on. Does Nigel know? Did you tell him? What do I do if he tells my parents about this?!" (Vincent) panicked as he looked at Nigel who arranged the dresses carefully.
"No I didn't tell him about what we're about to do but I think he's an alright butler. We can just ask to keep it a secret, you know." (Kein)
"Lady Kein, I may trust you even if we have merely met for a few months. However, Nigel is my family's butler ordered to relay anything concerning to my parents-" (Lord Vincent)
Kein sighs as she pats Vincent's back. "Hey Nigel, can I ask you a question?" (Kein)
The butler stops arranging the clothes as he turns to Kein, bowing, "Yes, Miss Kein. Anything within my knowledge I will answer." (Nigel) answers with his most charming smile.
"Do you think boys wearing dresses are weird?" (Kein) asked straightforwardly while Vincent hit her by the head, "W-What are you doing?!" (Lord Vincent)
Nigel thinks for a moment before shaking his head, "Weird... is not the right word if it's up to me. I have seen female butlers in our butler academy. While many people might think it's strange, it's mandatory. It is because they are butlers, they wear them. If you want to wear the clothes you like then wear them."
"It is not weird at all for me, why the sudden question Miss Kein?" (Nigel) asks, looking at the little girl with amusement.
"Oh nothing, I just knew you were a good ally after all. You didn't look at me weirdly with my clothing choice." (Kein)
"I have worn a dress myself once, so I know why you dislike Miss Kein. They have no pockets, I have nowhere to put my watch to check the time or my keys. I'm glad the maid uniforms have pockets after all these years of protest." (Nigel)
"Wait Nigel, you don't think it's weird?" (Lord Vincent) looked at his butler with pure shock on his face, it was like he didn't knew him after all this years and was just finding out about this.
"Not at all, young master. Hmm... from all these expressions of yours. I am guessing Miss Kein has put you into a position that you don't like?" (Nigel)
"HEY I DIDN'T PUT HIM ON SOMETHING LIKE THAT! We just want to do a fashion show that's all jeez. I'm not forcing anything here at all." (Kein)
Vincent sighs as he uncomfortably shifts his hands again in his arm protectively, "No... Nigel, can I ask you a favor. Perhaps not as the young master and the son of the Duke but as a good friend of mine and a reliable companion."
Nigel nods, "Of course, what would it be?"
"Whatever happens here now. Will not leave the room." (Vincent)
"Understood. Whatever young master desires, I will do. The events that will happen today will not leave this butler's lips." (Nigel) zips his mouth to show his promise and Vincent felt relaxed at his gesture.
"I knew he was a cool butler. Nigel help me with this dress please! I can't possibly clean up all the mess I'm going to do later." (Kein)
"Certainly, Miss Kein." (Nigel)
Kein had a sixth sense for gay people and allies. Meaning she knew who's homophobic or not or who's also in the closet themselves. Oh and definitely she has the blessing to know where's the best gay bars there is due to a lot of coincidences.
The first dress was an aqua blue design with lily flowers on the side, expensive jewelries were embroidered on a beautiful arch on each curve. Vincent wore this dress confidently as well as a wig Kein found. "Wow, not going to lie. You look beautiful Vincent."
"Y-You really think so?" (Vincent) asked, deeply embarrassed and shy inside. "I do think the color suits my hair perfectly but... something is missing."
Nigel watches carefully before walking forward with a box on his hands, "Young master perhaps this would help."
Vincent was surprised, honestly he just thought Nigel was going to watch on the sidelines and not partake in any of this weird farce. "T-Thank you, I'll see what's inside then."
He sees a beautiful necklace, its gemstones were similar to sapphires, reflecting his hair. It was indeed beautiful and certainly covers something that was missing in his clothing. "This is perfect."
"As you are, young master."
Kein smiles, that's one promise fulfilled. Vincent really was on edge on that spell jousting competition and something seemed to have happened to Lenard and him. Maybe those two fought with each other and had an argument?
Kein didn't want to interrupt Vincent's happy time so she's going to ask him next time.
Now, her promise to Rose someday to teach her how to make Sinigang might be a while because she needs to find the right type of ingredients for this one. "Ah such a pain, it's hard finding the right ingredients or something similar again. Heck I'm not even done with my shampoo. Oh and the portrait too- ah so many things to do."
Kein felt like shit the next day trying to work on the portrait after the fashion show with Vincent.
They almost tried all the dresses in that closet. Nigel was pretty encouraging and really did say nothing on the matter. What a true ally.
[Lenard's Time]
Lenard was reading books quietly, missing Kein's presence already. He had no one to talk to, no one to gossip with, and no one that he knows that can understand him.
"Ugh, why are boys so hard to understand?" (Lenard) muttered as he buried his head in the book he was reading. "Books are the only company I can have huh. Oh how I wish Sebastian was real... it's such a shame characters in fiction are not real..."
Depressingly, the book he was reading was a limited edition boy's love from the kingdom of [Sprivanto], a free kingdom where loving the same gender is considered as normal and were free to love whoever they wanted as long as they follow the rules it's alright.
[Puronia] is not that much welcome to the idea of same sex love, because they are run by the monarchy rules. In order to continue the bloodline of the family it must a man and woman, they need to take this idealistic idea out of there same as polygamy.
The church of light has rules, you can only marry one person. If thou commits adultery, it is an unforgivable sin.
[Winshern] on the side, where polygamy is allowed and men has all the power. It is a country where same sex love is considered a sin and must not be practiced. It is also believed to be a devil's practice of temptation.
Lenard went back to his book reading, "If my mother or father knew that I was reading about something like this... I'll surely be in trouble."
The title of the book already suggests what kind of book he was reading, [Forbidden love between a Prince and a Butler].
"To you my prince, we can never be together. Our heart may seem a part but you are of royalty and I am from a common humble background. The king will not approve of our love..." (Lenard) reads the passage of the book.
"Even if its same gender love is allowed in [Sprivanto] I guess they still have their own problems to deal with like this..."
He sighs sadly as he continues to read further wishing that Kein was with him to read this book.
The Prince has always had his butler aid for a long time. It was a slow burn romance as the butler realizes that he has always loved the Prince but he can only watch from afar as the prince was engaged to a princess from a foreign land.
"This is... so sad..." (Lenard) muttered as he felt like getting teary eyed. He has always had a sensitive heart, a cry baby, and it was really problematic.
His twin brother Lucas has always been courageous and thick skinned. He wondered can he ever like that as well?
"Excuse me, are you alright?"
Another voice asked Lenard as suddenly there was a handkerchief beside his face, it surprised him almost stumbling down from his seat. "Um I couldn't help but see you getting teary eyed from your reading. Pardon me, young master."
It was a boy close to his age, suddenly giving a handkerchief as Lenard glanced at him slowly. "A-Ah! Um... this is... I was not..." (Lenard)
The boy had black ivory hair, with the most sincere amber eyes Lenard has ever seen. "Please take it. For your tears, I cannot bear to see them."
The mysterious boy gave Lenard his handkerchief as Lenard flustered, taking it from his hands. Slightly brushing he felt like dying, how embarrassing! Someone saw him cry over a book of all things! "Were you reading something sad?"
Lenard hides his book... from his back panicking. "N-No um... dust just got into my eyes, that's all. Stupid dust."
He laughs nervously as the mysterious boy just smiles at him, "I... That book that you were holding."
"Oh! It's nothing! It's a useless book! Nothing of importance at all! It's just some magic theories and-" (Lenard) was all over the place now.
The mysterious boy ignores Lenard as he also takes out the same copy of the book. "E-Eh?!" (Lenard) looked at the boy with utter shock at first.
The mysterious boy smiles shyly as he holds the book to his chest, "I-I read them too."
"EH?! EH?! EHHHH?!" (Lenard) points at the same book cover he was holding and jumps for joy finally finding someone with the same tastes as him!
[Rosarie's Time/Rose]
"Ah. I'm home." (Rose) dramatically flops on the bed as she looks dejected remembering the time she spent with Kein. She suddenly raises her fists in anger and begins punching the pillows. "How did I lose to a frog?! Tell me how that thing is cuter than me! Stupid Kein!"
The pillow deep inside was screaming, please stop hitting me. Why am I being beaten up like this? I ain't the one who chose a frog over you.
Indeed, the pillow was sacrificed and Rose was still mad.
Catherine, her sister was just looking at her like, 'What? Frog? Cuter than you? Did you get rejected?'
"S-She chose a frog over me! A princess?! Losing to a frog- oh wait she doesn't know I'm a princess but I don't even think it'll matter!" (Rosarie) yelled at the top of her lungs and cried. She thought to herself girls like Kein are dumb!
"Catherine, why are girls so cruel?! Why did Kein choose a frog over me?! Tell me?!"
Catherine, her little sister just plainly looked at her and facepalmed. 'You and your love life problems don't drag me into this and demand answers why a frog is more desirable than you, elder sister.'
She hand signed to her and laughed. "Don't laugh! You've met Kein before right?" (Rosarie) pouts as she repositions herself into a sitting position.
Catherine nods feeling guilty that she teased her older sister about the person she liked but it's just she knew her older sister has never been interested in romance. 'Yes, she was certainly an interesting character and a good insight to have when she read my manuscript. She was very sweet to even give me a sketch of the characters as well.'
"Ah right you also said something about approving of our marriage-"
'And I am still agreeing on that. You look so adorable getting angry over something else other than etiquette class.' (Catherine)
"I thought we're sisters, isn't it your job to comfort me?"
'No, I do the opposite.' (Catherine) grinned giving her the hand sign and that made Rose groan in pain. "Don't make me throw you out my window. One day if you have a boyfriend I'll do the same to you."
Catherine was mostly teasing her sister as Rose told about her day and questioned why a frog is more desirable than a real princess.
[Meanwhile]
"Hmm... is there no letter regarding the traveling artist?"
The first princess asked as she sat on her comfortable couch. Her personal maid shook her head as she handed over the other letters of suitors lining up. "I'm afraid not, Princess Cecilia but here are all the letters from suitors your father has chosen for you."
The first princess sighs as she takes the dozen letters from her hand. "A shame... I thought she would write to me... but I was hoping for too much huh."
Her personal maid felt the princess's sadness and was determined to cheer her up. "There there your highness, perhaps she's busy and forgot to write you a letter!"
Princess Cecilia smiled faintly as she opened the letter from suitors one by one. "Oh, is that so... am I really that forgettable?"
The maid panics as she stumbled on her words, "N-No that is not what I meant-"
Princess Cecilia laughs softly as she places one of the letters to her mouth, "She really is an interesting one. Not wanting to converse with a princess? I was expecting a letter the next few days but... this just makes her more desirable."
The maid sighs, after all these years of service for the princess. She has never seen this side of her before. "My patience has run out. I want you to research where the traveling artist, Kein Rosenguard resides. I want to visit her home and see what she's like." (Princess Cecilia)
Her eyes were like a wild fox, the maid nodding knowing that whatever the princess wants, the princess gets. "Yes, your highness. I will have them before the day ends."
Princess Cecilia takes the letters of suitors and throws them into the fire of her chimney. The paper slowly vanished, as her smile grew wider. "Unfortunately for my father, I have no interest in mere plain suitors he chose for me regarding my marriage."
She watches as the flame fully engulfes all the letters, the wax of the seal slowly melting. "I want someone adorable and cute. I want her, I want to know more about the traveling artist."
Princess Cecilia sighs, her heart feeling squishy- perhaps restless- she couldn't explain, "Perhaps my heart must not be feeling well."
"I should take an evening rest, please tell my father I have found no suitable one that would satisfy my requests."
And so she excused herself, leaving her orders to her personal maid.
The personal maid just shrugs and does all she can to play cupid apparently.
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