Page 32 of The Princess's Pet

“Three years now. I’ve been here since my sixteenth year, and I got promoted to head gardener last year.” He smiled proudly.

“A deserved promotion,” I complimented him as I looked around at the garden.

“Thank you.” He blushed.

We worked together for a few hours chatting about flowers, and different combinations and arrangements, soil quality, rodents, and pests. It was nice to talk shop with someone and work under the afternoon sun.

I looked up and saw the Princess approaching us. I stood, and Thomas looked up, and stood also. He lifted a watering can to me in a silent question. I nodded my head in thanks and cleaned my hands off as he poured the water for me. He reached into his apron and pulled out a towel for me to dry my hands.

“Thanks, Thomas,” I said appreciatively, and turned to the Princess, smiling at being back in her company.

“Good afternoon, my Royal Highness, I am Thomas the Head Gardener,” Thomas introduced himself and bowed low when the Princess reached us.

“I hope my pet has not been an inconvenience to your work,” she said curtly.

“Percy has been only helpful. I’m grateful for her talent,” Thomas answered, still bowed.

“Yes, I’m sure,” the Princess responded and turned to me. “Pet, we are leaving now.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” I answered and turned back to Thomas. “Thank you for allowing me to help,” I told him.

“Any time, Percy, so long as my Royal Highness allows, of course,” he offered, and I smiled and looked back to the Princess pleadingly.

“Perhaps on our next visit,” she offered, and I smiled wider. “Come along now,” the Princess commanded, and held out her hand.

I stepped forward and gave her my hand. She laced our fingers and pulled me closer, leaning down, her nose pressed against my head, scenting me. Before she stood straight and led me through the gardens and back inside. We met Lady Amelia at the entrance to the manor.

“I enjoyed your company, cousin, please visit again soon,” Lady Amelia said, looking at our joined hands. “And it was lovely meeting you, Percy,” she said to me.

“Thank you, and you too, Lady Amelia,” I said, feeling uncomfortable and awkward again.

“Remember our talk, and stay safe.” The Princess said farewell and led us back to the vehicle to return home.

The sun had set by the time we arrived home, and I went straight to the shower to wash off the day's grime from working under the sun with the soil.

The Princess entered the bathroom as I was leaving, wearing only her lacy underwear, and I tripped on my feet in shock, her arms reaching out to catch my towel-clad body.

“Falling for me, pet?” she laughed as she steadied me. “I’m going to take a long bath. Tell the guard at the door what you would like to eat, and it will be brought up for you,” she told me as she released my shoulders.

“Okay, thank you, Ma’am,” I mumbled, trying to focus on her face and not her chest.

I knocked on the door and stood, waiting for a few moments. I don’t know why I expected the guard to answer the knock. The guard had only ever opened the door on our arrival home, and the Princess would open the door to his knock. Eventually, I built up the courage to open the door. The Princess had not told me that I couldn’t leave her living quarters, but then again, it’s not like she had to tell me, I was her property, and I knew I couldn’t wander around without her permission. Opening the door to speak to the guard felt like I was breaking the law.

The guard stood to attention facing down the corridor.

“Hi, um, can I please order some food?” I asked him awkwardly. The guard turned his head to me but didn’t seem surprised that I was speaking to him.

“What would you like, my lady?” he asked, bowing his head slightly, and it was me that was shocked at his polite response and the way he addressed me. When I got over my shock, I was able to ask for what I wanted.

My order was placed, and within fifteen minutes, I was sitting down to a slice of hot pizza.

I had picked up the book the Princess had been reading when she told me the story of the King’s betrayal by his friend. It seemed the book held many stories about betrayals and war.

The book was taken from me by elegant hands, and I looked up to the Princess who wore a new set of satin pyjamas, light blue and shiny and I wondered what they felt like. As if reading my mind, the Princess grinned, and after tossing the book carelessly tothe coffee table, straddled me. Her hands took mine and placed them on her satin-covered upper thighs.

“Did you eat, pet?” she questioned casually, as if she wasn’t straddling my lap, her hands cupping my face. I swallowed and nodded. “Good.”

She simply looked at me then, her silver eyes taking in my face. Her fingers brushed my lips softly, and she leaned down and lightly pressing her lips to mine. The tenderness of her actions was new; I had come to expect her kisses to be hard, or teasing, but she lightly kissed me before pulling away. Her hands found mine again and placed them higher up on her waist.

---