Page 18 of Bleeding for the Prince
As far as Gwil was concerned, Opali was just being helpful, but by the way Hyax’s wings vibrated, he still seemed to be agitated. Maybe he was still pissed off at his inopportune joke.
Opali sat. “Then perhaps we can start with a few questions in order to confirm the curriculum.” He rotated his wrist and a document appeared in front of them. “I have made a start, but there are certain areas I think we should discuss.”
“To be honest, I don’t know what it is I don’t know,” Gwil said. “I’m not what you’d call well-versed with royal fae protocol of this nature.”
“You’re in safe hands with me, Mr Hilt.”
“Please call me Gwil, unless there’s some terrible etiquette faux pas it’d cause.”
“I think we can say that’s perfectly acceptable in this more informal setting.”
He watched Opali delete several lines of text, probably about etiquette conduct in the harem and once they got to know each other a bit better, and if Hyax wasn’t here, he would ask Opali what he was missing out on. What remained was a longer list than Gwil was expecting and included such items as social address, eating in public, and emotion control.
“It looks like I’ve a lot to do,” he said, his heart sinking.
“Don’t worry, Gwil. I’ll be there to hold your hand every step of the way.”
“I’m sure Gwil will appreciate your assistance,” Hyax said. “I did not envisage this to be an arduous task and I hope that you will be able to make this as painless as possible.”
Gwil thought Hyax might have made a comment that no hand-holding was allowed. However, he was convinced he might get a few words of encouragement once home on how to interact with his new tutor.
“I will do my best, Your Highness. I am right to assume you are both happy with the proposed curriculum, and I can proceed with putting together a schedule?”
Gwil thought that if he had a real objection, Hyax would have found a way to circumvent Gwil taking lessons. But now, having met Opali, he was sure he wasn’t going to be subjected to some old duffer with a desire to make him a Stepford Wife, he found he was no longer averse to the idea of coming up to scratch to be rolled out at royal gatherings. “Good from my side.”
Hyax reread the document, and Gwil suspected it was more to make the point that he had the final decision than an absolute need. “I think you should narrow down some of the royal engagements more. I won’t be subjecting Gwil to everything. I like him far too much for that. The rest’s fine.”
“Thank you. I will create a plan and get back to you tomorrow, if acceptable?”
“Yes, that works,” Hyax said, standing, and Opali was also quick to get to his feet. “Now, if we’re done here, Gwil has another appointment.”
Opali bowed and left. Gwil turned to Hyax. “What bug flew up your arse?”
Hyax huffed. “He should have known not to mention harems in your presence. I have been pretty vocal, and it would have been something he could’ve clarified in advance.”
“I know you’re not considering one, it’s okay.”
Hyax pulled him closer. “I’m already putting a lot of shit at your door, what with Metra and now these lessons. I don’t want you to have any doubt about my intentions or what I feel for you.”
“I know you love me,” Gwil said, a little burst of happiness filling his chest. This wasn’t about Hyax being a jealous knob, but genuine upset that they had to jump through hoops to remain together. “I’d do a lot more than learn how to curb my language if I had to.”
They shared a kiss. Gwil was thrilled at the sensation but knew nothing more would come of it at this time. Hyax nuzzled his nose. “I’ll send for Yia, I can’t wait to see what my tailor will make of you.”
Gwil let Hyax lead him out of the reception and to his suite in the castle. As much as he’d have preferred to have continued to Hyax’s bed, they were greeted by another fae, older this time, and by fae standards less attractive, which made him only good-looking and not beautiful.
“Ah, Yia. You’re here already, thank you for your expediency.”
Yia bowed his head. “I am always excited to work on new clothes for His Highness, and of course, that extends now to Mr Hilt.”
Hyax sank into a chair and Gwil found himself being circled and peered at by Yia. “Erm… is there something wrong?”
“No, Mr Hilt, I am merely gauging your deportment and preferred stance. I made your consort robe but had to do so somewhat blind with measurements I did not take, and so you must excuse my inferior work, but I was on a tight deadline.”
His consort robe was his most luxurious and wonderful piece of clothing. It had been created to make a statement at Hyax and Metra’s wedding, that Metra might be the groom, but it was Gwil who was important.
“There was nothing inferior about it.”
“I appreciate your words, Mr Hilt, but looking at you now, I can see where I might have made a closer cut, or moved a seam to make an angle sharper, and the sleeves could have been a fraction longer.”
