After the ceremony, the flames in wall-mounted oil lamps of the throne room danced, casting moving shadows as Oswald and his friends entered for the final and private reward. The prince and the princess sat on the thrones, their backrest in the shape of a tree with leaves made of emerald.
"Verily, I trust thou didst take pleasure in the solemnity of our hero," the prince said. "As thou hast beheld, it cometh but seldom."
You don't say, man. FIVE CENTURIES!
"I-I have to say, it isn't every day you are surrounded by elite guards of a kingdom. I felt weird, but the child in me was jubilating."
"Hahaha. I am right glad to hearken thereto. And now, let us repair unto thy… secret recompense." He turned to the princess beside him and gave a nod. She returned a nod, and clapped twice.
CLAP! CLAP!
The throne room door opened. A posh elven butler walked toward them. His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back—not a single hair out of place. His salt-and-pepper mustache was shaped like a small comb above his lip, and he wore a green suit with golden buttons, pocket square, and bow tie, and green shoes with gold mid-sole.
He walked as if floating on the ground, smooth and fluid steps making his upper body stationary.
"Ah, indeed, my lord. What service may I render thee?" he said, bowing. His voice was smooth like silver yet shone with authority.
The princess gestured at the posh butler. "Behold, our chief footman; the maid serveth beneath his charge, and by his hand was she instructed." She looked at chief butler. "I do command thee, attend thy new liege, the saviour, and serve him without end."
"Ah, verily, madam. As thou dost will, so shall it be."
Oswald waved both hands, shaking his head. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Wait! I-I appreciate the offer, but the Chief of Servants?! I-I can't accept that! It's too much. I don't know how I would feel walking around with a kingdom's chief of servants, it's… it's…" He struggled to find words that would decline the offer gracefully and ask for someone of lower rank.
Percival, standing beside him, stepped forward. "With your permission, Your Highnesses, he wishes to convey that, in his flustered state, he cannot accept the chief of servants. He would prefer someone of lower rank—specifically, the maid."
Wait, what?!
"Now, hold on a minute. Yes, I would prefer to have the maid. They and I have some history, but I didn't specifically ask for—"
"He concurs with my proposal, your Highnesses."
Wha— Huh?!
"But… But… Haaah. Yes, I… do concur, as he would say."
The princess stifled her laugh behind her palm. "Why spakest thou not so plain at first?"
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
Three distinct claps from her and the door behind them opened.
There she is, the maid in question. I can't believe him, man. How did he know?
The maid bowed before the Highnesses. "Yes, Your Graces?"
The prince gestured at Oswald. "We do beseech thee to serve the Saviour, without end." At the request, his perception revealed the bafflement painted her face for a millisecond.
The princess waved her hand. "Fret not, mine own dear; the matter is agreed of one accord. See thou attend him faithfully, and in no wise fail."
"Understood, Your Grace."
She walked up to Oswald. "I have been ordered to serve you to the end, wherever you proceed."
Oswald scratched the back of his head. "Well, heheh... Welcome to our little family."
After that, they were dismissed, the maid now their new companion.
How? How did he know? Are we in the same wavelength?
* * *
The trio and the maid stood in the courtyard under the night sky, blanketed with stars and the full moon.
"Haaah. Man, what a day it has been!"
"Indeed, it was. I must extend my congratulations to you, Oswald—or perhaps I should address you as… Hero of Sylvia."
"Oh, drop it, you. It'll get stale if I keep being called that."
"Hahaha. Thou knowest full well how it fared with companions; of necessity must I greet thee, Hero of Sylvia."
"Haaah. Yeah, yeah, you do that. Speaking of…" He turned to Aelindor. "What's next? We can go to your parents' now or rest in the castle and tomorrow we leave."
"How dost thou feel at this present hour?"
Oswald's hand met his temple. "Physically, I can run to the bear's cabin and back at the castle, no breaks. But mentally, I think I can handle the carriage ride to their house, though I'll have to sleep right away."
"Good, then we must not stay any longer. Let us hasten his reunion."
Oswald trailed him, the maid following behind him. "As fast as the carriage can take us."
Aelindor chuckled at the remark, following the three toward the exit.
* * *
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