"Hah, those idiots," Sebastian muttered to himself as he headed back toward his office. Ever since his parents had died in an accident, he had been forced to change his personality to that of a tyrant. what was he becoming? he was consciously aware of his attitude, but at the same time couldn't afford to change it. "They can't do anything useful. I wish I could just catch a break for once; go to town or something."
"May I assist you with that, my prince?" a voice asked. Right on time.
Sebastian stopped in his tracks, turning around to see a boy his age. He was thin and tall, but he had wide eyes and a smile that could only belong to a person filled with joy. He was wearing a black suit too formal to just be a commoner, a signature blue bowtie popping out from his outfit.
Sebastian snorted. "You? Helping me?"
"Well, my prince," the boy continued. "I am a butler, and I know my way well around the busy town. I can give you the best of experiences."
"A butler?" the prince echoed, the wheels of his brain turning furiously. "... Perhaps you may, then."
"It's a now-or-never deal. Choose quickly!" the butler urged, checking his watch.
"Uh – well – maybe –" Sebastian gritted his teeth and looked away, the tyrant making a soaring comeback. It took quite the person to boss him around. "Okay, fine. I can go with you."
"Two minutes, then!" the butler exclaimed, grinning. Randomly, it occurred to Sebastian that it had been almost 5 years since he had smiled like that, but the thought faded as quickly as it had come. "This will surely be a day to remember, my prince!"
Sebastian clenched his fist and raised it. Tyrant mode: on. "You daresay order me when to leave?! I'm taking back my request; I'll have you thrown in the dungeon, you doof!"
The butler froze, bowing down quickly with his hand to his chest. His smile was now completely gone, leaving only a grim line in its wake. "I apologize. I can give you as much time as you need."
Sebastian sniffed in annoyance. His heart distantly panged with guilt. why? he dismissed it, for it was nothing of importance. He had stoned his heart long ago. "Then get me some commoner's clothes. Now."
The butter clapped. "You look astounding, my prince!"
Sebastian pouted, placing a cap on his head and pulling the tip down so his face was hidden. "As a mere commoner? Are you fine up there?" At this, he took a hand and pointed it at the side of his head, where his brain would be.
"Hah! I don't think so!" the butler exclaimed. Then he paused, and questioned, "Actually, what did you say again?"
"Pfft. Let's get going already," Sebastian grunted, stifling back a laugh. He turned away from the butler. Since when, had he started to laugh? Perhaps there wasn't something wrong with the butler, but with him. Something wrong, indeed, because the darkness that had plagued his heart for who knows how long was now chipping and cracking away.
"What is your name, butler?" Sebastian ordered, breaking the silence that had followed through the carriage ride. "I would rather dislike going on my first trip in six years with a stranger."
"Oh, 'tis an adventure, sire! Would you naught dishonor it called it a trip. That would do this no justice. But if you insist, I shall give you my name," the butler offered. "I am Jylan."
"Jylan? But isn't that the name of –"
"My prince! Look! The village is coming into view. If we're getting off the carriage, it best is now," Jylan interrupted, changing the topic, and pointing out the window. His eyes seemed to glow as he spotted a man coming down the trail.
The two exited the carriage and waved goodbye to the horsemen as the man from the town stopped in front of them. He had a gentle but curious smile poking at his face. "Excuse me," the man piped, facing the butler. a few tinges of fear were in that smile too. "But by any chance, are you a noble? your arms and face are astoundingly clean - too much so for a commoner. I'm sorry if you take offense; it's just that nobles never come around to this area."
Sebastian jumped up in surprise, then furrowed his brows. Too sharp. "No, he is not a noble. Neither am I. I am the c–"
A hand was slapped over his mouth. "- A CLEANER! The lad is a pipe cleaner! His job has just been finished, so he was treated to a bath." Jylan yelled, and several people nearby who had simply been going about their business turned inquiringly toward the scene.
"A… a pipe cleaner, you say?" the man replied, the smile on his face growing. "Oh, my! I've needed one for centuries! Please, I beg of you two, could you clean for me?!"
The curious people only became more astounded by the scene, coming closer to listen in. A woman reflected the needs of her fellow neighbor, stepping forward to speak for herself. "I need a pipe cleaner, too! My toilet has been clogged for a year now and my children have been going out into the woods to take a dump!"
"Please! Me, too! My sink spills out dirt to wash my hands with!"
"My bathtub water won't turn cold; it just burns my body whenever I step in! Can you fix it?!"
"I've been searching for a pipe cleaner for so long…"
Sebastian peeled off Jylan's hand from his face, glaring at the nervous butler. Then, he looked toward the people, pulling his cap off with determination. "I AM NOT A NOBLE!" he called. "AND I AM NOT A PIPE CLEANER!"
"Yes, yes, go on…" Jylan whispered hopefully. "Maybe you could be an artisan? Or take care of the animals?"
"I AM THE CROWN PRINCE!" Sebastian finished, grandly ignoring the butler.
The butler's face turned pale. "No-no-no-no-no-no! You weren't supposed to say that. They'll be cramming you into the news now!"
"Crown… prince?" the crowd chuckled. "What do you mean? None of us have ever seen that boy's face before. He never exits his lush, furnished palace to check up on us commoners. If you were thinking up a rank, you should have just stuck as a noble. Or, if you have ambition, you could have masqueraded as a duke." A few whispers of "Yes, he would be rather fitting as the son of a duke or baron" followed up with that, only fueling Sebastian's rage a bit more. Every duke and Baron in the kingdom was under his command.
"WELL, I AM!" Sebastian yelled. "I am the son of His Highness Rudolph II and Her Highness Ana! I may have been raised inside the palace due to the constant war, but don't any of you daresay that I've never wished to come to this town!"
"Psst… we're not in the town yet, bud," Jylan whispered.
"I don't care!" Sebastian whispered back.
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