The sound of a squeal from upstairs had Carsein turn on his bed, an irritated growl reverbing from his throat. Damn, princess. Why did her room have to be right above his?

She had often woken him up at night with loud screams from night terrors. At first, he didn’t mind much, almost reveled in the sound in fact, but slowly he’d begun finding it eerie and uncomfortable. The noises she made right now, though, only irritated him.

He knew the reason for them, Arwin had already told him. He’d proposed earlier that day and the princess had been ‘over the moon’, by his own words. Pitiful girl. Carsein almost fell sorry for her, the way the noose was tightening around her neck without her even realizing it.

He rummaged dragging a pillow over his ear in order to drown out the noises, but to no avail. The princess high pitch had no problem penetrating the thin floorboards and his pillow was a weak armor against it. Scowling he got up from the bed. He’d have to get up there and make her stop.

The princess seemed so occupied by her own happiness that she only noticed his approach when he burst through the bedroom door. She startled, jolting to her feet at the sudden intrusion.

Her shoulders shivered and the warm flush on her cheeks slowly faded as she stood before him. She was hugging a pillow, standing barefooted on the floor in her nightgown, her red hair released from the hairpin she usually wore. Her slightly parted lips and her wide eyed expression witnessed her surprise.

“You’re noisy” Carsein snarled.

“I-I’m sorry…” she trembled, but then a smirk formed on her face and she threw herself on the bed in an inelegant motion, “I’m just so happy!”

Carsein’s anger flared up again, but she defiantly met his gaze with a sly smile, “Oh, come on Carsein. You must’ve heard; I’m getting married!”

Even his anger and hatred didn’t seem capable of penetrating her immense joy and she rolled a couple of times, squealing happily.

“I don’t give a damn. Be quiet or I’ll kill you” he growled. She jolted at the words and turned to gauge his expression. He really felt like he could kill her right now. She swallowed as she seemed to comprehend the sincerity of his threat.

“I-I’m s-sorry… I’ll be quiet” was her trembling, wide-eyed response and Carsein almost smirked at the reaction. It had been so long since she last expressed any genuine fear in front of him. Satisfied he spun around and left. Hopefully he could gain some sleep from now on.

…

Carsein swung his sword, the motion as natural as breathing and shot a glance over at the princess, sitting on the edge of the west garden’s large fountain. She was giggling, petting one of the estate’s hunting dogs that had been brought out for the season’s first hunt. That dog was unruly, and he wondered if he should inform of the danger of playing with it so close to the fountain.

But before he had even finished the thought the dog lunged for the princess with wagging tail, making her lose balance and she toppled backwards into the water. Carsein could hardly contain his laugher as he watched her legs wriggle and the water splashing around her as she tried to gain her bearings. Flustered she finally got up, spitting water and sending Carsein an angry glare that just made his hearty laughter reverberate even louder. Wait was he laughing? Did she just make him laugh?

Shuddering at the thought has laughter stilled, and he watched her struggle to get up from the slippery basin. Then sighed. In a couple of long strides he made his way over to help her. Though the sight should be cause for amusement, it shouldn’t be to him. He should revel at her misery, not clumsy misfortune. He shouldn’t feel anything for her but hate and discontent.

So why then was it, that as he pulled the woman out his breath caught, startled by the sight of her? The wet fabric clinging to her slender figure, enhancing her womanly attributes, the water droplets clinging to her slightly parted lips and fluttering eyelashes. And why did it catch once more as she sent him a grateful smile, creasing her rosy cheeks?

Like he feared she had put a spell on him, he recoiled his hand as soon as she had footing on the ground and turned around to leave. A strange anxiety tucking at his chest.

Later that night he met Arwin for a drink in the office. The snake seemed unusually chipper and Carsein had a feeling something was up.

“Why do you seem so disgustingly satisfied?” he finally asked, not liking the mood Arwin seemed to be in.

“Oh, I just made a breakthrough with the king…” the man smirked, swirling his drink in his tumbler seemingly pleased with Carsein’s curiosity. Carsein found Arwin’s current mood profoundly annoying and he wondered if should indulge him or just leave, but his curiosity got the better of him.

“Oh? What kind of poison did you slip his majesty’s ears this time?” he asked, sounding utterly indifferent. Arwin smirked again.

“I convinced him not to abolish slavery just yet. Said that since so many of the former nobles had been killed, he would be more reliant on the nouveau-riché, low nobility and wealthy merchants. It so happens that the business is a great source of income in this country, especially so in the borderlands” Arwin slung back and took a sip, his smile so content one would think he’d saved the country from starvation.

“Oh, and what is your interest in that?” a slight tremor on his hand that held the glass, was the only thing that hinted at the roar of emotions rippling through Carsein, and it seemed Arwin was too busy reveling in his own victory to notice.

“Oh, I have a stake in the business myself. The money is good and where else would one get nice, obedient pets to play with when there is a shortage of naïve former princesses?” there was a chuckle in his voice and Carsein had to muster all his willpower not to kill the man where he stood.

Had Arwin not been so consumed by his own superiority he might have noticed the burning fire in Carsein’s eyes. The smoldering rage and the pure killing intent. Unlucky for him. Had he seen it, he might have known to fear the man and to quell his trust in him.

Carsein downed the last contents of his glass and sat it on the table before the snake, his control amicable so that it didn’t shatter and expose his rage. “Thanks for the drink, I think I’ll retire for the evening.”

Arwin lifted an eyebrow to examine his friend, but his expression had already hardened no emotions leaking from it.

“It’s fifty year old scotch, are you really saying no to such a delicacy?” he probed, puzzled.

“I prefer my senses sharp” he remarked then excused himself for the night, leaving Arwin to enjoy the liquor alone.

Fucking snake!