The Emperor is Strange (Pafp) (BxB)

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    Theodore frowned as he woke up. He looked around the room surprised for a moment before remembering all that had happened the night before. "Last night wasn't a dream?" he thought aloud. He stared at the plate in front of him in amazement. He had never seen so much food for one meal in his life. He looked at Marie and gave her a grateful smile. "I don't think I could eat this much on my own. Wanna help me out?"

    At his offer to eat with him Marie's eyes lit up. "It would be my pleasure!" It really was easy to relax with him, taking a seat on the side of the bed and helping herself to a few bites of some fruit. She shut her eyes enjoying the rare taste of the fresh fruit. She couldn't help but try a little bit of everything of the meal.


    "My god, no wonder higher ups are so picky with food. I mean if they eat things like this every day!" She exclaimed before getting off the bed and taking the tray away once he was done eating. She then set it to the side before smoothing out her uniform.


    "Alright, now let start getting you prettied up for the day. " She pointed to the chair and got to work on his hair as she had last night. She made sure it looked neat and tidy before leaving him to go and get the outfit for the day that the seamstress ha dropped off just before sunrise. She showed him the unique outfit. (you can have it look how every you want) Then went to help him put it on properly.


    "My, don't you look dashing" she said with a small giggle as she took him in the new outfit. She felt he didn't even need makeup with how good looking he already was. She still guided him back to the seat though and put a bit of makeup for his eyes to make the lashes darker an longer. At the end of it he really did take on an amazing look, she found herself picturing how nice him and the emperor would look together. "I don't think the emperor will want to let you spend even one night alone after seeing you like this" It was a pure joke, since their was still the possibility of the emperor doing this for amusement.


    "Now come on, lets get to work on lessons. "

    For almost the entire day a personal tutor walked him through the basic of etiquette and manners. Even teaching him the best way to walk and how to address different people of different status. It helped clear up any lies fed by Rosaline and give him better understanding of the ranking system in the palace of flowers.

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    Theodore ate the meal along with Marie and was grateful for her eating bits of the meal because he wouldn't have been able to finish it without her help. He moved once she moved the tray away. "Well since you're going to be my maid, I'll let you eat off my plate. I don't think I would finish without you helping me out" he admitted.


    He chuckled with her comment about him getting 'prettied up'. With his gaze, he followed her hands to see the garment left for him by the seamstress. He smiled admiring the outfit. It was most lavish than anything he had ever owned in his life beforehand. "She really did outdid herself" he admitted while Marie helped her into the outfit for the day.


    He noticed a mirror nearby as she finished and he noticed that he did look dashing and smiled. At Marie's comment about the emperor not wanting to leave him alone for a night, he flustered a bright red. "You really think so?" he asked in a bit of a teasing tone to


    He went through the day of tutoring and he was happy that he learned the correct ways to act now instead of what Rosaline had taught him. As he returned, he saw Marie and gave her a smile. "Marie...can I tell you a suspicion of mine?"

    To be able to get a taste of this foo with him for his meals made her really happy. Was being given this position a blessing for all her hard work? Even if not she was extremely pleased."Ah, you are so kind!"


    It was a very fun morning and she found herself enjoying her job, which she thought would never happen. Upon his return she looked to him curiously as he asked if he could tell her a suspicion of his. She gave a nod, setting down a piece of clothing she had been folding. More had been dropped off, that seamstress worked fast!


    "What is it?" She asked him curiously while looking him over to make sure he was still in tip top shape. After all she had just received some news for later on that he needed to be 100% for.

    Theodore took a deep breath as she said she wanted to hear his suspicion. "Well with all the tutoring that happened today, I noticed that obviously Rosaline fed me wrong information, but I didn't understand why until recently. I have a gut feeling she wants me out of here cause she's jealous. Though I'm not sure why since she seems to have quite a lot. High rank in the service of being a concubine and being born into the court. Do I sound crazy thinking like this?" he asked. He did want her honest opinion as she was the closest thing he had to friend here.


    He did notice her seeming to keep up his apperance and started to wonder why. "Did the emperor asked for me to see him tonight?" he joked, though it was quite possible it could happen

    "Oh, your rather dead on there. If she put in the effort to confuse you it must mean she saw you as a threat, even if small she will do her best to get rid of it. "Marie explained and fell into thought. "She seemed to want to embarrass you in front of the emperor, so he must have given you attention in her presence. Something out of the ordinary to gain her jealousy" A lot of concubines, servants and nobles had met a rather unfortunate situation due to Rosaline jealousy. Marie wasn't sure if she wanted the emperor because of his position or who he was but she certainly hated competition.


    "Oh, your right. Your meeting with him tonight, though its just for dinner." Marie stated plainly before grinning. "You know, he dosen't even do that with his other concubines unless he has to or is bothered enough for it. You really must have caught his attention with those pretty looks of yours." It was a first for the emperor to initiate dinner with anyone really. "You must be favored by the gods"

    "You're right about him giving me attention before the banquet. We were out in the gardens when he came over to us and seemed to have his eyes glued to me. I didn't really know how to feel about it other than a strange mixture of flusteredness and fear of doing something wrong" Theodore explained. He thought about what she said about Rosaline seeming to not want any competition for the emperor's affections. "Why does Rosaline want the Emperor so much? Is she trying to become Empress?" he asked. It seemed likely, but he didn't expect Marie to answer.


    When she explained that he was asked to dinner with the emperor, he began flustering, but this time it was a dark pink. "I guess I must be lucky, but I don't get what he sees in me. I mean the rest of the concubines are beautiful women, but why go after me? You think I should ask him?"

    "I'm sure she is, since if she becomes Empress she has the whole country under her feet." Marie shivered, not wanting to know what it would be like for the noble female to rule by the emperors side. She was not exactly very kind to servants, a reason why she went through them so quickly.


    Marie smiled as she saw how flustered he was over hearing the emperor wanted him to eat with him. "The emperor is very unpredictable. So its hard to say why he fancies you. You can ask him if you want I'm sure you won't get beheaded for asking a question." She told him with a small laugh. She wondered just where all this would go, she was glad she could witness this though.


    "Now lets get walking before he sends a guard to escort you." She told him, walking past him to lead the way. "If he looks in a good mood it will be a good chance to ask the question" she told him. Though in time she had no way of preparing for the emperors true oddness.

    Theodore shuddered a bit thinking about if Rosaline were to be Empress. She didn't seem like the kindness around and having someone like that in control seemed a nightmare to even imagine. He shook his head not wanting to think of it.


    He stood up and nodded as she said for them to head off. He followed behind her to the banquet hall. It still looked as extravagant as before, but the arrangement was different. There weren't many tables for several guests, but rather one for two people. Theodore caught the gaze of the emperor and nodded his head in a bow. "Your majesty, you asked for me, yes?"

    As soon as Theodore had entered the room Lucian had locked his eyes on him. He watched him as he approached and bowed in greeting, a smile appeared on Lucian's face and he stood from his seat. "Yes, you are correct. " His eyes took in Theodore's appearance and his breath almost caught in his throat. How did he manage to look even more amazing then the last he saw him? "Please...take a seat" He pointed to the seat across from him before taking a seat himself. He was close to walking over to Theodore but contained himself for now, he needed to figure out why he felt this way before letting himself relax enough to follow what he wanted to do. Food being placed soon after.


    It was a fairly large meal and Lucian started with drinking a glass of wine. " You look quite lovely, I'm glad I did not cut of your hands like I did the last man whom as a joke..." Lucian paused in talking realizing what he was saying and nervously laughed. "I mean, you look nice today"

    Theodore locked eyes with Lucian really able to take in what he looked like. He noticed him gesture to the chair and went to sit across from him. He watched as the food was placed before him and he lit up a bit. And I thought breakfast was going to be a large meal. The royalty really do seem to have it all he thought.


    He tried drinking some of the wine which was something he had never really had before so it was clear that he wasn't used to the taste. He almost spat out what he was currently drinking, but forced it down. He nervously laughed along with him scared a little. "Thank you your majesty, I'm glad you didn't cut my hand. Can I ask a question of you?"

    Lucian could not help but watch Theodore curiously as he took in the food amount and took a sip of the wine. He noticed his reaction to the taste of with and Lucian suspected he had never had it before, perhaps for the next meal he would focus on things Theodore could adjust easier to.


    “Question? Go right ahead” he was surprised Theodore was able to want to ask a question with the hint of fear in him. Ah...I shouldnt have meantioned the hand thing..he didn’t wish for Theodore to be uncomfortable after all.

    Theodore took a deep breath trying to figure out how to form the words. I hope he won't be offended by the question he thought not sure what to expect of the man. "I've been told that you typically don't do a dinner like this for the concubines unless you really have to. Why do you ask me to one of these then? You have dozens of beautiful women in the flower palace, but you pick me. I was just wondering, why?"


    He tenses up as soon as the words left his mouth. He was scared about how the emperor would react because of his unpredictablity.

    “Well...I’m not sure myself. Something about you just..clicks with me. I’ve never had any real connection with the anyone else before, but as soon as I saw you...” He answered honestly. He would probably wonder as well if someone treated him different then others from a lower status.


    He looked across the table at him and felt the distance to grand. “Why don’t you tell me about yourself? I did after all answer your own curiosity. Why not answer mine on just who you are?”

    "Something just seemed to clicked?" Theodore asked trying to finish Lucian's statement. He thought about the emperor's response. He couldn't help, but feel a little flattered. "I must be pretty special if I was able to click with you" he joked a little. He was starting to feel a bit more comfortable around the emperor which was surprising


    He was surprised by the emperor's question, but still went to answer it. "There's not really much to tell. I'm the son of a farmer who died in an accident when I was too young to really remember. My mother raised me and now I'm trying to take care of her with this job, whatever money I earn here is getting sent to her so she'll be okay" he explained

    Lucian listened closely while taking a piece of meat and chewing quietly. So Theodore was working to give money to his mother? That was a rather kind thing, he mus really love his mother. "I assure you that both you an your mother will live with ease while you are within these walls." The concubine pay out being rather high in terms when a simple gift was worth quite a lot, enough for at least three months of eating for even the 'cheapest' gift.


    "If you want you can even bring her to the castle, their are plenty of rooms. " He then suggested after a few moments of silence. He set down his fork then stood. He walked over to the other side of the table where Theodore was. It was not clear what he was doing though suddenly he reached out a large hand and, pushed it through Theodore's hair. The motion gentle as he played with the hair, making it a bit messy. "Its as soft as it looks..." He mumbled to himself. Pausing after a moment to pull his hand away before giving a innocent grin. His aura changing a complete u-turn from his usual intimidating superior one. "Sorry, I just couldn't help myself"

    Theodore couldn't help, but smile a little when he said that they would both be in ease as long as he worked in the castle. "Well then I hope I work here for a while then" he said


    He was surprised by Lucian's offer, but nodded. "I would love it if she could stay though she might be surprised by my current position. I did apply as just being a normal servant after all" he admitted. He then noticed him stand up and began running his hand in his hair. He tried surpressing a laugh, but it came out. What? Feeling the man's fingers through his hair tickled a bit. "You have nothing to apologize for. It feels nice"

    “Are you adjusting well to the new position?” The emperor then asked, recalling he was in fact previously a servent boy.


    He used the question to distract himself from his racing heart after he had heard Theodore let out a laugh. It was a rather cute sound and the fact he wasn’t upset about him messing with his hair was another thing to look at.


    It was a first for him to enjoy someone’s company this much.

    "I am, but it is definitely an adjustment. I did have a full day of tutoring about what to do and I've never wore clothing like this before" Theodore admitted gesturing to the outfit. "The seamstress is very good at her job if she managed to make this in just one day" he said.


    He felt comfortable around the emperor and was a bit surprised by it. "So...what is it like being the emperor?"