II

Twenty five years old and already graduated from the university, with their respective degrees. One in Business management, the other in English literature.

"Why are you working again? Haven't we discussed this before." Jasper spoke from the doorway of Vincent's study. He was leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, legs crossed and left brow raised at Vincent. He was dressed casually in a white round neck t-shirt and blue jeans with a pair of slippers on his feet.

It was a Saturday and Vincent was in his study, working again. He was sat behind the desk also dressed rather casually in just a black v-neck t-shirt and black jeans, barefoot from where his calves and feet showed beneath the desk. He wore glasses, looking over the two documents in his hands but he put them down at Jasper's question. Vincent looked up at Jasper, taking off his glasses, folding them and placing them aside on the desk, then stood up walking over to Jasper at the door.

He smiled and a dimple formed on his left cheek. Making him look mischievous. "I swear, I thought I'd finish before you woke up."

Jasper glared at him. "The point is not for you to hide it. The point is for you to not work at all so you can get more sleep. You have a date this evening and you can't go yawning all through. It's rude."

Vincent laughed. His laughter sounded melodious. A very beautiful sound. "I know, I know."

"If you know why do you keep making me worry?" Jasper asked.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry. I'll try to stop." Vincent placated him, but the look in his eyes still showed a hint of mischief.

Jasper was quiet for a while, before he let out a sigh. "Are you having trouble sleeping again? Are the meds not helping?"

Vincent suddenly became serious at that moment. The pills work fine. 'It's because they work too well that I hate using them.' He thought to himself.

"They work fine. It's not because of that, I promise." Vincent explained.

"Then, what's the problem? Are you ill?" Jasper asked worriedly. He placed the back of his left hand on Vincent's forehead, placing the back of his right hand on his own. Not feeling anything off, he spoke. "You don't have a fever. Do you feel weird in any way?"

Vincent took his hand off his own forehead and pulled the other off Jasper's. He smiled briefly. "I'm fine, I promise."

He took a step back, letting go of Jasper's hands and simply stared at Jasper for a while before he spoke. "Jasper?"

"Your Majesty?" Jasper replied instinctively.

Vincent raised a brow and Jasper corrected himself. "Vincent?"

"Why are you so worried? Why do you still put up with me? You're not my manservant anymore. You could have started a family of your own centuries ago. Maybe your curse could have been broken. You could have left. Why do you still stick with me?" Vincent asked curiously.

"Even if this is 100 or 500 or 20,000 years later, Your Majesty is still Your Majesty, and I am still your manservant. You won't be able to get rid of me even if you wanted to... unless you kill me." Jasper chuckled. "There's no point starting a family if I know I'm going to die at thirty anyways. Why start a family if I can't take care of them to the very end? Your Majesty is different. You still need someone to take care of you. There are a lot of things you don't know how to do. Where would you be without me?"

"If Your Majesty is happy, then I'm happy. Your Majesty doesn't need to think too much of these irrelevant things." Jasper smiled genuinely, then paused.

"Your Majesty..." He hesitated before speaking again, "I know you're being hard on yourself for some reason. I know you've been avoiding taking the meds. I didn't say anything till now, because I have no right to force you to do anything. However, I'm genuinely worried. I hope you'll be fine and you can be more lenient with yourself. "

Vincent's face was neutral as he watched Jasper speak. He smiled slightly then nodded. "Alright. I'll try not to get you worried."

"Would you like to eat out this morning? Or would you like me to cook something?" Jasper changed the topic.

"No, I want to eat what you make. Should I help you?"

"No, it's fine. It won't take too long. You can continue working or you could watch TV while you wait."

Vincent pouted. "You just don't want me in the kitchen."

"Yes, exactly. The last time you entered one, the house burned down and we died of the smoke." Jasper glared at Vincent.

"I didn't mean to. I had an urgent phonecall. I didn't know the call would take that long. I thought it took longer to fry eggs." Vincent defended.

"Yes, yes. You've explained that over 50 times already. I just don't want to take any chances, Your Majesty."

Vincent sighed and turned back around going behind his desk, wearing his glasses, sitting in his desk chair and picking up the papers he dropped, looking over them. "I'll just do my work."

Jasper smiled at him and left. Vincent looked up, watching Jasper walk away, before shaking his head and going back to his work.

*

"Your Majesty, the food has been served." Jasper spoke up from the doorway again. Vincent looked up at Jasper, dropping the file he was viewing. "Oh, already? Alright, I'll be there, besides I told you to call me Vincent." he reprimanded, standing up from his seat.

"You did set a plate for your self too, right?" Vincent asked. His eyes seeming to probe Jasper's back as Jasper led the way to the dining area.

"Yes, I did. At this rate, if I got a dollar for every time I've told you that it's inappropriate for Master and servant to eat at a table together, I'd probably be as rich as you are."

"And if I were to get a dollar for every time I've told you we're not master and servant anymore. We're friends now. I'll definitely be the richest in the world. Oh, right I am..."

"I'm serious, Your Majesty. Imagine if the lords or the people or anyone else within the palace heard of it. You'd never hear the end of it. You'll be the talk of the town three decades straight."

"But they won't. They're all dead."

They were standing at the entrance of the dining room. Two places had been set on the long table. One at the head of the table. Another on the left of the other end of the table. Vincent walked up to the head of the table and sat down.

"Bring your plate and cutlery over here." Vincent patted the place at the table directly to his right.

Jasper sighed but said nothing, complying to His Majesty's demand.