The Letter

"What happened?!" It's Quincy, Alaric's butler and best friend, who hacks out a large, boisterous laugh from his frame as he covers his mouth, tears rippling from his big light grayish blue orbs and onto his pale cheeks. Alaric sighs, unamused as he holds his pouting cheeks in his palms as he sits in his office filled with misplaced letters, trinkets, and mini robotic friends playing around in various corners, and of course, his sleeping pet Sybil, a robotic fox-look alike who he built when he was merely a teen interested in mechanics. 

"I may have mentioned to the Queen that I was interested in leaning into other genders to date." Alaric said, biting the inside of his cheek. "I also--mistakenly, of course--mentioned that I fell in love with some mysterious man."

"You, in love?" Quincy snorts, rolling his big eyes as he fixes his glasses and rummages through a stack of papers. "I believe more in the lie regarding your attraction to men than that, Alaric."

"Look, the only reason I said such things is to make sure I'd not even give that woman an inch of an excuse to further pursue me!" Alaric said, pinching the bridge of his nose in irritation. "I only engaged with her because she was pretty! How the hell was I supposed to know she was the rumored new Grand Master of the freaking Mage Tower!"

"As I have told you before," Quincy said, rolling his eyes and offering his friend a pitying look. "You must gage who you meddle with, as you never even know half the women you've intertwined with names. It was only a matter of time before you slipped up, if I were, to be frank, my friend."

"I hate it when you're right." Alaric mutters, poking a small robotic monkey he created out of pure boredom as the small metallic creature begins to hop, banging his two small hands together. 

"I'm aware." Quincy said, offering his friend a pat on the back. "How do you plan to deal with this issue?"

"What choice do I have?" Alaric said, hanging his head in self-pity. "I have to...well deal with it. Luckily she mentioned she won't tell my father about this until I solve things on my end."

"She always seems reasonable enough--the Queen." Quincy said. "She's always been rumored to be harsh and impulsive, however, so maybe it's because she's your aunt that she has a bit of a soft spot for you."

"That, and she knows if I succeed in some weird, warped reality, I'd owe her." Alaric said. "There aren't many situations that cause the Queen to do much for free, trust me. It's a loose bargain she's giving me. A way out, per se."

"Well then, how about we keep this affair between us?" Quincy said, looking down at his friend with mild concern. "Your little sister is sweet, but when push comes to shove-."

"Matilda will snitch to father." Alaric groans. "And I cannot risk such a volcanic reaction."

"Right, and your eldest cousin-." Quincy starts, to once again be cut off by Alaric. 

"Dante? Please, he tries not to show it, but he finds me repulsive!" Alaric whines. "He'd be the first if not for Matilda to run to my parents to help fuel their bigoted opinions of me, especially my father. My mother wouldn't care too much, as long it doesn't impact her spending or social time."

"He does see your parents as his own after...you know." Quincy sighs. "Call it trying to get a piece of the pot."

"Whatever, he can have all of that stupid pot for all I care," Alaric said, letting out a heavy pout. "If all he wants is father's approval, he can have it!"

Quincy silently looks at his friend, reaching over to rub his shoulder as Alaric groans and bangs his forehead on his desk.

"How long did she give you?" Quincy softly asked, watching as Alaric's shoulders tense up. "For the engagement."

Alaric lets out a sigh before he responds.

"Six months." Alaric said, ignoring the silence on Quincy's end, which sounds so loud. "She gave me the deadline of six months to present my new lover--with a ring, mind you."

Alaric hears Quincy let out a loud whistle and clear his throat, and he doesn't say anything for a while.

"You are screwed, my friend." Quincy said. Alaric sits up straight, ready to argue back if not for the loud knock at his office door.

Quincy and Alaric exchange looks before Quincy puts down the papers in his hand and heads to Alaric's office door, slowly opening it to look down at a short maid holding a tray with a letter and knife on it. Quincy blinks, first eyeing the short, pretty maid with short hair and big eyes before he eyes the envelope with confused eyes.

"I don't believe we were expecting mail so early in the morning," Quincy mutters, raising a thin, white eyebrow. "Odd surprise."

"O-oh! Yes, I apologize, sir!" The small maid stutters out, almost standing on her tippy toes to look up at Quincy. "It appears this letter was sent with priority for Duke Alaric, so it arrived quickly! Very quickly! So quickly that I am too, quite shocked-oh! Oh, I'm sorry, it appears I am rambling! H-here, sir!"

Quincy snorts, eyeing the maid as he slowly reaches for the tray and nods his head in thanks. The small maid smiles, nodding her head back before turning away, but not without sneaking a glance at Quincy through her thick dark lashes. 

Quincy watches the small maid leave with large eyes before he clears his throat, closing the door behind him and turning away to meet eyes with an amused Alaric.

"What?" Quincy asked, disliking the way Alaric smiles at him.

"While my love life is full of tragedy and sadness at this point," Alaric said, motioning his head to where the small maid once was. "I'd still love it if you'd not take any notes from me--well, maybe a few--and pursue something."

"Have you ever heard of don't date people you work with, sire?" Quincy asked, rolling his big eyes. "Plus I don't-it isn't like that, and she looks new. That's like a boss taking advantage of a new employee-."

"You always make up excuses on why not to explore what's in front of you," Alaric said, ignoring the glare aimed his way. "Never mind your obvious foolery, please hand me my letter."

"Whatever." Quincy said, shoving the tray close enough to Alaric's face that Alaric saw his reflection looking back at him. "Hurry, I needn't all day to deal with you. I want to grab breakfast."

"And talk to your maid friend?" Alaric asked, a playful tone to his voice as he wiggled his eyebrows at Quincy, who raised the letter and shoved it in Alaric's face.

"D-deserved," Alaric said, ripping the letter from Quincy's hands and grabbing the knife from the tray to cut it open. "Very, very rude, but deserved."

Quincy rolls his eyes, watching as Alaric pulls out a beautiful black and blue letter from the envelope. Alaric sighs before he finally begins to read the contents of the letter, freezing as his hands slowly begin to shake, and his eyes widen in disbelief.

"W-what is it?" Quincy asked, watching Alaric hurriedly stand up and reach for his signature white trench coat. "Why are you rushing to leave-?"

"Madam Bigod," Alaric said, staggering as he fixed his monocle and his sleeves. "M-Madam Bigod sent me a letter."

"Thee Madam Bigod?" Quincy asked, his eyes widen as he watched his friend scurry to his office door. "W-wait why? How? What did she say-?"

"To meet her in an hour at her estate," Alaric said. "S-she said she has a solution for my problem."