Prince\'s Pet

Part 5

It was two and a half hours later when my Prince returned with Peaz. I looked up with a smile on my face, hiding the worry in my heart, to see Peaz's uniform design. It looked like a cross between what she wore before and my own garments. The green was still there, but now it was edged in a pretty fawn brown. The plain Merchant collar had been replaced by deep green ribbon trimmed with pale fawn bows. The skirt and top were the same cut as before, but another row of tiny bows ran along the edges. She wore no tail adornment.

"Elegant design, Oujisama," I noted, curtsying. I knew he had drawn it up himself.

My Prince smiled somewhat smugly at the compliment, unlocking the "cage" to release me. He reached into his armor to pull out my lead, and I knelt so he could clip it on.

"Come," my Prince commanded, turning to the door. I crawled forward to hold it open, and my Prince smiled and ruffled my hair. It occurred to me that Peaz hadn't known to hold the door when she and his Highness left the first time, and I smiled back at my Prince. Peaz may have the formal training, but I know just what my Prince wants at the slightest signal.

I followed my Prince out of the room on hands and knees, with Peaz walking behind me. We soon reached my Prince's chambers, where once again, his Highness unclipped my chain and said, "Korn…."

"Yes, Oujisama," I responded, taking my Prince's gloves and boots and setting them aside. I stood to reach for my Prince's cape. Peaz moved to copy me, and I bared my canines in warning, but his Highness glared and pushed her hand away before I could make a sound.

"No. For tonight and tomorrow, you will just follow me and observe," my Prince reprimanded her. She clasped her hands, hung her head, and bowed, looking down apologetically.

"Forgive my ignorant assumptions, Master," she said. My Prince nodded his approval, and Peaz stood up straight, backing away several steps.

I turned my back to her, removing and folding my Prince's cape and setting it aside. I unclasped his armor, lifting it over his head and putting it away, before slipping into his Highness's private kitchen to fetch a slightly weaker drink than before, opting for sparkling water, and another tray of scones. I brought the snack back to my Prince's room.

When I reentered the room, I found my Prince lying on the couch with Peaz by the foot of it. I presented the snack to my Prince, who took the glass and had me place the scones within his reach, and knelt by his Highness's side. My Prince swung his tail down in front of me in a silent demand, and I pulled the soft tail-brush from behind me. Carefully, I worked it through my Prince's sleek, chocolate-brown fur, and every so often he let out a purr of contentment.

Upon reaching the tip of my Prince's tail, I put the brush aside. My Prince opened his eyes sleepily, then rolled over, stood, and stretched slightly. He looped his tail around my neck, being too sleepy to bother with the actual leash, and led me to his bedchamber. At the door, my Prince stopped and turned to Peaz.

"Come."

"Yes, Master."

I settled for rolling my eyes at the tone in her voice, being too tired to be that annoyed. She followed my Prince and me into his bedchamber, where his Highness sat on the edge of his elegant four-poster, king-size bed with drapes. My Prince relaxed his tail's hold, allowing me to stand so I could close the heavy drapes around him.

While I waited, I opened the fourth drawer of my Prince's dresser and got out his nighttime clothes, which consisted of loose, pale, blue-gray shorts and a matching tank top. My Prince slipped a hand through the curtains, handing off his deep blue wrap and accepting the pajamas.

"Korn, show Peaz where to sleep, then off to bed with the both of you," came my Prince's sleepy voice from inside the bed.

"Yes, Oujisama."   "Yes, Master <3"