To Seduce a Scribe (5)

Romantasy flash fiction

Previously….. (1)……..(2)…….(3)……..(4)………

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(5)

The black-haired beauty, princess Emerald sat by the desk of her study, holding the tip on the quill to the corner of her full, red lips.

“Jewel is out of my way, but for the life of me, I don’t know a thing about men!” Finally, Emerald broke the silence. Her sister, princess Ruby was sitting on the cushion-covered windowsill, observing the morning sun playing in the green leaves and the water glistening in the river down below. Their youngest sister, princess Jewel still suffered from the pain of her swollen nose after yesterday’s accident.

“So? How are you going to win the bet? The Scribe won’t kiss you voluntarily. He’s a….”

“A Snakeling, who is forbidden to touch a woman before the wedding, I know Ruby!” Emerald yelled at her. “I’m not like Jewel! I can’t come at him. It is… not in my nature.” Emerald furrowed her brows.

“Then why did you suggest the bet? You should call it off.”

“And let Jewel rejoice?! Never! I know men like me, the soldiers smile ever so warmly when I look at them, but…”

“Oh, dear sister! I know perfectly well you’re shy deep inside. Especially with men. Maybe…?”

“No!” Emerald interrupted her sister’s kind words. “I will not let Jewel win! Besides, I happen to like our new Scribe.”

“Really? You said he’s hideous!” Ruby exclaimed.

“After taking a closer look I must confess, he’s…handsome. In his own way,” Emerald confessed, blushing in deep red. “Now I must decide how to persuade him to kiss me.”

Ruby sighed turning back to the window.

“I know!” Emerald said happily. “I’ll use my strengths. I’m quite good with the sword and surely a young Snakeling should know something about sword fighting. I’ll invite him to a sword fighting practise.”

Emerald scribbled the invitation, folded the paper, and gave it to Ruby.

“You must deliver it to him!”

“What?! Me? I can’t…”

“You must! Oh, Ruby, am I not your best friend?”

“Yes, but father, and Jewel, and…”

“Oh, I’ll just die if you won’t help me…”

“Now you sound like Jewel!” Ruby shook her head.

“Don’t make me beg you, Ruby!”

“Oh, alright! I’ll try,” Ruby said heavy-heartedly.

Timush, the new royal Scribe was taking a morning stroll before work in the giant garden with his best friend, prince Ashwin. The latter had just shared his thoughts on how to punish his sisters for the foul bet.

“No, Ashwin! It would only make things worse. I suggest you talk your sisters out of this…”

“You don’t know them, my friend!” The prince interrupted Timush. “My sisters have never listened to my good advice. Don’t be frightened, my father will not find out.”

Timush shook his head.

Suddenly quick footsteps approached the two men. Princess Ruby ran up to them with her chestnut-brown hair swaying and her cheeks burning red.

“Ah, Ruby! Just the person we were talking about!” Ashwin exclaimed happily.

“You were?” Ruby asked.

“We were?” Timush murmured.

“Of course, we were! Since my royal duties are taking up so much time, I can hardly find a moment to show my dear friend Timush the surroundings of the castle. Would you be so kind and accompany him to a nice horseback ride along the river at sunset?” The prince suggested with an innocent smile.

“Me? Why me?”

“Because you’re an excellent rider, just like me, are you not, sister dearest?”

“I beg your pardon, my Lord, but your father would not…” Timush objected.

“My father will be busy having dinner with the tradesmen from Avem, and therefore would be in no need of a scribe. I know this because I myself shall attend this dinner. The weather is marvellous. I believe the evening would be perfect for a nice outing.”

“No, Ashwin, I must…”

“No, objections, sister! Go on, Ruby! Off you go! And you, Timush should be on your way to the King!”

“But…” the other two exclaimed in a chorus.

“I will have no objections!” prince Ashwin said sternly, but as soon as they parted and walked away, he gave a smug smile and resumed his morning walk whistling carelessly.