Cinderella AU // OxO // Closed

Ellis walked with Lloyd, supporting the prince as best he could. "You really need to stay in bed, your highness."

"I know, I know… I just hate it…" He sighed. "And I know that's not a good reason… I just can't sit and do nothing all day. It… it hurts more than I expected…"

"Your highness…I brought you all those books." he replied. "You could read those, you know."

Lloyd nodded. "I know there's no excuse for my stupidity, Ellis…" He held his wings out a bit to help himself keep his balance.

"Nope." he agreed amiably. "There isn't. You really need to stay in bed and heal, prince."

He nodded again, keeping his focus on the ground in front of him so he wouldn't fall. "I'll try my best…" He sighed.

He kept supporting Lloyd. "You better. Anton will be furious if this wedding has to be delayed because you won't stop endangering yourself." And he'll take it out on me.

Lloyd laughed weakly. "Yeah… ambitious, isn't he? Bet he can't wait to be king… or… er, 'co-king', I guess. The kingdom's never done something like this before."

"Anton has always been ambitious. He's like his father." Ellis replied with a slight shrug. "He'll make…a good leader." he said slowly. So long as he doesn't cause a scandal by sleeping with other people.

"Hopefully… I mean, I've been raised to rule my whole life, so I think I'll do alright. I'm not sure what sort of training Anton has received."

"Well…" he trailed off, and shrugged again. "None in leadership, really, I'm just saying…he's good at making decisions and sticking to them. He…always follows through." his tone was a little bit bitter, too many memories crowding forward.

Lloyd nodded a bit. "That can be both a good and bad quality, depending on one's personality and morals. Say, a morally good king can't be swayed from his decisions, that would be good. A corrupt king who won't accept guidance, however… is much more risky."

Ellis nodded a little bit, taking a deep breath. "…yeah." he replied simply, pushing away the memories of his own treatment at Anton's hands.

Lloyd stopped walking when they reached his room. "Well, thank you for escorting me back, Ellis."

Ellis nodded. "Of course. Try not to be such a dumbass again, your highness."

"I'll try my best, but I suppose it's in my nature. See you soon, Ellis." Lloyd smiled cheekily and headed into his room to rest.

Ellis laughed a little bit, watching Lloyd go. "See you." he replied, taking a deep breath.

Lloyd closed his door and flopped down on his bed with a tired sigh. He wanted to do things, but his own body was preventing him from doing so. It was infuriating to him.

Ellis headed back to work on the textbook some more, humming softly as he walked.

Lloyd grabbed one of the books that Ellis had brought him and flipped it open, beginning to read it.

Ellis started reading the textbook, letting out a breath. He hoped that Lloyd would stay in his room this time.

Lloyd did stay in his room. For a while, anyways. For some reason, despite being used to staying in his room and reading all day, being physically incapable of doing anything else made him want to leave. So, naturally, he stood up and left.

Ellis was still reading, this time outside the entrance to the palace so he could catch Lloyd if he left again.

Lloyd, not knowing that Ellis was waiting for him, headed out the front doors of course. He managed to get out without falling over somehow.

Ellis spotted him, and grabbed his elbow. "Nope. Back to bed, your highness." he said.

"Aww, you're no fun…" Lloyd sighed and let Ellis drag him away. "I've already been in there for hours…"

Ellis led him back inside. "Yes, well, you got shot, your highness."

"I'm not even going out into town… just out to get some fresh air. It's so stuffy everywhere…" Lloyd stumbled a bit.

Ellis ducked under his arm. "No. We can open a window in your room."

Lloyd sighed again. "Alright, alright…" He let Ellis pull him along back to his room.