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"My father can be a bit picky, Fio; I don't want to doubt your wardrobe but I am giving you a warning about that. As for Viera, trust me, you would not be burdening her." Demaias grinned. "She would love to help if you need it."
When they reached the double doors at the end of the garden, Demaias slowly pulled one open to peek inside and check the corridor.
He thought of the strange scars on his back, whose origin he himself did not know. He didn't want to have to answer questions about them. "I still don't think it's…necessary." he had been about to say "a good idea", but he didn't want to run the risk of insulting the crown prince.
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(Heya, sorry, been away from the computer for a bit.)
"Oh, well, whatever you say, I suppose." Demaias said, giving Fio a rather dismissive look. "Come on." He motioned for Fio to follow once more as he stepped into the palace.
(it's fine!)
Fio nodded a little. He caught the look, and clenched his jaw slightly. But he followed Demaias silently, shaking his head slightly.
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Demaias led him down the large hallway lined with windows and a few paintings here and there. Nothing as extravagant as other places in the palace but lovely nonetheless. "These are the Western Halls, where you can find the servant quarters, one of our lounges, and, well, the entrance to the garden. We'll reach the Dining Hall from here."
Fio nodded, following the prince quietly. Trying to contain the nausea that rose every time he saw another trophy. Another pair of wings or a horn or fairy dust. He swallowed hard, running his hands through his hair anxiously.
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In the middle of explaining some minor facts about the paintings, Demaias noticed Fio messing with his hair again. He'd noticed it before and thought that the boy was just scratching his head, but then he realized it was only whenever Fio seemed uneased. He had decided not to question it before, but now… "Are you alright? Is your head just itchy all the time or what?"
He blinked. "I'm uh. I'm fine." He said quickly. "And I don't have lice, if that's what you're insinuating!" He looked at the prince.
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"Oh, no, of course not." Demaias raised his hands a bit. "It's just that you've been doing that a lot, like when you're bothered by something. So, what's bothering you? It is part of my obligation as the prince to make sure every resident of the palace is comfortable."
Fio blinked a little. "It's nothing." If I tell him it's because of the magical creatures…I'll be killed. "Just…nerves, I guess. I've not been out of my hometown very often."
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Demaias nodded in understanding; he was sure it wasn't the exact same but he'd been very nervous the first time his father took him on a trip to another kingdom. "Well, if there's anything you'd need to feel more at home, let me know and I'll have someone get on it." He offered as they turned a corner.
The corridor continued ahead of them but there was another hallway to their right, and across from it were two large, open doors. Mounted on a wooden plaque above the doors was a griffin head, its eyes shut and its light grey feathers brushed up nicely. Demaias would never admit it aloud, but one of the reasons he disliked eating in the Dining Hall was because of that thing - having to look at it every time he entered almost always took away his appetite.
Fio's throat closed up at the sight of the Griffin head, and dropped his gaze so that he didn't have to see it anymore. He took a deep breath. "Right. Thank you." He said softly, running a hand through his hair again, trying to calm down and not think about that head.
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Demaias glanced at the napkin still in his hand, then looked down the hall across from the doors and pursed his lips. "Are you hungry?" He asked, glancing at Fio.
"Not…not really." He replied. "I ate a few hours ago." He shrugged his shoulders, putting his hands in his pockets and chewing on his lip. He wanted to get back to Caius' rooms. The older man didn't have any of these disgusting trophies, and he had felt like he could breathe there.
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Demaias suppressed a sigh of relief and smiled. "Onward, then."
He waved every now and then to people they passed by, and they happily greeted him; a few children even attempted to hug him but were dissuaded by their guardians. Demaias gave Fio a quick look at the medical wing, the inside and outside training grounds, and the main lounge, which Fio wasn't allowed to go into so they only breezed by it. All along the way, especially as they neared the throne room, were more of the king's magical trophies. One hall was covered in murals telling what Demaias knew were more biased versions of the stories of his father's accomplishments, which he hoped didn't make Fio too uncomfortable.
Fio kept his eyes fixed solidly ahead as they passed the trophies. He looked at them a little to try and dissuade any suspicion, but he couldn't bear to look for too long, or they started to claw at something inside of him. As if they were screaming, and only he could hear them. He took a deep breath, hands fisting in his pockets for a moment.
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Demaias was about to open the door to the Noble Quarters when a woman dressed in pink and white came around the corner, almost running into the boys.
"Oh!" She squeaked, bowing briefly. "Pardon me, sir, I was just looking for you. Your father wishes to speak with you." She then noticed Fio, so she tilted her head a bit. "Oh, who is this?"
"This is Fio Ruen; he is new to the palace, so I was showing him around," Demaias said, and the woman smiled and held her hand out. "Nice to meet you, Fio. I am Dahlia Amondas."
Fio smiled a little bit, and shook the woman's hand, unsure of whether that was what he was supposed to do, or if he should kiss it. He hoped shaking was alright and proper. He gave a nervous smile. "Nice to meet you as well, Miss Amondas." he replied.
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"Dahlia, would you mind walking him back to Caius' quarters while I go see my father?" Demaias asked her. She nodded and placed her hands neatly at her front. "Of course, sir."
Demaias placed a hand on Fio's shoulder. "I suppose I'll see you soon, Fio?"
Fio looked at Demaias, and bowed a little bit. "If you wish to, then of course." he replied with a quick little smile. "Thank you for showing me around, it was…much appreciated." he was trying to be as formal as possible, and not sound like some country bumpkin with no manners.
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Demaias smiled and gave a curt nod. "You're very welcome."
They had to go down the same hall, the one Dahlia had come from, but Demaias parted from Fio and Dahlia when they reach the end of it. "Come along." The noblewoman said, genty taking Fio's arm to turn him to the left hallway.
Fio nodded, and stuck with the noblewoman. He was quiet, eyes flicking around the Halls a little anxiously. He wasn't sure what to do or say, if anything.
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"So, Fio, what do you think of the palace so far?" Dahlia asked, glancing at him.
Demaias hadn't needed Dahlia to specify where the king was - he was always waiting in his bedroom when he sent someone to fetch his son for him. The prince soon came to the burgundy doors of the master bedroom and calmly entered. "Father?" He called out, and the tall, bearded man turned to him with the usual bored look on his face. "Sit." He said simply, so Demaias took a seat on the bed.
Fio shrugged. "It's…impressive." he replied slowly, looking at Dahlia carefully. He ran a hand through his hair again, taking a deep breath. He had to be careful with his words.
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Dahlia giggled lightly. "Well, it is the home of the Dragonslayer; you have no idea how picky the king is about presentation, hence the…artwork." She motioned to a painting of a pale satyr with multiple arrows through its chest as they passed it. "But I meant more in terms of the atmosphere and the people."
Fio took a deep breath at the sight of the painting. "Ah, yes." he replied simply. "And…I don't know yet. Caius and the Prince seem alright, but I haven't really met anyone else. So. I'm not quite sure yet." he chewed on his lower lip a little bit.
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"And what about the mounts and whatnot?" The lady asked. "I know the king's little trophies aren't everyone's favorite things to have to see whenever they walk these halls."
He shrugged his shoulders. "They're…not my favorite, I'll admit, but…I'm from a small town, so it's not as if I've ever seen them before. I'll grow used to it, I suspect." He wasn't sure if he wanted to.
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"That's the spirit, love," Dahlia said, gently nudging Fio's arm in a playful manner. They'd just reached the door to the office of the head physician, so she turned to him and nodded curtly. "Again, it was lovely meeting you, Fio. I wish you luck in adjusting here as well as living with Caius."
Fio shrugged his shoulders slightly. "Mhm. Alright. It was nice meeting you too, Dahlia. Thank you." he gave her a quick smile, then headed into Caius' rooms, closing the door behind him.
