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There was a single Pippins that showed true, arduous work in this castle, the one his old peers would call Greenie, Rudinns would call him the king's lapdog, and his diamond would call him his peridot, which sounded way better than anything else. But we can go with the name he's currently known for: Battat.
Working in the walls of the castle is not an easy task, let alone having a major role like being the king's royal advisor. Sure, the king makes decisions and executes them, but it's the advisor's job to discern such decisions, to put them in second thoughts and all, right? And if Battat steps on a loose tile, all that he has worked hard for will come crumbling down. So, not only he has to hold his reputation, but the weight of a whole castle is on his shoulders, indirectly.
His performance has been well-received so far, even gaining the king's praises, but even with all that, it feels like it's not enough. Battat appreciated the king's good perception of him, but when it comes to his peers, it feels like nothing had changed. His other pippins colleagues would murmur about him behind his back, same goes for some Rudinn guards, while also having eyes that stare like daggers aiming towards him. Battat tried to brush the thoughts off by filling his mindset with his snarky pride, showing off his status and closure with the king, which would eventually make the dice and snake start talking about the king's decision instead, saying how the king considers him as nothing but a cute novelty, that he probably made a mistake when hiring him, that the king is likely lying to Battat's face about him doing a great job. Not that it matters, they are all just jealous of his relationship with the king, he and his diamond have a strong bond from king to royal advisor, not like they would know about that...
....Right?
He didn't seem to let those rumors get to him, he brushed them off as simple jealousy, but as time went, it really put him into doubt. He has to work hard, he probably isn't doing good enough, he must be seen in impecable eyes, that's what he's here for, right? He wants, no, he NEEDS to prove a point. He has to show that he is not like his other peers, he is not a king's pet like other pippinses said, he is not a double-faced die like the rudinns said. He is a trusty and loyal royal advisor, the king's right hand, his most close companion... surely...
As he was walking with all his mental turmoil, he didn't notice how there was a big hand stopping him from his tracks.
"Easy there, darling" A jocose but kind voice resonated from above, it was the Diamond King
"Ah, greetings! Your Radiance" Battat quickly shook away from his thoughts to give a greeting bow.
The king squinted his eyes, "What are you up to, hm? You seem to be in a hurry"
"Sorry, I was just heading off to work. Excuse me."
Before he could go back on his way, a couple of fingers pinched the back of his poncho, pulling him back into place.
"Woah, there... You seemed agitated for the past few days, dear! I am thankful for your hard work, but I also value the comfortability and relaxation of my subjects. It hurts me so much to see you in such a state."
"I'm aware of that, your Radiance..." Battat replied with an ounce of guilt in his voice
Diamond let out a little chuckle as he turned Battat around, "Say, how about you take a stroll around the kingdom with me?"
Battat looked at him with a puzzled expression, slowly lifting his finger towards himself, "Me. You want me to take a walk with you."
The king nodded.
Battat took a little pause, wanting to say something, but the King cupped his back with his big hand.
"Come on! I insist."
Battat couldn't dare to protest with the king giving a demand like that, if you can call it that? Plus, it's probably considered a felony to reject a royal offer so, guess there was no other option.
"...Of course, your Radiance." Battat said in a defeated tone, but the king gave him a reassuring smile
"It will be worth it, I promise."
The king slithered across the glistening halls while Battat followed him at his side, both reaching the exit of the castle. Battat is aware that the king takes some strolls for enrichment, however, he never joined him in one so, it's a strange experience. The king already had some Rudinn Rangers trailing behind, which made Battat kind of nervous but, seeing his majesty procceed with confidence and his head tall, it motivated Battat to act as such.
Two Rudinn guards were standing at the exit, and upon seeing the king, they started opening the gates. Battat tried to gulp saliva as he knew he has to face public eyes looking at him, walking with the King of Diamonds himself. Diamond didn't seem to mind, just taking it as another average walk of relief. The two headed out, with Rudinns standing at the sides of the path, slightly rising their weapons and some started bowing their heads in reverence. The anxious expression in Battat was notorious, but the king looked down to him with a smile.
"There's nothing to be afraid of, I am here."
Usually, Battat doesn't feel secure with those words, but he can't help but feel more reassured with the king's presence by his side.
They would keep going in a moderate speed, and further in the pathway, there were both Rudinns and Pippinses. The Rudinns were maintaining their positions, though some of their eyes would pop open as they saw Battat walking next to the king, which he started to perceive, so he held his breath and looked forward, with his head standing tall but his body internally shaking.
He couldn't keep the act much longer, as they walked next to the Pippinses standing at the sides of the path, their eyes would also dart directly at the green Pippins, most of them not really saying anything but their looks were clearly judgmental. He could hear some of them whisper to eachother, snicker and giggle. Battat tried to puff his chest to show confidence, but in his eyes, there was a clear expression of embarrassment. The king noticed this and slowed down his slithering pace, something the other Pippinses noticed. The king didn't have to make a whole show about it, just a sinister stare and a tail rattle was enough for those pesky dice to step back, then which he switched his expression back to normal and went back to slide next to his peridot.
Battat saw from the corner of his eye how the Pippinses were slowly retreating to the bushes, he had a concerned face, but upon looking at Diamond, who only looked forward with a grin, he didn't really want to bring it up for now.
They were following the pathway for a bit, until they stopped when they were away from the other Rudinns, besides the patrol following them behind. Diamond stopped in the middle and turned towards his troop.
"I'd like to go on only with my royal advisor now, we'll be back soon." He declared.
The troops nodded and did a step back, with Battat looking at the Rangers and then back to the king with confusion, but before he could do anything, the king said "Follow me" and strayed away from the main trail, Battat was confused and nervous by this, but he pursued his majesty.
It's an odd passage since it's full of trees and bushes, pretty dense like a jungle, so Battat was in a hurry to not lose the king's track, even if it wasn't so easy considering the king's size...
"Where are we going?" Battat panted as he tried to not trip in between slippery leaves and bushes
"I'd like to show you something..." The king replied without looking back
"Something? Like what?"
"You'll see!~"
Battat usually doesn't confide in anyone that expresses themselves in such a vague way, but since it's Diamond, he can give a tiny piece of trust. Diamond was slithering around like he has been on this side of the jungle before, even if he has never mentioned doing such, which was very curious for Battat.
The king suddenly stopped, "We're here. Come."
"Right behind you!" Battat exclaimed, moving some foliage from his face, suddenly met with a scenario that looks so different from the jungle.
It was a wide open space, instead of being surrounded by several leaves, it had various colorful flowers that he hasn't seen around in the kingdom. It had waterdrops dripping from the petals, which says they are constantly watched and taken care of.
"Tell me, do you like it?" The king asked, appearing behind Battat and gently pushing him into the area
"What is this place?" Battat looked around in awe, getting astonished by the different colors of plants and flowers, very distinct from the usual purple grass and scarlet forest.
"It's my secret hideout. I keep all the flowers that Hearts King gave to me here. Nobody entered this place except for me, and you."
Upon this being said, Battat immediatly turned to the king, "Ohhh no, I don't deserve to be here! I can't be in such a sacred place, maybe I should leave-"
The king tugged him from the collar of his uniform and placed him back into the garden, "Nonsense, darling! I want you to be here with me, because I trust you."
Battat smiled a little at this but, then his concerned expression returned, to which the king half-closed his eyes.
The king looked up at the trees that surrounded his garden, "I have to say that this particular place, is my space where I can be true to myself. When I can be on my own and say my thoughts and woes without having anyone to judge! Nothing really escapes from this place, anyone here can express their emotions..."
He slowly lowered his head, getting his face near Battat's, "And I can tell that there's something upsetting you, am I right, dear?"
Battat flinched, he really was set up in a trap, right? He could make up any excuse now, fabricate some random reason out of his mind but, there was something in the king's tone that really said that it wouldn't be wise to lie right at his face, he gave a defeated sigh.
"...Maybe?" Battat muttered, "I... I've been feeling like I am not doing good at my job. I've been here for some time now and I still feel like I don't fit it... I mean, I never did, I'm aware. I know I can't convince other Pippinses, I know Rudinns will never see me as anything else but a potential liar, and I feel like you probably don't even like me either!"
The king seemed to be appalled by that last sentence, but didn't say anything.
"I know you give me praises and, you even rewarded me for my job! But I guess that's just the minimum as a worker in this castle, right!? I feel like I don't fit in anywhere, and maybe you don't even like me and just... see me as something to toy with, I don't know..." Battat stopped, grabbing air after ranting a bit, he could say he feels better for letting it out but, now he wonders if he really did the right thing about talking his personal problems with the king. It sounds dumb, it might get him in trouble with his coworkers, it's over.
The king simply chuckled, "I see, so that's how you felt."
"By any case, I do not want any of them in trouble! Please, don't fire or do anything to them! I shouldn't have told you this-"
"Nonono, it's alright! I thank you for telling me this, 'cause it just makes me confirm something."
Battat widened his eyes, "What is it?"
Diamond started slithering in circles around Battat as he tapped his chin, "Well, I do appreciate and value my subjects, they're all my precious treasures, including you. But, I have an exquisite taste that they do not have, I have to admit. I can see beauty and hope in eyes that they do not see at first glance, and that's why I chose you as my royal advisor. You have a particular glimmer that got me drawn to you. I am aware you're not the kingdom's favorite, but when it comes to me, does it even matter?"
What was he saying? Did he lose his mind? Battat was wondering... why was the king saying all of these things?
"But... All the hardwork you did to maintain your kingdom, your image, your reputation... Aren't you worried about them being torn down because of me?"
"You are an amazing royal advisor, my peridot. I could let you manage my tasks with my eyes closed. As for those that say anything about you or me, I ask you again, does it really matter?"
"I do not understand, your majesty..." Battat shook his head, "Why are you say all of these things? What's wrong?"
"I say it because I love you, my peridot." The king slid the tip of his tail under Battat's chin, "You're an invaluable treasure in my castle, and no matter what, I can't let you go"
There's a lot to process from this conversation, because Battat clearly has a hard time grasping when someone really seems to see something within him, after being looked down and laughed at for so long, it feels so strange for him. Is this another of the tricks the rumors mention? Is the king really being genuine? Does the king... really love him as he says?
The king loomed over Battat, "Let me say this, my dear peridot. No one else in this castle has any say of whether you deserve to be here or not but me. You don't have to care about what anyone else says, in fact, you don't even have to see or hear of whatever they speak of. You're special to me, I chose you to be in here, I want you to be with me, and that's all that matters."
Diamond slowly curled his body around Battat to get closer to him, "I can offer you a better life, where you don't even have to mind what anyone else says. Even, you don't have to stress yourself out with work. I have all that you need. I can give you my treasures, my love, care, affection, all that your little peridot heart demands. You don't have to leave the castle walls to prove yourself."
Battat felt how Diamond's hands cupped his face, slowly lifting them up to stare directly at the king's sharp snake eyes.
"Because all the eyes you need to look at are mine."
The king's face barely seemed visible, like an ominous energy that came from within, where the only thing that Battat could see, was his big, bright green eyes. He wanted to say something, but all he knew is that he couldn't dare to deny the king's word. His expression, his glare, it all says that he can't say no in this situation. The tension was getting to him, he could slightly open his mouth without really having anything in mind to say, like it was a subconscious action.
"I... I thank you, your majesty.. I'd love to be with you, too.." That's all he could say, which was enough to make Diamond wrap his arms around him in a gentle hug.
The idea of it doesn't really sound bad. After all, the only one who cared about him was the his diamond. Getting all the attention, love and care from him sounds so good at first, so it wouldn't really affect him in the long term.
...Right?