The Fae King's Ruin

Jilt

Jilt the Steward had been serving the home of General Aelthrys and his family for a very long time now. He had been the first male servant of the household years before even the General was born. He served the mighty Duke Sarthferrel— Master Aelthrys’ great grandfather— in his latter days before being adopted into the staff of his newlywed grandson and was very well treated for a man in his station.

He was truly luckier than most. Jilt’s father, who had been a steward just like his father before him, had the misfortune of coming into the employ of some very radical people. He was killed before he was a hundred years old, while most servants in Unseelie households were either replaced or killed without reaching their one hundred-fiftieth birthday. 

Now almost past his two hundred and twenty-third year, Jilt was no doubt loyal to the family he served. They were good people— leagues and bounds better than most aristocratic families, surely, yet his loyalty was not just borne out of how long they have kept him. No, of course not. He was immortal, and people who lived very long lifetimes tend to do stupidly idiotic things.

The reason why Jilt had served this long in the Duke and Duchess’s household was because they were dreamers.

The Duke and Duchess were people of science. That meant that they knew more things than the average person and had more hope for a wider range of possibilities. They were not like most: open to dissenting opinions, were tolerant of humans, and only prejudiced against the Seelie Court for appearance. The couple were a peaceful folk, focused on bettering society in their own ways.

Not many people knew except for the like-minded, trusted people in their inner circle, but they had both studied in human universities with the belief that their knowledge in science and technology were far more superior. It was their belief that Unseelie society had to catch up since their civilization was rather incredibly cut off. They had no resources the same way all the other magical races did by way of the collective knowledge of Forges so they had no choice but to turn to alternatives to keep the people as modern and progressive as possible.

Their hard work had paved the way for the use of alternative energy in the city, the opening of schools for chemistry and technology, and the single-handed achievement of successfully identifying non-edible livestock and crops when they finally claimed a whole other realm for their court, helping the entire court to adjust and survive in their new environment.

They were Jilt’s undeniable proof that there were good people amongst them—people that had better, many fruitful things to do than spread hate and do vile things to their constituents. For someone that never had the luxury to go to school, the Duke and Duchess gave him hope that perhaps his own children would not have to experience his depravity.

And the Duke and Duchess’ two children —the Master Aelthrys and Princess Aislin— Jilt had also loved them as much as their own two parents did. They were raised as proper, compassionate, and intelligent people. Even with Princess Aislin, Jilt had been equal parts relieved and grateful that she had not been forced to grow up in her brother’s awful court. He suspected that the Duke did not want that as well and was the reason that he intentionally adopted the Princess into his home.

“Excuse me, sir,” a maid said, approaching him. He noted the visible discomfort in the eyes of the young girl, marked by the twitching of her eyes. “I-I think you need to see something.”

Jilt frowned, casting one last glance at the meal preparations in the kitchen. “What is it, Meera? Why do you look like that?” Meera gnawed on her lip and he could not help but frown. “And what did I tell you about being so visibly frazzled? You have to learn to control your expressions, even more now that Master Aelthrys is home.”

“But… Well, it is about Master Aelthrys. Kind of.”

Meera tried looking at him meaningfully, but Jilt had no idea what that was supposed to mean. He exhaled sharply and nodded for Meera to follow him but the maid had quickly stopped him with a shake of her head. 

“Gods, Meera!” he exclaimed in exasperation. “Would you please just tell me?”

She winced. Jilt immediately felt bad but held his tongue to wait for her to start talking. Meera kept on twisting a piece of thread from her apron even as she began to mumble.

“The Princess,” he heard her say. “Master Aelthrys said she would not be coming.”

“Yes, he did.” His brows scrunched in confusion. “Why?”

Meera pointed a slender, shaky finger outside to the main hall. “B-But she— she’s here, Sir. In the foyer.”

“What?” he hissed, sidestepping her and running to the hall.

The Princess! Here! Oh, what delight flooded Jilt’s chest. How was he so fortunate today that both of his wards had returned home? Once again, he could not control the grin that spread over his face. It had been far too long since the last time he saw the Princess. He wanted to know if she had been treated well in the Seelie court— wanted to see it for his own eyes. 

When he turned the corner, he got his wish. His tears welled in his eyes as he saw the Princess, looking regal despite the dirt underneath her bare feet. He was confused why she was not wearing any shoes and carrying them instead in one hand. The Princess also wore no flashy jewelry other than a pair of identical bracelets and a sapphire ring on her finger that he had never seen before. 

Dressed in a simple black dress, Princess Aislin looked as she was when she left for the Capital all those months ago. Perhaps with her face a little fuller, her color healthier. He paused by the doorway just as she turned and their eyes met.

Princess Aislin smiled widely. Her shoes clattered to the red marble floors as she began to walk towards him. She opened her arms, intending to hug him, but Jilt was not about to make the same mistake twice.

He bowed, low and fit for a queen.

Jilt saw her face fall a little but quickly recovered. The soldiers behind her all watched as her arms fell to her sides and she nodded her head in acknowledgement. He rose from his position, and though the urge to hug the Princess was strong, he refrained. She smiled in understanding.

“Hello, Jilt,” she said in that bright voice she always used. “How have things been?”

He opened his mouth to respond, wanting to say a hundred different things to her, when they all heard heavy, angry footsteps coming from the left wing of the manor. He heard the Princess swear under her breath as she crossed her arms and waited. Jilt took a step back, knowing exactly what was about to happen.

True to their expectations, a very angry General Aelthrys appeared, already changed into his military fatigue. His silver-cred eyes glared at the soldiers behind the Princess, yet she stood tall, almost protectively placing herself at the very front.

“Cousin,” she greeted with faux pleasantness. “It’s great to be home.”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t be cute. Follow me.”

Without another word, he turned around. Princess Aislin casted one last glance at Jilt over her shoulder, shrugged and winked, before following the Master to his war room.

Despite the frosty welcome, he still smiled. His sovereign and master was home. He had work to do. Jilt turned to Meera, who was still wide-eyed by the whole interaction.

“I think we will be needing to adjust the servings for tonight, Meera. Come and help me prepare the house,” he murmured with quiet pride as he, too, went off back to the kitchen.