Mark of The Demon

Together

Sapphire was selfishly happy as she sat in the sunlight filled room. It was all the more bright now that she had someone with her. She let him simply stand there and be there at her side for nearly an hour. It was only then that she began to feel the guilt surfacing. Should she really just make him stand there? Well, for one. She thought stubbornly. She hadn't asked him to do that. She said to check up on her! That meant offer her tea throughout the day, not stand at her side like a statue. 

… 

She wasn't stopping him though. She pulled away from her desk turning her large eyes up towards him, she was frowning and spoke in a soft voice.

"I won't lie to you. I do enjoy and want you to be here with me." she paused and squirmed in her large comfy seat. "That said. I feel like it's the wrong choice. I'm being selfish. I'm sure there are other things, more important things, than you being here with me."

"Hmm. Yes, young Mistress, I understand completely. If I'm completely honest, there are quite a few things I could be doing, such as finding you a personal chef." He didn't smirk so much as flash his fangs.

"Can we meet halfway, Jacques? You can do what you need to. Just... Visit me from time to time, such as to like offer a cup of tea at mid evening? As I have stated before. Oh, you could be the one to see me to bed at night! Unless I need Tina too, of course, if such an occasion were to occur. What do you say to this? Then I shall not be stealing the most important person of the household, for personal gains. You would be free to do as you need. Plus, it is boring in here, I don't wish to bore you. That's the last thing I want."

She then stood and grabbed Jacques hands in hers. The two sigils touched and her mark tingled violently, causing a visible light. She glanced down at it, not expecting the impact, before firmly ignoring it. She pulled his hands to her and looked up at him again. 

"Please don't be too bothered by my emotions. My father said I'm ruled by them. I'll work on it, learn to rein them in. Don't let my over emotional sensibilities affect you. I bounce back quickly!" She grinned at him. Then released him and sat back down.

"I'll keep that in mind about your emotional state, young Mistress, though I would recommend you do your best to reign that while meeting our more regal guests."

She nodded her head at him, a form of dismissal. The papers she had been working on last night, a blur now, were in her hands again. The papers reading the name Kichiro, she sighed.

"Uuugh!" 

With the dismissal made, Jacques attempted to sweep out of the room, but stopped at her exclamation. 

"Why does he need to visit? I'm sixteen, and he is eleven. What are we even going to have in common? I don't want to babysit a japanese noble." She griped. Then rolled to look out the window.

"Oh, mistress." He started a smirk on his lips. His voice made Sapphire look away from the bay window and at him again. "I think It's obvious what he wants. You were to one day be wed to him. I found documents in your father's closet. It appears the young noble wishes to continue with the engagement." His words made her mouth drop, and his smirk increasing in size. 

"No way! Why would he want to continue that? Besides," she started a mini rant. "I am in charge of my martial status now." she scoffed. "I won't be changing my statues anytime soon." She mumbled.

She saw Jacques smirk drain and his eyes harden. She could feel him tongue lashing her with his silence. So she rolled her eyes and continued. 

"Of course I'll keep myself in check when we have guests." She commented nonchalantly. Then shot her own glare right back at the demon. 

"You need realize, your my demon. I can show you whatever side of me I please. If I can't show a bit of weakness and upset to you, it might lead to me showing it to the wrong people and ruining your plans for me to be a queen. It's a saying you know. If you don't know who to trust, then trust that you will be alone." She grumbled.

"Of Course, My Lady." Jacques bit out with a sharp tongue, his fangs flashing again, this time in a sneer, and then he bowed his head before leaving the room. 

Sapphire watched him leave and felt a heaviness as the door clacked shut. Sadness had yet again filled her again despite herself at his leave. She really wished she could have someone just stay with her.She wished that maybe he could pretend he liked her.

Yet, you couldn't force these things. He didn't feel that and there was nothing to be done about it. She let him go and that was when she fell into her work… 

---

It was mid afternoon now. She had been busy working away numbers, calling individuals in the town, Writing letters to those out of town, and *totally* completely hadn't been mentally groaning at the idea of a foreign tiny prince coming to ask her for a hand in marriage. 

Her back was starting to ache a bit not from a tight corset, thankfully, rather from sitting in one spot for far to long. It was lonely in this place. She was talking to strangers and writing words yes, but, no one was actually talking to her. Just the idea of her. 

KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK

Sapphire lifted her head a bit surprised. She did ask to be visited yet she honestly hadn't expected it.

"Come in."

The door opened and there indeed was her favorite demon. His white hair seemed all the more pure in the mid afternoon sunlight. In his hands was a tray with tea and some kind of sweet. Her face lit-up at the idea. He was trying wasn't he? 

"I am here with your midday tea and a small sample of tonight's desert. I hope it is to your liking."

Sapphire smiled at him and made room for the offerings. He came over and set down her beautiful tea cup. It was one that her mother used to use. She had never been the one to hold it before. It seemed today was the day. The steaming liquid was poured into the porcelain container. It smelled spicy and she wondered what kind of tea it might be. He then laid down a plate of white-ish pink fluffy stuff. It was marshmallow like in substance, yet had fruit in it? It was a very small amount of whatever it was. 

"I am so happy that you came to see me again! I have been busy getting my work done but, if I'm honest I didn't think you would come back today. I figured you had spent enough time with me for today and had your fill of me. I wouldn't have been mad. So, I am just pleasantly surprised that you came back!" She chirped happily as he readied her small meal. 

His head c****d to the side, listening not to her words but rather the intent behind them. Odds aside, she was still lonely. *Very well, then*, he decided then; unless explicetly ordered away, all work that can be done with her, would be done with her. This want and earthly desire for company, it would serve well to season her soul. Though the time was a long way away when he may take it, starting as early as possible is always welcome. And ... despite his best intentions, he was starting to like the spirited girl. She was all flame, willing to do what she must to make her family rise again. He respected that.

Another bow, this time with feeling.

"I understand, m'lady. However, I have had time to organize myself and, if you'll permit me, I can finish my work in here. I do hope you'll forgive my lapse in judgement." 

Sapphire stared at the white haired man for a bit longer then she should have with a surprised expression. No answer came, she just looked at him wide eyed. He raised an eyebrow at her and she shook her head waking up again. 

"Yes, O-of course. If you feel that any work can be done in here, we can work together." she offered nodding her head. 

Just like that he was gone. No movement detected, he just suddenly wasn't there any longer. She blinked but then squealed girlishly. 

"He likes me! I knew it! I have a friend again!" she cheered and then giggled spinning her chair in a circle. 

He was back as quickly as he was gone, reappearing with a stack of paperwork in his hands which he began to rifle through, muttering in an unknown language under his breath.

She practically fell out of her chair at his sudden reappearance. She hadn't been expecting it and she was still celebrating when he appeared. 

He looked at her and she pulled her chair to the table again trying to act civilized. His eyebrow was lightly arched and she cleared her throat. She grabbed the cup of tea and took a deep sip letting him settle into the office. He ignored her craziness and settled himself at the table along the wall. Father never used that for anything but a place to set his luncheon when he wasn't ready for it yet. It was well and ready for real use. Which Jacques got straight to. She smiled and got back to work herself. 

This feels so nice. She thought to herself. Her occasional glances at him were only to make sure that she wasn't imagining the demons presence. She wasn't, for he never disappeared.