[name_m]Devin[/name_m] [name_m]Colbee[/name_m] (part 1)
“Well, good morning to you too, [name_f]Princess[/name_f]. I take it you’re in a foul mood so far today.”
“Actually, wait, I do know what today is. [name_m]August[/name_m] thirtieth, the year is fifteen eleven. A very important guest is coming to the palace.”
“I’d take rats over her any day.” (This is actually a thought)
“I understand, trust me I do. But, that’s life at the palace. Your existence is controlled by a bratty princess. So’s mine. I’d tell you that it’ll get better, but it probably won’t.” (To [name_f]Cosette[/name_f], who is a dog)
“Yes, wolves. The wolves that live down here. Did you not pay attention to the lessons that I know mentioned them? Also, they’re nocturnal. And the sun is setting. So, if you don’t want to become their meal, you shouldn’t yell anymore.”
“It’s always nice to be appreciated. Sadly, I think a princess who’s been fed three full meals a day for eighteen years would be much more appetizing than me, who rarely gets to eat three times a day. Nevermind three full meals. And never any cake.”
“I wasn’t born a nothing, I was made one. You can thank your father for that. If he had just left me and my parents alone, I’d probably be a something by now. And we wouldn’t be having this discussion.”
“Why do you all of the sudden look scared of me? You’ve never looked scared of me. What? Did you just realize that I could leave you to be eaten by the wolves?”
“Unfortunately, I can’t just go and leave you to your fate down here. There’s a chance I might regret it someday. It’s a slim chance and that someday is probably very far away, but I do have a conscience. And I’d like to die with nothing on it. No major regrets.”
“Unfortunately, you can’t order geography around, Princess.”
“The only other option was to leave you behind. If I did that, you’d be in that troll’s stomach right now. And, someday, probably not until my free, happy life was almost over, I’d look back and regret letting that happen.”
“In your case, if I was the one in danger instead of you, yes. It would be smarter for you to leave me behind and hightail it out of this ravine as fast as possible. You’re [name_f]Princess[/name_f] Malarrea [name_m]Sophron[/name_m] and I’m a nobody. Nobody would miss me. But, they’d miss you.”
“Somebody needs to keep watch. The wolves, remember? And Candarrus. And the troll. And anything else that might be lurking down here. Your life and my existence could be in danger at any time.”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll figure it out eventually, [name_f]Princess[/name_f]. Like in five minutes, when you realize that we have nothing in common besides nightmares and murdered family members.”
“Remember it’s the past and you can’t change it. No amount of wishing can change it.”
“You’re [name_f]Princess[/name_f] Malarrea [name_m]Sophron[/name_m]. Therefore, nothing you ever do is wrong.”
“Alright then. I’ll do my best. Basically, friendship means that two or more people care about, trust, and are there for each other. No one acts like they’re better than the others. No one threatens anyone else. They all listen to each other.”
“Yes, there is. You’re a royal. I’m a lowly servant. And we aren’t friends. Therefore, we aren’t on a first name basis.”
“Princess? Are you one hundred percent certain that you haven’t been replaced with a changeling?”
“How can you expect me to believe that? It’s easy to say you’re sorry. And, like I said, it’s nice to hear you apologize. But, it’s going to take a lot more than words to convince me that you mean it.”
“That’s the point. Your apologies can’t do that. No words can fix what’s broken. No words can turn back time and stop my existence from turning out like this.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep. [name_m]Or[/name_m], that you might not be able to keep.”
“But, if you really are trying to be a better person, I shouldn’t be acting like it isn’t possible. After all, it’s easier to learn without constantly being judged.”
“If the stories are true, they either eat the souls or the hearts of unsuspecting people who they lure in. Looking at those claws, I’m thinking it’s the latter.”
“It would’ve been disappointed anyway. I doubt I’d make a good meal. Certainly not a filling one.”
“I think that’s called an opinion, Princess.”
“It would have felt like murder. And I once vowed that I would never be a murderer.”
“He made the decision. And thought you’d never know. As far as he was concerned, I would always just be a personal servant to you. That was the purpose of my age and why I look less threatening than even a squire. Why would anyone put me in charge of a royal’s safety?”
“Every good parent is proud of their kids. Seriously, though. I’m not perfect. I wasn’t a perfect kid either. I was a normal kid who drove my parents crazy sometimes. Why do you think my father had to tell me there was a Vrolumri in the woods?”
“Maybe so. But you were born. And I’m here. You know what? I’m more okay with that now than I’ve ever been.”
“What matters is what you do now. What kind of person you choose to be for the rest of your life.”
“That’s right. When you put your mind to something, you can be very persuasive. Honestly, I’m impressed with how hard you’re trying to make amends. At first, I thought you’d eventually quit. But you’ve kept at it.”
“I got that. It just still comes as a shock that you try because you actually care about me. That you think I’m worth trying for.”
“After everything we’ve been through together. I guess we’re a team right now.”
“You’re still shaking. Look at me. We don’t know what the future brings. And, one way or another, everyone eventually dies. But we’re safe right now. Nothing is going to hurt us. Not tonight. I promise.”
“For the first time, I think I agree with throwing someone in the dungeon.”
Sorry for the length here. The [name_f]Princess[/name_f] And Her Servant is the book I’ve written the most of so far, so [name_m]Devin[/name_m] has a lot of lines that I’m proud of. Too many to list all at once, so I split the quotes into two parts. Part two coming soon!