Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
G wil hadn’t thought he would have heard so soon from Hyax’s people about an etiquette tutor, but Hyax had received a spark message, and here he was in a fancy reception room in the fae palace waiting for someone called Opali.
“Don’t look so worried,” Hyax said. “I don’t know them personally, but Opali worked with Qual, and you should know my sister is very picky, so you’re in good hands.”
He’d only met Hyax’s sibling on a couple of occasions, and she and her brother were cut from the same cloth, so Hyax didn’t have the right to call her picky.
If this Opali had been around long enough to make a fae princess behave, they had to be some elder with draconian ways, and Gwil would be at their mercy.
The fae who let himself into the room was not who Gwil had been picturing. Where Gwil had thought they’d be old and wizened, instead he was stunning, almost as attractive as Hyax.
“Your Majesty, Mr Hilt,” he said with a bow. “I am Sage Opali. May I say it is an honour to have been selected to support you in this matter.”
By the look of Hyax’s expression, he was similarly surprised. “Thank you for your help.”
“I don’t imagine we’ll need more than a few lessons,” Opali said. “In my experience, it’s more a matter of reassurance and confirming the obvious.”
“I know you’ve worked with my sister, but I wasn’t aware of the nature of your assistance.”
“Oh, it wasn’t Princess Qual directly, but her new harem members. I tend to work with those who have adjacent duties. The senior tutors would take care of your direct family members, Your Highness.”
“I need to make this clear: Gwil is not a harem member.” Hyax wasn’t happy, but Gwil thought his reaction to be a bit OTT. “His etiquette needs would be rather different.”
Gwil thought he might have missed something important.
“Oh, er, yes. I understand that, Your Highness. And I was not intending to cover any of the physical guidance or inter-partner protocols. I know that as Prince’s Beloved, he is the senior member of your harem.”
“I do not have a harem, and I don’t intend to,” Hyax said.
It had been a bit of a touchy subject, but there was no point in having a go at Opali, who was only trying to do his job.
Although by the sound of it, there was part of being an etiquette tutor Gwil had never thought existed, and he was intrigued about how much physical guidance Opali gave to them.
“Apologies, Your Highness, I didn’t mean to infer anything untoward, only that the Prince’s Beloved would always outrank anyone, if there were others to outrank.”
Hyax had a bit of a jealous streak at times, but Opali had done nothing wrong and Gwil didn’t think Hyax’s reaction fair. “I have to deal with him all on my own,” Gwil said, trying to interject a bit of humour.
Hyax scowled. “I’m sure that’s the sort of thing you’ll learn not to say about a prince in front of his servant.”
Gwil knew his sense of humour wasn’t always appreciated. “Yeah, you’re probably right, and I should get started, so I don’t risk saying something that’s actually rude about you.”
“I will make myself available to suit Mr Hilt’s calendar. I assume, Your Majesty, you won’t be joining us.”
“It wasn’t my intention,” Hyax said. “But I will escort Mr Hilt to the palace and then return with him to London after each session.”
Opali smiled. “I could do that if you wish.”
Gwil didn’t think Hyax would allow that based on his reaction to who Opali usually worked with. “That won’t be necessary.”
As far as Gwil was concerned, Opali was just being helpful, but by the way Hyax’s wings vibrated, he still seemed to be agitated. Maybe he was still pissed off at his inopportune joke.
Opali sat. “Then perhaps we can start with a few questions in order to confirm the curriculum.” He rotated his wrist and a document appeared in front of them. “I have made a start, but there are certain areas I think we should discuss.”
“To be honest, I don’t know what it is I don’t know,” Gwil said. “I’m not what you’d call well-versed with royal fae protocol of this nature.”
“You’re in safe hands with me, Mr Hilt.”
“Please call me Gwil, unless there’s some terrible etiquette faux pas it’d cause.”
“I think we can say that’s perfectly acceptable in this more informal setting.”
He watched Opali delete several lines of text, probably about etiquette conduct in the harem and once they got to know each other a bit better, and if Hyax wasn’t here, he would ask Opali what he was missing out on.
What remained was a longer list than Gwil was expecting and included such items as social address, eating in public, and emotion control.
“It looks like I’ve a lot to do,” he said, his heart sinking.
“Don’t worry, Gwil. I’ll be there to hold your hand every step of the way.”
“I’m sure Gwil will appreciate your assistance,” Hyax said. “I did not envisage this to be an arduous task and I hope that you will be able to make this as painless as possible.”
Gwil thought Hyax might have made a comment that no hand-holding was allowed. However, he was convinced he might get a few words of encouragement once home on how to interact with his new tutor.
“I will do my best, Your Highness. I am right to assume you are both happy with the proposed curriculum, and I can proceed with putting together a schedule?”
Gwil thought that if he had a real objection, Hyax would have found a way to circumvent Gwil taking lessons.
But now, having met Opali, he was sure he wasn’t going to be subjected to some old duffer with a desire to make him a Stepford Wife, he found he was no longer averse to the idea of coming up to scratch to be rolled out at royal gatherings. “Good from my side.”
Hyax reread the document, and Gwil suspected it was more to make the point that he had the final decision than an absolute need. “I think you should narrow down some of the royal engagements more. I won’t be subjecting Gwil to everything. I like him far too much for that. The rest’s fine.”
“Thank you. I will create a plan and get back to you tomorrow, if acceptable?”
“Yes, that works,” Hyax said, standing, and Opali was also quick to get to his feet. “Now, if we’re done here, Gwil has another appointment.”
Opali bowed and left. Gwil turned to Hyax. “What bug flew up your arse?”
Hyax huffed. “He should have known not to mention harems in your presence. I have been pretty vocal, and it would have been something he could’ve clarified in advance.”
“I know you’re not considering one, it’s okay.”
Hyax pulled him closer. “I’m already putting a lot of shit at your door, what with Metra and now these lessons. I don’t want you to have any doubt about my intentions or what I feel for you.”
“I know you love me,” Gwil said, a little burst of happiness filling his chest. This wasn’t about Hyax being a jealous knob, but genuine upset that they had to jump through hoops to remain together. “I’d do a lot more than learn how to curb my language if I had to.”
They shared a kiss. Gwil was thrilled at the sensation but knew nothing more would come of it at this time. Hyax nuzzled his nose. “I’ll send for Yia, I can’t wait to see what my tailor will make of you.”
Gwil let Hyax lead him out of the reception and to his suite in the castle. As much as he’d have preferred to have continued to Hyax’s bed, they were greeted by another fae, older this time, and by fae standards less attractive, which made him only good-looking and not beautiful.
“Ah, Yia. You’re here already, thank you for your expediency.”
Yia bowed his head. “I am always excited to work on new clothes for His Highness, and of course, that extends now to Mr Hilt.”
Hyax sank into a chair and Gwil found himself being circled and peered at by Yia. “Erm… is there something wrong?”
“No, Mr Hilt, I am merely gauging your deportment and preferred stance. I made your consort robe but had to do so somewhat blind with measurements I did not take, and so you must excuse my inferior work, but I was on a tight deadline.”
His consort robe was his most luxurious and wonderful piece of clothing. It had been created to make a statement at Hyax and Metra’s wedding, that Metra might be the groom, but it was Gwil who was important.
“There was nothing inferior about it.”
“I appreciate your words, Mr Hilt, but looking at you now, I can see where I might have made a closer cut, or moved a seam to make an angle sharper, and the sleeves could have been a fraction longer.”
Hyax chuckled. “Yia is a perfectionist, Gwil. You’ll be thankful once he’s done, but for now, relax and let him deploy his methods.”
He’d had a few bespoke pieces, and one suit that he kept for best occasions, which was still nice but had seen better days. “I’m grateful, just not sure they’ll get the appropriate use.”
Yia glanced to Hyax. “What are we dressing Mr Hilt for, Your Highness? General court, or full regalia?”
“Both, and I would like you to add a selection of human suits, including evening wear and smart casual. Gwil has a collection of designer clothes, but there’s nothing better on a man than bespoke tailoring.”
“Very well, Your Highness.”
Yia nodded and muttered something under his breath. A mist formed around him. “What’s this?”
“My method of measuring. Please hold out your arms and stand with your feet a little more apart.”
The mist wasn’t unpleasant and far less intrusive than the usual way to measure his inside leg. He noticed a stream of numbers flying out from him and into a golden ball in Yia’s hand.
“Do you have a preference for materials?” Yia asked.
“I can’t say much about the fae side of things, but I’ve always loved a wool suit,” Gwil said. “I had a lavender-grey one in the 1960s and must say I mourned its passing.”
“I’m sure I can find something that would work.”
Hyax smirked. “Trousers in a similar blend and choice of colours. And a high-quality cotton for shirts… cufflink button holes.”
Gwil’s cufflink collection was one of his joys. “I prefer a single-breasted jacket.”
“Naturally, with your build,” Yia said. “For the fae side, if you are happy to trust my judgement, I can develop a range to cover the various engagements. Is the intent that Mr Hilt will wear fae garments for informal fae situations?”
“No,” Hyax answered. “Let’s keep it to palace garden party level and above.”
The fae tended to float about in longer robes and tunics adapted to their wings.
The few times he’d been here with Hyax, he’d mainly been on official duties, and Hyax tended to wear fae clothes.
Gwil wasn’t overly short or wide, but compared to the average fae, he resembled a chubby rectangle, so he was relieved Hyax wouldn’t want him to dress in something that’d make him look a bit shit.
Although he might’ve wanted a say in the matter.
Hyax gave another series of instructions about his own clothes and dismissed Yia with a timeline of a few days to see the initial pieces.
“Y’know, I might begin to think you’re trying to change me into something I’m not. Etiquette lessons, fancy robes… What next, you gonna want me to have a nose job?”
Hyax grabbed him by a belt loop and pulled him close. “You know I think you’re perfect. The only job I’m interested in for you is a blow job, and I’m free for a while, and we could spend some time in my rooms here before we go back?”
He ran his fingers down the rim of Hyax’s wing, eliciting a growl of pure lust. “Come on then, you can show me why this is all worthwhile.”