As he followed Quilliene through the gardens, he couldn't help but stare at every little flower bud and green straw of grass that flowed every which way in the breeze. She walked through the bush labyrinth with such ease and little fault that it was obvious she knew it well, finally stopping at a place that held a white chess table and a set of small stone chairs. He paused as she stood in front of it, before casually brushing her dress out of the way and seating herself. Her long violet hair blew in the wind as she started playing on her own, her head down.
The male remained a ways behind her, watching with a content and curious stare before glancing down. The shoes he was given felt unfamiliar and strange - having not worn any in so long made him feel trapped. He lifted his hand from his pocket, scratching the back of his neck as his nails pierced through the white gloves that covered his skin. Noticing he had absentmindedly rolled up his sleeves at some point, he quickly pulled them down, cursing himself in his thoughts.
His gaze went back to Quilliene, noticing how she didn't alter or seem to care she was being watched. She simply sat there, her brown eyes filled with a dull sorrow and melancholy as she looked down at the chess pieces she moved. Then she was picking up a pawn, and his eyes darted to the place she needed to put it for checkmate, where she gingerly set it down in victorious silence.
He watched her back for a while, until he got distracted again momentarily by a bird that had landed on a tree across the garden. It was blue, with a feathery white stomach - the name of it was right on the tip of his tongue, yet he couldn't quite remember it. He let out a small, quiet sigh, watching the bird before it flew away, disappearing into the distance.
As he turned his attention back to the girl, she stood up, running her hands over the board in silence. Quilliene looked up finally, turning her gaze upon him. Her expression returned to its former cold scowl but he failed to react, refusing to give in to the vile, uncomfortable twisting of his guts. Finally, she turned and walked away to the gate entrance, a set of dandelions dropping down behind her onto the ground.
He followed after her, his hands stuffed into his pockets, gingerly stepping over the flowers. The young woman continued on through the shrubbery, brushing her fingers through the leaves and trees. She seemed deep in thought as she trudged on her path, spiralling farther into her mind before she stopped at a point where the verdant walls surrounded her. Flowers scattered themselves around another table and chairs, that time a pristine white. Her eyes caught a butterfly, and she extended her hand, letting it attach to her finger and staring at its baby blue wings intensely.
The male stayed in the middle of the path, analysing his surroundings as he failed to stray too far from her. He began to wonder if she knew where she was going in the maze of leaves, or if she was lost already. He had stopped when she had, looking at the woman and the butterfly. He wondered what it was like to attract such creatures of elegance, knowing such a reality could never be true for him. Even so, he still watched her with a curious expression.
The girl sighed as the butterfly finally flapped its radiant wings and flew off into the air. She stared distantly towards it before her face twisted back into a sneer. "Are you going to stand there all day and watch me?"
"More or less," He shrugged, watching as the butterfly disappeared into a tree as his eyes faded back to her. "Get used to it."
She huffed, turning her head slightly to him as her hair billowed in the soft breeze and her eyes shifted to his. "What is your name?" She questioned, examining the red headed male with curiosity.
He was silent for a minute, staring into her, searching for something that he knew he wouldn't find with such a blank look on her face. After a moment, he responded, "Is there a reason I should tell you?"
"Yes," She spoke matter-of-factly, raising her chin. "As you said, you serve to protect me. So I need to know your name if you work with me."
He cocked an eyebrow at her as he shifted his weight to one leg and rubbed the back of his neck before glancing away. "If you want a name for me, then use Neo."
"Neo," She repeated to herself, narrowing her eyebrows as she nodded slightly. "Alright then."
With that, she turned on her heel, starting off in a brisk walk as she slipped through the brush and leaves. The previously named man sighed, shaking his head as he rubbed his temple with one hand, and continued to follow her. Except, for a time, he was a little farther away than his specified distance. It had been so painfully long since someone called him Neo that it felt unfamiliar to be named that again.
(¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.-> 🖋 <-.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯)
Soon enough, they left the world of greenery, pushing through the twigs to end up at a gate. It was the entrance to the small royal estate, where a male servant bowed as he held open the wrought iron entrance while the two passed through. There was a long, black limo already awaiting their arrival. Guards, mostly men and one woman who appeared to be the captain, were already packing luggage into the back of the car whilst a driver got into the front.
At Quilliene's appearance, the guards turned and bowed their heads low in respect. She seemed to give no attention to them, simply holding her chin high and continuing on to the car's back door that a servant held open for her. Neo was still a metre away from her when she stopped and turned to him, an expectancy in her eyes. He raised an eyebrow as he paused, glancing at the open door.
"If you think I'm going to kneel down as a stepping stool, you've thought wrong," He held back a smirk, slouching to the side.
Her expression shifted as she tilted her head a bit, a small scowl forming across her face. She stepped back. "I didn't ask for you to kneel, I'm asking for you to get in the car. Or is that too hard to process with that mess you call hair blocking your neural passageway?"
Neo shrugged slightly, finally letting himself smile a bit. "I'm the one who's supposed to be watching your back, aren't I? Not the other way around." He motioned to the car with his gloved hand, which her eyes shifted towards. "I'm the one protecting you, after all."
She stared at his hand curiously for a moment longer, before closing her eyes and sighing. Quilliene didn't make a sound as she reluctantly dipped her head, lifted her skirt, and slid into the vehicle. Her hands stayed in her lap as she crossed her legs, staring straight forward at the back of the driver's seat cushions.
"Come, now," She announced. "We must not keep England waiting for its heir."
Neo glanced at the man holding the door open, wondering how he could stay so stoic and emotionless - like some sort of lifeless statue. He ducked into the car, refusing to look at Quilliene as the door shut. Leaning into it, he kept his distance from her, noticing the scowl on her face that appeared when he entered the vehicle. She looked out of the dark, tinted windows - same as he did - as they both had separate thoughts.
Why? She hissed in her mind. Why does he have to be so damned close? It's making my skin crawl. I'll need to tell them to sanitise the car after this ride… he'll probably leave a mark.
Does she have to act so spoiled? He glared out the window. This place is so emotionless and professional. I might as well be back there…
His mind travelled to the past, and he sank in his seat silently. Things were different, he had to tell himself. He never had to go back there again, despite knowing how much he deserved to. All he had to do was keep his mouth shut and follow orders… but could he even do that?