Elle, The King's Announcer.

Elle’s POV

The head maid looked like she was having the time of her life as a first time teacher, telling me to repeat one thing over and over again when the minion came in that morning.

“The king seeks your present.”

He said king, I heard grinch.

That was the name I decided he deserved anyway.

The grinch.

Afterall, he never smiled.

I sighed. “I’m making tea. I can’t come.”

Everyone around me gasped.

The minion rushed towards me, pointing intently. “You silly brat, I don’t know why the king keeps you around with all your rudeness but I won’t be so forgiving with you.”

I shot him a stink look, walking out.

He followed.

By the time I got to his door, I had briefed on what he wanted me for.

Learning tea was apparently not enough punishment for me, he wanted me to be his announcer. Like a herald.

“Announce him?” I asked again.

“What does that even mean?”

“Did you read the rule book?”

“You mean that unnecessaryly big book? Of course not. I’ve been busy making perfect tea.”

He smirked. “You should have.”

The king came and as everyone bowed, I quickly did the same, fearing the grinchy monster would release his wrath on me again.

We stopped in front of a large double door with two supposed guards standing in front of it.

“Do you not know what to do?” The minion asked me.

I turned and blinked in genuine confusion. “What? What?”

“ANNOUNCE HIM!”

“Oh. You were serious?”

The grinch gave me a look and I swallowed immediately, clearing my throat and pushing my hands into the air dramatically.

“My—sorry,” I coughed. “His majesty, king—.”

I stopped, blinking at them in confusion. I didn’t know what to add.

He narrowed his eyes, staring down at me.

Our height difference was insane.

Or rather, he was just ridiculously tall.

“Did you read the rule book?”

I blinked harder, my hand still hung in the air. “Uhh, No. I was making tea.”

Murmurs began to swirl from behind the door.

His jaw locked at me.

“What? You told me to learn tea,” I whispered.

“Don’t talk to his majesty like that,” the minion mimicked my voice.

“Why? Am I lying? How can I learn tea and the rule book all in one night? What am I, a rat?”

He pulled back. “That literally makes no sense,” he still replied in a whisper.

“Well you get my point—.”

“Why the hell are you both whispering and wasting my time?”

“Forgive me, your majesty.”

“Me too,” I added after him.

They both looked at me again, the grinch still grinching.

“Kerman. King Kerman is the name, you illiterate swine!”

I scoffed. “How dare you talk to m—, you’re gonna pay.”

“And you’re going to pay for wasting my damn time.”

The grinch’s words came out calmly but deadly.

I stopped, swallowing and mimicking the minion. “Forgive me.”

Then I cleared my throat again and began all over.

“His majesty, the king Kerman,” I mumbled.

“Why the fuck are you mumbling?” He barked, clearly irritated.

“Uhhhh, oh sorry.”

I cleared my throat again.

“Control that throat or I’ll rip it open!”

I instinctively wrapped my hand around my throat, pouting at him.

“His majestyyyyy, the king Kerman is hereeee.”

The minion slapped his hand against his forehead while the grinch gave me a stink look as the double doors opened.

I shrugged, mumbling. “What? I did it right.”

“We greet you, Your majesty!!!” The room rose to its feet, bowing as we walked in.

Men of all ages, no matter how old.

My mouth fell in awe as an indescribable pain beamed in my chest.

This may be more real than I thought.

He may actually be a king.

Or was this all still some big project unaware movie?

My eyes spread across the room, taking in the beautiful hall which no doubt had sucked a lot of money. And resources.

The grinch lowered himself on a magnificent throne , resting his elbow on an armrest.

His minion took one side of him and directed me to the other. It was a whole show. Mara didn’t tell me I would experience this much.

I noticed the questioning stares on me and I just rolled my eyes away.

It’s not like I wanted to be there.

I was forced.

“What is the minute for today?” He asked emotionlessly, bringing distinct quietness over the room.

One of the men, advanced in age but had a very distinct sharp expression, something I was starting to notice in a lot of the people around there, rose to his feet.

“Your majesty, elder Joffrey presents a criminal to you.”

He turned to the door. “Bring him in.”

A supposed guard came into the room with another man whose hands were chained behind him.

He shoved the man on the ground unnecessaryly as if he just wanted to show how much of a hard worker he was.

“On what charges?”

Brief silence. “Kidnap.”

He instantly became alert. “Kidnap?”

“Yes, it is in regard to the recent kidnappings. I saw him loitering around in the woods and knew he was up to no good so I had him seized immediately. I’m sure he has a hand or knows the people involved in the madness.”

What?

What kind of a silly accusation is that?

“Your majesty, I swear I know nothing of what he says, I’m innocent. I was just out on a hunt before they found me. I have never kidnapped any one and I will never do it. Please, please have mercy on me,”

The accused pleaded like his life depended on it and for some weird reason, I got a feeling that it might.

He locked his jaw, no sign of emotion in place.

I scoffed low.

His royal stoneface.

“Do you have any evidence to back up your claim?” He asked and for once, it seemed like we were on the same page.

The man stared at him awkwardly, speechless.

“Uhh, forgive me but I don’t understand.”

“Want me to repeat myself?”

“No, no,” he stuttered, looking around his fellows. “I…I’m still gathering evidence, your majesty.”

I chuckled, using my mouth before my brain—

“You've got to be kidding me. You had no evidence and still had him arrested?”

Instant silence.

That was when I noticed all the pairs of eyes on me, widened as much as their mouths were.

“…Oops.” I blinked.

I turned my head slowly and sure enough, his eyes were right there, also staring me down with that cold hard stare.

My heart dropped.

Okay now I will certainly die.