Chapter Text
The afternoon came with chores. The typical chores for a servant of your status, of course, but you were more comfortable there than the other projects you were given after the castle fell. You dusted Bruno’s room, trying to broom out every last molecule of sand from the room as you wondered how someone could live in it. Well, he barely did, lying in bed all day and feeling ashamed or forgotten by your own family sounded more like a corpse than a living being. Maybe he will find this more suitable. You took care to see how to clean up properly. It was Bruno’s room, not Mirabel’s after all, so you had to pay attention to the little details to understand what Bruno liked.
It was easy to start on the odd little free roaming rat cage and tunnels he had in his room. Not caught off guard by the little creatures you were able to put the utmost care into handling them, setting them aside and onto the floor as you wiped and cleaned and made sure to change their dressings and wipe up their droppings. He had made such a good system to help keep the smell to a bare minimum and the rats seemed happy to oblige. You certainly knew that, because as you started the process of cleaning the rats scurried away and swayed their glowing eyes and vaguely menacing heads towards you. But almost like they knew and saw the care you put into cleaning so they became more docile and affectionate. And while you never would’ve guessed it before you became Bruno’s maid you realized how kind, clean, and soft these little mammals were. They pooled on your lap, crawling around your feet when you stood, would find their way to your shoulders and nuzzle your cheek. You giggled at their affection, and even with the starting of brushing and organizing an affectionate little brown one with a white nose made itself comfortable in one of your apron pockets.
You let her, and in your mind you even nicknamed her Mangostino for her stout form and that adorable white spot on her nose standing out against her otherwise brown body. And she was sweet, just like the fruit
Bruno was an odd fellow. The books he had were either romances or history of theater, film, or binded scripts of both. Either way you minded nothing of it and did your job of organizing them. Alphabetically by title, not author, as it seemed he would know the titles more than names, and by color would be confusing for him (though, that was Mirabel’s preferred way of organization).
The final step of just the bedroom was to wash the bedding and make it before you went through the closet and dirty clothes. Ah, and the bathroom- thoroughly, before tackling the next room.The lunch bell hadn’t rang yet so you were sure you could probably get it done in the afternoon and have until after dinner to properly clean up the soon to be re-crowned prince.
With the basket for washing in your arms and all the sheets, pillowcases, and comforter all piled into it, you left Bruno’s room and returned to the stone walls of El Castillo de Encanto. You walked, little Mangostino in your pocket, warm and heaving her little breaths of sleep. It was a peaceful walk as you saw the rich sunlight of the open center party room. The Castillo was very still that day, but you could see the shifting shadows of someone in there. There were small flowers and cactuses sprouting impossibly through the stone of the castle floor, and you knew exactly who it was.
You paid no mind as you passed by the courtyard, knowing it was rude to stare. But you had to physically resist everything as Isabela shouted in a loud and happy joyous chorus from where she was. You heard Mirabel’s laugh cut in too, and very, very, suddenly. That made your head whip to the side, and you gasped so loud you dropped the laundry basket in your hands on the ground, instead clasping them to your face.
The small bit of outside area was overgrown with all matters of insane biological creations. Vegetation in bright colors, overwhelming the entire area sprouted both big and small. It was a display of magic so overpowering and grand you didn’t know how to even approach the growth everywhere. But even then, the most eye-catching thing in that whole courtyard was not the impossible undergrowth surrounding you, but instead, was the sight of Princess Isabela. She swang from vine to vine, her hair behind her in a deep river of black locks. And the cheering on of a familiar Mirabel on the ground under her, clapping her hands emphatically as Isabela controlled the plants.
But that was only one part of what stood out to you.
Isabela was wearing pants.
Pants that Mirabel had clearly made for her.
You had heard from the other servants that snooped the paper and news or other information from outside the walls of the Encanto that in Europe women were getting more freedom in their fashion choices, but a princess like Isabela wearing a Palazzo pant suit right in front of you while making this- this fantastical jungle- in the midst of her Reina’s castle…
Why, your courtly side was horrified at the prospect and idea, after all, you had half a mind to scold them for what they were doing. But the other side of you saw the absolute effort Mirabel had clearly put into making Isabel these pants. After all, the outfit was pure white, allowing for Isabela to run around in her colorful creations and paint it with as many colors however she wanted. Not to mention the feminine flowy pant legs with delicate and still ladylike ruffle sleeves just like Isabela’s real princess dress. It was a great middle ground and-
You shook your head suddenly and realized Mirabel was supposed to be with your master Bruno, but clearly wasn’t.
You shouted from where you stood under a roofed area by the courtyard, Isabela still swinging from vines and careening through sprouts of powdery color, “HEY! ¡Mis princesas! Get down from there!!!” Your eyes shot to where Mirabel was on the ground clapping, her face now wide eyed and a little frightened with an awkward smile, “That means you too!” You scold her, stepping into the vegetation.
“AH! Well, you see, I was just uh-” Mirabel began, “I mean, we aren’t breaking any rules are we? Isa has the day-”
“I WILL NOT CHANGE!” Isabela declared, falling to the ground in front of you, her hair seemingly magically to stream behind her head in a messiness that flowed like a crashing river, hands firmly placed on her hips as she stood over you, attempting to intimidate you, “I am the realeza en la familia madrigal! I am royalty, and you are NOT! I have a say in what’s on my body, and only I do! You
dare
to think-”
Your brows furrow at the anger and you side step the cactuses that began to pop up beside you and her majesty Isabela. You duck and squeeze past her to Mirabel, your focus not on her, “Mirabel! Do you know how upset I am at you?!”
Isabela seemed surprised, just as much as her youngest sister who let out a baffled scoff, “What? Now you’re ganging up on me? I thought you-”
“Your duty was to watch over master Bruno and make him and yourself a new crown. Where is my master Bruno?” You stated firmly, lips in a tight line.
Isabela made a small sound of surprise.
Mirabel looked at her eldest sister over your shoulder, before back at you with a slightly slacked jaw, “OH!!!!! Okay so now that you’ve got a new ‘master’ you get to scold me!” She laughed, “Ah! I have to say even having duties to scold is a miracle in itself!”
You offered a small smile and looked back at Isabela, “I can’t judge, even if I don’t think it’s proper entirely, at least, not for me-” you let out a tiny chuckle, “But your abuela Reina will be very upset to see it. Although, I do have to say I will need your help sprucing up my day off wardrobe. Those colors are magnificent! Like nothing I’ve ever seen, Señorita Isabela. I am very impressed, though, you don’t need my approval.”
Her confused face slowly brightened as she giggled, turning and showing off the pantsuit with joy, “You really think so?” It was mostly a deep navy blue at this point, with some Mirabel help making bright green, orange, and yellow flowers out of the pigment on Isabela’s hip you didn’t notice from the ground before, the rest splattered with a litany of other bright colors. Beautiful wasn’t the right word, more like ethereal. Truly, magical.
You finally turn back to Mirabel and your face is stern, “But you don’t get off the hook quite yet.” Her face drops as you continue, “Please, enlighten me to how your morning with my new Master has been.”
“Well,” Mirabel did a small shoulder shrug, looking at you with innocent eyes, “I brought him to the blacksmith and the designers and… I mean, you know me, I’ve had my design in my head for years and years, you know how I like to sketch things…”
“Okay.”
“So you know, mine was easy, he drew out the pattern and I approved it. Bruno kept being like ‘oh that’s fine,’ or, ‘I guess that’s okay’ to everything and I was getting fed up because I needed to rush back here to get the final stitches on Isa’s new outfit and help her with the color palette-”
“I think she just wanted to swing on the vines and dance in paint again really.”
“Isa! Not helping! Anyways,” Mirabel redirected her attention to you, “So I told him that since it was so close to the lunch bell being rung I would go up and he could follow me after. He said he remembered how to get here! And the welders and the whole team are super nice!”
“Did you tell him about…” You turn to the side a little, motioning with your hand to Isabela and her new and improved outfit.
Mirabel nodded enthusiastically, “Oh yeah! Bruno said he really liked the idea-”
“Liked which idea?” The gangly old man walked out from behind a wall of the hallway into the courtyard, a small smile on his face that quickly disappeared when Mirabel side stepped to reveal you along with his two nieces.
“Oh Bruno! Just about the pantsuit. Did ya get your crown figured out?” Mirabel asked, bouncing over to him.
He blushed and yanked his hood over his head, making you quirk an eyebrow at his odd behavior. He spoke in a different voice, louder and deeper, “Of c-course I did! I told you after all, I-I-I can do anything!” Despite his demeanor and his puffed out chest he nervously stuttered.
Isabela let out a scoff of a giggle, “Tío Bruno, what are you doing?”
“He’s acting!” Mirabel said, pulling down Bruno’s hood and pushing him towards the group, “It’s his real gift he says! That was Hernando, who he acts as when he gets nervous! Or afraid! Or scared!”
“Tío Bruno, what's making you so nervous?” Isabela cocked her head and crossed her arms.
Bruno let out a deep breath and looked down, stuttering, not even looking in your direction, as if ignoring you. It made you a little upset how he didn’t even acknowledge you and when he did he made that horrified face. God, were you that ghastly to look at? You knew for a fact you weren’t as ghastly as him!
“W-w-well-well see I um- well I-I-I- just- uhm- you see- I-I-I-I just- haha!- y-you know,” He wrung his hands nervously, the three girls around him observing his odd behavior.
You let out a tiny breath, interrupting him, “It’s okay Master Bruno, the castle is hard getting used to again I’m sure. I’m so terribly sorry Miss Mirabel abandoned you on your first day. She promised not to do it again,” You gave a small bow, “Disculpe, I have linens to wash.”
Mirabel quirked her head a little bit to the side at the behavior, noticing that something was the matter between the both of you but not knowing what.
And it wasn’t like you were going to say you walked in on Bruno with just a towel on.
You straightened up and returned to your basket of bedding and clothes. You tucked the few folds that seemed to spill out of the top of the basket after your ungraceful dropping of it earlier. A small breath to help cool yourself, and you stood.
Little did you know behind you was a silent conversation in stares.
Isabela crossed her arms and looked Bruno up and down, motioning with her lips towards you.
Bruno shook his head furiously.
Mirabel rolled her eyes and waved her hands in a dismissive motion, looking back to Bruno. She glanced at you for a moment, then to him, lifting her brows in a questioning motion.
Bruno blushed and began to grab his hood again. He pulled it over his face. He peeked out to see both Mirabel and Isabela looking at him expectantly. They then both looked at you as you began to stand up to walk away.
Bruno shook his head furiously.
Mirabel nodded hers more aggressively.
Bruno ducked and shook his head more tentatively.
Isabela dramatically rolled her eyes and held up a finger, waggling it at him and then pointing to you sternly.
Bruno looked at Mirabel.
She pursed her lips and nodded.
Bruno took in a breath of air, holding it as he pulled the hood farther over his head as he rushed to catch up with you.
Both Mirabel and Isabela let out a sigh of relief after finally convincing him to talk to you.
By then you had started your walk back to the servants quarters to get the laundry clean. You heard footsteps, but didn’t recognize the excited taps of Mirabel’s shoes, instead hearing an unsteady slap of sandals as someone caught up to you.
You glanced down to the side, seeing Bruno slouched with his face covered by the hood of his ruana. You looked back forwards, “Hola Master Hernando,” You played along. After all, it was somewhat endearing. If you were locked in the dungeons of the castle for ten years you would assume you’d also go a little stir crazy from loneliness.
“H-Hey!” Bruno straightened up suddenly, clearing his voice, speaking confidently, assuredly. He took a deep breath in and let it out and he looked at you, the shadow of his hood making it so his eyes didn’t really quite meet yours, “I just wanted to say uh- I’m sorry for this morning. I was very nervous and didn’t know a lady would be in my room!”
You couldn’t hold it in. A small giggle came from you as you looked over to him, smiling softly, “Your majesty, don’t even worry about it. It is a part of my job to help bathe you if you ask.” You shifted the weight of the basket of laundry you were holding a little, “You need to get used to being vulnerable and personal with me more often Su Majestad. Only to your level of comfortability of course, but nonetheless, I’m sure it’ll still be a big adjustment.”
The mysterious prince didn’t really seem to hear you when you spoke just then, looking at the laundry basket you were holding. You began to look back at him after you took a few steps in total silence, just for the prince to grab the basket you were holding, attempting to pull it from your grip.
You let out a small yelp, knuckles turning white as you gripped it harder, pulling it back, “What are you-?!”
“Hernando is strong! It looks heavy, and I can help!” The man declared, looking up at you.
In the commotion his hood had fallen off slightly, and the two of you made direct eye contact less than three feet apart. You realized just then how prominent his nose was. Not like that was a bad thing! Bruno wasn’t ugly per se, but his face was lithe, cheekbones hollowing out to lead into the skin above his overbite that had a jaw under it covered in black and white untrimmed and untamed stubble. You watched as that face consequently turned a pink as he let go and backed up.
“S-sorry! I wasn’t trying to- uhm- I just wanted to help,” Bruno said, nervously wringing his hands as he assumed his normal posture and anxious behavior.
You looked at him incredulously before laughing softly, furrowing your brows, “Wow, you’re out of practice huh? Bueno, eso no es un problema,” You shrugged and turned to keep walking. He paused before catching up to you as you continued to speak, “Don’t worry, royal behavior doesn’t come naturally for anyone. And don’t feel too pressured to be super formal around me. But, as a general rule…” You look at him with a small smirk.
He blinks at you, and then gives an awkward smile, “Probably shouldn’t be doing servants work?”
You nodded with a small laugh, “And I’m pretty forward thinking, but I’m just as traditional as La Reina herself when it comes to etiquette. So, please, don’t worry about household chores. That’s my job.”
Bruno looked like he wanted to say something more, but stopped himself as you slowed your walk in front of a slightly ajar open door. By then, the hallways had gotten much smaller and windows more sparse. You were in the servants quarters for sure, or at least, nearing them. It wasn’t like royals weren’t allowed to come back here, please, Julieta came back there all the time. This was more so the fact that the prince just got out of living in the dungeons. He was chastised for years and hushed down when his name was heard for ten more. It would just be disrespectful as his new personal servant and woman being entrusted to help him regain his royalty back to insinuate he should or let him come to the laundry room with you.
The green eyed prince looked at you, then to the door, then back, making the dots connect in his own head. He smiled a small, lopsided smile, saying, “Good. I’m glad we, uh, came to a conclusion together and uh, you know, are on the same page now after this morning…” He looked awkward saying it again, embarrassed once more.
You smiled softly, “Don’t worry about it. At all.”
Before you could say goodbye then Cruz came out of the door the two of you were standing in front of, startled but then smiling. Camilo’s servant put a hand on his hip, “Prince Bruno! What are you doing all the way down here?”
You looked at him with a friendly smirk, “Me and my Master were talking. What does it matter much to you, osco Cruz,” you giggle at your own joke, remembering with slight horror but mostly amused fondness about the prank Camilo pulled on the other servant.
“Ey! Don’t remind me, I can’t eat crab anymore,” He let out a small hiss of pain, shaking his left hand a lot, “It’s like I can still feel them pinching me!”
You laugh again, softly, glancing at Bruno, seeing his eyes open an eerily wide amount, staring at Cruz. You didn’t pay it much mind, seeing as he was a bit kooky himself, turning back towards your coworker and friend, “Su Majestad Bruno was just leaving before you interrupted us.”
“Shame, real party in there,” Cruz said sarcastically, jabbing a thumb towards the laundry room, noticing the basket you were holding and going to help you hold it. You let him as he continues in good fun, looking at Bruno, his tone shifting, a little uneasy at the stare he was receiving, “I hope your first day back as a prince is enjoyable, and keeping you out of there will make sure of that. No place for a royal.”
“Absolutely,” You agree, looking back at the green wearing Madrigal with a soft smile. His face finally moved from Cruz’s to look at you, and his lids relaxed immediately, Bruno matching your pretty soft smile with his own awkward grin. You continue, sweetly, “I’ll see you for dinner Master. Your room will be all nice for you when you get back. I hope it makes you feel refreshed.”
“Right!” Bruno nodded, glancing at Cruz one last time before nodding again, more so to himself, before leaving. He turned on his heel and walked off, and you felt a pang of guilt for making the royalty walk back alone after dragging him all this way. Oh well, you’ll apologize for it later.
“... Is he okay?” Cruz asked, almost worriedly. You both share the weight of the laundry bin as you bring it into the room, the sound of water sloshing and scrubbing filling your ears as you enter. You look up at him and raise a brow, wondering what your friend meant. He continued a little hesitantly, mostly in fear of offending you, knowing how loyal you were to your masters, “He just… kept.. Staring at me?”
“Cruz, he isn’t familiar with interacting with people, give him a break,” You roll your eyes at his suspicion, not accepting “a look” as something bad. The two of you set down the basket as you begin to pull out like colors, setting them in a basin of clean, warm soapy water one of the other servants had prepared.
The man shook his head, “No, no, it was like… Not a glare but he looked… Mad. That’s what I would say. Mad.”
“Mad?” You scoff, shaking your head, placing the last of what you had in the basin. You roll up your sleeves to past your elbows, dipping your hands in the water, “For what reason? The Prince doesn’t even know you!”
Cruz held up his hands, “I know! I know! But that’s the best way to describe it! You saw it right? Wasn’t that kinda not like, not the most joyful looks you can receive?”
You look up, puckering your lips in thought. He was right. It was an uncanny stare. You shrug, “He was probably more scared than anything. Didn’t know your intentions.”
The yellow wearing servant took that into consideration, nodding with a small hum, “You’re probably right. It’s probably nothing.”
Boy were both of your conclusions wrong.
~~~
The bells that signaled the royal family’s traditional dinner time were slowly becoming your favorite sound once again. Exactly 6:00, and no later or sooner did it ever take place. By then everyone was around the table staring to sit just for their feast to be served to them and heal them up after a long day of hard work.
You were starting to crave the familiar ring of bells as you made your way down to the dining room to finally get ready for dinner with La Familia Madrigal when someone interrupted your quick, concise pacing towards the room.
Dolores was quiet as a mouse when she wanted to be, and it was almost like she appeared out of nowhere as she went from a red blur to a person in front of you. Having already been startled too much today, you didn’t seem to move this time, instead just wiping your brow after how exhausted you felt by then. Her eyes looked at you, wide, like usual, and red lips puckered with a juicy secret she was about to tell you.
Dolores looked over her shoulder, then back at you, just for her eyes to flick and look over the other. Finally she leans over to grab your shoulders, inching in to whisper in your ear vaguely.
Your eyes widened in slight surprise at the princess, but before you could detest in polite servitude to her informal touching you she spoke in a hurried but hushed tone.
“Bruno and Mirabel have been whispering about your relationship with Cruz which I didn’t even know so how did they even know but anyways that’s what they’ve been saying-” She stood upright and began to turn, but stopped and whipped around to whisper once again, “And Bruno has been grinding his teeth… All day…” She turned to the side and let out a small hm! of a squeak before running off, her shoes making a quiet pitter patter pitter patter as she hurriedly walked away.
Suddenly, you feel your face get hot, and your body begins to tingle in anger. You have to stand in horrified silence for a few moments to collect yourself.
A… RELATIONSHIP?!? Oh, so he’s a gossip? We don’t talk about Bruno… How about Bruno don’t talk about me?!? What the-
Your slightly infuriated mind races as you begin back towards the dining room. You had half a mind to take that man's ear and drag him out and rip him a new one, but then again, he had half a mind to just fire you on the spot if that happened. No, not after everything. There had to be some kind of reasonable explanation for why Bruno and Mirabel thought that.
You think back to when you were with Cruz, how he said Bruno was looking at him weird. Well, now it made sense. Maybe the royal perceived it as some kind of… rudeness? That your focus wasn’t on him?
You didn’t know, but as you made it into the dining room where the Madrigals had dinner, you took your place behind your masters chair. None of them were in there quite yet, but La Riena Madrigal did open the doors to enter alone, making every servant in the room bow to her. You did so as well, highly practiced and poised in a way that even on the most critical day Queen Alma would see as flawless. You stand once again, and the bells for dinner ring.
Like bees to a hive, the family finally floods in for their dinner. Julieta coming first, wiping her hands on her apron, and Camilo showing up last, yawning dramatically and then openly scratching his rump as he made his way to his seat. You moved, and pulled out Bruno’s chair for him as he went to sit down. You tried not to glare between your lashes at him. However, he did obviously keep glancing at you over his nose or bony shoulder throughout the dinner.
It went about as expected, the family getting along and chatting in a more informal way than at the usually very organized breakfast times. It was a time for the royal family to unwind and settle down into the night to finally rest. You tried not to stare a hole into Bruno’s chair, only able to see his wild salt and pepper curls from either side when he moved over, hunched, to whisper to Mirabel. When that happened you couldn’t help but look at Dolores, who looked unbothered but when she saw you looking at her she would pause, then nod or shake her head in one quick and quiet motion to confirm whether or not they were talking about what the both of you had run into each other for.
You whispered, as tight lipped as possible but loud enough to where you knew the super-hearing girl could understand what you were saying, “I am not in a relationship with Cruz.”
By then, everyone seemed so involved in their food or their own conversations they didn't seem to notice the almost silent exchange between the two of you. Dolores’ eyes softened, and she mouthed to you- but it felt almost like you could hear her whispery voice in your ear.
“ I know.”
That did cement to you that at least every interaction you had with your coworker even in private where the poor oldest of Pepa could hear it had been relatively normal. It also felt weird, because while you grew up with Cruz you were now in a way his boss as head of servitude. You knew La Riena would very much disapprove of such a thing as that. She’d demote you if not fire you for such insubordination.
Dinner finally came to a close, and it was a lot sooner than you anticipated. You felt like your racing thoughts and aggravation made it go faster, your ability to enjoy the meal and slow down with the Madrigals (even if it was on the sidelines and not a part of the table or anything like that) affected by how you felt in that moment. Still, as professional as possible you didn’t let it show Prince Bruno your annoyance with his gossiping. Or utterings, more like. You pulled out his chair when he was done, and he seemed startled by it at first, jumping and standing upright just to slouch down again and wring his hands with an awkward smile to you as you pushed his chair back in.
You gave a tight lipped smile back before following him back up to his tower. You walked up the stairs with him, just behind him as he trudged. Usually at this time when you were Mirabel’s personal servant you would end up asking her all about her day, and she would chatter and chatter about it. You had planned to do the same with Bruno until you found out about what he was saying. You knew yourself way too well, wait until the door was closed to confront him.
Well, the second. Not the first. The familiar flow of the golden magic faded as you both entered his room, gently fell down the waterfall, and walked up the sand covered steps to his bedroom. You held your skirt, and waited until he spoke first to say anything.
He seemed nervous looking into his room, as if you would’ve ruined it. But, it wasn’t ruined at all. And in fact, you saw it on his face as it went from slightly cringed to relaxed as he saw everything in the room just as neatly organized in his exact way. He looked around, as if making sure, and even noticed how content the rats were that skittered up and down his own creation on the side wall. He stepped over to it, making a soft ch ch ch! sound with his mouth, letting a rat move and crawl onto his hand. A hidden one in his hood peaked up too, and moved to his shoulder as he quietly cooed to the rat in his hand.
He looked at you, making eye contact before looking back to the ground, “Thank you.. It was uh, nice to actually have someone help.”
“Of course, mi principe,” You smile, before looking right at him, “And, I’m not in a relationship with Cruz.”
His head jolted up, neck extending to show his thin throat as his adams apple bobbed in horror with a swallow while his eyes grew wide in horrified surprise.
You tried not to laugh a little at the face, it was somewhat amusing to catch this shy man in the act and received a scared puppy dog stare in return. You clicked your tongue, shaking your head, “Someone in this house hears everything Master Bruno. And she knows that was not true and she’s been hearing me the whole time. So, why do you think something is happening when even she doesn’t?”
Bruno was frozen, his bottom lip moving but no words coming out. His mouth moved up and down uselessly, his own rats almost looking at him expectantly for his answer. Finally he does, turning fully towards you and closing his eyes shut, lids wrinkling with how hard they were shut, “It just seemed like you were flirting with him when I went down earlier today!!”
“How?” You answer calmly, but sternly. Your eyes were lidded in stubborn determination.
“Because- because! Well, he has a reputation! He’s a bit of a flirt too isn’t he? What else was I supposed to think?” He opened his eyes again, “And it seemed like he went out of his way for you! I-I just thought it was… ¡ay Dios mío! Just unprofessional,” Bruno began to defend himself, raising his voice a little only to stop, muttering “Sorry! Sorry…” after seeing you raise a brow in disapproval at how loud he was getting.
“If Cruz was a flirt then that’s news to me,” You speak with confidence at a nice, even tone, chest puffed up and chin in the air, “Because he has never acted that way towards me, not once. Príncipe, what is this really about? Because I know even if you’ve been in that dungeon for ten years you can’t possibly think that my relationship with Cruz could at all be romantic.” You let out a small huff of a laugh, “I don’t have time with this job to even pursue anything like that, so I’m honored you even think I can!”
Bruno looked at you, silent, like an owl in a lamplight. He seemed surprised at that last statement, blinking rapidly as if to process all you were saying. Then, he went back to being ashamed. The man slowly hung his head, grabbing his arm, rubbing it slightly to help him comfort himself. He looked up slowly, looking over his forehead up at you rather than lifting his whole head as if he was ashamed, “I just… was jealous.” He breathed it out quietly.
Your demeanor softened, but you looked at him quizzically, “Jealous…?”
“Yes!” Bruno turned around, his back to you, “I was jealous…. Of him, of you, of … the whole thing I guess?”
You slowly walk over to him. You gently place a hand on each shoulder. You lead him over to the desk chair, and gently push down on his shoulders to urge him to sit. He does, and the rats in his hands lovingly look up at their master. You had pre-set out a hairbrush and some hair oils to help tame his messy locks. You pick up the brush, and nod, as if silently asking him to go on.
He does, quietly, his long, gangly fingers petting the rats in his lap, “I just… I’ve.. not been treated like royalty in a… very very long time…” You begin to brush through his locks, running the hair between the bristles as he speaks, relaxing into your touch slowly, “And of course, today, you know, with you and well- Mirabel too I just… I started to feel important. Like, actually like, a Madrigal. People were nice to me, thought I was capable and not scary…. Or at least better than usual…”
You get the knots out, smoothing out the hair a little bit with your hand as you step back over to the desk from behind the older man, looking at him, “Ah, so not letting you help me carry the basket really bothered you, huh?”
He looked up at you, and nodded silently, before looking down. You take a bottle of some oil and step behind him again gently dripping some into his scalp. Then, you spread your fingers, diving into the curls to rub it in. He seems to fully relax into that, like a cat being scratched in just the right spot. Nonetheless, he continues, “And… You know, I guess I just… Cruz seems so… confident? And you seem so close to him… I just… I guess… I was like ‘well she’s my personal servant so she should be treating me that way too’ or something… and I just… it snowballed in my mind.” You nodded along. You didn’t quite understand how jumping to conclusions like that happened so quickly, but it did start to make more sense now that he spoke about it out loud. The prince continued as your nails gently curled, using the tips of your fingers to rub the oil into his scalp, “I got so frustrated. It sounds selfish but I just… didn’t like that he was there. Or he seemed better than me and he was just a servant. And I’m supposed to you know now be the prince I once was, or be the prince I never was now that Mirabel is helping the miracle and I just…”
He let out a sigh, and leaned his head back. The back of his skull hit your stomach and you looked down at him as his eyes gazed up at you.
“I’m sorry,” he spoke, brows furrowed up and looking at you like a puppy dog asking for some kind of treat. You smiled at him, and put your hand behind his head to lift it back up again, smoothing his hair down once more.
“It’s okay,” You began, letting his head move on a swivel because of how hyper focused he seemed to be on you at that moment. His eyes never left you, quite unlike this morning, “But you need to tell Mirabel this as well. I don’t want her to see me badly because of your misunderstanding.” You take the next jar on the counter, the creamy substance inside jiggling a little as you unscrew the lid.
When you turned back to Bruno and raised your brows expectantly, he audibly swallowed and said, “Y-Yes ma’am. I’ll let her know.”
“Good,” you step back behind Bruno as you take the gelatin into the palm of your hand, working it from root to tip, running your fingers through each individual strand of raven hair with interspersed silver locks.
He let out a happy sigh, leaning back into you, getting comfortable as you gently massage his head. You begin to speak again, softly this time.
“You know, my dad used to be your personal servant. Back before you left.”
Bruno seemed to jolt upright, and he looked over his shoulder at you with those eerie wide eyes again. You shake your head at his antics, reaching over to grab his thin shoulders and pull him back into the chair. He didn’t speak, leaving the air slightly thick with some weird palpable emotion you couldn’t quite place. Was it regret? Guilt? Embarrassment?
“… I thought I recognized how you looked,” Bruno muttered finally, sinking into his chair. You didn’t write his posture this time, just moving your hands down to keep working his hair into being soft and defined for the next morning. He paused, and then cleared his throat, his hand nervously knocking on the wood of the desk as he continued, “I’m sorry… he… god… I wish I… well… anyways…”
“You gave him so much joy. He saw you as his best friend,” You say, smiling softly as you remember, your child brain making it a little foggy, but the chiming laugh of your dad clear as bells to you, “He was heartbroken when you left. He knew why you did before anyone here did. I think he just…” you swallow.
All of a sudden you felt your face heat and throat close up. No. No emotions right now. You had a job to do.
“He missed you,” You finish, moving your fingers to curl as they raked the product through the hair at the nape of Bruno’s neck. His tension eased slowly.
“In a way we were. I’m… just sorry… that happened… you were so young… I don’t really remember ever meeting you but he uh, he talked about you sometimes I erm, I uh,” Bruno’s hands clenched the arms of the chair he was in, digging his nails into the material. He cleared his throat, “Vaya, I can’t talk about this. I’ll start embarrassing myself more in front of you.”
You chuckle at that last part, moving to wipe your hands on your apron. Finally it was starting to make sense, all your dad said and what you had experienced was slowly clicking. Maybe you would have the upper hand knowing Bruno anecdotally at least. You smoothed your hands down his shoulders and then squeezed, “Don’t worry about it. Like I said. You’re gonna have to get used to me.”
He looked at you, head swiveling up from where he was seated to look into your eyes for a moment. You feel your face drain by just how intimate it was. He was very close to you, and looked at you with sincerity. Probably after what you were talking about. Bringing up the dead dad is something you both could relate on but not the best topic of lighthearted discussion. Even then he seemed more so to just be sorry you were at this point, and his apologetic expression left you assured but a little confused. Bruno had done nothing wrong even if he was a bit awkward and embarrassed and yeah he did mess up with that thinking you were dating someone, but that was just nerves you assured yourself.
“Do you need help getting dressed for bed, Master Bruno?” You ask, softly.
He shakes his head, finally looking away with another expression you couldn’t read but the ground certainly could. His cheeks were bright red in color and he looked flustered for a moment.
“Uh, no. I’m okay. You’re dismissed for today.”
Your first day with a new master was done.