We all are animals anyway

ZELDA POV

Zelda reaches her room's door running and enters, once inside she throws herself on her bed, buries herself on her multiple pillows and screams.

I JUST STABED HIM, DAMN IT, I AM A KILLER. Well… technically I am not, since he is not dead, why is he not dead? I should have been able to at least hurt him a little, he did not appear to be wearing anything that could pr- NONONONO, I should be happy. If he is not hurt, I am not in trouble. If I am not in trouble, I don't need to run away. And that is GOOD, since me running away is IMPOSIBLE.

She raises her head from under the sea of pillows on her bed, then takes a deep breath

He mocked me… he said he was bored… he was provoking me, what happened was NOT my fault at all… HE WANTED IT TO HAPPEN. Yes of course he did, that is why he did not bleed, he was expecting it, or at least ready for something like that to happen. The question is why? What does he win with my violent outburst? Well, I am not entertaining him like that anymore, he better watch what enters his mouth from now on. 

Zelda raises herself from the bed, looks at her stand of books, then shakes her head.

I don't have anything here that could help me, give me ideas on how to poison him? I mean… I do have a good shot at it, since he eats a lot apparently, I need to check if we have anything I could use to kill him, and I also need to inform myself about this SWORD agency thing, because if he works there, he has to be hard to kill… HAHAHAHA, that would make his sudden death even more hilarious.

And she stands from her bed laughing, tries to brush her short hair with her fingers and exits the room.

I must be smart about this; I need to head to the storage and check what we have there that I could work with… I guess I need to ask around too, I need to know what he usually eats if I want to poison him.

Zelda enters the storage room, once inside she begins looking around, lifting lots of small boxes, she found bear traps and smiled, then shock her head and hid a mouse trap under her dress.

"Good evening my princess, do you need anything?" asked a service boy with glasses that suddenly appeared by the door.

Zelda hides her surprise and recovers "Yeah… I was looking for rat poison, there is a rat that refuses to fall in the trap" she lies, hopping the employee does not notice.

"I see…" the boy says taping his index finger on his chin "a sprinkle of this over some food should do" he says raising a box that read: ARSENIC

"Just tell me where the rodent is and I will place the bait, it will be gone in no time" Zelda widens her eyes

"Actually, just give the box to me, I have seen the rodent in many places, I want to put baits in all of them" she says avoiding eye contact by faking interest in another box nearby.

Act natural, and avoid his eyes, the last thing I need is someone noticing I am lying. A sprinkle he said… a handful I will use then, since he deserves it.

The employee opens his eyes "I… can't do that my Princess, this is a strong poison, it's dangerous to even touch it, I would not forgive myself if something happened to you because of my poor judgement"

"I see… thanks for telling me, I will take note of all the places I catch a glimpse of the rat, and then I will let you know"

Damn it, well… I can later come and steal it, the good news is that now I KNOW I should protect my hands, and be extremely careful when using it, since entering in contact with it is not an option. Now where or who should I ask about his eating habits…

Zelda was leaving the storage thinking about visiting the main cook of the castle, once there she could ask him what has he served the peasant lately, as she started walking there, she heard laughter that made her stop and pay attention.

"Yeah… he seems a little eccentric, but everything played out fine, and stop stealing the guard's food" Chacha says

"HEY, I am not stealing, that is beneath me, I am just giving it a little taste, making sure it has enough salt you know" Link rolls his eyes laughing.

"Peasant boy stealing trash food, why am I not surprised, I thought your date with the fagot was going to take a little longer… Oh well, I am not petty enough to comment on your lack of sexual performance" Zelda declares trying to drill him mentally.

Chacha lowers her head and looks at the floor biting her lower lip out of anger, Link just turns to look at the Princess and smiles.

"Hello there, want some?" he asks raising the ladle

"EWWW, why would I want THAT?" Zelda asks in disgust

Link raises his shoulders "I don't know, why would you care about what happened between me and Martin? You jealous sweetie? You should not be… I am not interested in men. Bratty girls don't stand a chance either but who am I to crush your hopes" says Link leaving the ladle in the sink, Chacha is trying hard to suppress a fit of laughter, Zelda turns red in fury.

"I… can only wonder how you came to this rambunctious idea that I want ANYTHING from you?"

"Why indeed…" says Link tilting his head and slowly smiling at Zelda

"If there is anything I thought I made perfectly clear is how much I hate you, or do you need a reminder?" Zelda says furious.

"I am right here" Link says gesturing her to approach him with his hands.

LINK POV

Zelda snorts and leaves, Chacha bolts to the door just to make sure the princess is out of ear shot and then laughs LOUD.

"AND YOU!!!, I should seriously berate you" Link yells at Chacha

"What about?"

"Do you trust me?" Link asks her in a serious tone.

"Hahaha, trust is a big word you know… I did something for you risking my job, I only asked of you to keep it a secret and you didn't."

"Yes, I did not even try to keep it a secret, I soon realized it would benefit you and me in the long run if I told the King about your capabilities, was it wrong of me to think so?"

Chacha looks to the floor with a mix of frustration and shame "Not at all my Prince, thank you"

"What did I say about calling me that? I ask again, do you trust me?"

Chacha takes a long breath and sighs "I trust you Link"

"That means you think I can make good decisions, and that I am physically capable, is that correct?"

"That is what I think Link, where are you going with this?"

"Then why did you allowed Zelda to get under your skin? I don't need a big sis to defend me, I am not weak, I need my trusty maid to model me how to behave with this people, I am sure biting my lips in anger and lowering my head IS NOT WHAT I SHOULD DO"

Ups, kind of failed modulating my voice there at the end, she won't notice right?

"ALL RIGHT, I get it, but what was I supposed to do then? Grab an apple and enjoy the shit show?"

"Yes!!!, because you trust I will deal with it and we will be laughing about this later" Link says raising his eyebrows at her expectant.

Chacha opens her mouth, closes it not saying anything, then laughs a little "I understand, I won't make that mistake again" she says smiling

Link smiles back and winks at her "If you would excuse me, I need inspect something important" he says as he turns and leaves Nana's kitchen.

I have a BAD feeling, I am sorry Princess but if there is something I have learned, AGAIN AND AGAIN is that I should not trust you, there is no way you just happened to be passing by Nana's kitchen, why were you around the area? What else is here?

Looking around he finds 2 doors that he does not know what or where they lead to, he was about to try one when the door handle turned and opened, a young man lifting some boxes exits the room and after staring at Link, the boy drops everything.

"G… Good. Good evening, Prince?" the service boy says, eyes wide in amazement.

"Good evening" Link says in approval of his assumption, looks down at the dropped boxes and starts to pick them up

"NO, no, no my Prince, I will do it, I am sorry, I was startled, nobody comes to the storage and today I received 2 visits from the royal family, I am not used to being so popular"

"2 visits? Who else was here" I don't think I need an answer

"Princes Zelda, she wanted poison to kill a rat that she has seen somewhere on her premises"

Of course she does, wait Link don't make assumptions, maybe she does have a rat problem… but I should still be careful with food from now on.

"And did she found what she needed?"

"I showed her something very effective we use here, but I did not give it to her, its arsenic, she could damage herself with it if she is not careful, she said she will come later and tell me exactly where to put the baits"

This boy… he just told me EVERYTHING, he is like an open book, that makes him useful and dangerous, I will take note of this.

"I see, well, I guess she was able to find it herself, my help is not needed anymore, do me a favor and don't ever tell her I was here, I don't want her to think I doubted her capabilities, have a nice day"

"Of course, my Prince" Link begins to walk back to his room, but stops, turns to asks the boy.

"Name?"

The service boy widens his eyes, scratches his head and adjusts his glasses "Raj… Ram… Raz"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA, not my name, how would you know that, I have not presented myself to you. What is YOUR name?"

"Oh, that is not important your majesty" FUCK, really? A male Chacha?

Link looks at the young boy frowning,

"So, you think you know better than me what is and what is not important? HA, the next thing that comes out of your mouth better be your name" Link says threateningly.

"Maco" answers the service boy trembling.

"And how old are you Maco?"

"10 years old my Prince"

10… that is REALLY young, still a kid, why is he working at such age?

"That is too young to be working…"

"I am not working my Prince, I am in training, I just come for a few hours so that I know the job, making it easier for me when Séneca retires and I take over"

That's… wow. Maco could be out there playing or doing mischief, as other kids do. But he is here learning a trade… I like this kid.

"This level of caution and responsibility I respect, a pleasure to meet you Maco" Links says holding his hand out for a shake.

Maco raises his head and grins shaking Link's hand "the pleasure is mine Prince, my mom says that I speak too much, but I got to say this… you are scary, but now that I meet you, I am actually excited to start working here, mmm…" he says looking at Link but not daring to ask what he wants to know.

"Raziel Link Nohansen, but just call me Link"