learning your place

She could feel his excitement, but that emotion wouldn’t be a crutch if he couldn’t manage to please her. Her lilac stare shifted to him as he listened intently, and the Empress wondered exactly how much of her words he was able to retain. His inability to speak was easy to conflate with stupidity, but thus far she couldn’t peg him as such. They halted for a moment as they started lesson number one. What she expected of him.

He thought and tried very hard to say ‘Empress’ but Deathbelle wasn’t particularly pleased with the results. ”Hmm.” She mumbled softly as she contemplated a solution. ”Try ‘Highness” She offered. ”H’ness” She breathed softly and exaggerated the motions of her lips.

Seven did very well with the yes and no portion of the test. Deathbelle didn’t want to offer him too much praise for his station but she did give him a pleased smile and an affirming nod. She sighed softly then, ”I suppose you need a real name as well.” This felt more like naming a pet than it did naming a wolf like when she’d named her children. ”I may wait to make a decision, see if anything wants to stick.” She mused mostly to herself as she picked up their pace once more.