Chapter Text
Neuvillette found out that hybrids don’t just get benefits with having the traits and form of the animal they inherit, they also have the disadvantage of suffering through more instinct reactions like their more animal counterparts.
Which meant hybrids fell victim to mating seasons when they reached full maturity.
There were potions to help hybrids counteract these urges but those can be pricey especially if one had a long season. Neuvillette was about to purchase those potions for Wriothesley when the hybrid revealed that due to being exposed to them in Meropide his body had built up an immunity to them and they didn’t work on him anymore.
So Neuvillette was forced to give him the leave which started the night of Furina’s birthday ball! Wriothesley assured Neuvillette he would behave himself the whole night and be gone as soon as the party was over.
Neuvillette rubbed at his temple, how cumbersome.
Not only because of Wriothesley leaving him alone for a week but also his own instincts preening at potential mate entering a rut period.
Neuvillette will not let his own instincts control him, he’s kept them in check for over four hundred years, now all of a sudden they are cropping up. The only thing that changed was someone being within his vicinity. Neuvillette felt this was just proximity affection after not entertaining a ‘personal relationship’ for so long.
Though how can he explain the mournful feelings in his chest while he lay awake at night.
Wriothesley had ventured out for some hunting to blow off steam leaving Neuvillette alone in his room.
Amusing how now there not being the soft snoring from the wolf was keeping him awake with no sight of a peaceful sleep.
Neuvillette threw the covers off, he was not falling asleep like this. Rising from the bed he headed into his bathroom to turn on the bathtub faucets. Water started to fill up the basin while Neuvillette pulled his nightgown off. Stepping into the bath when he fully undressed, dunking his head under the water. Switching the faucets off Neuvillette reclined back in the tub letting the lukewarm water soothe his nerves.
Neuvillette remained there for the rest of the night, he got a restless sleep only disturbed when the maids had come to wake him up and leave breakfast. When he dragged himself out of the bath after using his powers to dry himself there was also a note with the breakfast tray.
Taking the note he saw that it was from Wriothesley!
Took the furs into court to get them fitted, will be back later.
-W
Neuvillette sighed as he placed the note back on the table. Walking back over to his bed to just throw himself face down into the covers. Not like he could go out into the court without his bodyguard and today was the one day of the week the courts were closed so he was without anything to do besides stew in his troubling feelings and instincts.
Rolling over onto his back to stare up at the ceiling, not even bothering to get dressed still.
Another roll onto his side as Neuvillette closed his eyes to just have some peace of mind and yet his instincts still were grasping at Wriothesley going into rut.
Instincts swooning at potential mate showcasing his prowess already by being a perfect hunter and protector. Wriothesley brought him all that game, Wriothesley defending Neuvillette all those times. To a dragon like him Wriothesley showed all the makings of a perfect mate. One that will provide for the nest and keep it safe.
Neuvillette realized he was purring at thoughts of Wriothesley bringing him food while he tended to a nest full of-
Shaking his head to try and get those thoughts out of his head before burying it under the pillow.
~::~
There was one event prior to the grand birthday ball that was mandatory for everyone involved with the royal family.
It was the week of Furina’s birthday and the start she was off doing all kinds of activities and going to smaller parties leading up to the main event. One of those was a huge tea party held in the palace’s gardens.
Pretty tents strung up to provide shade while a small army of waiters were filtering around bringing tea and snacks to the tables.
This was like the first large tea party Neuvillette had first taken Wriothesley, it had been a long time since that first public appearance.
Neuvillette was watching Furina playing croquet with some ladies, they were not the higher ranked ones who seemed to enjoy the game with the princess for real and not for any other type of motive.
Watching her was a good distraction from Wriothesley.
Despite the hybrid focusing on his job and not being a distraction he was all Neuvillette’s mind was latching onto.
By the end of this week he will be in rut and his traitorous body was starting to prepare him for a heat! Neuvillette can’t fall into these instinctual desires, he’s been putting them off for decades and what a ruggish handsome wolf swoops in making him behave like some blushing doe?
Unbecoming of someone like Neuvillette who was better at his instincts.
Neuvillette stood up from the table, chalice of water abandoned as he left the royal area. Wriothesley dutifully followed behind, which simply can’t be. Neuvillette will feel guilty later but…
“Wriothesley, fetch me water from the fountain of Lucine.”
“…your honor?” Wriothesley giving the Iudex a puzzled look, why would he want water all the way from the Fountain in front of the court house.
“Is that too tall of an order?”
“No, I will fetch it.” Wriothesley turned on his heel leaving Neuvillette alone like he wanted but vulnerable to the vultures.
As soon as Wriothesley was gone lords and ladies were vying for his attention. A small price to pay to allow his mind to be clear and free of Wriothesley.
Neuvillette had to find asylum with Lady Furina after one too many Baronesses tried to ask his opinion on trivial matters. Sure he had to play and badly lose at croquet but it was better than being left completely alone.
“You’re almost getting the hang of it, Neuvillette!” Furina cheered as he hit a ball that finally went under a hoop.
“You’re too kind Lady Furina, I am rather awful at this game.”
“Nobody is perfect, and you never played before despite your long life.” Furina kept flooding him with compliments.
“She is right, nobody expects you to be perfect at everything your honor.”
If the day could get any worse…
Neuvillette held in a growl facing Renford, the Viscount inserting himself again in the royal family. Neuvillette was glad to catch in the corner of his eye Clorinde taking her post and putting herself between the princess and the Viscount. Neuvillette didn’t order her to be more on guard around Renford, she picked it up from his body language alone.
Renford looked around Neuvillette and the ladies. “Where is your dog?”
“My guard, he is collecting something for me.” Neuvillette won’t bare teeth at the insults since Renford just now did it to get a reaction.
“What a dutiful mutt.” Renford chuckled. “So eager to please his master.”
“Viscount Renford that is enough.” Neuvillette snapped, silencing the noble who gave him a minor surprised look. “What business do you wish to bore me with?” Neuvillette was done being polite at this point.
“Touchy I see, not helping with the rumors.” The Viscount smirked. “I merely wished to invite you to dinner again that’s all.”
“Respectfully I will decline, the last meal I had at your home didn’t sit well with me.”
The Viscount hid his disappointment and anger at being rejected while amongst others who were watching the exchange closely even if they couldn’t hear the two.
Their standoff was interrupted by Wriothesley arriving with the requested water. The hybrid looked a little out of breath and sweaty, did he run all the way to fetch it and run back? Now Neuvillette felt even more guilty.
“The water you requested, your Honor.”
Neuvillette took the water and thanked Wriothesley quietly, the wolf taking his place once again at guard, throwing an intimidating look at Renford.
“Well I’ll leave you to your pet Chief Justice, see you at the ball.” Renford chuckled as he walked away.
Neuvillette was thankful for the water as he took a long sip of it, calming his mind with the crisp filtered water from the fountains. Wriothesley moved a bit closer to whisper into Neuvillette’s ear.
“Say the word and I’ll shut him up.”
The promise of taking care of the annoyance in Neuvillette’s life made instincts preen and flutter.
“…in due time.”
Sure enough it was the day before the grand ball and Neuvillette found himself at Chiori’s Boutique. This was the stylist Wriothesley had asked to incorporate the game he captured to be fashioned into his outfit for the ball. How the hybrid managed to secure a fitting with one of Fontaine’s most popular stylists during by far one of the parties of the century is a mystery Neuvillette wished to know.
Neuvillette stayed still while Chiori was doing the last minute touches on his outfit. The Iudex was rather fluid in his wardrobe, sporting suits or dresses to these types of events. For this one he was in a gorgeous seafoam dress that's flowy and complimented his figure. Chiori said the color was perfect for the color of the Xuanwen beast’s fur.
“Now for the final touch.” Chiori walked over to the table and opened a garment bag which he assumed held the fur. Neuvillette was expecting something long and over the top so he was subtly surprised when the fur piece was rather small and styled like a shawl. On the shawl it had the feather-like appendages that the beast had on its tail pinned on the front like a broach.
Chiori opened it up and draped it over Neuvillette’s shoulders before doing the clasp which was made with a large canine from the beast, polished beautifully to look like a pearl. Chiori smoothed her hands over the shawl and then stepped back admiring her work.
“Perfect, the colors compliment each other wonderfully.”
Neuvillette looks at himself in the mirror and he has to agree, the gown with the fur was gorgeous, the light colors of the dress were contrasted with the dark colors of the fur.
“This was my first time working with Xuanwen beast fur, so I was eager to style something with it, and with you wearing it well this is just the best publicity I could ever get.”
“You are too kind Lady Chiori.”
“Now for how you are going to style your hair, I have a few options in headwear for this. Are you going to have your hair braided or let loose?”
Neuvillette runs a hand through his hair, idly twirling a finger around the long lock that had the blue underside. “I was thinking of having it loose and tied with a bow like I usually have it.”
“If that is the case I have a similar feather ornament like the one you wear in colors for your outfit or a hat.”
Neuvillette instantly knew which option he was going to pick. “The feather ornament please.” A hat had the potential of rubbing awkwardly on his ribbons.
“Perfect, I will have everything shipped to your quarters tomorrow morning.” Chiori began helping Neuvillette take off the gown and shawl, once it was off she put it back on the manquin.
Neuvillette wasn’t bothered undressing and changing in front of Chiori, she was very professional. Helping him back into his normal garments and bidding him goodbye.
Dutifully standing outside the boutique was Wriothesley, he was squatting down on the sidewalk, probably giving his legs a break when Neuvillette stepped out. The hybrid noticed the Iudex had finished and stood to his full height.
“How did the fitting go?”
“Rather well, Madame Chiori did a wonderful job styling the fur you made.” The two began their trek back to the palace.
“I knew she was the only one who styled it perfectly, and accept my offer.”
Neuvillette turned his head to see if he could catch Wriothesley’s expression. A hybrid such as himself for one would find it hard to have their commission honored, others most likely would turn him away even if it was for the Iudex.
The rest of the walk was quiet when they finally returned to the palace. There wasn’t much to do before the ball tomorrow.
“Would you care for some dinner?” Neuvillette found himself asking.
“Sure I’m starving, I think the kitchen will throw me some scraps.” Wriothesley was about to head in the direction of the kitchen before he was stopped, a hand grabbing the tail coat of his uniform. Looking he noticed it was Neuvillette who stopped him.
“I mean, would you care for some dinner with me?”
Wriothesley’s eyes widened a fraction from the request, the Iudex has been breaking a lot of etiquette for him but this seemed rather extreme.
“Are you sure?”
“If I wasn’t then I wouldn’t be inviting you.” Neuvillette headed in the opposite direction, he knew Wriothesley would follow and sure enough the hybrid was back in step with him. Neuvillette led them to one of the many seating rooms in the palace, ringing a bell for a servant.
“The house dinner tonight, two servings please.”
The servant gave a nod and headed out to fetch the dinner the chefs had prepared for the princess and whatever company she had. Neuvillette took a seat at the table, it was small compared to the long ones in many elite households, Wriothesley took the seat across from him. The servant that was sent for the food must have informed another as they approached to ask when they like to have to drink.
“What would you like Wriothesley?” Neuvillette prompted.
“Um…tea would be nice.”
Neuvillette noticed the servant was going to go into a long list of all the teas they have so he cut in. “Just a simple black tea will do, bring sugar and cream.”
The servant gave a nod while they left, Wriothesley whispered a small thank you. The hybrid was already a little out of his element being seated at the table like this and given a choice in what their meal will have.
The tea arrived first along with some water for Neuvillette, the Iudex watched Wriothesley make his cup savoring the first sip. Just in time as the food had arrived and it was an incredible spread. Appetizer was Fontaine onion soup, the main course steak tartar and for dessert a fruity trio. Neuvillette couldn’t help a smile seeing Wriothesley’s eyes go big at the huge spread.
They were left alone to their meal and Neuvillette happily started off with the soup which he knew would be the only thing he ate. Wriothesley happily started to dig into the meal, savoring the flavors and the freshness of the ingredients. When he polished off his plate of steak tartar Neuvillette handed his own to the hybrid.
“Are you sure?” Wriothesley questioned.
“Yes, I really only enjoy more liquid foods.”
“Then why request two?” Wriothesley placed the plate down and started to politely eat.
“Because I knew one serving wouldn’t be enough.” Neuvillette had the last bite of his soup. “Are they feeding you enough here?”
“They are but obviously I have a bigger appetite, I can sometimes sneak some more food in my full wolf form. One of the maids loves me, she affectionately named him Wolfie, she gives me leftovers.”
Neuvillette will be sending a message to the kitchen to allow Wriothesley more food, he didn’t have to keep begging for scraps.
“Will you have enough food during your…break?”
Wriothesley swallowed a bite and coughed a little. “I’ll be gorging myself at the party before I go, since food is the last thing on my mind during my rut.”
Neuvillette nodded in understanding, at least Wriothesley will be around a plethora of food he has access to. Neuvillette doubted Wriothesley would really need to do his job but one could never know.
“Just be careful when you’re gone.”
“I could say the same thing about you.” Wriothesley flashed Neuvillette a smile as he took a bite of Fruity Trio.
Neuvillette couldn’t stop the fond smile gracing his lips.