The Whipping Boy

It had been 18 years since the day she was adopted, and even though Princess Emilia was constantly surrounded by the other nobles' female offspring of similar age, she only ever had one true friend. Oddly enough, it was her whipping boy.

He was an honest and blunt fellow most of the time, without much of a sense of humor, only making jokes about things that upset the princess to try and make her laugh. He didn't much know about the outside world aside from the things she'd tell him; what with him being kept in a cage to be whipped everytime the princess did something wrong and all. However, somehow he found himself captivated by her.

She would often sneak off, escaping the watch of her guard, to visit the boy in a cage and talk for hours with him, giggling at the things he'd say to cheer her up. She found him fascinating, as he was like her.

He was different from all the charming people around her with long bunny ears and fluffy little cotton tails. Only 2 years older than her, he, himself, had big, pointy, red ears like a fox and a big fluffy fox tail. He even had long, pointed claw like nails to boot along with a fluffy chest. Emilia thought the boy was cute and loved the way he'd say her nickname, Emi, so softly and how whenever they'd speak he wouldn't hold his opinions back just because she was the princess.

However, every time she would sneak off to speak with him, he'd end up getting whipped double. Punishment for her and him. Even her guard would receive a lash or two for letting her sneak off and end up being replaced with someone new just about every month. Even so, she would still go see him every day and be greeted by his charming, casual smile.

Today would be no exception. Emilia had been trying to sneak away from her newest guard all day to no avail. He was only a year older than her with stunning silvery white fur and hair. He was quite handsome too, she had thought, but what a shame he would just get replaced like all the others before too long. Not her problem.

In the morning the maid servants had bathed and dressed her, like she was a doll, and afterwards the new guard had come to watch her.

He introduced himself with a bow, saying, "Good morning, Princess. Allow me to introduce myself. I am your new guard, Varis." He stayed in a bowed position until she started to walk past him and away, not bothering to give him the proper signal to stand up.

After that his eyes had been on her like glue, only daring to look away briefly whenever something near them moved. He was determined to do better than the previous guards and not let her sneak off.