Work Text:
From left to right: Knight Emil, Prince Mattias
Art by me *smile*
~
In the small fishing villages of Lower Midgard, most citizens admired the knights that served their kingdom. To be a Knight of Midgard meant upholding peace and honor, serving the royal family and all Midgardians in hopes to keep everyone who lived across the snowy region safe.
It was a perfect harmonious fairy tale concept at best, though. Most knights who pledged their allegiance to the King of Midgard had their own reasons for doing so. Putting on a heavy suit of armor and going through rigorous training wasn't something most individuals would be eager to do for free. Boarding, meals, and coin were provided to those who managed to attain knighthood. Many would not see the training through, but those who succeeded knew that their families would be looked after alongside themselves.
Still, the Knights of Midgard were looked up to by the everyday citizens. Grand parting celebrations would be held by the docks when the knights would set off on their quest across the sea. Parties deep into the night would be held in the castle's banquet hall when they would return. It was an honor to serve Midgard and the people of Midgard felt mutual about the knights.
Emil was chosen at a young age to serve Midgard as a knight, just like his father and older brother before him. His role was special, though. It was decided when the Queen of Midgard conceived a baby girl—the Princess of Midgard—that Emil would not only be trained as a knight, but the child's future retainer and bodyguard.
Training was intense. Between hours of sword training and learning how to ride a horse, Emil had less time to visit his mother in their quaint little home in Lower Midgard. He missed the way she would ruffle his blond messy hair, even if it embarrassed the hell out of him. Small things like that were the things he yearned for most, but he kept strong. He was doing this for her. One day he would return home and make her proud. He would make his entire family proud.
He was introduced to the young princess he would serve when he was just barely the age of 10. Emil was initially scared of this newfound responsibility, but found that as he and the princess grew beside each other, they both had a lot more in common than they initially expected. Emil came from a common family with a long history of knights that served Midgard. The princess—who had changed drastically over the years into a handsome prince—had everything handed to him on a silver platter since birth. It was strange to come from such different backgrounds yet still find a way to chat for hours while running around the castle gardens.
Together, they still yearned for something beyond them. A sincere wish for something greater than being told to accept the destiny that kept them both behind these castle walls for what felt like eternity.
They wished to leave this world behind together in search of a mundane self-indulgent life. But, Prince Mattias had responsibilities to uphold by assuming the throne from his father, the King of Midgard, when the time would come. In turn, Emil was Mattias' shield and was sworn to protect not only the prince, but all of Midgard. They were bound to this life that was laid out for them since birth.
They couldn't leave.
And if they were forced to stay, a budding relationship between the two of them was nearly impossible.
It felt like a standstill.
Which is why when Emil swore to uphold his honor as a knight and swear not only to a code of chivalry but celibacy, he felt it deep in his soul that he had to keep that oath. Even if his body and mind ached when he thought about his prince, he couldn't dare indulge.
Indulging would be selfish. Bad. Shameful.
Emil knew he couldn't have what he so desperately wanted. He didn't deserve that.
He had to be a good knight—a good man.
"Emil," a scruffy knight called out to the blond as he raised a glass full of alcohol, "Emil, get over 'ere." When the man raised and shook his glass drunkenly, the alcohol (presumably beer) spilled out of the cup and onto the head of another drunken knight.
The two drunks sat at a round table in a tavern of Lower Midgard. Emil watched with narrowed eyes as the men fought over the spilled drink and the rest of the knights huddled around a few more tables as they ate and drank. It was a classic celebration for the knights returning from overseas, and Emil didn't want to be part of it.
"I'm good," Emil mumbled over the loud knights. He stared on as they gambled over cards. Rolling his eyes, Emil couldn't be bothered to try and catch their attention. He even looked away as one of his closer colleagues seemingly just lost their helmet in a bet and the crowd of knights cheered.
Clearly, no one would notice if he left. Perhaps it was for the best though as Emil didn't drink. He was of age to do so—turning 26 the next time the warmer season came around—but he wasn't a drinker.
Emil slipped out of the bar and mounted his horse, running a hand down his face as he felt a mix of negative and conflicted emotions. With a heavy sigh, Emil clicked his tongue and pulled on the reigns of his steed, setting off at a moderate pace back up the mountain trail to the castle of Midgard.
The journey back was quiet and lonely, but Emil didn't exactly mind the solitude. Lately, when he was left alone with his thoughts, Emil would pray for any kind of distraction. He glanced up at the castle in the distance through the trees. The smiling face of his dear prince intruded into his mind when he knew he would return to the castle soon enough.
He was attracted to Prince Mattias, the very man he served since childhood. It was a strange realization. Emil was introduced to Mattias when they were both kids; they were so young that Emil still remembered when Mattias had long black flowing hair and wore sparkly princess gowns. He had grown beside the other and watched Mattias become the man he is today.
Emil smiled to himself as he thought about the Prince. He was deep in the forest following the mountain path. He was alone with no one to comment on why his face was suddenly so red or pry and ask what the hell he was thinking about. No worried maids to ask if he was ill. No Prince Mattias curious to see if he had a fever.
Time alone would be short-lived though as Emil trotted up to the castle gate on horseback. He greeted the guards on duty and brought his horse to the stables. He eyed his satchel still on on his horse, almost hesitant to grab it just yet. He shook his head and forgot about it for now.
Soon enough, he would be back in the halls of a castle where he was forced to ignore the way his heart felt when he laid eyes on his prince.
"Sir Emil!" an excited voice called out from the second floor of the castle.
The knight quickly drew his attention to the dainty man leaning over the edge of the balcony, resting his chin in his hands cutely.
Prince Mattias drew a hand away from his chin to give a princely wave down to Emil in the castle gardens.
"I thought that was you, Emil," Mattias smiled sweetly, leaning forward more as he spoke. "I missed you," the prince smirked, leaning into his hand.
Emil blushed, quickly averting his gaze to look at anything other than the prince standing in his lace-trimmed white robe.
"You just miss me taking care of you," Emil replied, trying to keep his attention on the lightly snow-dusted stone path beneath him. He watched the way the flurries fell, swearing if he stared at Mattias any longer he would need to bury his entire body in snow to stop feeling so hot.
"Careful, Em," the prince teased, "You don't want anyone to overhear your familiar and personal tone towards the Prince of Midgard, do you?~" His pale fingers grabbed hold of a ribbon on his robe, playing with it as he stared down at the knight.
"Matti.." Emil closed his eyes as he cleared his throat, only blushing more.
The two men stood in silence for a moment as the snow continued to fall. Snowflakes started to catch on Emil's blond messy locks, and Mattias was starting to feel a bit chilly soon enough as well.
"Come to my room," the prince said calmly. His previously teasing tone disappeared as he stood taller, wrapping himself more in his robe to stay warm. "It's cold tonight and mostly everyone has left or gone to bed since the banquet ended not too long ago."
"The banquet?" Emil inquired, raising an eyebrow as he slowly came back to reality.
"Yes the banquet," Mattias sighed, "did you forget you and your squadron have been gone for three weeks?" He seemed confused on why the knight would be so aloof to forget a detail like that. They always held a celebration for knights returning home (even though half the knights would rather celebrate in taverns at the docks where alcohol was abundant without question).
Emil blinked and lifted his head, "O-oh. Right." He felt stupid for such a thing to slip his mind.
Perhaps his mind was somewhere else. He turned his head to glance up at the prince on the balcony, who stood with his back to Emil as he opened the door to his bedroom.
"Coming?" Mattias asked, running his fingers through his short black hair to push his bangs aside. As he did so the robe slipped off his shoulder slightly.
Like Mattias had him on a leash, Emil immediately nodded and started walking towards the nearest door to enter the castle.
His mind was definitely elsewhere.
Mattias sat at his desk, eyeing himself in the mirror as a knock was heard at the door.
"Come in," Mattias said aloud as he finished cleaning his face with a washcloth.
The ornate door opened and the knight awkwardly stood in the doorway.
"You called for me, Your Highness?" Emil asked, still holding onto the doorknob with the door wide open. His face was flushed red—both from the cold and the sight of the prince—and Emil hoped it wasn't too noticeable.
Mattias swung his leg over his other as he turned to look at Emil from his desk chair.
"Close the door and come in here, will you?" the prince frowned a bit. "It's cold and besides, the guest rooms are basically filled with the banquet now over for the night."
Emil did as Mattias asked. His hands shook the entire time as he moved inside the prince's bedroom, closing the door behind himself.
"Aren't you cold in that armor?" Mattias chimed in, crossing his arms and tilting his head to the side as he waltzed over to Emil.
"Mm," Emil shrugged, reaching up a hand to scratch his forehead. He tried to ignore the fact that the shorter man before him wasn't wearing clothes. His mind froze as he tried to justify that thought and mentally correct himself. His mind raced as he glanced down at the prince's shoulder, seeing the strap of a corset. He could hear his conscience argue with himself, and in his mind all he heard was, 'He is wearing clothes. Well- a corset isn't exactly a proper piece of clothing for going out. He has on underclothes. Under his semi-see-through lacy and elegant and-'
Fingers snapped in front of Emil's green eyes.
"Hello? Emil?" the smaller man snapped his fingers once more, "Are you in there?"
"Y-YES!" the blond knight's eyes widened as he spoke a bit too loudly. He blinked, realizing his volume made the smaller man flinch in surprise. "Sorry..." Emil lowered his voice, taking a step back.
He looked over the prince's body once more. The knight took mental note that the long flowing robe accentuated every inch and curve of the prince's body perfectly. It shaped and caressed his waist and thighs in such a manner that it made him look ethereal; Mattias looked like he had come out of Emil's dreams.
But this wasn't a dream.
Emil's heart raced to the point his ears rang. He quickly stared at his own boots instead, feeling sweat run down his forehead.
"Are you alright?" Mattias inquired. The prince tried to bring a hand to Emil's forehead to check his temperature, but not before the blond jumped back and started blabbering any excuse he could think of to retreat. To fight his lewd thoughts another day.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Emil wiped the sweat from his brow and bowed apologetically. "I forgot I had to finish up...some chores?" The way the phrase left Emil's lips sounded like he was almost questioning himself and if that was the right thing to say.
Mattias crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side. The prince had his own thoughts about Emil's eagerness to do a chore he just suddenly remembered. It was coincidental, right? Prince Mattias bit his bottom lip as he stared at Emil in thought. The banquet was big enough that Emil was probably asked for help with cleaning up. And knowing how kind Emil was, Mattias knew he probably volunteered even if the party was held for him in the first place.
Still, the prince seemed a little doubtful and pushed Emil for a clearer response to see if he was telling the truth.
"Oh? What kind of chores? Do tell me," Mattias tapped a finger to his chin as he awaited Emil's reply.
"-Laundry," Emil answered. He spoke so quickly that he practically coughed out the word. Once more, the knight cleared his throat and then continued, "The maids and butlers are extremely preoccupied with the cleanup in the banquet hall... and wherever else guests ran off to during the party."
Emil felt more confident in his lie the more he elaborated with little details; he wasn't the best liar, but this specific lie came with an ounce of some truths. As a knight (and also Mattias' retainer), Emil was quick to offer his aid to other members of the castle staff. He was very kind to the point he was known among many for being the perfect symbol of a graceful and gentle knight.
"So, I volunteered to do laundry," Emil concluded, nodding as he spoke.
"Hm," Mattias tilted his head to the other side as he looked Emil up and down. Perhaps he'd pry further if he wasn't so exhausted from socializing with what felt like every noble and knight family in Midgard for the past several hours. "I missed you at the banquet, though. Where did you run off to?"
The dainty man took a step towards the knight again, reaching up to poke Emil's red cheek.
"The party was for you, you know?" Mattias frowned as he pinched the blond's cheek.
Emil's cheek felt fuzzy and he gently brushed Mattias' hand aside, averting his gaze in silence. He had lied enough tonight that he doubted he could come up with another excuse.
The prince leaned to the left, trying to put his face in Emil's line of sight when he looked away. Emil seemed startled and blinked a few times, forcing himself to look at Mattias.
"Hey..." Mattias pouted. "Did you celebrate with your fellow knights instead of me?" His voice seemed to have a playful and teasing tone, but truthfully Mattias sounded ever so slightly hurt.
"N-no-!" Emil was taken aback, eyes widening at the thought of getting wasted with the others.
Prince Mattias stood up tall, and so did Emil. They stared at each other, almost like it was a contest for who would admit defeat and blink first. Mattias leaned in, causing the knight to stay rooted in his spot but move his head back as the prince peered in.
Emil shut his eyes instinctively as Mattias drew closer.
It was silent.
Emil wasn't sure what to expect as he stood there, feeling his heartbeat in his throat.
"I knew it," Mattias spoke next to Emil's collarbone. He stepped back and started walking away with his arms crossed, seemingly annoyed.
"Knew what?!" Emil blurted out, eyes still shut as he sweat anxiously.
"You drank without me," Mattias accused, turning on his heel to walk towards his elegant bed and sit on the edge of it. Sparkly curtains draped down from the top of the bed frame, signifying even further that the bedroom Emil was in belonged to someone important and out of reach. He shouldn't be here.
The idea of Emil drinking in public made his eyes shoot open. He saw Mattias sitting on the edge of his bed, hunched forward with his elbows on his knees and face in his hands; he looked like a sad cat that didn't want to admit he was upset and would instead flick his tail and glare at you.
Emil was completely taken aback at the thought. His hands flew up in defense as he walked over towards Mattias who sat on his bed.
"I didn't! I swear!" Emil put a hand over his heart atop his armor. "You know I don't drink like the other knights would."
Mattias looked up at Emil, glaring like an angry cat. He huffed and simply pushed himself to sit up.
"Truly? You didn't?" Mattias inquired, putting his hands back on the soft mattress beneath him. He stared up at Emil, robe coming off his shoulder once more.
Dangerous. This was dangerous.
The taller man could only nod as he tried to keep eye contact with his prince. If he looked down... it was truly over for him. If the King of Midgard found out a nobody knight like Emil was ogling his son, Emil would be first in line to be executed come sunrise. Every other convict would get a 'get out of jail free card' when Emil committed the crime of lusting over Prince Mattias.
"Mhm," Emil could only mumble in affirmation.
Mattias stared up at Emil. He could see his face never returned to it's usual ever-so-slightly tanned hue. In fact, Emil looked pretty pale overall and like all the blood had rushed to his cheeks instead. The smaller man had an inkling on why Emil was so nervous around him, but he also knew better than to instigate.
The feeling was mutual.
Prince Mattias also liked his knight.
But, he knew better than to pursue him. Mattias would never hear the end of scrutiny from his father if he did so. And not only would it ruin the royal family's image if news of a relationship between the Prince of Midgard and his knight broke out, but it could hurt Emil and his family as well. A man like Emil—he didn't deserve any sort of punishment, especially if it was Mattias' fault—he deserved a good life.
But behind closed doors, Mattias felt his heart sing for the man before him.
"Then," the prince started, "Please do me a favor before you head out." Mattias scooted down the bed to reach towards a drawer in his nightstand.
"Sure, anything," Emil swallowed as he watched.
A bottle of wine was pulled from deep in the nightstand; it was hidden behind various trinkets and things Mattias had at the front of the drawer. He held up the bottle and waved it around with a smirk.
"Share a drink with me then," Mattias smiled. He closed the drawer shut and patted the spot next to him on the bed. "Sit," he simply said.
Emil's body had a mind of its own when it came to obeying his prince's commands. He sat down (albeit a bit awkwardly) and put his hands in his lap. The taller man was hesitant, but also didn't want to refuse.
Part of Emil's knightly oath he was to swear by included never touching alcohol. Pleasures in life that man might enjoy were something he swore to not indulge in, too. Alcohol, drugs, sex, lust, selfishness—the list went on and on—he was to not partake in any of that. Sure, some knights disregarded their pledge without second thought. Emil's fellow knights would rather celebrate their return to Midgard in a tavern drinking their fill instead of being dry and bored at their own banquet.
Some had a sense to keep things quiet in fear of ruining their reputation. Emil remembered earlier in the evening waiting by the door of the tavern only to see a few familiar faces of other knights stop by to end the night drinking at the tavern (after making an appearance at the banquet to be seen as more 'proper'). There was no true punishment as long as the knight who indulged in these pleasures didn't let it interfere with their service to the kingdom. Emil knew that as years had passed and times had changed that the kind of punishment he feared most was basically nonexistent at this point in Midgard's history. But still, it was hard to do so considering his position.
He wasn't just a knight; Emil was Prince Mattias' shield. A man meant to throw himself into danger if necessary for the sake of the (future) King of Midgard. He would be the prince's sword if he needed to. His existence was for Mattias.
"So, how about it?" Mattias wiggled the bottle as he peered at Emil's face.
Emil would die by Mattias' sword if he asked.
Surely drinking alcohol would be breaking his oath as knight. But, if his beloved prince was the one asking him to do so... would that cancel it out? Emil toyed with the idea in his head as he thought about it. His mind was fighting itself. The longer Mattias stared and waited for his response, the more Emil knew he had to act quickly.
"...Sure," Emil said, almost unaware that he accepted until he re-winded what he said mentally in his mind.
"Great!" Mattias seemed cheery. Until he blinked and realized he needed glasses to pour the wine into in the first place.
The prince stood up, which made Emil try to follow him immediately.
"Sit," Mattias commanded with his palm spread out. "I'm just grabbing a glass from my desk."
Emil swallowed and he quickly sat back down. He truly lived up to the nickname, 'guard dog,' that the other knights teased him over. His obedience to Mattias seemed to have no limits. The knight shifted nervously and fiddled with his fingers as he waited.
After procuring an empty glass from atop his desk, Mattias fixed his bangs in the mirror once more before finding his spot back next to Emil on his bed.
"Alright," Mattias smirked as he placed the glass in Emil's hands. The prince held the wine bottle upright in front of him, trying to twist off the cork with his bare hands. He clicked his tongue in annoyance and shook his hands out in pain as it seemed stuck.
"Do you want me to-" Emil asked, already trying to reach for the bottle to help.
"I got it!" Mattias stood up so Emil couldn't take it away from him.
Emil seemed a bit surprised that Mattias was insistent on opening the bottle himself. But then again, a few things about Mattias were leaving Emil surprised tonight. He wondered if perhaps the prince already had a few drinks earlier in the evening.
It wouldn't go against any 'princely code' for him to do so at a celebration. Emil was starting to think that was the case; Prince Mattias was slightly buzzed already. No wonder the man before him was being possessive over opening a simple wine bottle.
"Let me help you-" Emil spoke once more, worried Mattias' was going to hurt himself.
"Ah! Sit down," Mattias held up a finger and then pointed it downwards. Emil's body followed instinctively and he sat down on the bed once more with a small worried frown.
"Good boy," Mattias smirked and proceeded to try and open the wine bottle by putting the fabric of his robe between the cork and his hand for more traction.
A fire ignited inside Emil at Mattias' joking praise; the way the words left his lips made something almost primal awaken inside Emil. He quickly shut up and pursed his slightly parted lips. His brain felt like static.
"Ngh-" Mattias grit his teeth as he twisted and tugged at the cork. It seemed like it wasn't coming loose no matter what the prince tried. He was about to give up, but tried one last time to pull it loose.
A popping noise rang out in the bedroom as the cork came loose. Mattias squeaked as he felt some of the wine spray himself from how rough he was handling it. The liquid hit his side and ran down his waist to his thigh, inadvertently soaking part of his robe and underwear in the process.
Mattias didn't seem to care (yet), and sat down feeling triumphant in opening the bottle with his bare hands. Though the prince was dainty—especially compared to Emil—he was still quite strong. Years of insisting to let him practice swordsmanship with the knights, even when he was still a young princess, led to Mattias being quite strong for how he outwardly appeared to others. Still, he wasn't on par with Emil's strength, but the prince was confident that one day he would be. Mattias even joked in passing about how one day he was going to rescue Emil. A prince rescuing his own knight. It was funny to him and he thought it'd be an incredible sight.
"Let me pour you some," Mattias spoke as he poured the wine into the glass Emil held.
Emil stared down, trying not let the prince catch a glance at him eyeing his cleavage barely hidden behind the corset. The knight swallowed, wondering how the hell he managed to get into this kind of situation the first day he was back in the country.
"Drink up, okay?" The smaller man smirked. He placed the bottle back down on the nightstand and turned back to Emil, waiting for him to try it.
Emil stared intensely at his glass. He squeezed his eyes shut after mumbling a quiet 'thanks' to Mattias. With both hands around the wine glass, Emil brought it to his lips and took a sip.
It was bitter, but not unpleasant. Unfamiliar.
Emil pulled the cup away from his lips as he contemplated the taste. It felt like when he swallowed, the taste seeped all the way through his nose and made his throat sting. His eyes even watered a bit.
"Woah.." was all Emil could say as his face scrunched up a bit. "Um.. w-wow," He used his other hand to wipe at his mouth.
"You never drink, right?" Mattias asked, lifting both of his legs onto the mattress to lay cutely and lean closer to Emil. His shoulder brushed against the knight's own, which caused Emil to blush even more.
"No... knights aren't allowed to drink alcohol," Emil was quiet in response, holding the glass awkwardly.
"Yeeaaah," Mattias added, "but, you know.. all your knightly friends still do it anyway from what I hear." The prince reached for the glass of wine from Emil's hand and took it as they brushed fingers. Emil's heart skipped a beat and he watched Mattias take the glass and sip from the same spot his own lips just touched.
Emil wasn't sure if there was a word to describe what he just saw. To him, it was like they kissed but without touching their lips together. Whatever it was, Emil's abdomen grew hot as he watched the way the prince took a swig of the wine before putting the cup back in Emil's hands.
The blond's mind went hazy as he stared at the glass. It was now half full. His lips parted to say something, but he closed them and fell silent once more. Emil lifted the glass to his lips and leaned back, downing the rest of the wine in a few gulps.
Mattias seemed surprised, smiling in amusement as Emil finished the glass and drank every last drop.
"Jeez, no wonder they don't let you drink," the prince teased as he shifted to grab the wine bottle from beside the bed once more.
As Mattias' back was turned, Emil kept his lips on the edge of the glass for a moment longer than he normally would've. He smirked into it, feeling giddy that his prince favored him this much.
Perhaps it would be fine to be executed come morning. He'd no longer need to live if he could have Mattias to himself for one night. Just one night would be fine with him.
"Mm.." Mattias took a swig of the wine bottle before groaning. He held it upright before trying to see through the mostly-opaque glass to find that it was nearly empty. The two of them had gone through an entire bottle of wine in a matter of a half hour.
Emil had taken off his gloves and they laid on the floor by his feet. It probably wasn't the best idea to get drunk in an (almost) full suit of armor. He felt like he was overheating and his blond hair was even messier than before.
Mattias frowned as the bottle had one more sip left in it. Emil noticed as well, and reached out to wrap his hand around Mattias'. The prince seemed surprised by Emil's touch, only for the knight to take the bottle with his other hand. Emil leaned his head back and brought the wine bottle to his lips. Mat just watched in amazement as Emil finished the rest of the wine.
"How needy," Mattias joked. His own cheeks were dusted a light pink as he watched his drunken knight almost fall backwards in his bed.
"Careful, Em..." Mattias stood up, a bit wobbly. He took the bottle out of Emil's hands and walked over to put it on his desk. He would get rid of it later. For now though, his dear knight was sitting in his bed as handsome as ever. He wanted to have some fun, regardless of what the rest of the world would do if they found out.
Emil watched as Mattias waltzed back over while toying with the ribbon on his pretty robe as he did so. The blond's jaw was hung open as he was mesmerized by the prince's figure.
"I know a way we can celebrate your return, Sir Emil," Mattias purred, ready to leap on the other man.
Emil's eyes zeroed in on the red splotch on Mattias' robe and his underwear, eyes widening.
"M-Matti, your robe.. are you hurt?" Emil stumbled through his sentenced, pointing at the wine stains on Mattias' clothing.
The prince looked down and pulled at his robe to investigate. He held the stained fabric up, revealing more of his waist as he did so. Emil definitely noticed his bare skin and couldn't tear his gaze away whatsoever. Mattias looked down and pushed the fabric of his own robe out of the way to see the wine must've splattered on his underwear as well.
With a groan, Mattias mumbled something incoherent and looked around his room for a spare change of clothes. He put his palm to his forehead as he walked to his dresser and opened his underclothes drawer.
Emil stood up, holding onto the post of the bed frame to keep himself steady as he tried to adjust to being intoxicated.
"Everything 'kay?" Emil asked, swallowing dryly as he ran his hand through his hair.
"Mm.." Mattias frowned, worried he wouldn't hear the end of his father's complaining if he soiled such expensive underclothes. The maids were bound to tell his father. Truly, there was no kind of oath Mattias had to uphold as prince to not get drunk. But still, Mattias' father was strict about drinking outside social gatherings. And even then, it would be wrong to get this wasted during one as well. It was 'unbecoming of him', as his father would say.
"You said you were doing laundry...right?" Mattias looked at Emil who had managed to walk over to the prince to see if he was alright.
"Um..." Emil blinked, struggling to remember if he ever said that.
"Your chores..?" Mattias inquired further. He wondered if Emil was worse at handling alcohol than he was. Perhaps it was best for Mattias to sneak out and wash the clothes himself.
"OH!" Emil put a hand on Mattias' shoulder and nodded. "Yeah.. yes I was supposed to.. do laundry," he added.
The smaller man stared down at the large hand on his shoulder and blinked. Emil quickly drew it back and blushed with an apology.
"Can you do me another favor then.." Mattias clasped his hands together in a begging manner. The sight of Mattias cutely begging like this made Emil truly wonder if he was dreaming after all.
"...Sure," Emil replied, blinking slowly.
"Can you wash my laundry? Please?" the prince begged. He started to untie the robe and slip it off his shoulders and he continued to speak, "I can't let my father see I got wine all over these clothes." Mattias shoved the robe into Emil's arms and then went to reach for his underwear before realizing it would be improper to undress in front of his knight like this.
Emil's eyes were wide and unblinking, and Mattias could see that clear as day.
"Um.." Mattias blushed a bit. He looked around his room until he saw that draped over his desk chair and around the floor at his desk were the clothes he took off after the banquet were on the other side of the room. He pointed to the pile, and Emil's gaze followed his finger. "Can you take those clothes too? Please?"
Emil stared over at the pile and nodded, unable to find any words that would be proper of him to say right now. He turned and walked towards the other side of the room to start collecting the clothes Mattias had scattered on and around his desk.
With Emil not looking, Mattias' slipped off his stained underwear and pulled them down off his legs. He placed the fabric atop the dresser and dug in his undergarment drawer to procure a clean pair. The prince quickly slipped them on, almost falling over at the rate he was trying to change before Emil turned around.
But, Emil was still picking up clothes under the desk. The knight had grabbed most of the clothes Mattias wore during the banquet, except for a sock and a pair of underwear that had fallen far underneath the desk. Emil tried not to think too hard as he grabbed the intimate fabric with his finger and fetched it out from under the desk. He added it to the pile of clothes he already held, swallowing dryly.
Mattias called out to Emil to get his attention. The loyal knight turned his head to see what else Mattias wanted, only to get hit with something in his face when he looked. Emil winced, feeling something lay over his eyes. Mattias stared on in horror at his bad aim; he was stuttering, unsure if he should say anything as Emil pulled what he thrown off of his face.
It was Mattias' pair of underwear he was just wearing.
Emil's finger twitched as he held it up.
"S-sorry.." Mattias spoke quietly.
"Can you wash that, too?"
Emil had made his way down to the laundry room at the end of the hall. He wasn't sure if he should head down to the main washroom on the first floor of the castle near the maids' quarters. But, the image of any of the maids finding him with Mattias' intimate clothes would sooner make Emil burn himself at the stake.
Even if it was more effort to wash them completely by hand, Emil thought it would be good to have some alone time to sober up as well. Sure, there were no fancy means to wash and dry the clothes like the maids had in the main washrooms with wringers and washers that could be used with basic magic. But, this knight desperately needed to be alone right now. He really felt it best.
Sitting on the dark hardwood floor, Emil had already set up a medium-sized wooden tub to wash the prince's clothes. Emil had his own means to dry the Prince's clothes in a timely manner, so he wasn't worried about that. What did worry Emil was trying to wash the clothes without being seen with them in his possession. It was bizarre for a knight to be carrying his prince's underwear.
Even if Emil was the one to help dress and undress Mattias, it wasn't like he would strip the prince down naked to do so. In fact, Emil swore he had never seen the prince naked. His duty as Mattias' trusted bodyguard was to be by his side and help with matters like that without question. That was normal. This was not.
"Matti.. what have we gotten into," Emil spoke quietly as he took Mattias' clothes out from the laundry pile and sorted them accordingly. Sitting on the cold hardwood floor was a little sobering, but not by much. The blond still felt out of it as he went through and pulled the Prince's robe aside first to soak in the washtub.
He held it up, inspecting where it had been stained by the wine. It was a little hard to see as the room had to be kept dark otherwise someone would discover him there. The old washroom hadn't been used in years seriously since the castle had set up a larger proper washroom downstairs. It would be unusual for the room to be lit, especially at this hour. It was best to keep quiet about his being here.
In the light of the moon, Emil was still unable to make out how ruined the robe was. He grit his teeth in annoyance, knowing he had to soak the stained clothes first in hopes to keep his and Mattias' little secret.
Emil narrowed his eyes, trying to make out anything of use in the small almost-closet-sized room. He stood up and squinted, raising a hand above his eyes to look closer at what seemed to be a lantern atop a crate in the corner of the room. He walked over, moving his hand along the wall to steady himself as he reached for it.
It was indeed a lantern. The blond smirked to himself and pulled back the latch on the side of the lantern to open it properly. He had no access to a match right now, but luckily for Emil, he was quite adept at light magic. Things like manifesting fire and lightning were easy feats for Emil because of that strength.
Emil rubbed his thumb along his fingers as he held the lantern with his other hand steadily. Almost similar to igniting a match, he quickly snapped his fingers after they had grown warm enough. A flame appeared above his thumb and he gently guided it to the lantern, lighting it. A small lantern would be safer than turning on the overhead lights. He knew he shouldn't stay too long though, just in case of a worst case scenario.
Now properly settled with the lantern on the floor beside him, Emil was able to make out that the stain on Mattias' robe wasn't as bad as he feared. He picked up the robe and looked it over in case he missed any other imperfections, but thankfully it was contained to the waist area.
The fabric was soft against his fingers and he found himself absentmindedly running his thumb over the lace trim.
"You wear such pretty things," Emil mumbled to himself. He could say in confidence while in solitude what he only wished he could say to Mattias' face. Emil's gaze cast downwards sadly and he held the fabric up to his chest. His face lowered as his eyes closed.
"I wish.." Emil whispered, putting the soft robe up to his cheek, "I wish that I could hold you into the night." With his other hand, he bunched up more of the robe and held it closer to his face. In what was meant to be a solemn act, Emil had found his face growing hotter as he realized the robe smelled of Mattias. It was like he was hugging the prince in his arms.
"Matti.." Emil spoke softly, inhaling Mattias' scent. It had smelled of the perfume he always wore; it was a mix of lavender and vanilla. Emil inhaled once more, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand at attention as he pictured his dear prince sprawled out on his mattress, just begging for Emil to take him. "Fuck," he whispered as the erotic images of Prince Mattias had found their way back into his mind.
Emil tried opening his eyes to come back down to reality, but the truth was he felt hotter than ever. His body was practically on fire from the alcohol and his lust for the man he could never have.
It was no time to dwell on that though, and the knight gently laid the prince's robe into the washtub. He submerged it in the soapy water and groaned once he realized his gauntlets were interfering heavily with him cleaning the prince's clothes properly. He sighed and reached for the prince's wine-stained underwear when he remembered to throw them in as well.
His heart beat quickly as Emil held the prince's underwear in his hands. He was so nervous that he didn't know how to properly hold them. No one was watching, but that made this feel all the more scandalous.
"Calm down," Emil spoke aloud, almost trying to self-soothe as he reached for the other side of what seemed to be the waistband. He knelt over the tub, holding them up as he was still absolutely frozen despite whatever he tried to tell himself to remain calm. In the light, Emil could make out that the waistband had a lace trim as well. He ran his fingers over the lace, unblinking with wide eyes.
He wondered if Prince Mattias' usually wore something like this to bed.
Emil almost coughed as he caught himself daydreaming once more. A vision of himself undressing the prince and running his hands over his dainty waist plagued him. He cursed himself for having an overactive imagination. It was enough to make him keel over at times when it got this bad.
The past three weeks Emil hadn't been by Mattias' side. The knight was sent out with others like him to accompany one of Midgard's diplomats to the neighboring region of Jotunheim across the sea. Emil wasn't one to usually leave Mattias' side as he was his sworn shield and bodyguard. But, at the personal request of the King of Midgard, Emil went with as a learning experience. In the meantime, the man Emil felt similar to an adopted father, knight captain Gunther, watched over Mattias instead.
In the time he was gone, Emil's daydreams about Mattias' lessened by a tenfold. He had found himself too preoccupied with his duty in Jotunheim to think such erotic thoughts about his dear prince. The only time Emil had such visions was when he and a few of his fellow knights went out into the market to shop for lunch (and souvenirs to bring back home). Emil was coerced by one of the stalls into buying something he never thought he'd ever get in his life. When the salesman asked Emil if he wanted to buy something that was sure to show his appreciation towards his special someone, he was eager to listen.
And that's how Emil came home with a full set of lingerie he knew he'd never be able to give to Mattias.
His face flushed as he thought about it. It had been quite a while since he thought of the other man like this.
He grew quiet as he pulled the lace underwear closer to look at it. It wasn't like his own underwear which was blocky and dull. Mattias' underwear was shapely and curvy; it was cute and form fitting. Emil thought it interesting and fiddled with the intimate fabric in his hands.
The wine luckily missed most of the off-white fabric and only appeared to stain it towards the left side of the waistband. It was one or two small splotches that Emil bet he could easily clean.
The knight sat there in silence as he fiddled with his prince's underwear. He was about to throw it in the washtub, but a deep primal part of him was nagging in his mind to do otherwise. The longer he held onto the panties (he presumed that's what the style was called), the more insane he felt.
Emil stared at the robe in the washtub, seeing the warm light of the lantern scatter across the soapy surface of the water. He stared back down at the underwear in his hands, swallowing dryly as his abdomen grew hot.
A invasive thought kept repeating in his mind; it was one he'd never say aloud.
"I can't.." He retaliated quietly. The knight was fighting his innermost demons, trying to keep them at bay as his thumb slid over the crotch of the fabric. He inhaled sharply, noticing it was still warm in his hands. "Gods," his breath hitched as his face was aflame.
He couldn't.
Hands trembling, Emil picked his head up to look around. He knew he was alone. He would continue to be alone in the washroom, but the thoughts he was having were still sinful to make him fear someone was watching. He sat back on his legs as he lowered himself from his previously kneeling position. The knight sank to the floor, questioning everything he tried to deny previously for years in just a matter of moments.
Emil closed his eyes.
He brought the prince's underwear closer to his face, sweating at he did so. He was practically breathing raggedly as he felt the lace waistband tickle the side of his mouth. Emil swallowed once more, trying to close his eyes shut tighter than they already were.
"Gods.. forgive me," Emil mumbled as he inhaled the prince's scent.
Panting, Emil sat against the wall of the old washroom. His head lulled to the side as he gazed down at the pile of clothes next to him. He had moved away from the washtub, leaving the robe to soak as he seemingly had the rest of the clothes next to him.
A groan erupted from the knight and his hand quickly leapt up to clasp over his mouth. He tried to keep quiet as he finally succumbed to his fantasies. He was in too deep. If anyone were to discover him now, it would be the end of everything.
Something about that excited him just as much as it scared him. If one of the castle staff walked in—he'd be dead. But, at least he'd feel like he would go out having accomplished something. If Mattias walked in though...
Emil's head rolled forward as he moaned at the thought.
If his dear prince saw him like this—his pants down with his cock in his hands and jacking himself off as he held onto Mattias' shirt he wore during the banquet—perhaps that could be more interesting. Emil could only daydream about what that would lead to.
The look on Mattias' face when he saw the way Emil frantically pumped the base of his cock as he inhaled the scent of his lavender and vanilla perfume. Fuck. Emil could only imagine how red his pretty face would be. How he'd probably be unable to tear his gaze away as Emil mewled and moaned his name. The knight probably wouldn't be able to stop even then, even if the man he loved watched, frozen.
If Mattias were to join him...
"N-Ngh.." Emil ran his thumb over his shaft, moaning with his jaw hung open as he edged himself closer to orgasm.
The knight swore to never hold himself like this. Chivalry and celibacy went hand in hand. Emil knew that such a selfish act was forbidden, but right now he didn't give a damn.
As he drew closer to orgasm, his head lulled back against the wall. The blond closed his eyes as his thighs trembled from his own touch. The only time Emil ever felt this way was when he had dreamed of Mattias in such a way he could never repeat aloud or share with anyone. It was hard enough waking up the next morning after such a dream to find his own underwear soaked. He was always so pent up because he always denied himself this kind of ecstasy.
Emil clutched Mattias' dress shirt harder, holding it up and over his nose as he moaned into it. The scent of the prince's perfume felt all the more intoxicating on top of the wine he shared with the same man earlier.
His mind ran free as he pumped himself faster and faster.
Suddenly, Emil's legs bucked and his face grew hotter than ever. It felt like his heart skipped several beats and butterflies were in his stomach. The knights thighs came off the floor and he rooted his feet firm on the wooden floors as he fucked up into his hand hard.
He moaned into the shirt and his eyes rolled back as his precum leaked from his cock and all over his hand, slicking up his dick even more. His tip was achingly red as every thrust pulled his foreskin back. Emil's eyes squeezed shut and he whimpered. His brows furrowed together as he couldn't take it any longer.
"F-fuck...Fuck!!-" the knight moaned, biting down on the shirt to suppress his noises as he came all over himself.
He panted, slowing the pace of his hand as he rode out the rest of his orgasm and the aftershocks that came with it.
Eventually, his legs parted and lowered as he felt them go numb. His chest rose and fell as Emil desperately tried to regain his breathing.
"G-gods.." the blond said in a rough voice. He was quiet as he moved his hand away from his cock and it fell to his side.
It was euphoric—that kind of feeling—it was something he only felt in his wildest dreams.
Emil continued to pant as he lulled his head to the side, finally opening his eyes to see cum all over his hand. He weakly held it up and turned it to see that the top of his hand was not spared from the sticky white substance either. Emil's eyes scanned his front, seeing the way the light of the lantern flickered and reflected across the armor of his breast plate and greaves. His thighs were fully exposed to the cool air of the old washroom. And yet, he still felt hot as he stared at the cum dripping down his thighs.
Some had managed to land on his breast plate, and a pit of anxiety filled within him at the thought of getting such a thing on Mattias' clothes.
The knight sat up more abruptly despite his legs still feeling weak. He pulled the dress shirt off his chest and held it up, inspecting it closely to see if he has soiled the precious fabric.
A sigh of relief came from Emil as he saw the shirt was spared from his lewd act (if he didn't count 'jacking off and imagining he's holding Prince Mattias' as part of it). Emil carefully placed the shirt next to him beside the pile of clothes.
The blond took a moment to shut his eyes and rest, leaning the side of his head against the wall behind him as he tried to regain his strength. He could've sworn that with such an intense orgasm that he could fall asleep just like this. But he couldn't. Emil had to be quick with finishing up his work in here. He guessed Mattias' was probably going to start worrying soon if Emil didn't come back with the laundry in the next half hour.
He had already gotten side tracked severely. But somehow, the experience sobered him up just enough to make Emil realize that he should probably pull his pants back up and get to work on what he actually came here for.
He sighed and his head lowered a bit.
Emil's green eyes fluttered open once he felt his strength return. With two hands planted on the floor, Emil pushed himself to sit up more. He grit his teeth at the feeling of his sticky hand touching the wood. He swore to remember to clean that spot before he left as well. It was back to work and pretending like what just happened truly did not happen. Death would be swift if anyone found out the future King of Midgard's shield was touching himself with his royal laundry in tow.
Emil looked down at the pile of clothes he still had to wash. He ended up managing to fight his inner demons about the lace pair of panties Mattias spilled wine on by throwing them immediately into the washtub before things got out of hand. He didn't succeed at avoiding his thoughts when it came to Mattias' banquet shirt. It smelled just like him. Emil chuckled as he knew it would; the prince would practically bathe himself in that lavender perfume as he loved it dearly.
Emil had to admit he loved it, too.
Using his clean hand, Emil went to reach for the pile of clothes to finish washing what he needed to.
He froze in fear at what he saw, cursing under his breath as his eyes widened.
"Shit," the knight muttered, "shit-shit... shit-" he continued to panic, reaching for the other pair of underwear Prince Mattias had asked him to wash; it was the pair that was underneath his desk that he took off after the banquet.
He held it up in the light, his eyes frantically scanning over it to see that some his seed had landed on the crotch area and started to soak in.
Emil's mind and heart were racing as his fingers tightened around the fabric. How could he have let this happen. A million thoughts were running through his mind as he stared at the underwear.
His gaze traveled back to the washtub closer to his feet. He gulped and drew his attention back to the intimate cloth. The blond couldn't help but blush as he ran his thumb over the soft fabric.
"I.." was all Emil could manage to say as his face flushed redder. The idea of Mattias finding out he came all over his underwear made his cock throb once more. Emil grit his teeth and looked down at his erection, swearing that what he just did was enough.
Emil's achingly hard cock seemed to have a mind of its own and thought otherwise. Emil blushed and shook his head, conflicted about the ideas surging through his brain. He had already dug himself deep enough with the mere concept of jacking off holding the prince's shirt up to his face.
He glanced back, contemplating an idea from the deepest part of his mind that he never thought he'd go to, let alone listen to in the first place. But it intrigued him so much. A groan left his lips as he brought the pair of underwear closer to himself. His back became flush with the wall behind him once more as curiosity and lust seemed to take over.
Surely it'd be okay.
He'd get a chance to wash Mattias' clothes after.
Emil unable to help himself
art by me! (again)
~
"A-ahh.." Emil moaned as his fist clenched against the wall in front of him.
The knight stood with his left arm rested against the wall for support as he leaned forward, using his right hand to hold Mattias' underwear in front of his cock.
Emil had succumbed to the perversions of his mind yet again and found himself trying to fuck his prince's underwear. He stared down as he panted, blushing madly as he watched the fabric wrap around his cock and glide across it. With every thrust he thought of his prince who was just down the hall. He wondered if Mattias ever laid in his soft elegant bed and touched himself at the thought of Emil.
"M-Matti.." he moaned. The friction from the fabric gliding over his cock was a lot; everything about it made Emil come undone. His head hung lower as his eyes squeezed shut. An image of Mattias bending over his mattress and reaching his hand between his legs to spread his cunt apart just for Emil flashed through his eager mind.
Emil tried to lift his head up to rest his forehead against his forearm, breathing ragged from the pleasure that coursed through his body. His hips bucked relentlessly. Visions of his prince danced through his mind as he fucked his hand.
"I-I," Emil stuttered, feeling sweat drip down his forehead to his jaw. He was overheating. Pictures of Mattias bent over his mattress, looking back up at Emil from over his shoulder as the knight rammed his cock into him were overtaking every last ounce of common sense in Emil's mind telling himself to stop. His thoughts about the dainty prince continued to the point the underwear in his hands was soaked with precum.
Emil's eyes fluttered open for a moment to look down at the underwear wrapped around his dick. He continued to thrust forward into the crotch of the panties, biting his lip and groaning as his eyes squeezed shut once more.
"Matti- M-Matti," he breathed out, bucking his hips into the wet fabric. His voice was a mix of shame and pleasure. On one hand, he hated himself for ruining the prince's undergarments. But on the other, Emil had truly never felt this much pleasure in his life. "I'm sorry- ngh.."
The blond imagined Mattias laying in his bed, pleasuring himself and arching his back as he came on his fingers. He thought of the prince wearing Emil's shirt after a long day and slowly rubbing his clit as he moaned Emil's name.
It was like Emil had an entire collection of dirty magazines in his mind full of pictures of Mattias in different sexual scenarios. He gasped and grit his teeth at the thought of Mattias wearing the lingerie he brought back from his trip overseas.
"Fuck-!" Emil was close and he knew it. He cursed quieter under his breath a few more times until he couldn't bear letting anymore sounds slip out. The knight's left hand clasped over his mouth and he muffled anymore sounds of ecstasy. He couldn't get caught like this.
He thought of Mattias laying on his back with the same underwear still on, listening to him moan as he rubbed his cock against the fabric.
It seemed to be the perfect vision as Emil pressed his forehead against the wall and breathed raggedly into his palm. He tried to hold himself up by leaning his left shoulder against the wall, but his thrusts were so erratic he couldn't manage like this.
The blond pulled his hand off his mouth and used his left forearm to keep himself standing once more. He groaned audibly and opened his eyes to stare at his throbbing cock.
It was a short-lived sight though, because as soon as he saw the state he left Mattias' underwear in, his dick twitched. He didn't have much left in him as he moaned, bucking his hips forward roughly to cum inside Mattias' underwear. He emptied his load into the fabric, thrusting a few more times as he orgasmed. His eyes fluttered open and closed as he came.
When it was finally over, Emil stood hunched over against the wall. His legs felt weaker than ever as they trembled. His body was covered in sweat and the tips of his hair were drenched.
He swallowed, panting weakly.
Emil opened his eyes and saw he had completely soiled Mattias' underwear. The fabric was completely drenched in his cum. It left Emil with a fluttery feeling in his chest as he just stared with half-lidded eyes. He was exhausted.
The knight pulled the fabric off his cock, leaving a sticky trail of cum connecting the tip of his dick to the underwear. Gods, he would never be able to come back from an act like this.
"I.." Emil panted, still leaning against the wall. "I can't return these like this.." Emil spoke to himself as he shook his head in shame.
It wasn't the best idea to return Mattias' underwear to him in a sorry state as such. Emil felt bad; the shame was deep in his soul as he was starting to sober up more.
He was contemplating what to do as he finally sank to the floor, unable to stand much longer. The washtub was beside him. He could try to wash his erotic mess out of Mattias' clothes. But, part of him feared that somehow somebody would find out. If it wasn't the prince who discovered what Emil had done, one of the other castle staff would be suspicious the next time the fabric would be washed.
Truthfully, Emil hadn't much clue on what to do. He sat in silence as he came down from the intense high once more. He blushed as he held the underwear in his hand.
Maybe it was best to hide the evidence entirely from the prince.
A little over an hour had passed since Emil had left Mattias' side to do his laundry as a favor.
Emil knocked on the prince's door gently, trying not to disturb any of the guests that were occupying the guest bedrooms down the hall. When there was no answer, Emil whispered an apology as he let himself in quietly.
He closed the door behind himself, being careful to not slam it as he did so. When Emil turned to tell Mattias he had finished laundry, he found the prince passed out in his bed, drooling on the pillow.
The prince was sprawled out on his back, hugging his own blanket as he had one hand down his underwear.
Emil blinked at the sight of the prince being anything but princely in the way that he slept.
It was...endearing.
Emil wouldn't stay around to bother the smaller man, though. He walked over to Mattias' dresser and pulled open the underwear drawer. He blushed silently as he looked at the array of different color and design socks, corsets, and underwear.
His heart beat quickly as he put the now free-of-wine-stains underwear back in the drawer alongside the socks Mattias asked him to clean. He closed the drawer and worked on putting the dress shirt and pants he was also tasked to wash back on hangers in his closet. All that remained was hanging the gorgeous robe Mattias wore back up.
Emil's fingers ran over the lace trim of the robe. He inhaled through his nose subconsciously as he held the hanger away from himself to look at it. He didn't say a word. The knight hung the robe up and nodded to himself as he closed the closet.
Everything was accounted for... except for one thing.
As Emil passed by the dresser once more, he stared intensely at the prince's underwear drawer. A thought ran through his mind as he looked back over his shoulder at the sleeping prince.
Mattias simply snored and scratched his stomach. He then turned over on his side, mumbling something in his sleep that was completely incoherent to Emil.
The blond put a hand over his mouth in thought, wondering if he should truly listen to the thoughts in his head one last time tonight. He fought with the idea, but realized it was perhaps for the best. He already came this far.
Procuring his satchel from his back, Emil was glad he had sneaked back downstairs to the stables to grab it off his horse before retiring for the night. He pulled at the drawstrings, peering inside. The knight reached in and grabbed the set of lingerie he has bought from the market when he was staying in Jotunheim the past few weeks. It was a full set of lingerie that included lace panties, bra, and matching stockings.
He stared at the baby blue lacy fabric in his hands. He took a deep breath before exhaling through his nose. The knight opened Mattias' underwear drawer one last time, putting the set of lingerie in the drawer.
He couldn't return the underwear he had... used, but he was able to replace it.
Emil shut the drawer quietly and took a step towards the bedroom door.
"Em..." Mattias mumbled in his sleep. The word made Emil freeze in his tracks and peer over his shoulder slowly.
The prince shifted on the bed and hugged his blanket closer. He was sleep talking.
Emil felt his whole body sigh in relief once he realized. As he was about to leave once more, the knight noticed his satchel was still open. He blushed and took it off his shoulder to properly close the bag.
Inside was the pair of underwear Emil swore he could never return to Mattias.
He blushed and closed the drawstring satchel, tossing it over his shoulder and leaving the prince's bedroom in a somewhat (carefully quiet) rush.
"Goodnight, my prince," Emil whispered under his breath as he stared back at Mattias in his comfy bed.
He opened the door and closed it behind him.