Jasper smiled down at her and knew it would probably seem odd for someone who had tried to steal from you to say he wanted you to be safe. But she was the first one who gave him a shot at being something else, it was great and he couldn't thank her enough. Hearing her, he smiled, "dont worry, I will be very careful." he said since all he was going to be doing was staying in the shadows and watching her. No one was going to make a move on her without him knowing.

Mariki walked back over to him and blushed a bit more. The princess wasn't really sure of what to say because she wanted to stay with him but...it would be hard. She looked at the blood from the slain man and trembled a bit. "I change rooms every time something like this happens. They say it keeps me safe." Her eyes closed as she moved a bit closer to him with her heart racing.

Jasper looked at her as he saw the blush on her cheeks and loved it. THough hearing her, he shook his head, "even if you change rooms it sometimes wont be enough, that is why I wanted to ask you something." he said as he took her hand into his and bowed his head, "princess, with your permission I will watch over you and protect you." he wanted ot keep her as safe as possible.

Her eyes went to him as he said her security was not good enough. Mariki blushed more as he took her hand and lowered his head. "Jasper..." She closed her eyes and smiled as she nodded. "I'd like that." The princess said softly as she looked up at him.

Jasper smiled when he heard her and straightened up, "then I will always be close by, always making sure that your safe." he said as he looked at her and felt for the first time in life he really had a purpose. Usually he had felt like he didn't really have anything, no home, no feeling of what he had to do but now it was different. His job was to care for Mariki and keep her safe.

She smiled at him and nodded as her eyes went to his. "Thank you." Mariki lead Jasper towards the door and blushed as she saw her mother there. The blonde lowered her head and bowed as she searched for something to explain the situation. "Evening, your majesty." Her voice was soft as she tried to show respect to her mother.

Jasper was going to follow her to the door when he saw the queen. Instantly he dropped down to a knee and said, "your majesty." before slowly getting up. He had only met the princess so far but he wanted to make a good impression on the queen. Especially since he was going to be watching over her daughter.

The queen looked over the man and closed her eyes as she stood there. "Is there a reason my only daughter is standing in her room, alone, with some guard?" She asked in a soft and icy tone as Mariki bowed her head again. "This guard was injured saving me from certain death. I was treating his wounds." Mariki said as she kept her eyes down and off of her mother. "That still does not explain why you were alone in her room." The queen said as she looked at Jasper.

Jasper could tell he had already left a bad impression by being here alone with the princess. Keeping his head down, he didn't have to look up to know that the queen was addressing him. "I am sorry, my queen, I had sensed that something bad was going to happen and went in search for the princess to keep her safe. I defended her when the attacker came out and she treated my wounds. I was going to leave once she was done, I did not mean to be alone with her. I am sorry." he said to her softly as he kept his head down.

Mariki closed her eyes and tried to hide her feelings from her mother. The queen looked at the man before looking at her daughter and smiling a little. "I see. Continue to protect her. But only that." She said in a tone that suggested she meant otherwise. After that she turned and left the room. The princess looked up at her mother as she left and clenched her hand as she scowled. "I am so sorry, Jasper. My mother is normally like that." She said looking to Jasper and blushing.

Jasper relaxed once he heard the queen and once she was out of the room he lifted his head. Looking at Mariki, he smiled, "it is okay, she is just being the queen and your mother." he said as he placed a hand on her clenched hand. "now then, how about if we get out of this room." he said since he knew he didn't want to have Mariki staying here for much longer because of all the blood that was on the floor.

She shook her head and looked at him as he touched her hand. "Okay. We have to go to the West side of the castle." Mariki said softly as she unclenched her hand. The princess took his hand and blushed as she walked towards the door. Her eyes avoided the blood as she realized that she had blood on her skirt.

Jasper smiled as she slowly seemed to loosen up but just as they were about to leave he noticed her skirt. Stopping, he looked at her, "how about if you change first." he said softly as he looked at her in the eyes. "I am sure that you dont want that blood on you all day." he said softly before squeezing her hand slightly.

Her eyes went to him as they stopped and noticed her skirt. Mariki nodded and blushed a little as she brushed the hair out of her face. "Um...would you untie my dress?" She turned around and showed her back to him. The princess moved her hair out of the way so he could see where he had to untie her dress.

Jasper blushed slightly when he saw her tur her back to him. He was sure that she would want a maid to do this instead of him. But slowly he reached up and then untied her dress. Quickly turning to the door, he said, "I will just wait outside the door for you. If anything happens just call for me." he said as he moved to ehad out of the room.

Mariki closed her eyes as he untied her and blushed a little. Her eyes went to Jasper as he turned towards the door. "Okay. Thank you." She said softly and let the gown slip from her body. The princess walked to her closet and picked out a simple blue dress to put on. "Wait, Jasper...Can you tie the ties?" Her eyes went to him as she blushed.

Jasper had stepped out the door and left the door slightly cracked. He wanted to be able to hear her clearly just incase she needed anything. But then he heard her and looked inside. Blushing more, he headed over to her, "okay.." he said softly and then tied the back of her. "their you go princess." he said as he backed away from her and smiled.

She turned around to face him after he finished tying her dress. Mariki blushed and looked at him as she stood there in her blue dress that showed her curves. "Sorry for making you do that. I didn't want to get you in trouble by summoning a maid." Her eyes went to him as she smiled a little.

Jasper watched as she turned and saw the blush on her cheeks, the blush on his deepening just slightly. She looked beautiful in that dress. Nodding he smiled, "it is okay, just glad that I could help." he said as he looked at her. "now then, how about if we get out of here and go somewhere." he suggested since he was sure she didn't want to stay in this bloody room.

Her eyes stayed on Jasper as he blushed and nodded as she smiled. Mariki walked over to him and kissed his cheek before walking out of the room. "Yeah. I'm kind of tired." She said softly, hiding her face with her hair. Tikura ran after her and looked back at Jasper.

Jasper was surprised to feel the kiss on his cheek and was stunned for once. It was the first time that anything like that has happened to him and when he looked over at her he couldn't' help but smile. "then lead the way princess, I will keep watch over you to make sure your safe." he said as he walked over to her. He then reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear so he could see her face, "A princess should never hide her face, especially since she looks beautiful." he said softly and smiled.

Mariki blushed more as he brushed her hair back and spoke to her. Her eyes went to him as she smiled but continued to blush. She started to walk as Tikura barked and nudged Jasper after her. The princess walked down the hall and towards the other side of the castle.

Jasper smiled as he saw her smiles and blush, she looked so beautiful. When she started to walk, he just smiled and then felt Tikura nudge him. Nodding, he followed after her and made sure to stay alert. NOthing was ever going to happen to her on his watch, she would be the safest person here.

She walked along side Jasper but felt the awkward silence as they walked closer to her room. Mariki held her arms behind her back while making side glances at Jasper. The princess blushed as she looked back at the ground but suddenly screamed and grabbed onto Jasper as a rat ran across her feet.

Jasper continued to walk with her but had no idea what to say. He caught her glancing at him from time to time but she looked away only seconds later. When he heard her scream though, he instantly wrapped his arms around her and looked around, ready to strike. Yet when he saw nothing, he sighed and looked down at her, "everything it okay, it was only a rat." he said as he looked down at her.