When even animals flock to you after a single verse of song, how could Jacq resist becoming infatuated with you?

Your presence is brighter than the brightest torch in the castle, and your kindness is warmer than a blanket on a cold winter night.

Jacq has tried to describe your magnificence to the other castle servants (much to their chagrin), but alas, it seems that he was not gifted in the way of words. He would wax hundreds of lines of poetry about your beauty and kindness if he had the ability to but not even words would be enough to capture all of your brilliance.

So instead, Jacq throws himself into what he does best, making you laugh. While you’re beautiful in every single state, none can compare the beauty of your joy.

And, if his focus on making you laugh might have caused him to neglect his work as the King’s jester, his head is a small price to pay in exchange for the smile you send his way after a particularly good performance.

He pulls a rose from behind your ear, performs a comedy skit of a noble from yesterday, and on days where he’s feeling particularly bold, he serenades you with a song. The King watches all of this, and if he picks on Jacq’s blatant favorism, he doesn’t show it, choosing to wear an amused and knowing look each time Jacq entertains the court.

Jacq pretends to have no knowledge of what the King seems to have already gleaned from his behavior. He knows that his feelings are wrong, and would never dare to make a move on you, but he can’t help himself from wanting to show off his affection in some way.

Each day, Jacq carefully matches the colors of his clothes to yours. He takes care to only be seen by you when he’s matching, immediately purchasing new clothes to change into when you are wearing a color missing from his wardrobe. It’s a small concession he’s allowed for his feelings just for himself. Even if he could never be with you like the princes with their princesses in those fairy tales, at least he could subtly claim that he’s yours.

Finishing up his performance, Jacq conjures up a flurry of rose petals from his hat in the throne room. Lowering himself into a deep bow in front of the royal family, he chances a look at you. Sitting to the right of your mother, you looked just as beautiful as ever, the brilliant red you wore today complimenting your fair skin.

As the end of his performance marked the end of the gathering, the court began to disperse. Holding his bow for another moment, Jacq inched slowly towards the door, straightening up to follow you once he was out of the King’s and Queen’s sight. In the brief moments you were alone as you returned to your room, he was free to soak up your presence.

“Would you care for another trick, Your Grace?” He asks, falling into step behind you.