Just asking because anyone would... Why did no one point out that I posted a chapter from the wrong fanfic? I mean, thank god ThePenandtheSword finally told me or that would have been there forever!
Chapter 8
Life in the palace was much cozier when the restrictions were lifted. After the initial 'I seriously don't remember you' speech that he had to give to every... single... person things were much easier on Raguna. He was no longer confined to his room for unreasonable periods of time. He could go where he pleased within the palace. He could learn the layout himself if he wanted (though he found he was still strongly dependant on Tabatha to get around).
On the flip side, he was now expected to make public appearances. It was a little overwhelming. Without his consent he'd somehow become the symbol of the every day person, of political figures, of motherly love, and of people with horrible luck. When he listened to the people whenever his grandfather gave speeches his name was brought up in practically every other sentence for a while when people pressed to get Sech back. Finally Raguna actually literally blurted out "Shut up! I hate war and if you use me as an excuse to start one I'll-" He was proud of the threat he'd come up with, but Ivan had rather wisely covered his mouth at this point and reminded him that threats were bad. This made him the symbol for child incompetence and honesty in the government as well.
In adition to that he was given the task of sitting and speaking with frivolous government officials who came to visit the country while his grandfather and Ivan spoke with people who were actually important.
This was why he was now sitting on a ridiculously low cushion (to look 'foreign'), feeling super conscious of his baby bump at four months pregnant as he waited for an utterly useless failure of a figure head to come in and take a seat. Apparently he'd been elected as the 'Prime Minister' of a country run by a combo of a royal family and a privately operated yet very popular police force (which raised so many questions). To help with his feeling about his stomach, the first thing the balding man did when he sat down on the other side of the small round table was laugh and pat Raguna's stomach while saying "I would have bailed on this meeting if I didn't get the chance to meet a pregnant boy out of it"
"Sir... please stop that" Raguna managed to get out. He could feel his cheeks burning.
"Aw, come on. We can play around a little" The man said "I didn't know you swung that way"
"I don't, you son of-" Raguna caught himself, took a deep breath, then said "Sir, please, this meeting is-"
"Pointless. We're both figure heads. Anything we say to each other means nothing. The country runs us. We're just here to say what they want, and if we don't they find someone eolse who will" The Prime Minister sighed "Of course, your a figure head because you naturally say what people want to hear. Your the kid who hates frivoulous palace life and doesn't want to be a symbol of war and speaks his mind so that the government looks a little more honest. So tell me, what am I a son of?"
Raguna sighed. Some part of him was nudging for him to summon a fireball on this man, but the part of him that wasn't succumbing to his embarasment and increasing iritation just yet was reminding him that should he harm this person he'd be in a lot of trouble. As personal experience had very recently taught him, harming popular figure heads was a good way to rally the people to fight you.
...
Then again, this person could hardly be so popular with such a personality. It couldn't be to harmful to just...
"Master Chairo" Tabatha, sensing his slipping control over his fists, pulled Raguna up "The king ordered us to return in a few minutes."
"Wouldn't he have said that up a little later?" Raguna asked
"Oh, well, he set it up earlier this morning, but it slipped my mind" Tabatha gave a sweet smile as she lied with disturbing ease "I think it's best we go now" she dragged Raguna out of the room then hissed "Raguna, you can't do that"
"Do what?"
"Harm our guests. I saw how badly you wanted to. Control yourself or..." she searched for a threat "Or... or I'll... I'll keep... no... you could easily do that. I won't... your to good with practical skills!" she exclaimed "I'll tell Ivan! That's all I can do! Rat you out! At least with Bianca I could give her meals she didn't like!"
Raguna just laughed and let Tabatha lead him away "Tell on me" he told her after a few minutes "That way I might get out of dealing with him again"
"Grow up" was all he got in response.
OXXXXXO
Rune Caster: Ugh... This is SO HARD to keep writing for. But I don't want to abandon it. I hate abandoning fanfics... agh...
It's not like I hate the whole things. Some chapters I really enjoy writing... but not this one... u.u
