Chapter 7 – Lessons in Being a Good Queen

It was a beautiful morning and Ryoma was sleeping in bed peacefully until he was rudely awakened by the sound of a blasted instrument of some sort.

HONK!

"Hey, what the heck?!" he blurted out in surprise, sitting up in bed, feeling very much awake. The boy looked up to see a man with neat purple hair and amazingly silver eyes, wearing a formal suit and thin-rimmed glasses and was holding a horn in his hand which looked like the ones clowns usually used but it was a fancy looking horn.

"Who the fuck are you?" asked Ryoma sounding quite irritated, glaring at the man standing before his eyes. It was quite rude of him to suddenly wake him up in a not so gentle way, preferring to cause a loud ruckus. He didn't even know the man.

"I am Yagyuu Hiroshi. I say, a queen does not curse and a queen must wake up early for her or rather, with your situation, his duties." He stated, placing his hand to his chest as he bowed. "I am going to be your tutor and you are going to learn how to act like a proper queen."

Ryoma scoffed. Learn? What is this, school? He didn't need to take any lessons, thank you very much. Besides, how hard could it be? It's just manners and etiquette, right?

"Why should I?" the young boy snarled. "For your information, I know all there is to know and learning things I already know are quite boring, ne? I'm going back to bed." He huffed, lying down the bed, covering his body with blanket, and hugging the pillow right next to him as he went back to sleep. Unfortunately, before he could go to his dreamland, he felt the blanket pulled away from him. Feeling uncomfortably bare without the blanket, he sat up and stared menacingly at Yagyuu.

"What?!" he snapped at the older man. This man had already gotten in his nerves the first time he saw him. Really? Who disturbs a good sleep? One of the things that make him stay sane was sleep especially with his situation. Who'd want to marry a person they didn't know who? Unless the person's rich and you're a greedy thick-faced bastard, you might not care at all as long as you'll be loaded with money. Too bad he wasn't. And some of the servants try to brainwash him with all the good stuff once he marries Yukimura. The bastard's probably still angry at him after what happened yesterday.

"A queen does not raise his or her voice. Prince Yukimura told me to do by all means anything just as so you'd have your lessons. I thought I needn't to but it seems he was right. I don't mean to be rude, but you're just as he said, "a rude, stubborn, reckless, hardheaded brat." Although, to be more polite, I wouldn't call you with such names but I have to agree with his majesty."

"Yukimura ordered you?" Ryoma asked; he scoffs when Yagyuu answered his question with a nod. The bastard was indeed still angry at him and this was probably a plan to get back at him. It could've been worse. Just lessons, right? There's no harm in it.

"It's to prepare for the ball. The king has invited the whole kingdom to hear the announcement of your engagement to our prince Yukimura Seiichi." Yagyuu informed, pushing his glasses up with a finger, "You will be entertaining the guests especially since it's for your reputation with your future subjects. A queen must be after all, someone who is well-respected by her or his subjects."

Ryoma nods. It was reasonable enough. He wasn't planning on embarrassing himself anymore, not after the incident with Sanada and especially not in front of the king. Somehow, he had a profound respect for him unlike Yukimura who's a prince but was a really sadistic bastard. There wasn't anything to describe him with but a bastard... and not to mention a pervert, a pedophile, a sly fox, and a molester.

"I guess I can take the lessons." the boy shrugged.

Besides, what could possibly go wrong?

"A queen does not slouch. A queen does not cross his or her legs and then kick in the air. A queen does not snort-" Yagyuu paused as he saw that Ryoma wasn't paying attention to him and was now sleeping in his seat. He raised his brow amusedly and went to him to wake him up. He placed his hand on the boy's shoulder and shook him gently. The boy didn't show any signs of waking up so he shook him again.

"Echizen-kun, wake up." he said softly to the boy but unfortunately, he sat still asleep. "Echizen-ku-"

SMACK!

Ryoma's fist collided with his cheek. Yagyuu's glasses were knocked off his face and he stumbled; falling to the floor. He looked up in surprise at the fully awake golden-eyed boy who stared at him in shock.

"Sorry." He said awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "I thought you were Yukimura about to... No, it's nothing. Just continue the lesson."

Yagyuu picked up his glasses and wore it back on. He stood up and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and spoke, "Very well. A queen must always pay attention to his or her surroundings, never getting lost in his or her thoughts. Sit and stand up straightly, keep your chin up and-"

The sound of snoring disrupts his speech and he looked to where the snoring came from. Ryoma was sitting in his seat and he was now back asleep.

"…"

"Again!" said Yagyuu as Ryoma fell to the floor, books scattered all over. The emerald-haired boy gritted his teeth as he picked up the books and stood up wobbly. Heels! Ever since he was first told to wear them he hated them. For fuck's sake, he was a guy and a guy does NOT wear heels! Unfortunately, he was to be a queen but even if you were a male queen instead of a female one you still had to learn how to walk with these stupid things and wear stupid dresses. Talk about a drag queen.

Ryoma put the books back on his head as he stood straightly, trying to balance them as he slowly walked. He suddenly lost his balance as he was going to take another step forward and fell back to the floor along with the books. He heard the sound of tongue clicking and glared up at Yagyuu who shook his head disappointedly.

"This will not do…" the man said, rubbing his temples. The young future queen of Rikkai hadn't made any progress; he had been complaining and complaining about the heels; kept losing his balance and falling. Ryoma felt as if he had lost a bit of his dignity as a man. This was utterly humiliating. If his family and friends were here, they'd laugh at him!

Yagyuu held his hand out to Ryoma to help him get back on his feet but the boy only slapped it away and got back up on his own. Yagyuu thought he was probably embarrassed or it was probably his pride. Either way, it was rude to just slap away his hand like that when he only wanted to help him stand up.

"You know I was only trying to lend you a hand." he sighed, pushing his glasses up. This boy, how did it ever occur to Yukimura to pick such a person with the lack of potential as queen? That, he didn't know. He could've just accepted his hand but no, he just had to be the stubborn person he was.

"I don't need help from anyone." Ryoma grumbled, crossing his arms. With a tired look on his face, he said, "Can't I just take a lesson other than this?"

Yagyuu shook his head and heaved another sigh.

"I suppose so…"

"That's a teaspoon."

"Che!" Ryoma spat, putting back the spoon on the table. They were all spoons! Why should he care if it was a demitasse spoon, a teaspoon, a soupspoon, or whatever fucking spoons there are, are used for? He could use any kind of spoon he wants and use it for eating! Why do spoons like these have to have different kinds of uses? The first and second time he ate here, people didn't even seem to mind what spoon or fork or knife he used.

"Now which is the dinner knife." said Yagyuu as he watched Ryoma who was trying to guess which was which. Just before he was going to pick up a knife, Yagyuu spoke up,

"That's the salad knife."

Ryoma cringed. He slammed the table with his fists; the silverware making clattering sounds as the table shook slightly.

"They're all the same! They're all spoons, knives, and forks! They just have different shapes and sizes!" he shouted, pointing a trembling finger at the stupid silverware on the table.

"Yes," the four-eyed man said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. God, this kid was hard to handle. He's taught so many people and they seemed to get his lessons easily but this boy, this boy was impossible!

"Then why do they each have to be used differently?!" the boy asked exasperatedly, his fingers were twitching.

"Maybe if you stopped complaining, we would've progressed further with your lessons." Yagyuu said as a matter-of-fact. The emerald-haired boy lowered his head. It was a quick movement but he saw that he was rather pink in the cheeks before they were hidden from view by his bangs. He was probably trying to hide his embarrassment. How typical.

"Let's try something else then." he suggested instead. It was low but he heard the boy answered; mumbling "fine."

Ah… The feeling of triumph was indeed good especially under these circumstances and somehow he felt rather smug.

"You're doing it wrong, Echizen-kun." Yagyuu said pointedly. Ryoma stood there; his hand holding Kirihara's and the other on his shoulder. Surprisingly, the boy said nothing.

"Kirihara is the one who's going to lead you, not you leading him." He pointed out. For once, Ryoma didn't complain. Even when it's about the fact that he was fulfilling the female role of dancing and for that, Yagyuu was thankful. He needn't to hear any of Ryoma's loud rantings.

"Anou…" Kirihara cut in; the raven-haired servant boy sounded quite unsure of himself. "Why do I have to be his partner? You're his tutor, right? Why don't you dance with him? I mean…This doesn't really apply to me."

Ryoma made a small sound as if he was trying to stifle a laugh and that had caught Kirihara's attention.

"What?!" the servant snapped sharply at him. Ryoma rolled his eyes and scanned him plainly before staring at him with a contemplating look on his face.

"You just don't know how to dance, do you?"

There. He said it. It seemed to have pressed Kirihara's buttons because right now, the servant boy was fully red in the face; both anger and embarrassment.

'Oh, no…' Yagyuu thought dreadfully, placing a hand on his forehead. Here it comes.

"What do you mean I don't know how to dance?!" he yelled at the future queen of Rikkai who was now pretending to be innocent.

"But you don't know how, don't you?" Ryoma flashed a mischievous toothy grin. Oh, he was so enjoying humiliating Kirihara right now. Why act so defensive when it's already obvious? What an idiot.

Kirihara was now shaking in anger but then he suddenly put on a devilish smirk before he spoke,

"And you say that so smugly when you don't even know how to dance yourself, do you?"

Ryoma scoffed, his eyes were wide as he was ready to strike back defensively.

"Oh, for your information, I do so know how to dance myself! I'm not someone like you, who's so angry about being told not knowing how to dance, let someone younger lead him in dancing when he should be leading!" he shouted accusingly. Kirihara tightened his hold on Ryoma's hand and pushed him close to him; their faces were so close, their noses were just an inch apart. He stared into Ryoma's eyes challengingly.

"Let me show you then." He said in a husky voice; it sent shivers down Ryoma's spine. The younger boy covered his shock by putting on a skeptical look on his face. They both looked at Yagyuu and spoke in chorus,

"Turn the music on."

"I'm gonna teach him the tango!" Kirihara licked his lips. Yagyuu couldn't do anything but turn the music on for the boys to start dancing. Why did he even take this job? He watched in amusement as the boys danced, stepping on each other's feet, and shouting loudly nonstop. It was worse for Kirihara since Ryoma was wearing heels and that was what Yagyuu had feared. Maybe he shouldn't have agreed to teach Ryoma in the first place. What was the reason he even took his job again?

"I am giving you the chance to teach my fiancé how to be a proper queen and a wise ruler for the kingdom." said Yukimura with a very cheerful smile on his face. Yagyuu was surprised and very well delighted because he was going to teach their future queen. It was a once in a lifetime chance!

"Thank you, your majesty. I won't disappoint you." Yagyuu bowed politely, although he didn't show it, his heart racing in excitement. He couldn't wait to teach the prince's fiancé! He knew that as a prince, Yukimura would pick the finest of brides.

"Yes… And one thing, my fiancé isn't really used to being called 'your majesty,' 'your highness,' and things alike so you may just call him 'Echizen-kun.' By all means and by all means, I mean ALL means do everything you can do to make him learn how to act proper enough before the ball. He's kind of a rude, stubborn, reckless, hardheaded brat but I'm very sure if it was you, there wouldn't be a problem at all. I know how much you're a gentleman, Hiroshi, but I advise you to just cast off this gentleman side of you if you were to teach my Ryoma."

"I beg your pardon?" said Yagyuu in slight surprise. Yukimura put a hand to his mouth as he chuckled lightly.

"I meant what I said and that was an order you need to take." The bluenette prince said firmly. Yagyuu looked at him confusedly but nevertheless, he nodded, excited to teach the prince's fiancé.

Oh, how wrong had he thought? Finest of brides! He was so excited but he never expected that what the prince was said was even worse than that!

'How disappointing...'

"Stop stepping on my feet, dumbass!"

"You stop stepping on mine, you fucking midget!"

He really was regretting taking this job.

To be continued…

TheBitterMoon: You guys may or may not have noticed it, but the writing style, as what my soul mate had said, of this chapter seems to be better than the previous one's. That's because this was made a few weeks later than the previous so there had been improvements. I apologized for the late update. I had too much of a writer's block. Please do leave reviews! They are very much appreciated.