Chapter 9: What Is the Count Planning?

"The Community Clinic Project is slowly showing some popularity already within the outer slums. Have you been able to gather any statistics from them?" Ísar asked the Count while he himself was going through several requests sent from the other nobles.

"Of course your majesty," the Count said as he read through some files. "It is noted that most people at first were apprehensive of the project. Aid mostly came from the temples so the first couple of days showed no results. So far, the biggest pool of patients has been pregnant women and the elderly."

Ísar hummed as he rejected a baron's complaint about the increase of taxes placed on luxurious items. "We agreed to keep the makeshift clinics running for a month, correct?"

"Yes, your majesty."

"Send Countess de Beaumont to the clinics and have her and her apprentices make rounds to their different locations around the capital. She's the only trained high noble in medicine as of now," Ísar said as he rubbed the side of his head.

He closed his eyes and placed his hands on both sides of his head, the splitting headache he woke up with was getting worse.

"Are you unwell, your majesty?" the Count asked, that mask of worry back to his aging face.

Ísar sighed and leaned back into his chair. Half the requests from the nobles were complaints about the mere suggestion around increasing taxes. He had only brought it up, the benefits outweighing the negatives from what he could see.

He hated that he needed their support, that fact meaning that him avoiding the social scene had become a problem.

His most loyal noble subject was his swordsmanship teacher and that was only because the man simply did not care about anything but a non-stressful life and money. General Björn was only loyal to the crown, it did not matter who was wearing it as long as they were a Jovevski, and Count Pierre was an ambiguous man that Ísar unfortunately needed.

How am I going to get a majority vote on this?

"King…King…"

"LET ME OUT!"

Ísar twitched at the scream he'd heard from the voices. They were getting more distinct by the day and the more he heard them, the more a growing feeling of being 'full' overcame him. The increasing frequency at which he was beginning to tell which voice was which was starting to worry him. He knew he needed help but after everything that happened not even a month ago, where would he go and who could he have asked?

Ísar could barely remember the peace he'd felt the other day with his friends.

The memory of having brunch with them felt like a thing of the distant past instead of just two hours ago.

Watching Osayi conduct one of his pranks on a poor passing guard, magic to make it drizzle softly just on the guard. They watched with roaring laughter as the man looked like he was losing his mind asking everyone else if they could feel rain as well.

He remembered how Xinghua would at times lean into Ísar, their shoulders pressed against each other, and how much Ísar didn't want to leave that moment.

He couldn't wait for the festival tomorrow.

"It's fine. I'm fine. What time is it?" Ísar asked with another sigh, leaning forward and getting back to work.

"It should be three hours past noon, your majesty. I hope you're not skipping lunch entirely again," the Count said with a teasing smile that never really reached his eyes. "Your majesty?"

Ísar dropped his pen to focus on the Count, the serious tone of his voice catching the young king's attention.

"I have a question regarding your future enrollment to the Academy. Usually, the king would have graduated before claiming the throne," the Count said, stalling his question.

"What is your question, Count?" Ísar asked bluntly.

"What is to be done about your duties within the kingdom while you are at the academy?"

"I will continue to perform them while at the academy," Ísar said with furrowed eyebrows, finding the question quite dumb. "I would also, obviously, assign the Grand Duke as regent King while I finish my studies. Would you have me be the first King in the known world to not have attended the Academy since its creation?"

"No, your majesty, of course not! I was merely wondering as I worry you might have too much on your plate already. Adding in your studies might be overbearing," the Count hurriedly said. "But, your majesty. The Grand Duke has been away from kingdom affairs for a very long time. Why the man had been reclusive even when I was a child."

The Count laughing at his own joke made Ísar frown.

"He is my closest blood relative that is closest in rank to me. It would be unprecedented to appoint anyone else. He's also the Grand Duke of our largest territory in the North. Who would you suggest, if not him?"

He's going to say himself, isn't he?

"No law states the regent has to be blood related. They merely need to be of high nobility and decent enough for the role," the Count said while straightening his collar. "I do believe that I would be most suitable. I have been a royal aide for over two decades. Unless, there is a particular reason why your majesty would oppose."

What a bold yet sly way to put your name in the hat, Count. I really want to know what you're planning under all of this.

"…We can discuss this later. We have some more months before that decision needs to be made and I have important guests to attend to."

The Count's smile fell slightly at the mention of his important guests. Count Pierre did not like Xinghua or Osayi which did not surprise Ísar. The man had worked with the former King, a man well-known for his disdain towards foreigners of any kind.

Unless they were a beautiful woman or girl he could practically kidnap. Oh gods above, that was my father? How humiliating.

Ísar couldn't get rid of him or most of the people his father left behind. They had more influence than he did within the general social scene, a trustworthy reputation and for one, they were adults.

"Those two are returning to their lands soon, correct?"

He didn't even try to hide his haughty attitude this time. "Prince Oduwaye leaves in two days. Imperial Son Xinghua will be here for another four days as discussions with the former right aide about the fallen engagement are taking longer than expected." Ísar got up from his seat and walked towards the door, adjusting clothes.

"As you say, your majesty," the old man said with a resigned sigh. "I hope you enjoy your time with the foreign royals, my liege. Do return safely and I ask you to be careful an—"

"Count."

"Yes, your majesty?"

"I must ask you to stop talking to me like you are my father or a kind of guardian. I am your employer, you my employee. I am your king, and you are my subject. Be careful."

The Count blinked in shock, then closed his eyes and bowed low. Though not before Ísar noticed his lips twitch and how it looked like the Count was trying not to laugh. "Of course, your majesty. This humble servant greatly apologizes for such a blunder."

He's mocking me, Ísar thought as he stared at the Count's bowed form. He wondered if he was supposed to let it go, like he had been doing since meeting the older man. The young king needed him, but not to the point that he'd gladly take any and all forms of disrespect.

"Count Pi—"

"King Ísar Jovevski!~" Osayi sang before rushing into the King's study, the guard at the door looking like she was at a loss for words. "You are late for lunch and you have made Hua Hua quite sad! You use him for sword practice then toss him to the side like a ruffian! I thought you a gentleman, my king!"

Osayi's dramatics, the faux-fainting, clutching of pearls and everything, almost instantly calmed Ísar down. Even if Ísar had no idea what he was talking about.

All he understood was that Xinghua was upset so he had to leave.

"I'll return after lunch," Ísar told the Count before Osayi dragged them out. He'd caught the Prince give the Count a mock salute before the door was shut, making Ísar laugh.

"I do not like that man, Rico," Osayi said in his mother tongue, his usual smile not in place and it was such an odd look that Ísar instinctively got worried.

"Did he say anything to you? Did he hurt you in some way and you didn't inform me?" Ísar asked in the Prince's language, stopping their journey to the dining hall to inspect Osayi's face.

The other boy's smile was back as he shook his head. "Oh gods no. One hit from me and that mummified corpse would turn to dust. Look at me," Osayi said while flexing his arm muscles making Ísar chuckle quietly.

"You are far too silly to be real at times, Osayi." Ísar bumped the other's arm lightly.

"And you are far too anxious to be human. Really, you're like one of those fluffy rabbits. Or no wait, a kitten!" the Prince said with a laugh as he bumped Ísar back. "I respect your position as a king and all but I'm sorry, seeing your tiny self on that throne looking all serious made me want to fall back in laughter."

Ísar pouted—frowned—and bumped Osayi again. It turned into a game of bumping shoulders until they reached the dining hall. By that point, the game had turned into Ísar scrambling to get out of Osayi's headlock while the young king was uncharacteristically biting the prince's arm.

Neither of them were going to forget standing in front of Xinghua with their heads down as the Imperial Son reprimanded them, reminding them of their stations.

CREATORS' THOUGHTS
itoade

Hey everyone! I apologize for not updating for two days. I got a cold and have not been feeling well which didn’t help with writing properly. Please let me know what you think of this chapter!

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