King (almost sort of)

[Ael Aluciz]

Ael'iyon had opted (somewhat wisely) to hit the books.

He knew nothing about politics and ruling a nation, and he thought it best to research the history of the nations on the planet.

So now he pored over books on Amazonia and Tianxia (among others), and sighed as he scribbled down notes. "This is so complicated..."

Kanda looked over his sunglasses at the youth and made an amused sound in the back of his throat. "Ael'iyon, politics is a dangerous business. Maybe you should take the time to write a letter to someone in the hope that they'll help you. And I'd suggest inviting representatives or rulers of other nations to come visit us or something. But I wouldn't know, I'm only your bodyguard."

"Kanda, I'll trade you jobs."

Another amused sound from Kanda.

Ael'iyon looked up, his reading glasses completing the look of student he had with his white collared shirt and ash-colored slacks. The young man's braid was coming undone, but his eyes were bright and his face was determined. He said, "Then maybe you should let me study, Kanda. I'll do the letters and all that later."

"Fine, fine. Disregard the bodyguard in the corner."

Edited February 2, 2012 by Ael Aluciz

[Ael Aluciz]

[i]Really, I have nothing to lose. Here we go...[/i]

With a sigh, Ael'iyon looked over the letter he'd drafted.

[quote]From the desk of King Ael'iyon Trevan Nahali of Xendria

I write in the hope of establishing an alliance of some kind between our nations. As you may well know, we the people of Xendria are not at all used to being a nation on our own. I myself only became ruler as a cause of my mother's death, and it embarrasses me to say this, but I never put much interest into politics during my school years. My people are unsure of my authority and they doubt I can rule, being so young.

This letter is short because I have limited time available to write, but I am willing to make time should you desire to speak with me or a representative of my nation.[/quote]

It was good, it was concise... and it needed addressees. He put the letter aside, then picked up his list of people he wanted to send it to.

He looked up, and realized Kanda was gone. He's been acting strange lately, and Ael'iyon had been trying to figure out what it was the bodyguard was hiding from him for quite a while... It was time to do a little research on what was happening in his own court.

[b][i]In Private (unknown to Ael'iyon)[/i][/b]

"Sir Asphodel Rayne's office."

Kanda sighed. "Yes, please tell him Kandyn's calling."

"Right away. please hold." the receptionist said.

Two rings, and Asphodel was on the phone. "What do you need, Kandyn?"

Kanda took a shaky breath and murmured, "Asphodel... I can't pretend anymore. Ael'iyon's starting to notice I'm not what I say I am."

"There's obviously more to it than that, Kandyn. Are you at risk of being found out?"

Another shaky breath was dragged into Kanda's lungs. "Yes, I am. You know that he doesn't know that I'm really a woman." Kanda dropped the false voice that had become natural to her, returning to her feminine tone. "I'm pregnant, Asphodel. He's going to know."

[i]"What?"[/i] In his office, the blind knight slammed his fist on the desk. "Kandyn, you know that Ael'iyon can't find out that you're a woman and that you were actually the woman he was to marry in his arranged marriage. All he knows is that that woman mysteriously went missing, and that for protection, I employed you to keep him safe."

"And now I'm having your child. Asphodel, this has gone on long enough. I'm telling Ael'iyon tomorrow morning what we've been keeping from him for 8 years, because if he doesn't know as soon as possible, when he does find out, it'll be a shock to him. It's best he be told that a woman masquerading as a man has protected him since his fiancee went missing."