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Lord Joshua sat in his private chamber outside of where council met, going over the documents from the last meeting. He winced at the sheer amount of documents he had waiting for him, but then, such was a price to pay for being on council [and being the one responsible for the caretaking of the four heirs of the kingdom]. He picked up the top document, his eyes skimming over it, a frown slowly forming on his features as he read the intel report from his trusted aide (and foster son), Dram. Baron Dark - now /that/ was a name he hadn't heard in a long time. Now, what did that pompous blowhard want this /time/? And more to the point - why was Prince Z'neth meeting with him in secret and what could they be discussing? He let out a minor steadying breath. He'd worry about that headache later - right now, he had to attend to the continued issue of the safety of the kingdom. He did make a mental note to talk to Z'neth later. He owed it to his old friend to keep his children safe - and consorting with Baron Dark was decidedly not a safe move.
He set that document aside and picked up another, leaning back in his chair to read it. Ah, a much more pleasant topic to be sure - the response from Orak, the governor of one of their outlying provinces. A smile crossed his features - a confirmation to what they had discussed, the second born son, Prince Summit's betrothal to Orak's only niece, Lady Miriam. Joshua snorted at the minor note that in addition to that union, that Orak would appreciate it if Joshua would give his blessing to his nephew's union with that soldier that Summit was personally training. Well, he saw no issue with Lt Amod and Lord Zarkan's union - the two had more than earned that, especially when it had been Zarkan himself that had saved the life of his daughter. It was long overdue to reward the pair but, well, now he had the reason. He'd contact Orak later and give him a verbal confirmation, in addition to the written one. Satisfied, he turned his attention back to the pile and immediately wish he hadn't.
Another sixteen marriage requests for the only princess of the royal family. Apparently they were slacking since last week it had been nearly triple that, he thought with a bitterly amused snort. Ah, wait, fifteen marriage requests for Princess Apex. One was for his daughter, which had him arching his eyebrows as high as they could go. How the devil did he not see this one coming? He knew they had been friends since childhood - but how did he not see the crown prince himself requesting permission to, at least, court his daughter? Well, he'd let Prince Z'neth know that he could court his daughter - but he'd tell him later. Business first, pleasure later. He skimmed the various requests for Apex and snorted at half of them. Personally, he was tempted to throw them all in the closest fire pit and just hand her over to that young soldier who was guarding her, but no, he had to let Apex take a look at them. Then he could toss them - and then he could subtly push that young soldier..
Now, what was.. Ah, there. He picked up a document and settled back to read it - a report from Prince Peak's tutor. He groaned at reading it - once again, Peak had skipped out on his martial training in favor of more artistic pursuits. True, they had been at peace for heaven knew how many years, but peace wouldn't last forever and Peak would have to be ready to fight. He took a steadying breath. How best to rectify this? Perhaps the right incentive - that young female soldier, what was her name, Nora? Yes, Nora. Now, to convince her.. He winced.
"Something wrong, Father?" Dram asked as he approached his father, a tray of hot drinks in his hand.
"The only thing *not* wrong is that Orak's agreed to Miriam and Summit's wedding," Joshua said, taking one of the drinks once the tray was on the desk. "Z'neth's been meeting with Baron Dark, I have fifteen new marriage requests for Apex and one for your sister, and Peak's been skipping his military training lessons." He took a sip of the hot drink and looked at his only son. "Did I commit a crime in some past life to warrant all this headache?" he asked honestly.
"Not that I'm aware of," Dram said, settling into his usual chair. "So, little sister got her first marriage request," he said, chuckling.
"Don't remind me. I still see her hosting tea parties with her dolls when I look at her," he sighed, taking another sip.
Dram laughed, a deep booming laugh that echoed in the small room. "Don't let her hear you say that."
He set that document aside and picked up another, leaning back in his chair to read it. Ah, a much more pleasant topic to be sure - the response from Orak, the governor of one of their outlying provinces. A smile crossed his features - a confirmation to what they had discussed, the second born son, Prince Summit's betrothal to Orak's only niece, Lady Miriam. Joshua snorted at the minor note that in addition to that union, that Orak would appreciate it if Joshua would give his blessing to his nephew's union with that soldier that Summit was personally training. Well, he saw no issue with Lt Amod and Lord Zarkan's union - the two had more than earned that, especially when it had been Zarkan himself that had saved the life of his daughter. It was long overdue to reward the pair but, well, now he had the reason. He'd contact Orak later and give him a verbal confirmation, in addition to the written one. Satisfied, he turned his attention back to the pile and immediately wish he hadn't.
Another sixteen marriage requests for the only princess of the royal family. Apparently they were slacking since last week it had been nearly triple that, he thought with a bitterly amused snort. Ah, wait, fifteen marriage requests for Princess Apex. One was for his daughter, which had him arching his eyebrows as high as they could go. How the devil did he not see this one coming? He knew they had been friends since childhood - but how did he not see the crown prince himself requesting permission to, at least, court his daughter? Well, he'd let Prince Z'neth know that he could court his daughter - but he'd tell him later. Business first, pleasure later. He skimmed the various requests for Apex and snorted at half of them. Personally, he was tempted to throw them all in the closest fire pit and just hand her over to that young soldier who was guarding her, but no, he had to let Apex take a look at them. Then he could toss them - and then he could subtly push that young soldier..
Now, what was.. Ah, there. He picked up a document and settled back to read it - a report from Prince Peak's tutor. He groaned at reading it - once again, Peak had skipped out on his martial training in favor of more artistic pursuits. True, they had been at peace for heaven knew how many years, but peace wouldn't last forever and Peak would have to be ready to fight. He took a steadying breath. How best to rectify this? Perhaps the right incentive - that young female soldier, what was her name, Nora? Yes, Nora. Now, to convince her.. He winced.
"Something wrong, Father?" Dram asked as he approached his father, a tray of hot drinks in his hand.
"The only thing *not* wrong is that Orak's agreed to Miriam and Summit's wedding," Joshua said, taking one of the drinks once the tray was on the desk. "Z'neth's been meeting with Baron Dark, I have fifteen new marriage requests for Apex and one for your sister, and Peak's been skipping his military training lessons." He took a sip of the hot drink and looked at his only son. "Did I commit a crime in some past life to warrant all this headache?" he asked honestly.
"Not that I'm aware of," Dram said, settling into his usual chair. "So, little sister got her first marriage request," he said, chuckling.
"Don't remind me. I still see her hosting tea parties with her dolls when I look at her," he sighed, taking another sip.
Dram laughed, a deep booming laugh that echoed in the small room. "Don't let her hear you say that."
