Tyrants and Other Soft Creatures

Chapter 1 - Paul

To be stuck between a rock, and another rock. Yes, once he was told this as a youngling, it made zero sense. Why would it? Well,

"Yeah, no, I'm definitely getting it now." He groaned pitifully.

"Yield, I yield. Yeesh, don't look so smug. " He croaked

Her boots clattered against the floor as the woman walked toward him.

"Baron, while you put up a good fight, I'm worried about you. You've been a bit, well..., off."

"Off? Is that all you've noticed?" He scoffed.

"I know, I know, it's a silly thing to say considering, well, that," she stated pointing to the large gash on his head, poorly covered by too large plasters that were getting stuck to both his skin and his dark brown hair.

"Well, that and you look a mess." she chuckled.

He sighed, scowling.

"My mom thinks she can get away with anything! This isn't a kingdom, it's a freaking dictatorship!" he yelled out into the sky. She gave an exaggerated sigh, playfully mocking him.

"Look kid, Baron, I like you, I really, really do. You're a great friend and sparring partner, and I know you definitely came out here to distract yourself and not to get a pep talk, but really, you're a kid. " She waves her arms hurriedly, "But I don't mean that to be condescending, because you are smart, but maybe you take things the wrong way? Your mom has a lot of pressure on her right now, and you do too. We all do. I mean, definitely you guys have more though, but you get it right? It's stressful. Anyways, what I'm trying to say is, give her a break. She's a good person with a lot of stress. It doesn't make what she did okay, but she's worried about you going out in these, err, uncertain times. " Callie ruffles Baron's hair playfully. He grimaces with a reluctant huff.

"Yeah, you're right." He slowly walked over and picked up his fencing sword.

"Can we just spar again? And maybe like, not talk about this anymore?" She shrugged in reply.

" Sure, little dude. On the bright side, your mom will be happy you're training. " He cringed.

He already knew, of course, she wasn't a bad person. His mom, the queen, could never. But she had a lot of stress as a ruler. Even if it was of a small, still work-in-progress country. And he, as a teen and a king since his father died, hated it. Sure, he was stressed too, and maybe, just maybe, it made him act a tiny bit out of line sometimes, but it was still unfair how she got off blowing her steam scot-free. He knows he himself is stressed but wonders if she even considers that too. But she could never be a bad person. Especially not since her subjects loved her to pieces. She set up homeless shelters, new job opportunities, free healthcare for the sick, injured, children, and elderly alike, and even took care of kids while visiting the local daycares in her free time. She was the opposite of bad, a whole saint.

It didn't matter what she was like to him. He's a kid and a king. She's a good person, and even good people make mistakes, especially if you're a ruler with a kid on your plate. Besides, it was his own fault for acting out of line anyway. His mother would always tell him to never second-guess the advice of good people, and that's how she became a ruler. But in secret, sometimes he does anyway.

It's obvious he's overthinking. He knows he is and yet, he can't seem to stop. Callie is right, she always is. She's always been there, as the best big sister he's ever had, and always wanted. He's almost certain his mother wanted that too. She gives Callie these big soft grins, eyes crinkling up in a much fonder way than when she looks at him. She's often to be found looking over the guard's training area from above on the balcony; guards all sweaty and scattered below. Callie would always be the first to spot her, looking up ahead and grinning back at her with a big thumbs up. Mother would always look delighted, her eyes and smile crinkling up again in her enamored way. Callie was always oblivious once she turned away, her long ginger hair sweaty and sticking to her forehead.