Ishman Drabbles

King's Prince- Part 4

Shubman slowly stirred awake, stretching his arms and groaning. He felt well-rested despite being oddly spent, looking over and smiling at the cause of this feeling sleeping soundly in his arms.

Shubman knew he would have to get his day started, but did not want to wake Ishan as he certainly needed his rest. On the other hand, he frowned at the thought of his husband waking up alone, specially after they had spent such an intimate night together. Mulling over the dilemma in his mind, Shubman settled on kissing Ishan's entire face, making the smaller man scrunch his nose adorably, blinking himself awake.

"Shubman...?" He questioned sleepily, wrapping his arms around his husband and nuzzling into his chest. "I have to get ready for the day, love", Shubman told the smaller man, kissing his forehead, "You can go back to sleep, do not worry". Ishan made a small noise of protest, "Let us stay like this for a while, please".

Shubman could not refuse his husband's request. He knew he had not been giving Ishan his time properly, and felt guilty about being so swept up in his duties. "Alright, love", he obliged, peppering his husband's face with loving kisses, making the smaller man giggle.

"When are you due for a visit, Shub?" Ishan spoke up after a bit. "A visit?" Shubman questioned, puzzled. "Yes, you know, when you go amidst the commoners to try to learn of their hardships...?" The King of Illyria laughed at his husband's words, "Whatever do you mean, love? Do you want me to get assassinated?" Ishan covered Shubman's mouth with his palm, "Please, do not even mention such ghastly things ever again", he chastised, "I was asking because that was common for us to do in Meereen."

"Is that so?" Shubman asked, intrigued, "But the people can come to me if they have any grievances". Ishan nodded and said, "Yes, my King, it is just that my father told me it makes the King more approachable to the people, he not only gains their trust but also gets to see how the kingdom is functioning for himself".

Shubman hummed thoughtfully, "There is wisdom and merit in your father's words. Alright then, I shall go take a round of our territory, though accompanied by my guard and in diguise". Ishan rushed to say, "Thank you for heeding me but you really do not have to, my King, I was just wondering..."

"I know, love", Shubman shushed, "But you gave me valuable advice, and I can never ignore my beloved Consort's suggestions." Ishan smiled at his husband's words, touching their foreheads together and saying, hushed, "I must not keep you from your duties any longer, let us get started with our day", Shubman nodded, kissing Ishan's forehead before getting out of bed and dressing.  

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"I am glad my beloved Consort advised me to take a tour", King Shubman addressed his ministers, derision dripping from his tone, "I finally got to see for myself how utterly useless you all are!" He roared, slamming his palms down on the table. "The sewage system in Valyria? Appalling. And young girls are being sold off to brothels in Essos. Just what have you all been doing all this while?!"

The courtiers trembled in the face of their King's wrath, scrambling to come up with an answer. Khushpreet, the King's Minister, opened his mouth to speak, "My King, we-" Shubman cut him off with a raised palm. "Did I say I wanted to hear any of your pathetic explanations?!" He asked testily. "N-no, my King, I am sorr-"

"Save your apologies." King Shubman said, not having it. "I am giving you a month to fix this mess that you have created right under my nose. It was my mistake for trusting you." The ministers were alarmed, "But my King, that connectivity project-" Shubman abruptly turned to the poor man, snapping, "What about it?". At the King's dangerous tone, the minister quickly backtracked, "N-nothing, m-my King, i-it shall proceed a-at the same pace".

"Good." King Shubman said, narrowing his eyes. "Now get out of my sight before I have you all strung up by the neck for your incompetence". The courtiers scrambled to bow to the King at Shubman's dismissal, and bolted out of the room for their lives.

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A few days later at breakfast, Shubman and Ishan were sitting at the table, speaking to each other quietly. When the food arrived, Shubman instructed the maids to not serve it to Ishan. The smaller man, though bewildered by this decision, kept quiet and resolved to ask Shubman about it later in private, silently bemoaning the fact that he was hungry and being forbidden to eat for no apparent reason.

Before Ishan could start sulking, though, the maid re-entered, bringing with her some food items and serving them only to Ishan. Shubman was looking at Ishan very carefully to study his reaction, and the way his face lit up when he saw food items from the West was the most priceless thing Shubman had ever seen.

Misty-eyed, Ishan turned to his husband, knowing he was behind this. Shubman smiled and took Ishan's hand, "You have been pretending to like the food in the North really well, my Consort", Ishan opened his mouth, a polite denial ready at his lips, but was stopped by Shubman continuing, "I saw you finally drop the facade for a moment and grimace at the soup the other day, and realised how much you must have been missing your own cuisine".

"You are most observant, my King", Ishan complimented, squeezing Shubman's hand. Shubman just waved him off, saying, "I should have realised earlier. But, anyway, I wrote to your father and requested a Cook from Meereen, and the King very graciously agreed". Ishan was overwhelmed with gratitude and affection, "You are most thoughtful, my King. You are not only the best ruler I have seen, but also the best husband. I am so grateful and blessed." Shubman smiled, gently caressing Ishan's hand with his thumb. "Anything for my Consort".

The courtiers observed this exchange covertly, some smiling at the display of love, while certain others with displeasure. One such Minister was Khushpreet. It was to be expected from someone as corrupt as him to be miffed that the King had learnt of his poor administration. He seethed as he thought to himself, "This new bed-warmer has become more of a pain than he should. I need to separate him and the King, and very soon".

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A/N: Guys I know this is a really short update and I'm not satisfied with this chapter myself. But what to do? I'm going through a really devastating case of Writer's Block right now and literally had to force myself to write. We roll, I guess.