pater regis {hiatus}

step ii. don't yell at other royals

Waking up was always the worst part of Reba's day.

He rolled over in his bed to face the window. There were still a few minutes before he would have to get up and face the day, but until that time, he liked to be alone with his thoughts. Reba enjoyed the peace and quiet- God knows he didn't get much of that anymore.

Once he was in the full swing of things, he was able to deal with all the duties that being the ruler presented to him. He could attend balls, be the figurehead of the government, deal with the members of his court who would suck up to him in exchange for some power. He could easily put on his game face, hide his feelings, be in control.

Reba guessed he just wasn't a morning person.

'Sire, you have to be controlled,' Max would always remind him before he did anything in the mornings. He knew it, he knew he had to smile coldly and pretend he didn't have emotions, pretend he didn't see the glares of his courtiers, pretend nothing could bother him.

Nobody saw the breakdowns, nobody saw the effort it could take to force himself to get out of bed. Only Max and the servants knew what the king was really capable of. They heard the cries of a man who was broken by his love for his people. Broken by his promise to his father.

Enough. You need to keep yourself together.

Reba's phone buzzed on his bedside table, startling him. He picked it up to see a phone call from Max. He groaned, then answered the call.

'Max.'

'Sire.'

'Why are you calling me at six in the morning?'

'I wasn't sure if you'd remembered that we have a visitor today.'

Oh, fuck. The Ikarian.

'I was happier in my short lived ignorance. Thanks for reminding me.' Reba could almost see Max rolling his eyes.

'Regardless of whether you wish to see her or nor, her visit is imperative. We need to win her over, to turn the Ikarians against the Ionns. It's not going to be an easy feat.'

'Oh, perfect,' Reba said sarcastically. Just perfect.

'Well? Are you up yet?'

'If I said yes, would you believe me?'

'No. Get up.'

Reba sighed. 'Fine. I'll meet you in the Great Hall.'

'Very good. I'll see you there. Oh, and this time, let the attendants dress you.'

Reba heard the click in his ear, and resisted the urge to fling his phone out of the window.

******

'You look like crap,' Max remarked as Reba stalked up to him, a sour expression on his face. Reba glared at his friend. 'You don't look much better, yourself.'

Max rolled his eyes and asked, 'What's the angle you're going to go with today?' Reba looked upwards, a nervous habit of his.

'The Ionns are slowly becoming a threat to several smaller nations, including Kada. Most of Ikari's building materials come from us and Godost, so if we're gone, they lose that. An emotional appeal might be best, considering...' Reba trailed off.

'Considering?'

'Considering their own love for their own civilians. If I bring up the unnecessary death toll caused by the Ionns, perhaps they'll be more sympathetic to our situation. God, we need them on our side, Max, or we're screwed. We are done for.'