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Leona groaned.
He had been working all morning and now the afternoon sun was gleaming through the windows, warming the room just enough that it was just begging him to sleep.
Ruggie had abandoned him just minutes ago to grab some lunch but not without a strict warning that if I come back and you are dozing off I will fill your entire schedule with back to back meetings with your brother! Don't think I won't!
Leona had only called his bluff once, he didn't make that mistake ever again.
Sometimes he wondered who actually had the most power in this kingdom, each day he was becoming less and less sure it was his brother.
The door burst open and Leona quickly sat up, all drowsiness chased off by - not fear he is not afraid of Ruggie shut up. Only to realize it was the only other person in the entire kingdom who would disturb him unannounced
“Uncle Leona!”
“Cheka.”
The Heir had grown quite a bit these past few years, no longer a young child the boy was hitting his early tweens, though none the less peppy and bothersome.
Still was he a worthy distraction from paperwork?
“Uncle, can I ask you something?”
No, no he was not.
“Isn't that what you have your mother, your father, his squawky advisor, those two idiots in charge of you, and literally anyone else for?”
“But I wanna ask you!”
Leona groaned, not yet willing to accept his fate that this would be the next couple hours of his life yet.
“And why ever would you want to do that?”
“Because-because-”
Now that was a change of pace, usually Cheka wasn't shy about intentions, still the young boy shut the door and leaned forward, still not quite getting the concept of whispering but definitely a few decibels softer.
“Because father doesn't want me to know!”
Ok now Leona was interested.
His brother was many things but he was usually straightforward with the future king, explaining things most children wouldn't need to know but the heir to a throne would.
So what on earth would his brother keep from Cheka?
Leona leaned forward, brushing the paperwork to the side, “Color me intrigued. What is it you wish to know?”
Cheka blushed and-
Oh no
“Am I gonna marry Nora?”
What
Nope. nope
Nevermind, paperwork was definitely better than this conversation.
Leona refused to have any conversation about romance with his nephew, with anyone!
How dare his brother foster this one off on him!
“Why the he-ck are you asking me!?”
Cheka stomped his foot childishly, “Because when I asked dad he said I was too young to know! And everyone else told me to ask someone else so clearly dad told them not to answer me, but you're always honest and don't listen to dad anyways so-so!”
Ok this was clearly freaking the kid out and Leona was uncomfortable as all hell but regardless of what Ruggie says he wasn't cruel.
Much
“Ok ok, kid,” Leona tried to calm the kid, quickly coming up with a plan. The best way to do this was as fast as possible so he didn’t have to do it any longer than absolutely necessary while also being clear enough he would never be asked about this again, but not so clear he traumatized the poor kid. After that he could murder his brother for putting him in this situation and cast a memory spell to wipe this entire conversation from his mind, “ You're way too young to think about marriage. At this point the most you can get are like crushes.”
“Crushes? What are those?”
Oh god this kid was sheltered, did Leona ever have crushes at that age? No, he's pretty sure he was already in full angst mode.
“Um… shi-oot. It's like you see her and...uh butterflies?” Yeah that's what happens in sappy love stories right? God why is leona doing this he hates talking about feelings.
“Butterflies?” Great, now Cheka just looks confused.
“Yeah in your stomach.”
“I've never eaten a butterfly with Nora, sometimes my guards will eat grubs and let me try some but-”
“No, no.” He should probably tell his sister in law about the whole eating bugs thing but that's a later problem. “Ok how else is it described, um… Your heart beats fast when you see her? And your palms get sweaty?”
“Like when I'm afraid?”
“Yeah? Sort of?”
“The only time I was afraid with Nora was when we followed Ruggie home and those guys tried to take our stuff.”
“....I'm sorry, you did what?”
Ok that was a whole story he needed to find out.
“Uncle I dont think ive felt that around Nora any other time either.”
Right current problem.
“Ok, You don't get nervous around Nora, do you think she's pretty? Want to hold her hand? Kiss her?”
Cheka made a rather hilarious disgusted face, “Gross! No! She's my friend! Why would I want to do that?!”
“I don't know kid, why do you want to marry her?” Leona groaned, head in hands.
“I don't! But Kifaji said when we grow up I'm gonna marry Nora and no one will tell me why!”
That stupid fucking bird!
Leona was going to pluck every single feather off his head and throw him to the hyenas!
Right after he dealt with a certain hyena laughing outside his door.
“RUGGIE”
A faint yelp came from the hallway before the doorway opened and a sheepish but still chortling hyena came through carrying a tray of food.
“You uh, you knew I was there the whole time?”
Do you think I would have let you listen to that horrific conversation if I did?
Still Leona just jerked his head to the empty table with a growled “ Sit”
Ruggie was smart enough to comply.
Leona turned back to his nephew, “Cheka, other than the outdated arranged marriages that your father was actually smart enough to deny, no one knows who you're going to marry when you grow up. That stupid bird was simply making assumptions about your future. Nothing is decided and your father isn't keeping anything from you.” Unfortunately. “As for crushes and if you’ll marry her in the future, who can say. Certainly not me. Mostly because I don't want to say. Please never ask me these kind of questions again.”
Cheka nodded thoughtfully before looking up shyly, “And… other kinds of questions?”
Leona sighed, “If your father ever does keep something from you, then sure, I’ll listen. Maybe. Don't bother me if I'm napping.”
Cheka grinned and clapped his hands together, “Thank you uncle! Bye Ruggie! I'm gonna go tell Nora the good news!”
Ruggie waved and smiled as they watched the cub scamper out the door. Waiting a few minutes before turning back to Leona.
“So… Butterflies?”
“I’m going to sleep"
Ruggie cackled.