Yuri yawned and rested his head back against the back of his seat, eyes drooping. Really, he knew he should have probably slept on the trip, and it had been a long trip, but to be quite honest he was actually pretty stressed out. Oh, sure, he knew the job. Sure, he knew what he was doing. He was a lord, for Gods' sakes, and he'd been dealing with politics for as far back as he could remember, which was pretty far back. When other boys had been playing with sticks as swords, he'd been tutored in letters and politics and history and any manner of things, and he'd been forced to take over for his father when he'd taken ill. Still, experienced though he was, and even though he'd been chosen to serve as the regent above the other likely candidates (some who he felt were far more qualified, but maybe he was just modest) it was still pretty nerve-wracking and he had to do his best not to show it. That was something he was fairly used to. Came with the territory, and he couldn't help but wonder if His Majesty himself ever got so nervous.
Probably not.
The coach he was traveling by jolted as the wheels went over a bump in the road, and Yuri glanced tiredly down at the sleeping boy that lay curled up on the seat next to him, head resting in his lap. Like usual, the five-year-old slept like a log, not even stirring or fluttering his eyes, and Yuri smiled a little and ran a hand through the boy's curly brown hair, which was so unlike his own long, straight blonde hair. Kids. They could sleep through anything, and Nathen had managed to sleep solidly for the last three hours, which also meant that his left leg was by now very, very numb and asleep because Yuri hadn't wanted to move and risk waking him. Not just because it was the fatherly thing to do, but also because Nathen could be pretty hyperactive and he was really, really tired.
Ah well.
He'd just have to remember not to stand up too quickly. What a great first impression that would be, stumbling out of the stagecoach and landing flat on his face because his leg had fallen asleep and he'd forgotten to shake it out first. Then he'd probably break it with his luck and wind up in the infirmary his first night here. That would be lovely! Sure, he was pretty clumsy but that really wasn't the sort of message he wanted to send to his people. A leader had to be strong! Solid! Bold! Fearless! And of course fair and wise and whatnot.
He fancied he fulfilled the last two requirements. Ahem. Hey, he'd always been so busy as a kid, he certainly hadn't had the time to learn swords like other boys.
Anyway! Thankfully, it wasn't much longer before the coach pulled to a stop within the castle courtyard, the gates closing behind them. Messengers, including some of his own servants, though some had also traveled with him, had been sent days in advance to make preparations for his arrival, though the plans regarding his position here had been made long before that. A servant opened the door for him, and Yuri turned to nudge Nathen awake. "C'mon, kiddo, wake up," he said softly, shaking him by the shoulders, and Nathen finally groaned, rubbed his eyes with a fist, and sat up blinking his blue eyes sleepily.
"Hey, we're here! Our new house, Nathen! Rise and shine, buddy," he told the half-asleep boy, tousling his hair before climbing down out of the coach--and nearly eating dirt. GYAH! Numb leg! He'd totally forgotten! It was only some very quick footwork that saved him from taking a rather graceless dive, somehow managing to stumble and catch himself on his still awake leg. It also helped that the coach was there to help support him while he waited for the pins and needles feeling to leave his leg, and thank Gods there were only servants and guardsmen about. It was pretty early in the morning, still.
But that didn't mean that went unnoticed, and he could hear Nathen giggling from where he now stood, still in the coach. Kids always found it funny when you nearly killed yourself. "Oh, now you're awake," Yuri teased, reaching up to take Nathen under the arms and swing him down into his grip. "I see how it is! Now, listen, buddy, I'm gonna have a lot of work to do, so you're just gonna have to go with Deleth and Xastre for a while, 'kay?" he whispered, tapping Nathen's freckled nose once before looking around at the small conglomeration of coaches and horses that carried various members of his house. The boy nodded and yawned, then rested his head on his father's shoulder, and Yuri looked back to him and smiled. He was tuckered out...which was pretty a pretty good thing, because Yuri wouldn't feel guilty when he had to dedicate the day (and week...and year...and who knows how long) to the mountains of work he was sure awaited him.
And boy, did a lot of work await him.
He'd hardly taken two steps toward the castle when he was swarmed by liveried servants and courtiers and military personel, each filling him in on the state of the kingdom, everything from the castle stores to the state of the cities to even the smallest details regarding the hierarchy of servants. Needless to say, it was a long walk--it probably took an hour--and Yuri did his best to set things in order on the spot, even though he felt sort of overwhelmed. Well...what had he expected? He only hoped what the orders he gave made sense.
In any case, it was a relief when he finally got inside and gave his last command to the last servant, and he was even more relieved when he was greeted by one of his own servants, a black-haired woman named Deleth who wore he long hair pleated. Well...perhaps servant wasn't the best term. She was a trusted member of his house and she dressed far too elegantly, in a blue gown, to be just a servant. Whatever. Anyway, Yuri had never been so glad to see her, and he spared no time in depositing a drowsy Nathen into her arms and walking off silently before she could utter a single exasperated word. Because she would get exasperated...and then she'd probably try and dump the boy on Xastre, wherever he was.
Even though she should be used to that by now, as she dumped Nathen on her all the time, heh.
Finally alone, Yuri could breathe easy for the time being, but he didn't take a break. He was tired, but there was so much work to be done...people to meet, paperwork to complete...so many things to set in order. He wandered about the castle, stopping here and there to question a servant, or be stopped by one that needed instruction on some task, but he finally did make it to his own quarters with some directions.
Reaching the door, he turned the handle and gently pushed the door open.
And for a long time, he could only stand there, gaping in horror, before he closed his blue eyes and took a deep, long breath.
Because there, on his desk, was a literal mountain of paperwork. Letters, figures, statistics, documents, records, requests...Gods, who knew what else? All work that needed to be completed, work that was just waiting for him. The "mountain" must have been at least three feet high!
Yuri finally opened his eyes. Yikes...well...guess he'd better get started. Rolling his shoulders back, Yuri marched bravely on over to face the menacing task ahead of him.
Gods help him.
