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It had been five years since Queen Ga’ran had been deposed and the Defense Culpability Act was ripped to shreds, and it had been a very good five years if you asked Ahlbi Ur’Gaid; the monk who was still in training continued to shrewdly work in guiding visitors and foreigners through the streets of Khura’in. Streets that were to this day continuing to be renovated as new construction projects continued to spring up all around the kingdom; change begat change and Khura’in’s change was making things very profitable for the teen boy. His dream of one day founding a museum That all said though, Ahlbi was having thoughts that were not appropriate for either a monk or a tour guide, thoughts that put both those sides of his character in jeopardy.
“What’s the matter Ahlbi?” Princess Rayfa asked him as he stood still in contemplation; the princess was by far his most frequent customer, regularly hiring him to guide her throughout the city, particularly those areas which were being reworked and fresh maps had to be made so that people didn’t follow old directions and walk right into a wall that hadn’t been there last week. Not that Ahlbi was looking at a wall, or thinking about a wall. He was looking at the beautiful young woman right next to him; Rayfa had always been very cute, and her dance of devotion was always an inspiration that any patriotic citizen was dutybound to appreciate, but now things were...different. He was different too. He’d gotten a lot taller in the past five years, growth spurts and growing pains alike making him move awkwardly in some tours, but he was always able to pass off those stumbles as part of his performance. The important part of that height increase was that his eyes were now level with Rayfa’s, which was a dangerous place for him to be looking. Not that there were exactly safe places to look at a princess who was so striking as she was as of late, but looking her in the eye meant she was looking him in the eye right back.
“Well...” Ahlbi did not like feeling so tongue tied, he couldn’t overcharge his customers with slick words about service fees if he couldn’t even get his words together to start. “Its just...this is your third tour with me this month.”
“Well of course it is.” Rayfa replied. What had once been a haughty overcompensation was now genuine confidence, and she absolutely deserved that confidence; her work in the new government was gaining steam and her popularity with the people was at the point that any day now her coronation as queen would be official. Not to mention that...well, the difference between her and the actress who had portrayed her on the Plumed Punisher had significantly closed the past five years. There was still a gap between them, but it required a most attentive eye to notice, and Ahlbi most certainly did not dedicate such an attentive eye to her royal highness’s figure! “You’re the best tour guide in the whole kingdom; I need to know how everything is growing and changing and you’re the best one to keep me alert to all that.”
“Well, I am the most qualified at that, you’re right about that.” Ahlbi started waving left and right on his feet, hands behind his head in a confident expression. “But!” He snapped out of it, realizing that the princess was playing him most expertly! “You know that there are other tour guides around, and...don’t you have staff and stuff who can show you how everything is changing?”
“I do.” Rayfa said. “And I have to keep them busy every time I want to go on one of our private tours together.” She crossed her arms irritably. “Honestly, I’m 19 now, I don’t need a chaperone just because I’m alone with a boy.”
Ahlbi felt his topknot twirl on his head. “And why is it important that I’m a boy?” Ahlbi said, knowing exactly why it was important that he was a boy. He was 14 now, and he was very much aware of the things boys thought when they were alone with a boy or girl that they were attracted to. He was thinking those thoughts right now.
“Well...” Rayfa had her finger on her chin, looking up and away from him; it was an act of mercy. “I’ve been thinking lately on who I would want as my Minister of Justice.”
“...Huh?” Ahlbi looked into Rayfa’s eyes.
“And I remember that day, five years ago, when a certain boy stood up to my accusations and helped his lawyer to clear his name and prove me wrong, and how that boy played a small yet pivotal role in changing everything. A brave, smart, confident boy like that, able to stand his ground for himself and those around him...a boy like that could grow into a fine Minister of Justice, don’t you think?”
“You mean that?” Ahlbi said. “You want me to become your Minister of Justice?” Ahlbi said, knowing that this was more than just a government position that she was talking about.
“Not right now of course.” Rayfa smiled and put her hand on top of his top-knot. “You’re not quite done growing up, and you’ll need to do some studying with Horn Head,” Apollo Justice, “but I think that since I’m planning on that, its okay for me to spend time with you like this.”
Ahlbi blushed. “I think so too, Princess Rayfa.”
“Just call me Rayfa; no titles, no embellishments. Just Rayfa.”
Ahlbi nodded. “All right then Rayfa.” Ahlbi took a deep breath. “Then how about we get back on this tour...oh, and also there’s a new tour guide policy I forgot to mention earlier; if you take my hand for at least half the tour, you get half off at the end.”
Rayfa took his hand. “Deal.”
Ahlbi walked with the princess, he saw the looks on people’s faces, and grinned like a loon.