Pretender to the Throne(26)
He opened the limo door and before she could fully process her movements, she got out and was assaulted by a barrage of flashes and shouts. He took her arm and she kept her face tilted down as they walked into the hospital.
He released his hold on her when they were near the doors, then stood in front of her, the gesture oddly protective as he turned, addressing the press. “I will speak to you when we are done here. For now, my priority is to see how the most vulnerable of my country are getting on. I have brought with me an ambassador, one who knows the struggles of all of you. Please treat her with respect.”
He turned back to the doors, his hand on her arm again as he led her into the hospital.
The hospital administrator was waiting for them and after making introductions it was clear Xander was waiting for her to lead things. “Is the hospital large enough to accommodate all of the patients that you need to see?” she asked.
“Prince Stavros has done an amazing job of building up our research center,” the woman said. Her manner was reserved. Almost cold. She was trying to be friendly, especially since Xander was there to give money, but there was a brittleness there she wasn’t hiding well. “As a result we’re well-equipped in many areas, but yes, things are starting to feel understaffed, and the children’s ward especially is very small. People travel here seeking treatment.”
“A wonderful thing,” Xander said, for the first time, his confidence sounding blunted. He knew when to tone himself down, which was a surprise to Layna, and a credit to him.
“Yes,” Layna said. “What about emergency medical services?”
They finished the tour of the hospital, which included a trip through the cafeteria. Layna nearly laughed at Xander, trying to deal with a hospital version of a gyro. He was clearly not impressed.
“She was not thrilled to have me here, was she?” Xander asked as he took another bite of food.
“Not as much as one might have hoped,” Layna said.
“Well, I imagined that’s what I’ll be contending with across the board. Stavros is well-liked. And I am not.” He looked down at his meal. “I do have an idea of where we might increase the funding,” he said, his voice low, only for Layna.
“Better idea, Xander, why don’t you put some money aside to send the hospital cooks through a culinary course? Then they have transferable skills.”
He paused, a half smile curving his lips. “This is why I brought you.”
“I do have my uses,” she said. “Even if I can’t be made a queen.”
He stared at her, for far too long in her opinion. It made her face hot, made her aware of her face. Annoying man.
“Are you ready to leave?” he asked. The hospital administrator had gone back to her office and they were standing in the lobby, staff and patients passing through. Some trying not to stare, some staring openly as they tried to decipher if the larger-than-life man standing there was a Drakos. If he was the long lost heir.
“Yes. As ready as I can be. I appreciated what you said to everyone before we came in. Hopefully they’ll find it in them to be human. To both of us.”
“Aren’t you looking forward to the press ripping into me? They already have, you know.”
She paused, waiting to feel some kind of relish at the thought, but she just didn’t. “I actually don’t want that. A surprise, I know. But I’m tired of this country feeling torn. I’m tired of grieving our losses. Tired of the unrest. Stavros has done an incredible job rebuilding, unifying, and the people love him. But there is a sense that everything isn’t settled. That the royal family itself isn’t healed. With the king so sick... Xander, I would rather you be accepted with open arms. And then I would like for you to take the people’s trust and use it well, not abuse it. That’s what I would like.”