Bossy

He sat behind his desk on a high-backed chair, twiddling his thumbs or counting his teeth or what ever Royal Advisor's did for fun.

Alicia didn't really care.

The office was just the right size - not too big, not too small, just cozy and practical. Adviser Phillips was a tall man, with a sharp yet friendly face and had eyes that said trust me, everything is okay. But everything was anything but. His skin tone was a very light copper color and super exotic, his hair was dark with strips of grey by the temples making him sort of attractive for whomever was into that sort of thing. Adviser Philips wasn't young but she knew a heart breaker when she saw one.

Phillips was bent over, frantically writing something in a hand-writing that made everything illegible and uninterpretable; a spider scrawl on steroids. She almost felt sorry for whomever had to read that.
He did not look up when she walked in; which was incredibly rude. So she stood there, arms crossed and said, "What do you want now?"

"Well someone's in an ill mood." He declared, his head still bent to his documents.

"I was busy." She stated flatly.

"I'm busy right now and yet here we are."

He continued to write, ignoring her completely.

"You know, it's rude to ignore to someone talking to you, especially if you called them to you."

He cleared his throat and shuffled away the papers indicating the conclusion of what seemed like his daily work. He rose from his work desk and poured himself a glass of malt, offering her some. She kindly declined. ("No drinking on the job. Besides, what I really need is a cigarette. You got any of those?") He shook his head, rubbed his face and sighed. They stood in silence for a little while as he drank his glass of liquor before he said,

"You're right. It's rude."

"I suppose we have lots to discuss." She suggested impatiently. He was such an old man.

"I suppose we do," he agreed ", but it's been a long day. Most details will have to wait for tomorrow."

"I agree. But do they really, really need to be discussed?"

He sighed again. She took that as a yes.

"Look, with all due respect here, can we quit beating around the bushes please? I'm really getting bored."

"Indeed, let's not....beat around the bushes." He replied and sighed again. It made her angry. She always hated it when people couldn't hide how much of a burden they thought she was.
"Well be careful, Advisor. If you keep sighing so much, you might just lose your breath."

Advisor Phillips suddenly glanced at her, investigating her stony face.

"You're upset." He observed.

"I'm always upset." She hissed, not bothering to deny the statement.

"About what this time?" He prodded cautiously, not wanting to get hit or fired.

"So many things, mister, but first things first. Explain the curfew."

"I had to declare one. Things have been more dangerous."

"You?" she inquired dryly.

"Yes, me. Is there a problem? You have to understand. This was important to do, I--"

She lifted an hand to silence him.

"I understand Advisor Phillips. I do. So you didn't think to talk to, oh I don't know, your Queen, ruler omnipresent, about it?"

"Forgive me, your Highness. I didn't think." He said to her.

"No, you didn't." She replied curtly.

A tense silence descended in the room.

"The other thing, I'd rather want to discuss today, is the kingdom's security force, specifically the Guard."

"The Guard?"

"Yes, Phillips. It seems you've been naughty. But the Guard, the two of them seem to have a lack of respect for us mere, poor citizens i.e sluts; tell them they're fired."

He rubbed his face again.

"Alicia. You can't expect them to honor everyone in this kingdom including--" the advisor paused uncomfortably.

"Mistresses?" Alicia suggested.

"What may seem like mistresses," He corrected. ", it is not done and it hasn't been done before."

"Respect, Advisor Phillips, not honor. Respect is important in raising a  kingdom to greatness. You of all people should know. Besides; women are still women, despite their job descriptions. We should be honored." 

He stared blankly for a while as if he did not know how to go about this and then he sighed, chugging the last of his malt.
"Whatever you say, Your Highness. But you also look quite exhausted so get to bed and we'll discuss this tomorrow."

"Did you just shoo me?"

"No, I just---"

"-- want to get to your side-chicks?"

He wanted to sigh, but he didn't. Good for him.

"Right," she decided to lay off a little. "I'll see you tomorrow then, if you're not too busy." He grimaced.

"I'm always busy but I'm sure I can fit you into my schedule."

"Oh no, no, no. You will fit me into your schedule. Did I make it sound like a suggestion?" She asked, with feign innocence.

He glanced down at his empty glass and smiled. Biggest fake smile Alicia's ever seen.

"Right. The stairs through the servants' quarters are quite empty, I'm sure. You can use those and you know the rest."

He was practically begging her to leave.

"Okay then. I'll take my leave." She started walking down the nearly empty corridor before she remembered, "and oh, Philly?"

"Yes, your Highness?"

"Thanks for everything," she said, seriously now. ", I don't say it enough but don't let it get to your head because I still don't like your wife and I might just tell her that her husband doesn't like her either."  She turned (with a smirk) before she could see his reaction or hear his reply.

He got what he deserved for disrupting her training.

~~~~~

Hey, our girl's a femanazi. I enjoyed writing that ("It's not about you Fairhope!") . 😂 Thanks for reading.