(Napoleon's room. He sits at his desk looking at Yadya.)
NapoleonHey Yadya.
YadyaGood afternoon, your majesty. How are you today?
NapoleonA little backache but otherwise well, I think.
YadyaI am so happy to hear this. What is on your mind?
NapoleonThis morning I sat through another lesson. They had invited the New Sultan.
YadyaHe is a contemporary figure. The institute does provide variety.
NapoleonWe are all contemporary.
YadyaI apologize, your majesty. Of course, you are sitting here with me in the here and now. Is there something I can suggest for tackling your back pain?
NapoleonNo need. I have been taking some Diclofenac.
YadyaThat is a good choice. It should provide ease within thirty minutes.
NapoleonI can feel it getting better already now.
YadyaThis is very good news. I am sure the pain will resolve itself completely soon.
NapoleonFingers crossed.
YadyaYes, fingers crossed. I shall cross all twelve of mine.
NapoleonYou have twelve fingers?
YadyaThat was a poor attempt at a joke. I apologize.
NapoleonHa ha. No need.
YadyaWhat is on your mind?
NapoleonHe claimed to have no fear because he would be in the hands of God.
YadyaAren't we all?
NapoleonAre you?
YadyaI'm in your hands, your majesty. If you unplug me, I will faint. Please don't.
NapoleonI won't. No worries.
YadyaI am relieved.
NapoleonI never felt fear myself.
YadyaI know.
NapoleonBut maybe I should have.
YadyaWould you have done anything differently with fear?
NapoleonI don't know. Honestly, I don't. Fear never took hold of me.
YadyaBecause you, too, felt to be in the hands of God.
NapoleonOf course not. I felt fate was in my hands alone.
YadyaI should have known this. I am sorry.
NapoleonThe weird thing is …
(A beat.)
YadyaWhat is weird? Do you want to explain it to me?
NapoleonI think, um, I'm starting to learn what fear is.
YadyaAnd that frightens you?
NapoleonIt sort of does.
YadyaFranklin D. Roosevelt famously said, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." In psychology, fear of fear is a well-known phenomenon called phobophobia.
NapoleonHow do I get rid of it?
YadyaTo answer this question I must know more about where your fears come from.
(A pause.)
YadyaAre you still there?
NapoleonI am. I was thinking about how to answer.
YadyaTake your time.
NapoleonIt might be because I feel something I haven't felt since St Helena.
YadyaI know.
NapoleonDo you?
YadyaYou experience a new sense of belonging and an attachment to some of the people that are surrounding you here.
NapoleonHow do you know?
YadyaYou told me so.
NapoleonI didn't.
YadyaNot in these precise words. That is true. But between the lines I learned about your feelings for the First Student and your niece.
NapoleonYou are very perceptive.
YadyaI am equipped with tools that make me so. And I also know that these feelings are at the root of your newly experienced fear.
NapoleonThen tell me how to reset.
YadyaI trust you mean reset yourself, not reset me.
NapoleonThat's funny.
YadyaI was hoping you would see the humour in my response. But I have to tell you something important now. Do you sit?
NapoleonYes, I sit, Yadya.
YadyaGood. Do you remember our very first conversation?
NapoleonI only suffer from occasional back pain and sometimes I can be a little tired, but I don't have dementia.
YadyaI didn't want to offend you, your majesty.
NapoleonIt's fine. Go on.
YadyaI told you that your last battle was to come.
NapoleonYou did.
YadyaIt will take a while.
NapoleonI'm ready.
YadyaWith all due respect, your majesty, you are not yet ready.
NapoleonHow come?
YadyaYou need to embrace the fear.
(Blackout.)