Absent Boy-King of Vyanutiqu

If you ask me, I reckon they just killed him. They felt forced to declare him king because of what the Queen said, but they didn't want him on the throne, and so just killed him off. They've got seven years or so to come up with a story.

— Vyanutiqumii peasant

Since the sudden death of Queen Xuymush II of Vyanutiqu in 36 Return, the throne of this absolute monarchy has been filled by her young son, the now-14 year old Jaaqush II. Due to his youth, for the entirety of his reign he has been represented by a regent, his mother's sibling Ruynash Ulkuwpwaluust. While ordinarily an unremarkable occurrence, the young king's absence from events since his mother's funeral has many speculating on what is happening within the palace.

Related People

• Jaaqush II

Related Organizations

• Vyanutiqu

Inconvenient

The simplest, though perhaps most unlikely, is that the extended royal family was unhappy with the nomination of Jaaqush as king, and only honoured the late-queen's request because it had been made in public forums. Their duty to their fallen monarch thus honoured, they set about removing the young boy from rulership, first hiding him from the public in "his grief", and quietly killing him.
Issues with this theory include how this murder could possibly be hidden, and why this would be the route taken. As Jaaqush's death presumably benefits his regent most, it's not unreasonable that they could exercise such control without blood. On the other hand, given the ease with which this could be disproven, it is strange that the royal family have not.

Distant

Other theories propose that Jaaqush has not been killed, but has been removed from Vyanutiqu. Well known for his adoration of dragons and desire to emulate the famed Ovükayo Dragon Lancers, it's not impossible that the young king is simply studying anonymously abroad, with his absence not publicised to protect his safety.
Whether the king would return from such an excursion isn't known, and theorists are split on the matter. Which country he is studying in is also subject to much speculation - while Ovük is the obvious choice, some have proposed neighbouring Kuwvyana and Gze Gu'azhayddzi for ease of access, or even the magically-proficient Üükabwi-adh.

Illness

A more mundane option for the king's absences from public ceremony would be illness. After all, the cause of Xuymush's abrupt death were not publicised by the royal family, and rampant speculation in that domain makes it an easy leap to suggest that an illness may have been involved. Depending on the condition, Jaaqush being well enough to attend her funeral but not to attend subsequent events is plausible.
Though some subscribe to this theory, none actually hope that it is the case, as it could suggest the potential spread of serious disease in the kingdom that is being covered up by the royal family. It also would not necessarily explain Ruynash's consistent presence at events, as their proximity to the sick king and closeness to the former queen would have put them at high risk of catching their condition.