52.1. The Conference - Part 1

Liana pushes me forward because I freeze. She knows what I'm going through right now but there's no other way. All eyes are on us and we can't appear weak or confused.

They wouldn't let him go anywhere without protection, Liana sends me a comforting thought and stands next to me where my partner is supposed to be.

"Your Majesty, this way," Ms Behera emerges from the crowd with a few bodyguards.

She notices right away that something's wrong but she doesn't say anything. At least not aloud. I can't read her mind without direct touch but I can feel her coldly calculating. Will she use Erik's absence against me? Does she realise how important he is to me?

"He's still in the building sulking somewhere," Emi whispers to me. "I gave him two of my guards and Deminas also contributed two of his. He's safe, don't worry."

Cameras are flashing, people are pushing and we have to keep moving. I keep telepathically calling Erik with all my might but I can't focus properly and he's probably too far away anyway. I'm angry at myself that I didn't practice long-distance telepathy more. I'm angry at myself that I didn't resist the temptation—that I let my Celestial nature overcome me.

Gotrid clumsily tries to provide comfort but I look at him so broken-heartedly that he backs away, finally realising that he went too far. His cheeky smile disappears, his confidence is gone. But it's too late to repent, damage has been done. Not being able to face me, he disappears into the crowd and, frankly, I'm glad for that. One less distraction to worry about.

We meet the other race rulers and I cling to their Draconian minds desperately. Liana keeps checking on me, making sure I'm managing among so many humans. In any other situation I would probably go blank from shock of possibly losing Erik but the emotions all around me are too acute. Moreover, my Emperor's nature kicks in. I have to do my best for the benefit of my people, personal issues aside.

People are staring, bowing, cameras won't stop flashing and the corridors I'm being led through seem endless. But not really, eventually I find myself being seated. The press was made to go to their designated spot so I can breathe more freely. Liana sits next to me and close to us Emi, her Beta Gin she was finally reunited with in real life, Deminas, Fefnir, Twyla and Werden.

I panic for a second when I realise our guards can't stand behind me. Despite being the best Celestial caster, I feel despairingly unprotected.

We got an exception, Liana pokes me gently. Look, Vermiel, Miruel and the others are standing by the walls. I wouldn't agree to come in the first place if we couldn't take our own security.

I slowly look around. The human delegates are staring at us, mostly antagonistically and full of fear. We're aliens to them. A threat. The Czech Prime Minister sits behind us and I recall the words of her wife Elizabeth. I try focusing on those delegates who are cautiously open to Draconians and discover that there're more than a handful of them. Not everyone here is our enemy.

The first hour passes without us uttering a single word. Formalities, reports, statement after statement. Then we're finally allowed in front of the lectern but this starting time slot is only about expressing our willingness to cooperate. To look amicable enough.

I expected I'd be more nervous about it. Liana is certainly worried I'll shake visibly when I have to face everyone and say a few words. But to be honest, I don't care. Catching so many human emotions isn't pleasant, my head starts hurting a bit, but I realise humans don't scare me. On the contrary, I'm the scariest person in the room. They're all wary of me.

My voice gets perfectly even and firm when I'm repeating the speech Liana prepared for me in advance. I'm the Celestial Emperor. Face to face with so many humans who are against Draconians, I know what I have to do to protect my people. My personal insecurities don't matter. Maybe it's for the best that Erik isn't with me right now. I don't have to worry that I'll be too Celestial in his eyes.

"Well done, Your Majesty," Luviael praises me when I return to my seat.

Liana winks at me, proud of my achievement. I delivered a perfect opening speech and held my wings high. After today, nobody will remember that I used to be just a gamer and student.

I catch a glimpse of the American President. He's sitting very far from us but I still notice that he isn't happy about my confident performance. I even managed to mesmerise some delegates who were cautiously open to us. They wanted to see an angel and I gave them exactly that.

Other race rulers follow and especially Twyla and Werden make the best impression because they talk about how effective the Earthborn powers might be when it comes to medicine and the environment. Unfortunately, Deminas is formidable even when talking about peaceful coexistence and Emi looks like she would rather be anywhere else than here. But as a whole we are successful in calming the delegates and preparing the ground.

"Coffee breaks are just as important as meetings," Liana reminds me so that I won't let my guard down when it's time for some refreshments. I recall a lesson in diplomacy with Luviael. Most matters are resolved over coffee, she told me back then. Which means that despite being on a break, I can't relax. Far from it.

"Your Majesty," the EU President Dwayne Bennett appears in front of me as soon as it's appropriate to stand up. Ms Ortega and Dubois are with him, clinging to their boss like a second shadow.

"Mr President," I simply nod and wait for his reaction.

I can feel his repulsion but his bow is perfect. He's a professional. He even keeps his emotions in check. I can tell he doesn't like us but he's willing to negotiate and suppress his distaste if necessary.

"Would you have some coffee with us?" he invites me while not even considering I'd refuse.

"Of course," I answer politely, playing my part in this political game.

I used to be afraid of Bennett, he always seemed so uncompromising whenever I had to deal with him. But now I understand that he's just a man with his agenda. He hates Draconians because he thinks we're a threat to humanity. He hates us because he wants to protect humans so I can't help feeling a tiny bit of sympathy towards him.

"This is the safest place on the planet, Your Majesty," he comments because our guards re-join us immediately.

"We can't be cautious enough, Mr President," Liana answers lightly.

It seems a few other delegates are disappointed that the EU representatives stole us first. They might be scared of us but their intention to get in a favourable position with us is stronger. I suspect I'd look more approachable if Erik was by my side. Oh, Erik, where are you? How are you feeling? Can you even forgive me?

But I don't have time to ponder. An overly anxious staffer leads us to a small private lounge and just when I think how awkward it'll probably be, Bauerova and her wife Elizabeth join us. Bennett frowns but he doesn't say anything. Bohemia is a part of the European Union after all and our precious political ally.

We sit down, me and Liana taking the sofa, Bauerova with Elizabeth the other one and the rest gets seated into armchairs. I bet other Draconian rulers were also apprehended by diplomatic representatives and are in a similar situation. I'm quite worried about Emi who doesn't even try to hide her resentment towards humans and isn't exactly subtle.

"I won't beat around the bush, Your Majesty," Bennett clears his throat. "We have an official offer for you."

"You do?" I raise my eyebrow.

"You mean an offer for the Celestials or all Draconians, Mr President?" Liana wants to be clear on that.

"All Draconians, of course," he confirms.

I resist rolling my eyes because that would look immature but I don't resist sighing. And it has an intended effect, the EU representatives stiffen. It seems they're serious about it so offending me is the last thing they want.

"I don't represent all races, Mr President," I set the record straight. Again. "If you're serious, you'll have to invite all of us."

"To be brutally honest, Your Majesty, you're the easiest to deal with," Bennett says surprisingly bluntly. "It's obvious that the Clawfang Alpha hates humans, the Earthborn King and Queen don't have other topics than ecology and Patriarch Deminas won't even bother with the EU despite many Dragonkin living in European countries. We did try opening diplomatic talks with him but failed."

I chew my lip. Bennett might have a point. Emi has little interest in politics and she's leaving after the conference to basically go on a road trip. Twyla and Werden really don't talk much about anything besides the environment and their medical research and Deminas is too busy in Asia.

"What's your offer then?" I ask after a brief consideration.

"Mutual support," Bennett says. "We can provide funding in exchange for cooperating with us and making sure Draconians follow our laws."

"I'm sorry, Mr President, but what made you change your mind?" Liana narrows her eyes. Even Bauerova looks at him with suspicion.

Bennett twitches nervously.

"We don't want what's happening in the US to happen in the EU," he answers slowly. "Riots, civil disobedience, violence... we simply can't have that."

"And by following your laws you mean...?" I tilt my head.

"We're beyond trying to limit your autonomy at this point," Dubois takes over. "There's no doubt you'll become a formidable military power in just a few months. All we want is that Draconians respect our laws when integrating within human society. Punishing offenders can be in your jurisdiction."

That's more than generous. Can you tell if they're being honest? Liana asks me in her thoughts because our wings are touching.

Bennett, Dubois and Ms Ortega are all extremely nervous about it, I can feel their anxiety. But they aren't hiding anything. They're just frightened by the situation in the US they witnessed first-hand. Bennett was trying to toy with me before but that's in the past now. When looking into my unnaturally golden eyes, he's actually scared shitless because he can't see anything even remotely human in me.

"We still need to discuss it with the other race rulers," I say and pass myself a cup of coffee that just arrived using telekinesis. It's both innocent and utterly intimidating and I meant it that way. I wouldn't do it if Erik was present, though.

"Of course," Bennett nods. "We just wanted to know if you're in favour and we can count on your support."

"You mean if I'm willing to persuade them," I'm not fooled. "You can continue being brutally honest, Mr President, I appreciate it."

We keep discussing the matter and I'm asserting myself more and more. I still don't know a lot of things but at least I'm confident now that it's not something I wouldn't be able to learn. All these politicians who seemed so scary to me before are just humans with more life experience than me. Nothing less, nothing more.