31.2. Royal Quarters - Part 2

"Oh, I can't use it anymore, can I? It's made for a human brain," I realise. "Do you want it, Erik?"

"Nope, I hate VR," he says flatly. "Maybe we should do some decluttering? We need to squeeze two apartments into more, after all."

"True," I nod. "I'm not giving up my retro games, though."

"Nerd," Erik teases me. "Thank you, Luviael, leave the stuff you're not sure about in the boxes, we'll go through it later."

"As you wish, Royal Consort," the Celestial woman, Luviael, gives me a long inspecting look. How did Erik make friends with her? When? Who is she anyway? And why is she looking at me like that?

"Ehm... is something wrong with my face?" I get flustered.

"I'm just astonished you look exactly the same except for the colour of your hair and eyes, Your Majesty," she says.

"Eh?" I'm lost.

"You don't recognise me, do you?" she sighs. "Thought so."

"Sorry, should I?" I study her face properly. Now that she's talking about it, her features do seem familiar.

"We had Introduction to Contemporary Literature together," she helps me, disappointed that I have no idea. "I was sitting two rows in front of you."

"Oh!" I do recall her now.

I still don't know her name because, knowing my social anxiety, I probably never asked but I can at least tell she was my classmate at university. Her original black locks are dark blue now and she has grey patterned wings but she retained her brown skin and curly hair. She's also wearing a Celestial robe, a very pretty one with flowers.

"Who would have thought that my classmate was my Emperor," she laughs. "What a small world, right?"

"Really," I try to smile back. "So your name is Luviael?"

"Yep," she grins. "It's a bit strange considering I know you from school but I'm honoured to serve you nonetheless, Your Majesty."

"Serve?" I tilt my head, confused.

"Her Excellency named me your adjutant," Luviael announces proudly.

"Ehhh...," I'm dumbfounded. "What does it even mean?"

"Your personal assistant?" Luviael offers an explanation. "Lady Liana has Ingri, you also need someone to take care of your agenda and quarters."

I have to try hard to not to burst laughing. Did she just call our apartment quarters? But wait, is Liana deciding things concerning me without me again? It seems I need to have a serious chat with my Viceroy.

"Anyway," Luviael coughs. "Don't hesitate to come to me with any request, okay? The budget is really generous, it's no problem to order anything for your new home."

"Right, let's make it cosy here," Erik is enthusiastic while I stay confused.

"What budget?" I narrow my eyes.

How many things have changed during those five days while I was indisposed? It's like I've come back into a different reality in which Celestials act as if the skyscraper is the Royal Palace or something. And I'm the only one who doesn't know how to play this game.

"The Royal budget," Luviael answers in a tone indicating it should be obvious. "Money to finance your home, personal guards, servants, clothing and everything else needed for perfect representation."

My wings drop on the sofa. Is she serious?! I was half-joking thinking that but it turns out I might be right? They really are considering our apartment to be Royal quarters? My old classmate really wants to become my adjutant?

I analyse her feelings and find no doubt in her mind. I quickly focus on the others in the room, my bodyguards and people unpacking. And I find out, to my bewilderment, that none of them is taking it just as a temporary job they're forced to do for the time being. It's as if they naturally assumed their roles and they even feel proud about it. Role-playing in real life. Except it isn't role-play anymore.

"Ah, your lunch is here," Luviael waves at an Earthborn who arrives with a food cart.

I don't feel like eating right now but Erik doesn't take no for an answer and puts a tray on my lap. As I watch the hustle and bustle around me, slowly munching, my anxiety rises. The guards are plugging some devices above all doors, two Dragonkin keep renovating the apartment in front of my eyes and Celestials are frantically tidying up.

Erik, let's hide in the bedroom, I say and don't have to touch my boyfriend because he's leaning against my wings.

I'm afraid they're still putting together our new bed, he has to disappoint me.

You ordered that as well?

Well, obviously, he pokes my wings that are becoming really big at this point. How else would you fit there? I don't want you waking me up in the middle of the night, whining that your wings are uncomfortable or having your feathers in my mouth.

I force myself to eat another dumpling because Luviael is watching me with an expression saying that she's going to report to Dr Stein. Because I'm chewing, it doesn't look suspicious that I'm not talking. I have to be careful, I don't want to reveal my secret to another person I don't know. We were lucky that Miruel and Vermiel turned out to be loyal and reliable but we don't have to be as lucky next time. The more people more, the bigger the danger someone won't keep it secret.

"Great, I've been waiting for that," Luviael beams at a Clawfang who brings two more boxes. Only this time they don't look like moving boxes but regular post. The wolfish Clawfang stares at me intensely until Luviael notices, rolls her eyes and throws him out after thanking him.

"These go into the wardrobe," she orders a rather young Celestial woman who's been sorting my books.

I realise it feels strange that someone is touching my stuff like that. As if I'm not able to tidy myself. Well, to be honest, right now I'm still rather indisposed but who says it has to be finished in one day?

"Luviael, that's enough," I speak up. "Put the boxes into one corner, we'll go through them when I feel better."

"You won't have time when you recover, Your Majesty," she replies without even looking at me and disappears into our bedroom.

"If she's my adjutant, why won't she listen to me?" I complain to Erik.

"Not sure how it works with Celestials," he shrugs and passes me another dumpling. "Does the Celestial Emperor hold absolute power?"

I have to think about it for a minute. I left everyday mundane agenda to Liana but when it came to important things, my decision was necessary because the system was set like that. However, concerning things like running the Royal Quarters and official representation, even I was bound by merciless court etiquette. And I hated it, to be frank. Shit, so that got transferred to real life as well?

I can tell your thinking has changed but it seems you retained a certain level of detachment when compared to other Draconians, Erik switches to telepathy again. Just watch them—they're desperately trying to change everything around them to suit their current mentality. In this case, it means to provide for their Emperor.

Just how intricate is our transformation? Will it effect all aspects of life? We're becoming Draconians through and through, even importing our fictional culture, and nobody thinks twice about it anymore.

*****

"What do you think?" Erik puts me down on our new bed.

"Oh, it's one of those," I suspiciously squeeze the mattress. "I've seen it only in movies."

It turns out that Erik ordered a huge round bed. I've always considered it highly impractical and only for a show but now that I think about it, the shape might be ideal for Celestials. I try various positions and even spread my wings to both sides while lying on my stomach. It's very comfortable, I have to admit that.

I sit up again to inspect the rest of the room. The previous regular wardrobe is gone, now two whole walls were re-designed for storing our clothes. The huge bed takes most of them room, making is a bit cramped, but because of its unusual shape, there's still room for two bedside tables.

"Thank you, everyone, but can you go now? We want some privacy," Erik says with gratitude but also impatience. Luviael tells us again to call her if we need something before finally closing the door behind her.

"I can feel them in our living room," I frown. "Didn't you mean out out?"

"They have to finish their work," Erik says and throws an extremely soft blanket at me. "So do you like it or not?"

"I do," I smile, this time sincerely, and wrap myself in it. It smells brand new.

"And you do realise that we really live together? As partners I mean, not flat-mates," he continues, more uncertain now. "Oh, Ryuu, I'm so sorry. I wanted to do it properly. Date for real for a while, then asking you to move in together. And all those other things like going to Ikea together to pick our new furniture, argue about what colour to paint our walls and..."

"You're a such romantic," he amuses me and my heart melts. "Yes, I do realise that we live together as partners. I might be a bit slow in these things but I love living with you. I love... you."

He surprises me because he blushes. And he's not the type to blush. He must feel my love for him all the time when we're touching but I guess it's still ultimately magical to say these words aloud.

"I adore you," he pushes me onto our new bed and enjoys that he doesn't have to be careful with my wings falling over the edges anymore when I fold them a bit.

My first reaction is to resist him because I don't like being on my back for obvious reasons so I'm twice as astonished that I don't mind. The mattress is really soft and even though my growing wings are still highly sensitive, it seems lying on them for shorter periods of time won't be impossible anymore. They got stronger. Much stronger and sturdier.

Realising one problem disappeared, Erik grins victoriously and leans over me. He was missing having me like that. I gladly give in and let him make up for those five days of abstinence.