33.2. Reality of Being the Emperor - Part 2

Two Celestial women, who are introduced to me as my personal maids, dress me when we return to our apartment to get out of our pyjamas. It's strange to think of them as servants and not employees. And it's even stranger that they don't think that there's anything wrong with that. Just as Vermiel, they take pride in their newly assigned jobs.

"It seems to me," Erik tells me on the way to the conference room, "that they don't listen to you much, even though you're their Emperor and they clearly adore you."

"The Celestial Emperor decides matters concerning the state and magic," I say with a deep sigh. "I can't influence things that concern my care and safety."

"So they can dictate anything to you?" Erik raises his eyebrow. "I don't think I like that."

"Everything we do is to protect our Emperor," Luviael answers because she can hear us, walking just a few steps behind. "You don't have to worry, Royal Consort, His Majesty's wellbeing is the official state concern. Naturally, that includes you as well."

I don't know if I should be relieved or not, Erik switches to telepathy because he's holding my hand.

We probably changed more than you think... more than anyone presumes, I say. They don't pretend, Erik, it's no role-play. They believe every word they're saying.

Which is even scarier. Is Liana like that as well? She seems rather normal to me.

She's just more subtle about it. And her position allows her to be informal with me, I explain.

They really do respect you deeply, huh? he nudges me teasingly. They do treat you royally.

Yeah, and it's unnerving, to be honest.

Emi, Fefnir and Liana don't mind, though, he ponders. Is it only you retaining somehow a detached perspective? Because you're a telepath I guess?

I guess.

We arrive to the conference room. Fefnir and Emi are already here and already in a full debate with Ms Ortega and an unknown man. Is that the other EU delegate Bennett mentioned? They sure didn't lose any time.

"Great, Aefener's here," Emi is relieved and I notice the table in front of her is slightly scratched. She's not feeling angry so I bet her claws were scratching the table out of nervousness without her even realising it. Fefnir appears calm and collected but he's also nervous inside.

"Your Majesty," the new EU delegate ceremonially bows.

Unexpectedly, there's no cringe. He's really good at it, does he have experience with European royalty? When he straightens again, I can finally study his face. He's surprisingly handsome with his well-kept beard and could be in his late thirties. While his suit isn't more expensive than Erik's, he's wearing it so confidently that he could have been born in it.

He's definitely gay, Erik says dryly and clutches my hand more tightly. And he's right. Sometimes it's easy for me to tell one's sexuality and in this case it's super easy. It's blatantly obvious from the way he's looking at me.

"You're even more beautiful than in the videos," the delegate cleverly uses the fact that Erik is holding my left hand and takes my right one to kiss it before I can even react.

And it's not just an air kiss, his lips do touch the back of my palm! I turn red and his emotions hit me. I don't have to go deep to discover that Bennett chose him especially to soften me—make me more susceptible to their suggestions.

Seriously, what kind of dinosaur is he? Thinking he can just send me a handsome man and I'll fall for him just because we're both gay. Bennett might be a ruthless politician but he must have a very low opinion of queer people. I hope Bauerova knows about it and hates Bennett's guts so that we can unite against him.

"My name is Claude Debois," the delegate introduces himself and almost unrecognisably smirks at Erik who's killing him with his gaze and would go to wash my hand immediately if he could.

I hate the guy! Erik's shouting in his mind. He's doing it on purpose, Ryuu.

I know, I assure him.

We finally sit down and I devote a whole minute finding a comfortable position for my wings. Debois is watching me with an amused expression. I don't feel anything particularly bad from him but it's clear that his intentions are far from being innocent. He might act like a flirt but I don't doubt he's really good at politics and will report everything to his superiors.

"So," Miss Ortega coughs when I stop fluttering my wings. "The EU decided that our first priority should be setting up a strict training programme for Draconians. We can't let such dangerous abilities go unchecked. We also have to agree on penalties when those abilities are used against humans and it's not self-defence."

"Yes, I agree," I say, trying to sound confident.

"Starting with you, Your Majesty," Ms Ortega coughs again, evidently nervous. "Your abilities seem to be potentially the most dangerous. And most spontaneous."

"S-sure?" I say, less confident now. "I mean... we have to train, obviously. And I should lead by example."

Dubois grins, no doubt enjoying the fact that I barely know what I'm doing. But when I look him in the eye, he doesn't withstand my golden eyes and averts his gaze. I sense a hint of embarrassment. It's really subtle, though, so I bet he doesn't realise it himself. Maybe I can yet to gain an upper hand with him.

"Thankfully," Ortega continues, "while Draconians are delighted with their new abilities, they got used to them miraculously quickly."

"Meaning?" Fefnir asks, not quite sure what's her point.

"Meaning that Draconians don't walk the streets doing magic just because they can," she explains.

"Our abilities aren't as effortless as they might seem," Fefnir shrugs. "Mana or stamina aren't just indicators here but real energy that comes from food and rest."

"Especially for Celestials," I second. "While our bodies do produce mana, it gets created out of food. We can say that spells cost calories in real life. The governments can be at ease, we literally can't go out casting like crazy for hours on end."

"Not even you?" Dubois narrows his eyes.

"Not even me," I say firmly. "Sure, my mana capacity and spell casting are probably superior to others, I won't deny that, but I'm limited by my own body."

"You're still special, though," Dubois won't let it go.

"All race rulers are," I say.

"You know what I mean, Your Majesty," he thumbs against the table. "Your transformation progresses much more quickly, even when compared to other rulers. Your abilities also surpass everyone else. And you were the first to change. Do I have to continue?"

"I will train," I insist. "I'm going to prove that I'm no threat."

"I'm not talking about that, actually. Is there any way we could convince you to participate in the research?" he asks nonchalantly. "Our scientists think your case could shed some light on why the Great Evolution happened in the first place. Examining patient zero is..."

"You're NOT seriously suggesting that!" Emi scratches the table in front of her, now voluntarily and with full realisation how unpleasant the sound is.

"I'm simply imploring His Majesty to consider it," Dubois isn't backing off. "It can happen here if we bring some equipment and His Majesty will be treated with utmost care. If you really want to help..."

"We're sorry but we can't help in this area," Erik clicks his tongue. "Don't you ever bring it up again."

"It would be just a few blood tests, DNA sampling and...," Dubois murmurs under his breath.

Oh, so the EU probably didn't steal my feather or they would have already claimed a sample for DNA analysis. But who did then? Some independent pharmaceutical company? A third party? I look straight at Dubois to better assess his emotions. He does have ulterior motives but I'm pretty sure he's not involved in the theft of my feather.

"The answer is no, Mr Dubois," I say because I can tell he's frantically thinking of other arguments to persuade me.

I decide to be a bit theatrical and pass myself a glass of water using telekinesis just to impress him. The demonstration does the trick, he's astonished. He knows what Celestials can do but it's evidently his first time seeing our abilities so up close.

"Let's proceed then," Luviael takes the initiative and I'm really grateful for her being my adjutant. "We need to decide on training regimen and laws restricting usage of Draconian abilities among humans. We also have to..."

She skilfully stirs the meeting in the right direction which I truly appreciate. Liana couldn't have chosen me a better adjutant. Luvi is my age so I'm not shy around her and she really knows her stuff.

"His Majesty's first official training session is after lunch," Luviael assures Dubois after she describes to the delegates how levelling worked in Draconia and how it'll work probably even here.

"It is?" I blink.

Damn, is my timetable totally out of my hands? As I was trying to explain to Erik earlier, being the Celestial Emperor isn't as cool as it sounds. I'm not a master of my own time anymore, my subjects have seemingly more power over me than I have over them. I don't even want to think about the life that awaits me. But then I look at Erik and think that it might not be all bad.