Draconia Offline vol. 1

53.1. Love Constellation - Part 1

"I have a feeling I'm interrupting," I say stupidly because I can't think of anything else. "I can come later...?"

"He wants to run away," Erik rolls his eyes.

"Indeed," Gotrid seconds.

For two people who can't be more different, they have quite a few striking similarities. They're looking at me with the same expression and their minds seem to be in unison right now.

"Erik, I... I'm so sorry!" I blurt out.

"I'm the one who's sorry," Gotrid shakes his head. "I should have never approached Your Majesty like that. But I didn't play games, I swear. I love you, my Emperor!"

Erik flinches hearing those words but his reaction isn't as strong as I'd have expected.

"Gotrid went looking for me after you sent him away," he says slowly. "Admittedly, he was the last person I wanted to see but he's persistent, I have to give him that."

"A-and?" I gulp.

"After I threw a few things at him he deflected with his telekinesis, we finally talked," he sighs resignedly.

"And then we talked some more when we returned to the hotel," Gotrid adds. "It turns out we're both very stubborn but we had enough time to come to terms eventually. Zetraya helped a lot, he's an excellent relationship mediator. We called him when we reached a dead end."

"Ryuu, how often have you been forcing yourself to act more human around me?" Erik asks and sounds really sad about it.

"I... I didn't... not particularly," I say quickly, startled by the sudden question.

Erik shakes his head because he knows I'm lying.

"Let's all sit down," Gotrid suggests. "And could we have some privacy, please?" he looks at the guards. "I'm here and should count as a bodyguard."

"We'll be in the lobby," Vermiel nods and takes the guards with him. They're still very close but shouldn't hear us at least.

I nervously look around where to sit. The sofa is full already and even though I could squeeze in, something tells me that we have to talk this through conventionally without resorting to telepathy which means no touching either of them for now.

There's a fluffy carpet in front of an antique decorative fireplace so I land there and comfortably spread my wings only to wrap myself in them a second later. I'm just too anxious and this is a typically Celestial protective pose.

"One moment he's the mighty Emperor impressing everyone at the conference, the other a feathered cocoon hiding into his own wings," Erik can't help himself and bursts laughing. I hope it's a good sign. I mean... I don't feel any anger coming from him.

"Cute, right?" Gotrid melts.

"You saw me?" I blush. "How was I?"

"We watched an edited footage of the most important moments. You were spectacular, love," Erik praises me. "Okay, this doesn't feel right," he takes a pillow and sits down so that he's on the same level as me.

Gotrid quickly follows. After all, it's considered against the court etiquette to be seated higher than the Emperor.

"So," Gotrid clears his throat.

"So," Erik bites his lip.

"You're staring," I hide my face behind my wings. "It's embarrassing."

"If only those politicians knew how adorably shy the Celestial Emperor is in private," Gotrid has another heart melt.