Draconia Offline vol. 1

61.1. For Better or Worse - Part 1

"Calm down, love, you're the Celestial Emperor so being a bit late is fashionable in your case," Gotrid tries to comfort me but he isn't very successful.

"You should have woken me up!" I berate the maids who are dressing me and they aren't making it any quicker than usual.

"You needed to rest, Your Majesty," Cien says with stoic calmness. "How much mana did you spend on your telepathic message last night?"

"Don't take us wrong, it's was blissful," Ayala adds. "We all felt your love, I was so moved. But it must have been strenuous."

"You overdid it again," Erik kisses me on my cheek, returning from the bathroom smelling after his favourite aftershave.

"Oh, Emi is here?!" I realise only now because not being exactly a morning person, I'm usually a bit drowsy and unfocused immediately after waking up.

"The Clawfang Alpha apparently returned at night," Cien confirms. "Who knows where she's been, you have to ask her yourself."

I don't know anything about late fashionable entries but it seems to be working because nobody's outraged that it's half past eight already and I've just showed up for breakfast. The delegates are whispering to each other excitedly when I pass them, no doubt commenting on my new numerous escorts and discussing the murder of my grandmother.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," Liana greets me politely and bows because everyone is watching. "Did you sleep well?"

"Surprisingly so," I nod and sit in the middle as always.

"Would you mind, Gotrid?" Liana asks for his seat by my left and he unwillingly gives it away.

I tell the maids that I'd like some scrambled eggs and toasts while Liana slightly spreads her right wing and touches me.

That was a really nice gesture what you did last night, she says. It boosted our morale to astronomical heights, no kidding.

Thanks, I wanted to encourage everyone. And it felt really good not having to hide my telepathy.

Are you okay? she asks carefully. The guards told me you were crying.

They told you? I resist roll my eyes.

I'm sorry, Aefener, but your mental health is just as important as your physical health, she bite into her pancake in order not to look suspicious. Especially when your jarred emotional state can be very destructive.

I'm not totally okay but I'll get better over time, I assure her. I just need time to process it.

She lowers her wing to give me more space for now. I'm half-way into my eggs when Emi finally appears, being even more fashionably late then I was. I notice that her pack grew significantly compared to the one she brought with her from Europe. For some reason, Rien is feeling nervous and is following his Alpha like a lost puppy.

"Emi!" I wave at her because it wouldn't look dignified if I ran after her.

"Let's meet on the terrace when you finish eating," she winks at me and goes to ravage the buffet tables.

I want to eat faster but I know I can't. It's against the etiquette to gobble food and it could upset my stomach. Emi leaves for the terrace the moment she puts food on her plate. I wish I had that kind of freedom. We're both rulers, yet so different.

"Your Majesty, can I join you?" Bauerova approaches me when I stand up. "You're meeting the Clawfang Alpha, aren't you?"

"Still trying to persuade your nephew?" I tilt my head.