Draconia Offline vol. 1

67.2. I Bless Thee - Part 2

Erik doesn't mention it again, but it keeps bugging me. Now that the issue came to my full attention, I'm starting to notice all those little things, which I had been absent-mindedly ignoring before.

I'm the Celestial Emperor, I get it. I work long hours, so it's understandable things like house chores and cooking have to be delegated to someone else. I got used to having maids, my own doctor and a chef. I don't mind any of that, even though it's still kind of weird that I can't even dress by myself in the morning anymore.

The main problem is my schedule and I don't mean how packed it is. I just can't seem to do anything outside of it. The Royal Guards hate spontaneity, everything is meticulously planned for me, although, mostly for safety reasons rather than time management.

Not being able to go to the city is one thing, but I have a dark suspicion I actually can't go as I please even within the skyscraper. And I intend to test that, beginning with the most basic things, when my partners aren't around for a rare moment.

"You don't have to follow me everywhere I go, you know," I tell my guards when I stand up to go to the bathroom. "These are our headquarters, nobody dangerous can reach this floor."

They look at me puzzlingly but don't say anything. I sigh. Seriously, can't they just wait in the hall? Do they have to make the bathroom off-limits for everyone else when I'm using it?

Liana had all toilet booths in the skyscraper rebuilt to make them much bigger so that we fit in even with our huge wings, which ultimately means fewer toilets on each floor. Admittedly, Celestials don't have to use the bathroom that often, so there are hardly any queues, but still—me inside usually creates one.

I flush the toilet, wash my hands and then wash my face to freshen up. The guards don't come inside, but I can feel them standing just outside the door. It's more that they are making sure I don't fly away rather than guarding me against danger because the skyscraper is supposed to be super safe, Liana made sure of that.

"The office is this way, Your Majesty," Miruel coughs because I intentionally head the other way.

"I know," I reply patiently. "I'm just going to fetch a snack real quick. There should be a cafeteria two floors below, right?"

"We'll send someone then," Miruel says. "What would you like, Your Majesty?"

"No, I want to see their menu first," I frown. "Is there a problem, Miruel?"

Miruel chews her lip and I can tell she feels conflicted.

"No, no problem," she says quickly. "It's just... for Your Majesty to go there in person... it's just..."

"It's what?" I narrow my eyes.

"Nothing," she gulps and reaches for her phone. "Reinforcements to floor 53, immediately. His Majesty is coming."

I have to force myself not to roll my eyes. Reinforcements? Because I want to buy a muffin at a cafeteria that should still be part of our headquarters? Are they for real?

"We should call for your Consorts," Miruel suggests nervously when she pushes the elevator button.

"We're not bothering them with something so trivial," I forbid because Erik is meeting his human friends right now after quite a long time and I sent Gotrid to help Rien.

"Miruel, what's wrong? I don't understand," I sigh when we enter the elevator and the anxiety of my protectors fills the space. "It's just a simple snack run."

"Nothing is simple with Your Majesty," the Guard Captain says openly. "I just hope that it'll go smoothly."

I'm quite lost at this point, honestly. It's not as if I've decided to take a stroll outside. I'm not even leaving our headquarters and most employees here are Celestials. There's no way that I'm in danger in any imaginable way so why are my guards so nervous about it?