Draconia Offline vol. 1

68.2. A Golden Cage - Part 2

I feel back at my full strength on the third day after the incident. The maids dress me in royal attire as usual and I have breakfast with my partners as usual. Luviael comes in to read aloud our itinerary for the day as usual. I try to act normal but I feel anxious inside. Liana was supposed to scold my subjects about the incident, did it work?

"It won't happen again, Your Majesty," the Guard Captain Vermiel assures me because he notices my unease when I enter the elevator. "Precautions have been made."

"Will I be allowed my regular flying session in the afternoon?" I ask, worried.

"Of course, Your Majesty, why wouldn't you?" Vermiel answers matter-of-factly.

"Why indeed," I murmur under my breath, but I feel much better about my prospects now. Flying always helps to alleviate my mood.

"Don't worry, love, it'll be business as usual," Gotrid clutches my hand and looks at me encouragingly. "Nobody will act weird, I promise."

"Okay," I nod and try to collect myself just in time before the doors open again.

The first task of the day on the agenda is a video call with our future ministers so we head to the media conference room. The Celestials I'm passing in the hall are seemingly behaving as always—they bow and greet me as any other day—but I can feel they are dying to touch my wings and receive my 'blessing' to get a taste of the magical divinity I presumably possess.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," Taranah is waiting for me in the conference room. "The ministers are waiting just for you, we can start anytime."

He's trying to act nonchalant, even though he's anything but that. It seems not even my close co-worker is unaffected by the discovery. I sit down by the window and I look longingly outside for a moment. I haven't flown for three days and that is probably my mental limit.

"In the afternoon, my love," Gotrid assures me and pets my wings to calm me down. "And Liana will join us for sure. She has some important dealings with the EU delegates until then."

"Put the ministers through," I force myself to face the screen.

Work is good. Work takes my mind off thinking too much. Taranah presents me with the final list of ministers and I'm supposed to get to know them before they arrive. They'll be moving to Prague within a few days, coming from all parts of the world. The only minister that isn't coming right away is Gavreel who's preparing for my upcoming visit to Japan.

"That would be all, thank you for participating and we're looking forward to meeting you in person soon," Taranah concludes the call after two long hours.

I'm quite content with the ministers we chose. I was hoping for more diversity but, in the end, I can be glad that it won't be only Celestials.

"What's next?" I ask Luviael who rarely leaves my side when we're at work because she's my personal adjutant, meaning assistant. She's the only Celestial not fussing over my new ability and I can't love her more for that. Is it because she's with me almost non-stop apart from our personal free time?

"Meeting Rien," she informs me. "He's finally ready to join our inner government."

"Right, I should probably tell him about my telepathy, so that I don't have to hide it in front of him," I bite my lip.

"What? Absolutely not!" Luvi is horrified by that idea. "Rien isn't a race ruler, nor a Celestial."

"But...," I oppose because I got used to not having to hide it all the time.

"She's right," Erik agrees. "The more people know, the harder is to keep it secret. The race rulers are trustworthy and Celestials are totally devoted to you but telling your secret to a random Clawfang is a huge risk."