I want to quickly get up and assure Erik and Gotrid that it's silly to feel jealous of my cousins, but I trip over my robe and fall right onto Advin's lap. Advin is so surprised that it takes him a while to react and we resist a telepathic connection only by both of us mustering all our willpower. I feel my partners getting angrier with each passing second.
Before I manage to collect myself, they jump to me and pull me up. I gasp for breath when their emotions intensify upon direct touch. The last time I experienced Erik this jealous was when Gotrid appeared at the New York conference and was openly flirting with me. Frankly, I don't understand how that is comparable to socialising with my biological family.
"T-too much," I push them away because their emotions make me nauseous. "Erik, Gotrid, calm down! There's no reason to feel this way."
"Isn't there?" Gotrid clicks his tongue. "Nobody should be allowed to touch your wings in such a way except for us. It's our privilege and ours only!"
I'm staring at them, dumbfounded. If they got jealous that another man petted my wings with ulterior motives, I would understand their jealousy. However, Advin and Nala are my cousinsâmy blood relatives.
"Gotrid, Erik," I take their hands, trying to withstand their intense emotions. "What is this really about? I haven't done anything wrong."
Their anger slowly transforms into guilt. They finally realised that they snapped at me without a valid reason except for their own insecurity. Now they feel embarrassed about it.
"Sorry," Erik is too ashamed to meet my eyes. "It's just... you looked so content in the company of your cousins."
"We got jelly," Gotrid admits, chewing his lip.
I can't be angry at them. They overreacted because they felt threatened by my cousins. They are afraid that I might start preferring the Divementis, but that's just impossible. I'm probably slowly and inevitably falling in love with the Divementis, but I'll never start preferring them. I'm just as Celestial as I am Divementis.
"Let's sit together," I pull my husbands down on the cushions. I spread my wings and hug them.
Nala and Advin are giving my husbands unsure looks, but they stay seated. Erik and Gotrid are my bonded partners which means that my cousins should feel drawn to them whether they like it or not. Advin is frowning, but I can tell he's open to accepting my partners in the end.
"I'll say it once and for allâI won't allow any jealousy or rivalry between you four," I state clearly.
"B-but, love, we're your...," Gotrid wants to protest so I clutch his hand.
"Naturally, you're my partners so you'll always be my absolute priority," I assure him. "However, that doesn't mean I won't want to spend time with my cousins as well. Erik, Gotrid, don't you understand? I finally found my biological family. With my grandma dead, I thought that I didn't have any left."
"We do understand," Erik answers slowly. "It's just... we have so little time for each other as it is and your attention is going to be even more divided from now on."
"It's only temporary," I claim vehemently. "Hopefully, if we win the war, we will have centuries to spend together. Erik, your goal right now is to transform as quickly as possible so that we have those centuries ahead of us."
"I know," he sighs resignedly and looks at Nala. "I'll be in your care then."
I smile at him encouragingly and lean for a kiss. As expected, Advin is embarrassed seeing us kissing right in front of him, but I don't feel anything coming from Nala. She must be used to public displays of intimacy from those Korean TV shows she likes so much. I kiss Gotrid as well because I can sense that our private morning is coming to an end.
"Your Majesty, the Divementis Emperor just arrived," Vermiel enters the lounge to report.
"What? So early?" I check the time. It's barely seven.
"Since you're up already, he said that he didn't have a reason to wait," Vermiel shrugs.
"He felt that I was awake from his apartment?" I widen my eyes. "Advin, is the Divementis telepathy so far-reaching?"
"Only when it comes to family bonds," Advin explains. "We're finely tuned to the minds of our partners and family members."
"Can you tell him to wait for a few minutes? I need to put on some decent clothes," I ask.
"Of course," Advin nods and goes to relay my message.
I guess that I could have just sent my father that message telepathically, but I don't want to feel him in my mind so early in the morning. I want to keep my defences against him for as long as possible even though I know that they are crumbling already.
"Aefener, are you well-rested?" my father greets me when I'm done and doesn't seem bothered that I had him wait in the hall.
"Thanks to you," I have to give him merit for that.
His mind touches me lightly, but I have my defences back up, so he can't get through. He looks saddened that I won't let him in, but he doesn't say anything. Did he think that I would suddenly warm up to him only because he helped me with a migraine?
We ride the elevator together, but I push Gotrid in front of me so that his wings are between me and my father. I let my father enter my mind yesterday and I don't know how to face him now. He could see so many things while he was comforting my fatigued braid. I shouldn't have let a moment of weakness cloud my judgment.
I find Liana and Soren already eating in the dining room and they sit right next to each other. Normally, Liana always sits either next to me or next to Luviael. Did something happen between them yesterday evening while I was blissfully out? Finally, some progress in their relationship?
"Good morning, Your Majesty," Liana stands up and bows to me. Soren does the same.
I wave my hand so that they can sit down immediately and give them an inquisitive look. Liana doesn't feel any different than usual, but I sense careful hope coming from Soren. Unfortunately, with my father watching me, I don't dare to ask Soren telepathically about it.
"Li, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to take on most governmental tasks for me," I tell her.
"Suspected as much," Liana nods. "Don't worry, my Emperor, I'm sure that our people will understand why you can't waste any time except for the most important matters."
"Soren, can I ask you to help Liana?" I ask him specifically on purpose even though it goes without saying that everyone will support her in my stead.
"Of course, Your Majesty," Soren beams at me, no doubt looking forward to spending more time with my romantically dumb Viceroy.
"I'll be counting on you then," I smile. "Make sure that Liana doesn't overwork herself."
"Naturally," Soren nods in all seriousness.
Liana rolls her eyes and nudges him. She's trying to appear annoyed, but I can feel that she's not. Moreover, she normally never nudged people because that would ruin her image as my ruthless deputy. It seems Soren is slowly taking down her defences one layer at a time and I have to commemorate him for that.
Someone puts a plate with breakfast in front of me and the portion is indeed smaller than before, just as was agreed. I get the same number of eggs and veggies, but only one piece of bread and no side dishes. The amount of food seems manageable so I dig in without protests.
"Did you have enough, hon?" Gotrid is a bit doubtful when I finish everything.
"Enough," I assure him. I realise only now that I will have to slow down next time so that my Celestial companions, who need to eat more than me, have time. I certainly can't stand up or that would end breakfast for everyone so I slowly sip my coffee.
Aefener, my father addresses me telepathically all of a sudden even though he's been silent so far.
Y-yes? I try not to flinch.
You're still afraid of me, I saw it in your mind yesterday, he says and shows me how sad he is about it.
What did you expect? I mean, really? I retort irritably. When we met for the very first time, you went for the most brutal telepathic test to prove me. Then you started invading my dreams without my consent and training me using merciless methods. I have every right not to trust you.
I had to do it to protect you, he answers apologetically. My people were prepared to abduct you if I didn't prove to them that you inherited the Royal bloodline. As for the training, I needed you to be able to protect yourself and this was the only way to teach you fast in just a few sessions.
While I rationally do understand his arguments, my father was like a void to me since the beginning. I'm just starting to perceive his emotions and only to the extent he lets me. How can I be sure that he's sincere? From what I know, he sees me only as a valuable resource that might help the Divementis win the war.
I know that I don't deserve your forgiveness just yet, Aefener, he speaks up again when he doesn't hear my answer. All I ask is that you give me a chance.
I wouldn't be here if I wasn't prepared to give you a chance, I finally reply.
Thank you, son, I really appreciate that...
"Love, are you with us?" Erik nudges me when he notices my blank expression.
"Sorry, I was talking to my father," I admit.
Erik chews his lip. He can tell when I'm communicating telepathically, but I usually do it with either him or Gotrid. He hates it when I do it with anyone else.
"Son, I think everyone pretty much finished eating," my father observes. "We should start immediately before the Japanese government decides how to react."