My father bites his lip, but he concedes.
"Son, the Bonding Ceremony is something only the Royal bloodline can do," he starts explaining. "I didn't tell you because I didn't want to put even more pressure on you, but it seems our subjects won't take 'no' from me as an answer."
"What kind of bonding?" Gotrid clutches my hand possessively. "Just to be clear, we won't allow our beloved to take another partner."
"Not that kind of bonding," my father shakes his head. "Members of the Royal bloodline are expected to bond with their subjects when they come of age. For the Divementis, it's when we turn forty. However, Aefener is a hybrid so he matured as fast as a human would. Therefore, he's mentally and physically capable of undergoing the Bonding Ceremony."
I'm staring at him, dumbfounded. Bonding to all Divementis?! Are they serious? There's simply no way I would be able to do something like that and stay sane!
"Naturally, it's not the same as bonding with your partners," he quickly sets the record straight when he notices my expression. "The Bonding Ceremony is about connecting to the Divementis telepathic matrix and touching every Divementis for a split second. It's something only someone with the Royal bloodline can do."
"W-what are the effects?" I stutter, trying to imagine that. Didn't Nala mention that there are more than twelve thousand survivors?
"I didn't tell you because I suspected you wouldn't like it," my father lowers his head. "The Bonding Ceremony is a true coming of age for us of the Royal bloodline. Bonding with your subjects means that you'll take responsibility for the prosperity of our entire race. As the Celestial Emperor, I'm sure you understand what I mean because you feel the same towards Celestials."
I do understand. I understand so perfectly it makes me shiver. While I appreciate that my father was trying to save me from it, he should have told me. Still, I guess I must be grateful that he wasn't trying to force me into it against my will.
"I won't do it," I say clearly for the crowd to hear. "I have a throne of my own if you haven't noticed."
"You heard the Prince," my father purses his lips. "Besides, we have more important matters to deal with right now. We won't have a future if we don't win this war."
"B-but...," the Divementis look stricken.
"Your Highness, do you mean that you won't undergo the Bonding Ceremony now because the time isn't right, but you are open to it after we win the war?" the Divementis woman asks pleadingly.
I realise that I have to be extremely careful with my response. I don't want to promise the Divementis something I won't be able to fulfil only to disappoint them later, but my words can either totally dishearten them or give them hope. And they really need hope right now.
"I...," I start extremely slowly, "I'm willing to reconsider it when things calm down."
I catch my father watching me intently, but he closes himself to me again so I can't tell what he's feeling. I can feel the other Divementis, though. While I did refuse them, it wasn't a flat-out rejection. I promised to stay open and it seems to be good enough for them. At least for now.
"Go now, the Prince needs to rest," Nyx shoos the crowd away and they reluctantly disperse.
"Damn," Gotrid collapses back on the sofa and pulls me next to him. "As if you weren't under pressure already. What do they take you for? You're not some godly idol that can work non-stop and doesn't have feelings."
"I'm sorry, son, I wanted to save you from that," my father apologises on his subjects' behalf. "I had no idea they would be so audacious to bother you during your coffee break. I clearly stated to all Divementis beforehand that you won't be giving audiences."
"For two centuries, we thought that the Royal bloodline would end with you, brother," Nyx is more understanding. "No wonder they can't help it when they finally got the Crown Prince."
"Son, I don't want you to feel pressured," he reassures me. "You're here to train and learn about your Divementis heritage. As I said, I'm still in my prime. Even if you eventually take over the Divementis Empire, it won't happen for at least two hundred years."
I nod. I still feel uneasy about it, but I choose to trust my father on this. With the incident taken care of, my father and aunt return to the meeting with the Japanese government, leaving me with just my Celestial escort.
"I feel safest with you around after all," I murmur. "I know that you're worried I might start preferring the Divementis, but that won't happen."
I envelop my arm around Gotrid's back and pet his feathers. I can't imagine not having wings and should we ever build Assiath in the real world, I will settle in the clouds and never come back. My perception might be Divementis, but my physical needs are Celestial.
"Your Majesty, the Earthborn rulers are calling," Luviael enters the lounge. "I heard you're on break, but would you be so kind and talk to them? Her Excellency is dealing with the Dragonkin Patriarch at the moment."
"It's not a proper break if you're still working," Gotrid doesn't like it.
"They are my friends," I take a tablet from Luviael. "The Earthborn dungeon master who was working for the Divementis must have reached them by now, told them about the current situation and they must be freaking out."
I tap the icon and the call gets connected. As expected, both Twyla and Werden are squeezed to fit the screen and they look bewildered.
"Aefener, are there really aliens behind Draconia Online?" Werden blurts out without any greeting.
"There are," I nod. "Sorry for not reaching out to you myself, but I was told the Earthborn dungeon master is on his way to tell you everything."
"He did tell us everything, at least in a nutshell," Twyla confirms. "We refused to believe it until we heard it from you, though."
"I was just as surprised when I found out... which I did just a few days ago," I add quickly. "As if being the Celestial Emperor wasn't enough, now I have to deal with being the Divementis Crown Prince and..."
"Hoooold on!" Twyla and Werden widen their eyes. "You're what now?!"
"The Earthborn dungeon master didn't tell you?" I tilt my head and watch as the Earthborn ruling couple looks outside the scope of the camera, looking seriously pissed.
"I didn't want to overwhelm you, Your Majesties," I hear a male voice vehemently apologising. "The Celestial Emperor is indeed the son of the Divementis Emperor which is the only reason why they told Celestials first."
"Wait... where are you?" Twyla narrows her eyes.
"At the Divementis base," I reveal, hoping they won't get even more pissed because I didn't tell them. "I didn't have much choice in the matter, my father came to fetch me with a spaceship. It's just my second day here. Sorry for not telling you immediately, but there simply wasn't any time."
"So... you're half-alien," Werden gulps.
"The Divementis are Draconians just as we all are," I set the record straight in case the Earthborn dungeon master didn't emphasise it enough.
"Are we invited to the Divementis secret base as well then?" Twyla bites her lip nervously.
"I suppose you are," I shrug.
"To a lair of telepathic aliens?" Werden shakes his head. "I know that they are your people, Aefener, but we would have no defence against them. We might send an ambassador, but I doubt our people will allow us to go personally. It's too risky."
"Send an ambassador then," I agree. "I don't think it's a good idea to have all rulers gathered in one place anyway."
I have to assure them several times during our chat that I'm really fine because Twyla suspects that I was abducted (which is partly true, I guess) and the call ends with Werden promising to send their ambassador to Nebula in a few days and keep regular contact. So much for a break.