43.2. Consequences - Part 2

"Our Emperor was attacked by humans without any kind of provocation," Liana hisses through her teeth.

"Mob mentality, nothing else," Delgado opposes. "Any normal person would go crazy is they saw the Celestial Emperor loitering in a park. What were you even thinking letting him out, Miss Richter?"

My wrath gets stronger again, I can't believe my ears. Did he just call Liana by her human name even though he must know how it triggers Draconians? And did he just address her instead of me? I focus on my friends' emotions as every single one of them gets gravely offended. I sense catastrophe.

"Mr President," Bennett interferes, sensing imminent danger as well. He might not be on our side but he's at least trying to keep things peaceful. "I have to remind you that Draconian races have been acknowledged as nations and their forming governments are official now. We have to use their preferred names and titles."

"My bad, it's still very fresh to me," Delgado apologises but not with much sincerity.

"Are you blaming the victim, Mr President?" I ask coldly, barely keeping my Celestial wrath in check.

My friends shiver. Was my tone too harsh? Or did I release some of my mana accidentally? The room does feel colder.

Delgado is studying me. It seems hard for him to accept me as his equal because I used to be just a student who was earning money by gaming. But he can't find anything from my old self in my new appearance. I must seem totally alien to him and that unnerves him because he can't read me.

"His Majesty is right," Myren Duke, the UN Secretary-General, coughs. "Maybe he shouldn't have appeared in front of humans but it would be an exemplary victim blaming if that's your main argument, Mr President."

Delago frowns. He still wants to put all the blame on me but if he did, he would come out as a bigoted dinosaur despite his young age.

"I agree," Bennett surprisingly seconds. "Still, His Majesty seriously needs to be more careful from now on and be mindful of his behaviour. While there're four more race rulers, he's the face of Draconia whether he likes it or not. And the fact that he looks so divine isn't helping."

There's nothing wrong with the utterance itself, it seems like Bennett is trying to help us a bit, but the way he's saying it makes me mad. He's not even addressing me directly—his speech belongs to Liana whom he considers to be my caretaker.

My remaining hesitation disappears instantly. It's not like he hurt my ego, I don't care about something petty like that, but because he thinks that if I'm politically weak, the whole Celestial race can be manipulated.

I simply can't have that. I have to protect my people and if it means becoming sharper, so be it. The weight of responsibility is overwhelming but I feel strangely excited at the same time. I'm the Celestial Emperor and I finally feel like one now. It is how it should be.

Aefener, don't say anything stupid that you won't be able to take back! Liana screams in her head, startled, because she feels my emotional state through our connection.

I keep eyeing the EU President but, in reality, I pay more attention to Liana now. She's my trusted Viceroy. I love her immensely and I'm endlessly grateful for taking care of me and Erik but she's overstepped the boundary just now.

Don't call me stupid, Liana, it's unbecoming towards your Emperor, I say plainly on purpose.

I don't even send any dark emotion to her but she flinches so wildly that it makes everyone notice her weird behaviour. Hopefully, they won't make anything out of it.

"Mr Bennett," I address the EU President coldly, "I'm sure you're brave enough to talk to me directly. Liana is indeed my Viceroy but if you studied Celestial lore, you must now that she's simply my most trusted advisor. She's authorised to take care of things in my absence but when I'm present, you talk to me."

Bennett blinks a few times, shocked by the change of my conduct. And he's not the only one, my friends are looking at each other, taken aback. Erik is genuinely scared but I shower him with my affection that is the same as always so he relaxes.

The only people in the room who aren't surprised are the EU delegates. Miss Ortega has been timid around me from the very beginning and Dubois experienced my rage in full already and he's been wary ever since.

"Please, accept my apology, Your Majesty," Bennett says after a moment of consideration. "We simply implore you to be careful. Your position is very different from elected representatives and even human monarchs. Your people adore you and are willing to follow you without a question. We're talking about people with unmapped magical abilities that could potentially become very dangerous."

"I think I proved enough that I wish for peace," I purse my lips. "I didn't defend myself even if it was my right in that kind of situation."

"The outcome is the same, though, Draconians are rioting," Delgado remarks. His voice didn't lose its venomous aftertaste but it seems I earned some of his respect at least.

"What kind of riot? Were any innocent civilians hurt?" I ask.

"Fortunately not," the UN General-Secretary clarifies. "But Draconians are protesting in front of government buildings all over the world and they're also rioting in front of companies that fired them."

"They're protesting because you bully us," my voice is a whip. "But they're still doing it peacefully exactly because I didn't defend myself. Because I showed that I want no bloodshed."

My implication couldn't have been clearer. Bauerova flinches a bit while Delgado wrinkles his nose. They fully realise now that I have the power. I also fully realise it and I guess it was about time. I'm not powerless. They're right to call me a threat.

"What do you propose then?" Delgado asks and has to force those words out of his mouth.

"Zero tolerance towards racist behaviour and financial support for those who lost their jobs," I say resolutely. "That would be a nice start. As for the rest, I believe the UN is preparing an international conference in a few weeks?"

"We indeed are," Myren Duke confirms.

"Can you guarantee that Draconians will stay put until we reach an official agreement, Your Majesty?" Bennett asks openly but politely.

"I can ask them not to ignite unnecessary violence," I shrug theatrically. "I can also implore Draconians to be careful not to kill any humans in self-defence but I won't tell them to turn the other cheek when they're being bullied. Not anymore. I experienced first-hand that it just doesn't work."

The world leaders look at each other.

"Can we have a few minutes to discuss the matter in private?" Delgado asks and doesn't look happy at all. He suspects he's not going to win this round.

"Sure," I say and signal Luvi to disconnect us for now.

When the holographic projection disappears, the tense atmosphere brightens tiny bit as we sigh out in unison. I don't care about appearances in front of the EU delegates and kiss Erik. He was holding up so well.

Sorry you had to see me like this, I tell him. But this is also me.

He doesn't answer. Instead, he's thinking frantically. I don't pressure him for now, he needs time to process it. But at least he kissed me back which is a good sign.

"God, that was intense!" Fefnir grunts loudly. "I had no idea you had it in you, Aefener."

"I'm the Celestial Emperor, it's my job," I look at Liana who looks most shocked by my behaviour. I touch her wing with mine.

Sorry, did I sound too harsh towards you? I send her my thoughts.

No, I needed to hear that, she says humbly. I can't keep treating you as an incompetent youth, you're the Emperor... my Emperor. You might not know certain things because of your lack of experience but it was foolish of me to think that I'm above you. I'm really not.

Hey, talk aloud, the EU delegates are watching, Erik finally speaks up to warn us. He's right, they are. Especially Dubois.

"Let's take a coffee break," Liana claps her hands to distract them.

We move to the room next door where someone prepared refreshments for us. I notice an Earthborn lady wearing an apron standing behind the tables next to a coffee machine. I haven't given much attention to common Draconian before, I realise that now. I have to thank Iyapa and Zirand for opening my eyes. To my defence, I didn't ignore anyone on purpose, I was just too busy and simply overwhelmed. But that's no excuse.

"Could I have a latte, please?" I ask the Earthborn nicely. "Almond milk, one sugar."

"Of course, Your Majesty," she's all smiles despite the tense situation. I feel she's just as scared as everyone else but she makes an effort to smile for me.

"What's your name?" I ask while I'm watching her brewing my coffee. I think I spotted her several times before when I was passing the corridors.

"Tateena, Your Majesty," she smiles again. "I prepare your snacks."

"Oh," I put my palm in front of my mouth. Of course, I knew that someone has to be making our snacks but it never occurred to me to stick a concrete face to it. I should be ashamed.

"They are really tasty!" I blurt out.

"Thank you for saying that, you're really as kind as they say," Tateena finishes my latte and hands me the cup. It has a beautiful latter art on the foam. "And the Royal Consort would like...?"

"Espresso, please," Erik orders mechanically, his mind still jumbled and in a full thinking mode.

"Did you work in a café before, Tateena?" I'm curious.

"I did," she nods and I notice that she uses her roots to hold stuff. "I loved it so I'm glad I can continue doing it. Naturally, I lost my job when my employer found out that I started transforming."

I clutch Erik's hand more firmly. I get it that humans are afraid of us, humanity has always been afraid of anything new and strange, but it just proves that I have to pressure the UN into making fair laws that will prevent that.

"Cappuccino," Liana orders after us and is happy that I'm making an attempt to get to know the people she assigned to work for our inner government.

"Let's grab something, hon," Erik points towards buffet tables. "I couldn't eat anything while you were missing so I'm starving."

I turn around. Fefnir is already ravaging the selection of ham and other salami while the EU delegates are standing in the corner, whispering. There's no Clawfang nearby so they don't have to be afraid they'll be overheard. I bet they have to discuss their opinion on the matter.

Now that Erik mentions it, I realise how hungry I am. I was flying like crazy and then I spent a lot of mana healing those Draconians. Still, I don't feel like eating—I'm too anxious. Erik might be relieved that I returned safe and sound but Draconians all over the world are rioting.

Even if we manage to somehow overcome the worst, I doubt our people will go back into hiding. The time when we were afraid of humans is over. Our transformation is nearing its end and further bullying will only lead to civil disobedience.

"Ryuu," Erik takes one canape and wants to deliver it straight into my mouth.

"Later," I shake my head and sip my coffee instead. "I'll eat dinner with you when the meeting is over."

As expected, my boyfriend isn't satisfied with such an answer and frowns.

"Li, the Emperor refuses to eat," he tells on me without a second thought. I give him a horrified look but he just shrugs.

"I'm sorry, love, but if you won't take it from me, your Viceroy should have every right to just command you," he says. "Don't you think I didn't do my homework. While you hold absolute political power, your subjects have power over your protection and well-being."

"Eat something, Aefener," Liana rolls her eyes and joins us since her coffee is done. "You were flying like crazy and how many healing spells did you do in that squat?"

I sigh. There are two kinds of people. Those who eat when stressed and those who can't eat anything. I'm the latter case, sadly. I take a few canapes but I don't enjoy them much. Liana and Erik are right, though. I need energy and I feel that my body starts to digest the food right away, converting calories into mana so I force myself to eat a few more.

Suddenly, I feel a change in telepathic imprints in my vicinity. One very familiar that I'm very fond of is back.

"Emi has returned!" I announce cheerfully.