47.3. The Weight of Responsibility - Part 3

"Ryuu, calm down," Erik has to grab my hand because I'm walking around the room nervously.

"What if they won't like me?" I'm mad with worries.

But the truth is that what I'm really concerned about is something entirely else. What if they will be afraid of me? I told my maids today to dress me into the most colourful robe I have and style my hair into the cutest braid possible but I don't think it's enough. When I look into the mirror, I don't see only a non-human Celestial. I see the Celestial Emperor. There's something inexplicably regal about me which I can't hide.

"Something's bugging you and you don't want to show me," Erik sighs. "You're hiding a part of your mind from me again."

Of course, I'm hiding the real reason from him. He's not even aware of it but it's Erik who made me think that his parents might be afraid of me. It's his worry originally and I adopted it. I don't think I should tell him, though. It would hurt him.

"They'll love you," Erik kisses me to calm me down. "My parents are very open-minded and they respect my decisions."

Do I have a problem believing him because I've never experienced that one's family can be like that? Because I didn't learn healthy family patterns? Because I think that people will hate me by default?

"Come on," he grabs my chin and raises my head. "Just be yourself."

His words almost move me to tears. Erik has his doubts deep inside but he still prefers I stay true to myself. I love him for that.

"You didn't have to make such an effort either," he plays with my braided hair. "Silly, did you think that if you look more cute than beautiful, they'll relax? Well, you still look beautiful beyond compare, my universal androgynous beauty."

"Shut up, Mr handsome," I roll my eyes. "Let's go already, I don't want to keep them waiting."

*****

Liana allowed us to use the most luxurious lounge in the skyscraper. I asked for privacy and she reluctantly agreed because my partner's parents can be trusted but it still means that some of my guards will be present. Inside. I just hope they won't scare the Anderles.

One of the guards opens the door for us and as we enter, I immediately look for our precious visitors. They're sitting on the sofa but they stand up immediately when they see me. Is it basic courtesy or because I'm the Emperor? I honestly can't tell anymore. Oh, no. They're bowing to me!

"Please, I don't want it from you," I let go of Erik's hand and hurry to the elderly couple. "You're my partner's family."

They don't flinch when I touch them but they do get goosebumps. They emotions and thoughts hit me. They aren't exactly scared of me but apprehensive nonetheless. Erik must have talked about me a lot but they know me only from him. And the media which don't portray me always in a nice way I can imagine.

"Mom, Dad, it's okay," Erik hurries to them as well. "Sit down and relax."

They are a bit pale but nod and sit down. Did I make a good first impression or not? It's hard to tell even with my special ability.

We sit down on the sofa opposite to them and I devote a few seconds to somehow fold my wings. This sofa wasn't adjusted to Celestials yet so it's difficult to find a comfortable position. In the end, I have to stretch my right wing behind Erik's back and hug him. The Anderles are watching the whole show with fascination.

When I'm finally sitting agreeably, I can look at them closely. It's obvious they dressed in their best clothes and how nervous they are about the meeting. But otherwise they look exactly as I was picturing them since the video call.

Mrs Anderle has the same eyes and hand gestures as Erik and Mr Anderle's unruly hair makes it evident that Erik is indeed his son. They're both shy but curious and there's no hate nor disgust when they look at me. I take it as a good sign.

"How are you?" Erik helps to start a conversation. "Are the media still giving you trouble?"

"They are but it's much better," Mr Anderle says and is glad that Erik is such an ice-breaker. "They finally understood that we're not giving interviews."

"The first few days were terrible, though," Mrs Anderle sighs. "The reporters were surrounding our house 24/7. We even had a break-in. If you didn't hire those bodyguards for us, I don't know what we would do."

"I'm really sorry about that," I bite my lip. "I should have anticipated..."

"We're not blaming Your Majesty," Mrs Anderle shakes her head wildly.

"Just Aefener or Ryuuto is fine," I assure her but it doesn't seem like they'll be able to address me so familiarly.

There's awkward silence for a few seconds, both parties trying to force a conversation. We're saved by waiters coming in and asking us what we would like to drink. The Anderles and Erik order espresso while I go for a flavoured latte. Now I know where Erik inherited his conservative taste for coffee.

"The work is hard but I'm learning a lot," Erik answers when his mother voices her concern about our workload. "Ryuu has it much harder. So much responsibility."

"That's not true, we're working the same," I nudge him and he clutches my hand in return.

His parents are watching us and their tensed faces relax a bit when they see our loving interaction. Mrs Anderle even smiles.

"Are you thinking about your future?" she asks without beating around the bush. Oh, so Erik got his straightforwardness from her? "Everything is still very new and changing turbulently but things will hopefully calm down in a few years."

"I am," Erik surprises me because there's no hesitation in his mind. "I'll keep supporting Ryuu and stay by his side whatever happens and maybe... have a wedding sooner than later?"

I gasp for air. We did talk about it once before but it was still mainly hypothetical. It seems Erik has been thinking about it since then, unlike me. There's always so much to do that we don't have time to connect deeply during the day and at night, Erik's mind is too preoccupied with sex so I didn't notice he was considering it so seriously.

"What do you think, love?" he caresses my feathers because I take too long replying. "I don't want to push you, it's okay if you don't know yet."

"I... I'd like to," I stay, stuttering a bit. "Celestials don't have these kinds of ceremonies, though."

"Is that a problem?" Mr Anderle tilts his head.

"Dad, you underestimate how much Draconians changed," Erik explains. "They think about things differently from us."

"I don't mind having a human wedding," I set things straight. "Having you as my lawful husband... it sounds like a dream come true."

The moment I say it, the atmosphere in the room changes significantly. Erik is overjoyed and his parents seem to approve. But there's undeniable tension coming from my Celestial guards and the waiters who just returned to bring our coffee.

Are they against the idea that strongly? Why? Until now, I didn't feel any disagreement from them in regards that I have a human partner so it takes me aback twice as much. Is it possible they hoped our inter-species relationship can't work for long anyway? What gives them the right to even judge who I date?!

Ryuu, Erik speaks to me in his mind, alarmed. What's wrong?

I force myself to calm down. I don't want to cause a scene in front of Erik's parents. Moreover, I'm not sure it's a good idea to tell Erik about what I sensed just now. He's been on the edge lately as the pressure keeps increasing. I don't want to give him even more worries. At least now's not the right time.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Mr and Mrs Anderle?" I ask instead. "You're my partner's family, I want to protect you. We could relocate you secretly somewhere else."

"You're really kind, Your Majesty, but we don't want to leave our house," Mrs Anderle politely declines. "We're fine with the security service Erik hired us and want to keep on living as normally as possible. We'd welcome if we could regularly visit our son from now on, though."

"Erik has been evasive lately," Mr Anderle sighs and looks sternly at him while talking to me. "I get it that you're extremely busy and that Your Majesty preoccupies his head most of the time but he should think about us as well."

"That he should," I agree and elbow my boyfriend. I had no idea he was neglecting communication with his parents this much. Shame on him. The Anderles are super nice, the best parents ever. If someone like them accepted me into their family, I'd be honoured and so happy.

I didn't ignore my parents, I was simply too preoccupied by you, he justifies himself and mock-repeats what his father just said.

We drink our coffee and chat some more and I try to ignore that unpleasant aftertaste I'm catching from my guards. The Anderles gradually relax more and more and at a certain point I ask about Erik's childhood. It's adorable how embarrassed my partner gets when Mrs Anderle shows me his childhood photos on her phone.

"Could I...?" Erik's mom becomes extremely flustered simply asking for it but she's been curiously eyeing my wings for quite some time now. "I've never touched a Celestial. There's a young Celestial couple living near us but they don't go out much. I imagine they're afraid. Not everyone in the neighbourhood is as friendly as us. Somebody even sprayed their house with hateful words twice."

"Sure, go ahead," I stretch my left wing towards her.

She smiles shyly and lightly caresses my feathers. I'm surprised that Mr Anderle, who didn't seem interested, joins her as well.

"They're so soft," she's moved. "Can I ask how well do you feel your wings, Your Majesty?"

"Perfectly, they're very sensitive," I say. "Don't hesitate, I actually like petting."

The Anderles look at each other, grin and continue caressing my wings much more confidently. Thanks to them touching me, I have an opportunity to gently peer into their minds. They're genuinely good people, Erik is so lucky to have someone like them as his parents.

They have their worries and doubts, of course, but not because they would hate me. They're concerned if his son is happy and worried about the challenges we're facing and are going to face. I'm glad to discover that they aren't afraid of me in a sense of being scared. They're just naturally timid because I'm the Celestial Emperor.

I use this chance to also analyse their human perspective. I usually have Erik for that but he's too influenced by me and too used to having Draconians around him all the time from the very beginning. The Anderles' perspective is closest to ordinary humans while having an amicable attitude to new races.

With respect to their privacy, I don't go deep and only browse what they're experiencing right now. They're both fascinated and a little apprehensive but in healthy amounts. They see nothing human in me which I think is for the best. It means they don't expect me to act human so they won't be disappointed later on when I don't.

"Mom, he isn't your dog," Erik rolls his eyes because Mrs Anderle dares to scratch me under my feathers quite near my spine. My guards are watching it with apparent disgust but, thankfully, only I can sense that.

"You have a dog?" I ask and let her scratch me there because it's very pleasant. And because it makes my bodyguards mad so it's pure spite.

"A Labrador," she smiles. It's rare for people to keep big dog breeds these days but Erik's parents have a house in the suburbs, not an apartment. I'd like to visit it one day but I know I can't. My subjects would never let me go anywhere it's not perfectly safe.

We continue chatting until it's dinner time and we move to the room which was designated for us. It turns out the staff did their best and made us a proper dining room. There's a big table with a cotton cloth and even candles. We sit down, Erik next to me and his parents opposite to us.

I feel slight panic coming from them and realise that the table is set extremely formally with all those unnecessary cutlery items I was struggling with for weeks. I don't want them to feel inappropriate so I say:

"Don't worry, Mr and Mrs Anderle, and just use whatever you like. I'm not fond of it either," I demonstrate my dislike by taking a fork which isn't used for starters.

They look at me with gratitude. The servants bring us the first course and everything is delicious. We're just finishing the second course when I feel Liana and the others several floors above us becoming disturbed for some reason. I hope they'll resolve whatever that is themselves but no such luck.

The door opens and Luviael enters the room. Fortunately, she doesn't feel too anxious but it seems the matter isn't something they'll be able to manage without me either.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, Your Majesty, Royal Consort, our esteemed guests," she says apologetically. "But I'm afraid we need our Emperor right now."

I sigh and stand up. Erik wants to join me but I stop him.

"Stay with your parents," I tell him. "You should spend more time together. I'll deal with it as quickly as possible and we'll see each other later, okay?"

"Are you sure you don't need me there?" he's worried.

"I always need you but I can't rely on you so much," I answer softly because his caring concern moves me every time. I kiss him and follow my adjutant.

"Enjoy the rest of the evening, Mr and Mrs Anderle," I say goodbye. "I'm looking forward to meeting you again soon."