48.3. In Between - Part 3

Erik keeps frowning the whole way to the lounge and puts on a forced smile only when the door opens and we're facing our visitors. It's three women and two men. Erik is very extroverted so I'm sure he has more friends than this so either the rest of them wasn't free this time or... he lost a lot of his so-called 'friends' because he's dating me.

They bow to me and it's quite cringy but polite enough. I don't tell them they don't have to. Actually, I think they should. They have no direct connection to me and I'm the Emperor. When did I become someone who thinks like that? But I don't mind. I'm proud to be who I am.

After basic formalities, we sit down and Erik, being really good at social events, starts the conversation right away. I'm glad he does because I'm more interested in analysing his friends telepathically. It's been some time since I've faced so many humans at once.

I was at ease when Erik's parents visited, I even tried to negotiate that I don't need my guards present inside. But this time is different. I'm glad that my bodyguards are here with me and I'm glad that so many.

Erik's friends are not bad people, they're really not. But they're far from the kind Anderles who love their son unconditionally so they decided to accept me unconditionally as well. These people have too many mixed emotions when they look at us. Curiosity, fear, envy, slight disgust, fascination... you name it.

They pretend to chat merrily but I see how they're eyeing Erik's expensive watch and brand suit. How they're envious of his shoes when real leather costs a small fortune these days. How they're looking... at me. Only two of them are truly interested in Erik as a person and their friend. The rest is here just for the spectacle.

If the security didn't confiscate their phone, they'd be taking countless pictures of me and everything around. I see their fingers twitching and reaching into empty pockets too many times. But Erik seems happy around his kind. He's asking many questions and his smile widens. He's relaxed.

Originally, I wanted to stay for a full hour but I don't think I'll manage. I don't feel comfortable. I want out.

"Sorry, I forgot there's a document I have to finish today," I stand up, slowly on purpose so that it doesn't look like I'm running away.

"So soon?" Erik blinks, confused, and checks his watch.

"Sorry, love, it slipped my mind," I smile apologetically, hoping I'm not being too obvious. "Have fun, okay? Stay as long as you wish."

"Oh, what a pity!" one of the women says disappointedly. "We were hoping you'd tell us more, Your Majesty."

About what exactly? And what does she plan to do with that I information? Put it on social media and boast that she met me?

"We hope to see you again," she bows but then she hesitates and stretches her palm to me.

I'm staring at it for a while. A handshake isn't a Celestial custom and definitely not when it comes to the royal protocol. The woman chews her lip when I don't move. She wants to touch the Celestial Emperor and tell stories about it. I don't want to give her that satisfaction but Erik starts to worry if everything's okay. He doesn't understand why I won't do it. So I do. For him.

His Majesty is really beautiful but he gives me goosebumps, her immediate thought hits me. Damn, I hoped to touch his wings.

I don't jerk away only through sheer willpower. Now that I shook her hand, the others also line up for a handshake, thinking it's okay. Erik is watching me so I force myself.

I didn't know Erik was such a gold-digger. The Celestial Emperor must be loaded.

What's sex with a Celestial like? I wonder how often they fuck and do wings get in the way?

Is it offensive to ask Celestials for one of their feathers?

My head spins from nausea but I stand my ground and let nothing show on my face. Erik's friends aren't dangerous so I'm not afraid to leave him with them but they make me sick. They're too petty. Too... human.

"See you in the evening," I somehow manage to kiss my partner and close my mind to him completely so that he doesn't suspect a thing.

I gracefully leave the room but the moment the door closes behind me, I put my hand over my mouth and start running. My guards, confused and shocked, follow me. It's a miracle but I make it into the nearest bathroom and puke into the sink.

"Your Majesty...?" Miruel gently taps my shoulder. She's mad worried about me. I guess seeing her Emperor throw up isn't the nicest sight.

"Their human emotions made me sick," I explain weakly and wash my mouth with water. Fortunately, there's no one else in the bathroom so unnecessary rumours won't spread.

"Should we call the doctor?" Miruel doesn't know what to do and starts panicking a bit.

"No need, I just need to lie down for a while," I shake my head and dry my face with a tissue.

Miruel doesn't look convinced but she walks me back into my apartment. I should be okay after I find my balance again and I look forward to my bed. Instead, I find Liana stepping in front of my apartment, apparently waiting for me. I whine. Did one of the guards contact her?

"Aefener, you look terrible," she's horrified when she sees me. Am I that pale? "Come to my apartment and tell me what happened. Starting with that incident in the hall."

I frown at Miruel for telling her about that but my guardian just shrugs, indicating that it concerns my protection so I have no say in the matter.

I realise this is the first time I've been invited into Liana's quarters but there's not much to see, her apartment is almost identical to mine and Erik's. Except maybe that Liana's apartment is much tidier and minimalistic because she doesn't collect that many geeky things.

"So," she seats me in front of her on the sofa and stretches her wings to me. "What exactly happened in that hall? Miruel texted me, explaining that you wanted to chat with your subjects."

"Well, I tried," I lower my head, saddened. "It didn't go as I envisioned it. They surrounded me and in all that confusion, someone touched me between my wings."

Liana hisses angrily. Humans might not understand but for Celestials it's an equivalent for going after one's crotch or breasts.

"I didn't feel any danger so I couldn't react in time," I add. "Besides, I've experienced groping before when still human. Nothing new to me. I should have been more careful."

"Aefener," Liana takes my hands into hers. "Would you blame the victim for not being careful enough? It's a sexual assault. And what's worse, the offender was one of us and it happened when your guards were present."

"We're really sorry, Your Majesty, Your Excellency," Miruel apologises and feels really guilty about it. "We didn't anticipate that our own people... but that's no excuse. It won't happen again."

"You bet it won't," Liana narrows her eyes at the guards.

"I want to be able to talk to ordinary Celestials, Li," I tell her so that she won't think of some extreme solution such as forbidding me to speak to common people entirely.

"Sure, but not like that," she shakes her head. "Your guards must be able to protect you even in the crowd."

"We'll think of something, Your Excellency," Miruel assures her.

"But that's not all, isn't it? I take it meeting Erik's friends didn't go well?" Liana continues.

"Not exactly," I lean my chin against her shoulder. "They were thinking some nasty stuff and I hated their human emotions."

"You touched them?" she hugs me around my wings. "You never touch our political guests."

"I wanted to make Erik happy so I shook their hands," I say. "I shouldn't have. It made me nauseous and... well... let's say I had to visit the bathroom."

"Oh, Aefener," she caresses my feathers. "Go ahead and connect to me if you need to calm down."

"I don't want to impose," I lean back but she hugs me tighter.

Her mind is so inviting that I'm not able to resist anymore and connect to her. We've connected several times before but never so deeply. It's different from my connection to Erik so I'm twice as surprised that it's not necessarily shallower.

Liana isn't my partner but I love her all the same. I enjoy that she's a complete opposite of my boyfriend and how familiar her Celestial emotions are. I understand that it's a thankless job to be the Viceroy who has to constantly restrain the flight-obsessed Emperor but she does it simply because she wants to protect me.

We create a cocoon out of our wings and let the outside world disappear. The Emperor and his Viceroy, white feathers and black feathers—we're like a yin-yang. Liana provides what I lack and vice versa. We stay like that for quite some time and I can't ignore that bugging feeling anymore.

I'm starting to crave a Celestial mind.