62.2. Back Home - Part 2

"So," Liana is looking at me with pursed lips. "You know what you did at least?"

I'm sitting on the edge of our bed with Erik and Gotrid, wrapped in blankets, and we're all afraid to meet her strict gaze. We're repenting obediently.

"I know what I did," I confess. "But I didn't do it on purpose!"

"And I believe you," she nods. "Still, it simply can't happen again. You're lucky only Celestials could feel it or we'd be in serious trouble."

I bite my lip. The reason why I'm being yelled at by my Viceroy right now is that I slipped during our love-making and let my feelings flow out. Literally. And Celestials in the skyscraper felt it. Translated: I just let all Celestial know that I'm having wild sex with my Consorts. Utterly embarrassing.

"It won't happen again?" Liana hisses.

"It won't happen again," I swear and nudge Gotrid who's barely holding up giggling.

"Good," she says, content. "Luviael got startled and dropped her tablet when it hit her. You'll buy her a new one from your salary, not the royal chamber budget."

"Noted," I repent but I'm actually glad Liana is still able to scold me like that even after what happened in the forest. As the Emperor, I won't tolerate disobedience but I need people who aren't afraid to give me their honest feedback, however harsh, if needed.

"And now let me rest for goodness' sake!" she cries. "I was about to finally fall asleep in my new bed, you know. And I bet I wasn't the only one, jet lag is a bitch."

"Sorry," I apologise again.

"Seriously, I'm starting to doubt whether having a telepathic Emperor is an asset or rather a nightmare," she mumbles grumpily under her breath on her way out.

"Okay, that was both embarrassing and hilarious," Gotrid finally dares to laugh.

"Not so much for me," I sigh. "Now everyone knows that..."

"So what?" Erik shrugs and is also chuckling. "Let them know their Emperor is well taken-care of by his Consorts."

I throw a pillow at him and suddenly there's a fierce pillow fight. With respect to Erik, we're not using telekinesis so he's actually winning over both of us because Celestials aren't the fastest and the most agile creatures when we can't fly. Then we fall into blankets, panting and laughing. And we fall asleep eventually.

*****

It sounds too good to be true but after we sleep off our jet lag, we're generously given one more day to organise our new apartment because there're no emergencies. I haven't had a day off since the Great Evolution started which feels like ages ago.

I'm watching Gotrid as he's putting his own geeky figures on the shelves and I can't stop smiling. This place finally feels like real home. We have enough space to put up our favourite things proudly on display, a cosy spot to chill in the evenings, a bed that will fit all three of us, a study that will allow me to keep work and private life separate while being conveniently close and Erik got his dreamy walk-in closet.

"Most of the clothes here are yours, though," he comments when thoroughly exploring the closet. "Your robes take a lot of space."

"Not my jurisdiction," I defend myself. "Talk to the maids about it."

"Just joking," he grabs my waist and pulls me closer. "The Celestial Emperor can't be seen in the same attire more than once a month. Besides, you know I like you in a princess dress."

"For the millionth time, it's not...!"

He silences me with a kiss.

"Hey, not fair!" Gotrid peeks inside only to catch me and Erik cuddling.

"If you end up counting your turns, I'll go on strike," I roll my eyes and free myself from Erik's embrace. "What did Vermiel say? Can we go flying now? I seriously need to stretch my wings, we skipped yesterday."

"We can and our new sporty robes should be ready as well," he nods. "Let me call the maids and..."

"No way, I want to do at least something myself," I say stubbornly. "Robes for flying can't be that hard to put on."

I browse my inventory and do find a fresh set of several robes for flying, a Celestial equivalent of sporty clothes. Erik helps me get out of my royal garments but as I'm about to put on the under-robe made of some insulated material, Gotrid stops me. Only now I notice he's holding something quite large and flat under his arm.

"Sorry, love, but could you just hop on this for a second?" he asks me carefully. "Cien gave it to me, telling me that some person called Julia I have yet to meet sends her regards and demands updated data."

I recognise the object he's carrying and turn pale. It's a scale, my mortal enemy.

"Come on, love, you know you have to be naked in order to be accurately weighted," Erik gently grabs my wrist because I want to run away. "The mighty Celestial Emperor can't be afraid of scales."

I struggle but Erik is much stronger than me and manages to lift me off and put me on top of that hated object. I know the number isn't good without even looking at the screen and just feeling Erik's emotional response.

"It used to be higher before the conference I presume?" Gotrid raises his eyebrow.

"It used to be higher," Erik nods. "Julia will be furious."

"You can tell her a slightly different number?" I suggest hopefully. "I promise to eat a lot this week and get it back asap."

Now they're both raising their eyebrows on me. Erik lets me go and I try to make myself look busy putting on the robe for flying. But I know it's futile, Julia will know by the time I return from my flight and I'll be forced to drink those protein drinks of hers for the rest of the month.

"We mean well, hon," Gotrid helps me tie my kimono belt. "We can't hide important information from your doctor."

"I know," I mumble. "Tell Vermiel we're ready. Where's the nearest balcony anyway? I don't want to go all the way to the top every time."

"Huh? Didn't you notice? Our apartment has one," Gotrid says, confused. "It's connected to the lounge. I guess the curtains were closed when you went to look so you missed it."

"WHAT?!" I widen my eyes. "Those people Liana hired to re-model our apartment are miracle workers but I doubt they'd be able to add a balcony in just a week. You're pulling my feathers."

"The lounge used to be part of Liana's living room," Erik says. "Of course, they didn't add a balcony in a week."

"She had a balcony all along?" I refuse to believe it. "And she still made me go all the way to the roof every time? And you knew about it, Erik?"

"Well," he looks at me guiltily. "We were afraid you'd be tempted to just jump off her balcony any time the urge to fly would come to you so we didn't tell you on purpose."

"Seriously?!" I get offended. "What prevents me from jumping off now then?"

"Your guards," Erik says calmly. "They couldn't fly as soon as you could but that changed."

"Oh, so apparently I can't be trusted with a balcony," I retort.

"Honestly? You can't," Erik says rather harshly but he goes for a comforting hug immediately after that. "I'm sorry, Ryuu, but you know it's true. You can't be trusted with a balcony. Your urge to fly is much higher than in other Celestials. We accepted that you can't help yourself so we're not angry with you anymore but we have to watch over you all the same."

"Let's go, my Emperor," Gotrid teases me with my title. "The guards are ready."

I sigh and leave our walk-in closet only to be apprehended by my maids because I forgot to tie my hair. When I enter the lounge, the curtains are open now so I can see there indeed is a balcony. Liana was enjoying it all by herself!

"We're ready, Your Majesty," Miruel reports. "We have a few new faces accompanying us today so I'm sorry in advance if our formation isn't perfect."

"I don't care about formations, this is just a leisure flight," I wave my hand.

"Have fun, love," Erik brings a cup of coffee and a book to relax on the balcony while awaiting my return.

It's nice to be back in Prague again. Home. New York is mostly covered in super futuristic skyscrapers but Prague retained its original historical medieval core because it's protected by UNESCO. I love flying above the Old Town and the river Vltava, it's so relaxing.

Do you like Prague, Gotrid? I ask my partner.

If I like it? I love it! he's overjoyed by the view. Too bad we can't land. I'd like to explore those picturesque streets.

We can't land. Gotrid said it simply but there's cold reality behind his words. There may be time in future when Draconians will be just as common as humans and doing all sorts of ordinary things like being tourists and go sight-seeing. But I'm the Celestial Emperor so I'll never be treated as a normal occurrence.

Gotrid feels my sudden inner turmoil and to distract me, he takes something out of his robe. Before I can even focus my eyes on the object, he throws it away, propelling it with an air thrust. The thing shines silver when the sun beams into its surface and all my instincts shout to chase after it. So I do. I change my direction so abruptly that I startle the guards and use air magic to gain on speed.

"Got it!" I'm holding a little silvery ball with an immense feeling of victory. When did Gotrid slip it into his robe? When the maids were tying me hair so I wasn't paying attention? Anyway, if he wanted to surprise me with a game, he managed.

"Your Majesty, you can't suddenly fly off like that!" Miruel scolds me when the guards finally catch up to me.

"Sure can!" I throw the ball with telekinesis and make it pass Miruel by centimetres. Not even a Celestial captain can help herself and goes after it.

We're playing fetch until total exhaustion but we're happy. Erik got almost into one fourth of the book when we return. We must have been gone for at least two hours then.

"Sooo tired," I collapse on his lap and let my wings drop down.

"Why do you overdo your regular flights?" Erik is shaking his head and starts caressing my sore wings.

"We were playing an aerial game," Gotrid collapses in an armchair next to us. "But it's good, our wings need exercise. They're proper limbs just as your hands and legs, Erik. Imagine dragging your hands all day without using them. Well, that's what we're forced to do for most of the day."

"I know," he admits and lets me breathe for a few minutes before pointing out that an afternoon snack is waiting for me.

I turn my head and notice there're sandwiches and coffee on the table. Gotrid hungrily grabs one and starts stuffing his mouth. Flying takes a lot of calories.

"I had to report your weight to Julia," Erik announces and sees to it that I also take one.

"And?" I bite into the bread. It has very good cheese inside.

"As expected, she was furious that we didn't feed you properly during the conference," he sighs. "I explained all those things that happened but she wasn't very satisfied with our excuse. So I'm afraid you'll have to drink this every day for two weeks."

My fear came true—there's a protein drink waiting for me as well.

"You already had a sandwich?" I ask because Gotrid takes another one and there's only one more left for me.

"Love, you do realise I'm human?" he tickles me under my feathers. "I can't be snacking like that, I'd put on weight. And I'm hitting the gym again on a regular basis starting tomorrow. I'm sure you don't want me losing my muscles you like so much."

"I don't," I admit but add: "But I'd love you regardless of what you look like."

"Even when I'm old and grey?" he suddenly gets very serious and a bit uncertain.

"Even when you're old and grey," I assure him with a kiss.

"Ehm," a sound of someone coughing interrupts us.

Luviael is standing in the door and is looking at us with a raised eyebrow. I guess seeing her Emperor sitting on a lap isn't very regal in her eyes. Good that I don't care how it looks like, these are my private quarters and I'll do as I wish here.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, Your Majesty," she says. "We wanted to let you rest but there're some urgent matters requiring your attention."

"That much for our day off," Gotrid grunts.

"You two rest, I'll take care of it," I stand up, properly folding my wings.

"Don't be ridiculous, love," Erik rolls his eyes and he and Gotrid stand up as well.

I'm quickly changed from the robe for flying into official royal garments and we make our way to the main office. I don't mind that my day-off has been half-cancelled. I feel rested enough and my Emperor's nature is starting to feel a bit anxious that I was away from ruling for that 'long'.

"Your Majesty!" someone hugs me despite the protocol the moment my guards open the door.

"Ingri," I hug her back. "I missed you. And you don't need to use my title, you know that, right?"

"Only the Viceroy, your Consorts and other race rulers should have that privilege," she shakes her head. "I should have been more polite before and I apologise."

Another person who stopped using my name. But at least Ingri is still otherwise familiar with me and isn't afraid to hug me.

I look around the office. It feels like ages since I've been here and I'm happy to be back. Liana is here as well, occupying her usual seat and hard at work already. Then I notice one more person, a new face.

"Hello, we haven't met yet," I try to put on a friendly smile.

The person in question is a Dragonkin. Quite young by the looks of it and even though taller than an average Celestial, rather short and slender for a Dragonkin. I want to ask for a name but several things happen in a quick succession.

The Dragonkin opens their mouth to say something but only fumes come out. Then the Dragonkin bows deeply, knocking over the chair behind them with their tail. It goes down with a loud thud. The Dragonkin suddenly feels horrified, turns pale and... storms out of the office.

"You scared them, Your Majesty!" Ingri scolds me and runs after the startled Dragonkin.

"I... what?" I'm left totally confused.