First Public Disaster
AURELIA/ LEXI
My knees buckled as the door closed behind him. I didn't move. I stayed where I was, staring at the space he had passed through. I slowly let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"...Good," I whispered.
For a second, I almost laughed because if I didn't, I might panic.
"He's just suddenly coming into my room," I whispered to myself, trying to let out my irritation.
"Does he know? Yes... he already knows. But why hasn't he done anything yet? Does he have a plan? Should I be grateful that he hasn't yet? Or maybe he's just waiting for the right opportunity?"
I was stunned.
"No," I said softly. "This is still Princess Aurelia's body; no matter what he does to me, the princess will be in pain."
I took a slow breath.
"That's right, he can't hurt me."
I was silent for a moment, then shook my head.
"But I have to be careful."
I squeezed my finger.
"He definitely won't stop. Especially if he gets more suspicious."
I glanced at the mirror. I noticed that Kael had glanced at it a few times earlier.
I approached the mirror. The obsidian surface looked back at me. My reflection followed a second too late.
I was stunned.
I raised my hand. My reflection rose to him a little slowly.
"Yes," I whispered. "That's not scary."
I lowered my hand.
I wondered. Could it be that he had also noticed the delay in my movement in the mirror's reflection?
Kael. His eyes were sharp in a different way. He noticed that thing immediately.
I pressed my lips together. He knew something was wrong, but he didn't say anything. Was he really suspicious, or maybe he was just confused? But I really had a different feeling.
I folded my arms. "He'll know too," I said softly. "Soon or later."
I started walking.
"Okay. Think," I whispered. "You just have to act like him. Kael is the only one who doubts it, and I can handle him. I can handle him."
I stopped in front of a table near the window. Things were lying around that I wasn't used to seeing: jewelry, scrolls, a dagger.
I picked up one of the rings. But I wasn't expecting it. It was hot. Too hot. I quickly let it go.
"That's right. Don't touch things that aren't yours," I whispered. "So you don't get burned."
I ran one hand through my hair.
"Is this what she does all day?" I asked the empty room. "Staring at people? Threatening them? Is Princess Aurelia like this or worse?"
Probably.
I glanced at the door. I knew there were guards outside. They were always there, like the ones I'd seen in movies and dramas.
This time, I stepped closer to the mirror. My reflection filled my vision enough.
"Okay," I said, quieter now. "You're Princess Aurelia."
The name felt strange in my mouth. I straightened my posture as my chin rose. I tried to be a princess.
I imitated my reflection. Almost perfectly, even though it was half a second late, it was as if there were an intermittent signal.
"…Pretend," I whispered. "Just pretend."
I cursed and jerked back sharply when someone knocked on the door.
"Your Majesty," a voice called from outside. "The council awaits you in the throne room."
I closed my eyes for a moment. Then I opened them while forcing my expression to calm.
"I understand," I said.
I turned away from the mirror and walked towards the door. My steps were heavy. I thought that Kael might be there and have reported to the king immediately. But I didn't think Kael would do that.
I continued walking until I opened the door. I have to show up for them, to do whatever they want because.....
I have no choice.
-
It's like the throne room is watching me.
The floor is black, and there are slow-moving lines underneath it, like decorations, but Nyx says they're magic. The pillars stretch so high. There are carved faces that change when I don't look at them directly. Strange, isn't it?
I sat on a raised chair that wasn't really a throne. It was curved like bone, dark and shiny, with faint red veins running through it. The peg was just like Game of Thrones.
My dress moved of its own accord. The red silk tightened and loosened with each breath I took, as if adjusting to my mood. The sleeves pulled slightly, releasing heat into the air. The gold threads at the hem slightly shimmer.
In front of me is a long table. Nobles filled both sides. Their skins varied, some smooth and pale, others marked with cracks. Horns. Wings. Eyes that didn't blink.
I swallowed.
Go ahead. Just continue the meeting. I'll just listen and smile.
Easy. Right?
An attendant placed a plate near me. The food looked… wrong. Meat, I think. It was dark but fragrant, sweet, and bold at the same time.
I didn't touch it. Instead, I glanced to my right. Of course, Kael was standing there. Watching. I had to retaliate for what he had done earlier, and this was my chance. I secretly smirked, then turned my gaze back to the king and the other nobles.
I cleared my throat before speaking. "Why are you standing, Commander Kael?"
Kael stared at me with a blank expression. He didn't even react in the slightest.
One of the nobles replied.
"Your Majesty, he is not worthy to sit with us because he is...."
But he stopped speaking when I slapped my hand across the table. A thin line of light spread across it. It was as if I had pressed a button to make it happen. The entire room fell silent.
"Finish it," I said coldly.
I noticed the noble swallow. "He is... he is just a guard. Lower than General Varros."
"Just?" I repeated slowly.
I stood up, startling them. "I will repeat," I added more clearly. "Why is my chosen mate standing?"
Everyone fell silent. No one wanted to answer.
I turned my gaze to Kael. I noticed the slight frown on his forehead. It was as if he was hesitating whether to follow me because he knew the truth.
"Sit next to me."
Kael didn't move. He glanced at everyone who wasn't even moving.
"That's an order," I added in a lower voice.
A second or two passed before he moved. He walked over to me as one of the servants prepared a seat for him next to me.
I could feel the tension around the table. A noble moved beside me and stood.
"Your Majesty, the council has a rule—"
"Rules?" I immediately cut it off and walked towards him.
He didn't back down, but I noticed his trembling. So, this is how Princess Aurelia's presence is to everyone. Exciting!
"The rules," I said directly to him. "Oh, it revolves around me."
He fell silent. "If there's anything unclear," I added. "I'm the law in this room."
I looked at the king, and he seemed pleased with what I had done. And I knew the nobles had noticed it too, so no one dared to speak.
I slowly returned to my seat and sat there. Kael was already there, sitting next to me, and like the nobles, he was looking at me.
"Let's start again," I said. "At this time, make it make sense."
A few nobles looked at each other, and I knew they didn't like my behavior. Good.
I glanced at Kael slightly, then I grinned as if only he would notice. He didn't say anything. He still didn't seem convinced. At least I scared these nobles.
One of the nobles stood up.
Tall. Thin. His voice was slightly subdued, as if echoing from a deeper place.
"Your Highness," he said, trying to maintain composure. "We await your decision on the matter of the uprising in the lower district. It should be suppressed immediately—"
So, are there districts here? The surroundings are already like hell, are there worse?
I nodded slowly, pretending to understand.
"Why?" I interrupted.
He was stunned. "Because they are violating—"
"I'm not asking what they did," I said. "I'm asking why they did it?"
Silence.
I pressed my fingers to the table. "If you keep killing but don't fix the cause... it will come back."
The noble blinked once.
I cleared my throat. "I mean, it's clearly not good. But it seems… have we tried talking to them first?"
More silence.
"Your Highness," that voice cut through everyone.
I looked at him, at Kael.
"The Princess," he said, "is proposing a preliminary assessment before action."
I blinked. That's not what I said, but okay.
Kael continued, his gaze sweeping over all the nobles, including the king and queen.
"A strategic delay to observe the extent of the unrest. Not leniency."
Leniency. Ah, that's the problem.
The nobles looked at each other; they seemed thoughtful.
"The Underworld does not reward hesitation," said the first noble.
Kael didn't even look at him. "Nor does it reward blind reaction."
Silence again.
I remained seated and adjusted my position.
"Good," I said, as if that was my plan from the beginning. "That's what I meant."
They were still quiet, so I took advantage of it.
"We'll send a representative," I repeated. "And I'll choose."
Shit, this scenario has the power of Chinese drama.
"Commander Kael." I felt him tense slightly. "You will lead the mission."
Kael didn't answer right away. Everyone there was looking at him, waiting.
"And if he refuses?" Someone interrupted.
I didn't take my eyes off Kael. "He won't refuse," I said.
There was another moment of silence, then Kael spoke.
"I will accept," Kael said emotionlessly.
Lady Seraphine leaned back in her chair slightly. Her eyes were full of interest.
"Interesting." She said softly as if she were the only one talking to me. "I didn't expect that from you, Your Majesty."
I didn't answer her. I could feel her gaze on me. Too curious.
General Varros, on the other hand, was speechless; he just sat there quietly with his hands folded on the table. There was no reaction, but I noticed the slight movement of his jaw.
The king and queen didn't interfere; they just listened quietly. It seemed like they were really training Princess Aurelia to lead this entire kingdom.
The king's lips lifted slightly while the queen's gaze was calm. That signal was an approval.
I looked back at the council. "Do you object?" I asked.
No one answered, not a single one there.
"Very well," I said. "The conversation is over."
The meeting continued, but I didn't speak again. Not when it wasn't necessary. When I did, I kept it short. I was impartial.
The food in front of me was getting cold without being touched.
At one point, the nobles began to agree. Not with me, but with Kael, at least we were all trying to convey the same thing. The nobles were either biased or feared.
-
The hall slowly emptied. One by one, the nobles left. I remained seated until the last of them had disappeared.
Then I took a deep breath. "Well," I whispered deeply. "That went… great."
Kael was still there.
I glanced at him. "You didn't have to step in like that."
"You were losing control of the room," he said.
"I was handling it," I argued weakly.
"No," he replied.
Ouch, that's really straightforward; you don't know how to brake.
I looked away, arms crossed. "They're just… intense."
There was a moment of silence between Kael and me. Then, "You talk differently," he added.
I froze.
Slowly, I looked back at him. "Different?"
"Yes."
I tried to recover. "Maybe that's just… my thing now."
"It is not," he said.
I sighed, leaning back against the warm, living throne.
"Okay," I whispered. "So that was a disaster."
"Yes."
I closed my eyes for a moment. I glanced at Kael again. He was still watching me.
"Stop looking at me," I said jokingly. "You might fall for me, you'll just get hurt."
He didn't smile. "That's not going to happen."
One of my eyebrows rose. "Really? What a shame."
He was silent for a moment, then spoke. "You really do that?"
"Which one?" I asked.
"Speaking without thinking about the effect it will have."
I felt bad. "That's terrible, so I have an effect."
"I do," he answered immediately.
I was silent for a moment. I didn't expect that.
I stared at him. "So... what, you're watching me for that?"
"I'm watching you," he said, "so I can know who you really are."
I stopped. "Wow," I whispered. "Exciting."
I let out a weak, tired laugh. I could still feel her gaze on me. I quickly stood up and picked up the plate of food.
"I'm going back to my room," I said, not looking at Kael. "I'll get this down. The meeting is making me hungry."
I quickly walked towards the door, and when I opened it, Nyx, Morgana, and Celestina were standing there. They looked at the plate of food I was carrying.
"Your Majesty…." Morgana said, then took the plate from my hand.
"Let's take it to my room. I was stressed out with the old nobles earlier. I need a stress reliever." I said, then I quickly hugged Nyx and Celestina's arms, followed by Morgana, as I quickly walked away from that room.