Have you ever loved a videogame so much that you wished you were somehow magically transported into it? Tough luck, this isn't your typical isekai story where the protagonist ends up in a different world. The videogame becomes the new reality in thi...
"Isn't it too tight, Your Majesty?" Ayala asks when she finishes tying my new battle armour.
I slowly turn around, stretch my arms as well as my wings and take a few steps around. It does weigh much more than a normal sporty robe for flying, but it's still manageable and surprisingly comfortable. I shouldn't have any issues wearing it for a few hours and it doesn't look as menacing as the Dragonkin armour.
I step in front of a mirror and study my reflection. And I love what I see. This is me and I don't care how alien I might look to humans. I won't try to make myself more approachable any longer. This is the genuine me in my full Celestialness and there's only one human whose opinion matters to me—Erik's.
"How do I look, hon?" Gotrid appears from behind a screen where Cien has been tying his battle armour to surprise me. He also got one as a present, a variant with a silver lining whereas mine is golden.
"Magnificent," I grin at him. "Hey, how come you look somewhat better in it than me?"
"I have more muscles," he boasts, laughing. "You look godly, love, don't worry."
"No, take it off, I feel funny," I suddenly hear Erik arguing with the maids in the adjacent room. "Why can't I wear a suit? I bought a bunch of new ones."
"It fits you really well, Royal Consort," one of the Japanese maids is trying to persuade him. "I know that it's just a gesture, but it would help to sway the general public if you showed you care about our culture."
Ayala finishes braiding my hair and I hurry to curiously spy on Erik changing. I freeze, astonished. Erik is someone who was just born to wear suits so how come he looks so natural in a traditional formal men's kimono as well? I have to try hard to suppress arousal. Erik catches my sudden burst of erotic excitement and turns to me.
"I look weird, don't laugh," he whines, embarrassed.
"You-look-gorgeous!" I pause every word and, in a second, I'm holding him and kissing feverishly.
"Okay, okay, I believe you," he laughs. "But I still feel weird."
"You know, it's technically a three-piece you love so much," I chuckle when I lean back. "It consists of a kimono, hakama and haori."
"Hmm," he clicks his tongue, not persuaded after all.
"Hey, how come I didn't get a kiss?" Gotrid complains loudly. "Also, should I be sad that my Emperor didn't get arous—"
"Quiet now," I shut him up with a kiss.
"Messing around as usual?" Liana appears and she's also wearing battle armour with the same colours as Gotrid's.
"How many did they make?" I ask, tilting my head. "They must have cost a fortune."
"Three unique pieces for us, the Imperial Guard is going to wear matching uniforms," she explains. "Our entourage got them as well, the Japanese certainly don't fail to impress."
I quickly study her feelings, but I don't catch any jealousy anymore. Liana is genuinely impressed, but she stopped seeing it as competition. What I do feel, however, is strange sadness coming from Erik.
"What's wrong?" I take his hand, startled.
"Nothing evades you, does it?" he sighs. "I can't share this with you. Usually, I don't mind, but today... you will be exploring Japan from the sky."
Erik is not the type to cry (besides, there's been enough crying for the day because of me), but I can tell he feels down about it. He's always been proud to be human, but, lately, I sense that he's starting to feel left out on many occasions.
I kiss him again, but this isn't something a kiss would solve. It's just feeble consolation. But what can I do? Erik is the Celestial Emperor's Consort, the whole world knows his face so he can't just go out and be a normal tourist. I worry for his safety so he's being guarded all the time and when I'm not with him, he feels lonely despite his numerous guards.
"Maybe we could think of a way you could fly with me?" I suggest, hoping we could make it work somehow. "A levitation platform perhaps?"
"I'm not afraid of heights, but that would definitely scare me to death," Erik shakes his head. "Don't worry about me, hon, I'm having tea with the Watanabes anyway."
The Watanabes are our benefactors, the owners of this estate and Sunako's parents. I'm supposed to meet them tomorrow, but Erik is having a pre-meeting today. Maybe he can make friends with them? Or at least enjoy the company of other humans? Still, he feels down and that worries me.
"What about we have a romantic evening today?" I suggest. "We could eat dinner in the garden, take a bath and cuddle."
"That would be nice," Erik brightens up.
"Your Majesty, we're ready," Vermiel comes inside to pick us up. He's also wearing new battle armour, looking truly impressive. "We have an hour and a half for a flight and we're meeting the Prime Minister at three."
"See you later then," Erik kisses me goodbye.
I'm relieved to see that the guards are cooperating well and chatting merrily with each other. Nobody makes any distinction between who's Japanese and who came with me from Europe. I have to let my wishes be heard more often. Hopefully, next time it won't involve tears.
I spread my wings and wave them with mightier force than usual. I was a bit afraid the armour would weigh me down and I do feel like I have to put more effort into flapping my wings, but nothing dramatic. It's actually not that different from having to fly in full ceremonial attire.
I love you! I send Erik a quick telepathic confession before we're too far away.
I know! he answers jokingly with a Star Wars catchphrase.
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