ALTGS 26

There were things that animals always did when they picked up on anything amiss in a situation. Ears suddenly became razor sharp, ready to catch the slightest sound. The muscles tensed in preparation to fight or flee. Reflexes were sharpened to a cutting edge. The tension, strung so taut that even the smallest disturbance would snap it violently. That was Celestria right now, standing in what she despreately wished was an empty hallway. Was she not alone here? She wouldn’t know if she was. What could be hiding in the long shadows thrown all around her by the setting sun?

Celestria clamped her jaw shut, folded her hands neatly before her, and immediately turned round, half-running half-walking back to her office.

Would a demon tear her apart if presented with the option?

Definitely.

So she would not take the chance. But the walk to her office was long. She had almost been at the exit she normally took when leaving the palace. Could she outrun a demon? Oh come on, that was a worthless question.

Of course she couldn’t.

Fluttering sounds. Like cloth moving.

Oh gosh. Oh gosh.

Celestria broke into a cold sweat.

Something was behind her.

That was it. The snap that she was subconsciously waiting for.

She suddenly took off, running as fast as her kirtles would allow. The fabric felt heavy right now, in a moment when speed was everything. Cursing under her breath, she gathered as much of the fabric into tight fists and sprinted, abandoning any ladylike disposition she had been maintaining.

Damn did she feel slow! And she was. She hadn’t ran since she was six! Ever since she woke up, things had changed. And because of how her lifestyle was like, she was easily winded. Not even a few seconds had passed and she was panting shakily. Damn it! She should have been able to run faster than this! She should have been able to—

A hand wrapped round her arm and yanked her back.

Celestria was so shocked, she could not even let out the scream that had been bubbling in her chest. The hand whipped her round, so she would have to face whatever it was that was chasing her.

“Why are you running?”

A familiar silvery smooth voice.

Celestria looked up violently, her neck making a small popping sound. Lord’s pale face was staring at her, mildly inquisitive.

In an instant, Celestria’s knees weakened, all the tension and fear evaporating and leaving her like a deflating balloon. Stumbling, she nearly fell to the floor but Lord’s hand round her arm kept her from collapsing to her knees. With her free hand, she mindlessly grabbed the fabric of his sleeve to steady herself.

It was just Lord. Oh gosh, it was just Lord.

Releasing that breath she had been holding, she couldn’t believe that she was happy that it was just Lord. The very demon that planted this stubborn seed of crippling fear in her in the first place.

“Why are you collapsing? I thought that you had gotten stronger?” He asked.

“Oh my gosh, Your Majesty. Why would you do that??” Celestria’s voice was high, nearly shrill. It was not her intention to sound so shaken, but it was not something she could control right now.

Lord gave a very slight frown. “Why would I do what? I was just waiting for you in the hallway.”

“In the shadows like that?? You gave me such a fright!” Her hand shot to her chest as she gulped in much-needed breaths of air.

“I did? Hm... I was not intending to. You are frightened easily.”

“In a palace full of demons, it would be odd not to be frightened, Your Majesty.”

”In a palace full of demons that are loyal to me?”

She decided not to answer that.

As she attempted to piece herself back together as quickly as possible, she did not notice the fact that he was staring at her. Staring very thoughtfully, like he was deciding on something.

After a sigh, she finally straightened her posture back to the proper way, chin level and shoulders relaxed. His hand still held her arm.

“I apologize for the lapse of manners on my part, Your Majesty. I humbly ask for your forgiveness.”

“No, it was better when there were no manners.” He replied, eyes stuck right on her. She was, however, not looking at his face right now. Instead, her eyes were cast downwards in a properly apologetic way.

“It is not proper for a subject to not show her respect for the King in the way of manners.”

”But I’m the king and you’re the subject. Aren’t you supposed to do what I ask? Then I’ll ask that you forego the confusing manners.”

“Your Majesty—“

“Look at me as we speak, Celestria.”

Look at him. Look at him...

For a moment, Celestria remembered staring at his eyes. Like little galaxies and an eclipse.

“I have not yet been forgiven for my rudeness. I cannot look u—“
”You are forgiven. Now look up.”

Celestria had to fight very hard not to bite her lip in frustration. With a very quiet sigh, she finally lifted her eyes.

The human that looked back at him was not the same one from the first time he had met her. She was not as scared. Although he could still hear—and now feel— that her heart rate was elevated, it was not to the same degree as he had previously heard. She did not shake either, but her gaze was tentative.

According to human culture, she had without a doubt insulted him, and she was fully aware. But he had forgiven her. Why did she still seem bothered by it?

There were still so many questions to be asked about why humans were so complicated.

But for now, he would pay them no mind.

In the setting sun and the darkness that was approaching, her eyes did not glow like demons’ often did. They did not glow, but they were bright where the light of the sunset reflected in their yellow hue. He had learned that human eyes adjusted to light much like demons and animals’ did, but not nearly as well, especially in the dark. Under her left eye, she had a little dark spot. What was that? Hm, he’d have to ask about it later. And her hair. It was covered neatly in a plain white kerchief, held in place by a simple golden band. But he could see soft scarlet bits just below. He had read that women covered their hair in Fortane when they were married. Then why did Celestria cover hers? She was not married. Or at least Lord didn’t think she was. Her arm in his hand was small. Really, it was surprisingly small. His whole hand easily wrapped round it.

It was warm too.

This made him smile unexpectedly.

“Celestria. I will hold your hand.”

The statement almost seemed to physically hit her, her head whipping back like as if she had been struck. He could see exactly what she was thinking. It was plain as day on her face.

Hold my hand??? You, the King, holding my hand?? It made him chuckle. The importance humans put on their king was peculiar. Not at all the same flavor as the importance his demons placed on him. But similar.

Without a second thought, he did as he said he would do. Her hand was even tinier somehow, nearly vanishing in his own. It, too, was warm. Very warm and soft.

“Now, Your Majesty. This is—“

“It’s alright.”

“I-I don’t know if it is! Why exactly are you doing this???” Oh, he was silently shrieking.

“Humans are very warm, don’t you think?”

“Well...” she had started to say something, probably in blind objection since that’s what she seemed to like to do. But she stopped, coming to understand what it was he was asking. He watched her look down at her hand in his, considering deeply why it is he asked such a question.

“You say so because you yourself are cold?” Of course she would notice. She would obviously notice how peculiarly wintry his hand was.

“Yes.”

More moments of her thinking.

“Yes. They are warm. Is this... is this a revelation to you, Your Majesty?” It was an honest question. He could tell from her eyes, which had turned back to him. She was looking him right in the eye. His smile widened ever so slightly.

“Yes. I’ve never touched a calm, living human.”

“Calm, living human.... then ...what kind did you touch?” She quietly asked. And yet he suspected she already knew what the answer was.

“Ones that were frightened beyond measure and ones that were dead.”

He watched her jaw clamp shut. Was that not the right thing to say? His smile dampened just a bit.

“In... in any case, Your Majesty. You suddenly grabbing my hand is something that would be considered scandalous in human standards.”

“it was not sudden. I told you I would do it.”

“Any circumstance in which you grab my hand would be a cause for scandal.” She said flatly.

“Mm. But there is no one here that would see it and talk of it.”

“But more than that, did you do all this just to... grab my hand? Aren’t other demons warm as well? Why not grab their hands?”

“Most are warm. Very few are cold like me.”

“Then why not grab their hands? It would be far more appropriate. I think.” She appeared to grimace at this, unsure of wether her statement could be considered correct or not.

“It’s not the same.”

“It’s not?”

He shook his head. This was a surprisingly delightful warmth. He truly enjoyed it. She must not have understood, however, because he could see how her eyebrows scrunched together, one higher than the other.

“If it is not appropriate for me to hold your hand, then shall I make it appropriate?”

Immediately, the air around her sharpened just a bit. She grew suspicious, her gaze becoming discerning.

“I do not understand what it is you mean, Your Majesty.”

”I read in a book that when people got married—“

“Alright sir. Hold your horses.”

Hold his horses? He did not have any horses presently to hold. Lord tilted his head in confusion. Very suddenly, she took back her hand. Now his was empty.

Empty...and cold?

“As the Monarch and sole member of the new Royal Family, the partner you will choose to stand beside you will be of incredible importance. A marriage that will strengthen your claim to the throne, legitimize your rule and hopefully solidify relationships with your allies is what you need. That Is the marriage that I advise you pursue.” She was cold too. Her voice. Chilly and hard.

This was not what he wanted to hear. He was not entirely pleased with hearing of this. Not in this context.

“You do not fulfill these requirements?”

“Only a princess can fulfill those requirements, Your Majesty.”

“You are not wrong on this.” And he did not know why he was adverse to this fact.

“I am not.”

”But is it the only reason people get married? Isn’t there another reason?”

Lord watched with genuine surprise as Celestria’s face became very frigid and stony. Why did she look like that? Like as if she knew what he was talking about personally?

“All other reasons are irrelevant, Your Majesty.” How harsh. How final.

Before he could say anything else, she stepped back and gave a curt bow. “I have to return home now, Your Majesty. Please do take care of yourself and rest well. See you tomorrow.” And without even waiting for a reply, she was off. Lord stood in that hallway alone. Eventually, the sun disappeared in the horizon, and for the first time, he thought he could recognize what it felt like to be cold.