The emperor felt his consciousness stir somewhere between the morning and the court. He saw and felt everything his body did but felt like an unwilling prisoner through it all.
And even as he watched the pair in front of him leave the court halls, he couldn't help but wish for them to come back. He felt like he needed to hold the omega, to have his name be uttered by those lips once again.
And hadn't it been a shock - his name. It had been too long since the last time the emperor had heard anyone utter his name. His real name was something even the emperor had forgotten all this time. The sound of 'Ignis' coming out of the omega's mouth had been a shock for sure. But it also felt right to hear it.
"If anyone doesn't have any other topic to discuss other than what happened yesterday, then I shall leave as well. There are things I need to look into" the emperor commanded as he felt control come back to him.
The magical persona inside him had decided to retreat for the time being and it left the alpha to fend for himself. He was equally amused and horrified at what it represented for him.
But that the court would ever know. They adored their emperor but they were also too afraid to get close and burn in his aura.
That was why the emperor was sure that no one would raise this question for some time. And even if they did, it would not be any of his business.
For a few minutes, no one said anything. Everyone seemed to be waiting for someone else to start but no one seemed eager to break this stalemate.
Until the army general finally could not hold himself bay longer and finally spoke up.
"Emperor, the general public is in unrest. A mass outbreak of the illness and monsters had broken out in the southern province. It has almost been a day now and we don't know what to do" the general looked defeated and understood why. The illness was not something they could combat on their own.
This was why they needed humans to work for them.
"Send a platoon there to look at things. I want a clean sweep before we begin cleanup there" the emperor commanded. He understood why the general had not issued the platoon on his one but the emperor could not help but feel annoyed at the decision.
These people were far too dependent on their alpha emperor and would not even make the most basic of decisions without his input. It was like they were afraid of what would happen if they took that step.
"Understood. Excuse me while I make the arrangements for the same" the general bowed and left the scene.
The emperor felt envious of that freedom. He wanted to leave as well and join his omega. His memories and emotions were a mess and the more time he spent remembering the omega, the more he recalled about him. Especially so after last night.
If there was any doubt about the omega's claim of being a childhood sweetheart, they were all being quenched one by one by the emperor's memory.
...................
Meanwhile, Master Nark and Su managed to escape undetected from the gathering and it was all thanks to the emperor and his mighty presence.
Su felt grateful to be out of those watchful eyes but he also felt worried about his alpha. The change between those personas had happened too fast and Su was afraid of any potential slip-up Ignis might make.
Not for the alpha but for what it would mean for him. Su trusted Ignis with his life but the same could not be said for the emperor.
"Stop thinking so much. Look, we're here" the kid in front of Su knocked him out of his thoughts and Su felt his attention zone in on him.
"Where is this? Also, how old are you? Are you legally even allowed to work?" Su asked as he braced himself for an answer.
Their alpha emperor was ancient so it was not a far-fetched assumption to make that these people lived long. The addition of magic only made this all the more possible.
"My age has nothing to do with my abilities and you do not need to know how old I am. Just know that I can do my work properly and follow me into the library" the kid pushed the doors open with excessive force and flinched when they made an impact.
Eyes moved over to their direction with an accusing glare but changed their tone as soon as they saw who it was. Then they moved to avoid the kid in front of Su and Master Nark did the same.
Only one pair of eyes looked at them when they entered and it belonged to an old lady right in front of the counter.
"Welcome to the royal library Master Damian. I hope you had a good day yesterday" the old lady asked with a kind but knowing tone. Her eyes moved from Master Nark to Su and then back with an amused grin.
"Don't treat me like a kid esteemed librarian. I am the head of the magical guards and can take care of myself. My grandfather has trained me better than that" the kid looked like he was gritting his teeth as he spoke those words. He looked angry but Su could see that it was all a mask.
The kid almost looked happy at being asked how his day went.
"I know you can take care of yourself Master Damian but allow this old lady to worry a little. I have been looking after you ever since your parents died a few years ago and I think I'm allowed to feel proud of the ten years old you have become" Su looked at the angry, yet the proud face of the kid at his side.
It was amazing to know that this kid was a kid. A ten-year-old? Really? And the kid headed a magical division? It made Su wonder about the mental health of this place and every other kid in here.
It looked like he needed to talk with the emperor and Lady Ray about child labor. This was just not safe for the kid.
"I am ten and no longer a kid. My grandfather understands this and hence relinquished his post to me. Besides, no other fool here can even hold a candle to me" the kid boasted and Su could see the hints of the kid remain in his persona.
Su wondered how he had even thought this kid to be a grown-up adult. The kid was adorable and was trying too hard to be an adult.
The elder Lady thought as well because she just smiled and humored the kid the whole time.
"I understand. I've kept your usual table empty for use. Would you like to have it booked for the whole day? Also, won't you introduce me to your friend? I don't think I've seen him before" Su felt his smile freeze on his face. He had not expected the old lady to pay any attention to him for some time.
And neither had the kid if his frozen expression was anything to go by. He seemed to be looking around for words and looked quite adorable. It made Su want to bully him but the elder lady was still expecting an answer from them.
"I'm someone the emperor assigned Master Nark as a teacher to. The ins and outs cannot be disclosed for now and any information regarding the case has been prohibited by the emperor" Su quickly injected himself before the kid could open his mouth and make the situation worse.
The old lady just raided her eyebrow as if asking 'is that so?' But she did not question Su's words.
"I see. The emperor, huh. How rare for him to get involved in such things. Anyway, you both enjoy yourself in there" the elder lady's knowing tone made Su nervous. She talked and looked like she knew something but her words did not match.
Su felt nervous the whole time she had her eyes on him and the kid. It was not till sat down did he notice that the elder lady had no scene of her own. But why would an old lady like her hide her scent?
"Don't worry too much over Elma. She liked you. If she did not then she would have let you know. Even I would not have been able to stop the sister of the former head of the magical division" the kid explained and Su felt like he had dodged a bullet there.
"She's your grandmother? She looked like could see through me and that's terrifying. How did you survive?" Su asked in a joking voice but he was 100% serious about his question.
"Sheer will and determination. Now keep up with me here or I will leave you behind" the kid compliant as he took out a few books from the shelf.