Wah-how~
I am suddenly stunned.
What is with traveling on these spaceships and letting me consider the enormity of what I agreed to? Is it a feature of their design? Is there some kind of psychic field they emit, in order for the passengers to come to terms with all the things on their minds?
Well, anyway - for the second time in about a week I'm back on an interstellar spaceship, traveling a distance of numbers beyond anything I can realistically fathom. Only this time, the vessel is *technically* mine and I'm not going nearly as far or fast.
I don't really get the reasons. It's weird that going less spatial distance takes just as long… and the thing I'm in now is such a duplicate of his ship that I could have been fooled. Not that I'm unhappy to have a matching set with my husband in this Spaceship Z Sagittarii 2.
I guess it was made as a pair long ago for an occasion such as this and was moored somewhere all this time. Sitting by itself alone, like I am now - except for Presio in the hangar. Peak technology apparently doesn't turn obsolete.
For the first time in a couple years, there is no expectation of Soren's warmth at my side for the near future. So, I'm definitely not completely happy, even if I'm not entirely unhappy.
Only three days. That was all the long I'd been married before… well, I guess this is going off to work? It's not like I wanted to be a total housewife. I've had various retail jobs since I was thirteen years old, so I barely know the definition of 'taking it easy'.
Even if we were back home and I quit, I probably would have sought out something to do after a very short while. But I won't lie, a part of me was excited to take some more time off to get used to… well everything. To be a little less overwhelmed.
This is all a lot. The new quirks of my understanding of this universe give me mental whiplash hourly. I won't be helpless - not with all the resources on this ship he flooded it with as soon as we arrived - but neither do I know what I'm doing. So much technology and information to learn how to use myself.
Not to mention I was *assigned* a whole galaxy.
...Right?
What is that even? Scale just doesn't mean anything to these people. I mean, I guess 'these people' are my people now. Even if I've only met three of them.
Zodiac Royalty - thirteen noble houses of a race that manages the universe.
Soren is a reigning Prince. One of eight, though two of those are actually *princesses* right now it seems. Then three kings… or Imperators; one Administrator - whatever that means; a single Empress.
Gender disparity in the workplace must be a universal maxim, huh? Well, I'll probably never meet them all anyway. His sister is his future successor to the Sagittarian line, though her mother is Virgo? Not sure how that works. Bloodline must mean less somehow.
I didn't have a lot of time to think about it in the brief five minutes I met her.
Wait, he isn't going to take that comment the other day about being queen that serious, is he? The stress of being someone exuding that much pressure…
// Hello, mother-in-law Empress. Ah, okay. Thank you for taking care of my husband. I will try to meet your expectations. //
Those were the only words I got in, and only when it felt like she was *letting* me. I guess royalty is usually busy and has no time for commoner children to get to know them.
The universe is ginormagantuan, after all.
Which now that I think about it, actually makes what they sent me off to do equivalent to… looking after a single grain of sand in the ocean? I'm not sure if looking at it that way is really reassuring or not.
It sounds equally inconsequential and improbable to accomplish even if I smallen it down like that. What if my grain of sand gets knocked around by an octopus?
Ugh, now I'm picturing colossal space krakens. Now I'm fighting them in cinematic majesty aboard Presio. Good, good. Way to go, brain.
Anyway, just doing my best will have to be enough. Or so I think to myself again, while rubbing the side of what I consider my engagement/wedding ring, with the thumb of the same left hand.
If the mech is his dowry, then the ring that controls its weapons might as well be an immensely important symbol of his trust in me, right?
I guess it's about that time. He told me to wait twenty hours of the trip and then board my bot for his last round of surprises. Whatever they may be. It has me a little excited. Though… 'leave the ring on this time but take all the rest off still' is sounding like some attempt at *shame play* by now…
Which is actually fine with me, but makes me wish he were here even more.
~Back Some Time: Soren POV~
"Oh, that's fine, I'll do it if that's what has to be done."
She volunteered so readily after I told her. I could try and argue against it, but none of the princes would back me on this. No matter the origin, a noble's primary mate is deemed to have immutable duties. All nobility must own territory and learn to manage it properly.
The tradition is old, but not without merit. That is why I ordered her ship fully stocked even as her war-robot was moved to it. Even I would question and deny one of *their* wives shirking the duty, should I be on the other end of this situation.
"I already said so, right? I'd do whatever you need me to, my love."
"Ah, your wife is so amazing. Wait, my sister? Yes! My sister is amazing!"
Both of them are smiling wildly to reassure me, but no matter the tradition, to demand departure this soon for a being that is uninitiated to our ways is undeniably a form of attack. One that I saw coming, but that doesn't make it acceptable.
As to which of them instigated things… there are a few equal options. While it is something I had noted the possibility of, it infuriates me no less.
Truly, anything I felt related to her ignores my attempts at cold logic.
"Don't look so put out, brother."
"Phoren…"
"Mother has already told me that, should this happen, a nearby system has been readied for claim as her gift for your wedding. So, she will not be terribly far from here."
"Aannnnd~ while you may be constrained here for a time, after your recent little extended Earthen vacation… I will certainly be free to do just as I please, now that you are back. Our Kiria will be troubled by my visits aplenty!"
For Theara to have intervened - to be ready to intervene - it shifts out two possibilities to leave only one. Not the Ophiuchian or Taurian princes as I thought, but the Arien Imperator? At least as the source.
My Virgoan patron does not like me so much to make moves for anything less than some casual opposition to one of the three kings. She would also surely recognize the difference between a side faction and his personal orders.
But, if this little one's mother is so freely giving gifts and favors, then it eases my worries considerably. I'll have to do my work here thoroughly to repay her.
"I see. Thank her for me, please."
"...'Our Kiria'? I know family generally comes with the package, but-"
"Ahaha, just a slip, sister."
"Also, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't visit *just* to trouble me."