Valerian, The Legendary

137 Excited.

Valerian was shocked when he heard these words coming out of the Empress’s mouth. He looked at the lady watching the newly married couple dancing amidst soft music and guests. It was a custom of the Lumen empire royalty, the newlyweds would dance first.

Libra cast her a gaze and when he found that Fragrantia was talking to Valerian, he looked at his daughter, and the two went to the dance floor holding hands. Vertex sat on a side, with a glass of wine in his hand, as he conversed with a few nobles.

Fragrantia said, “You do not have to think so much, the nobles and the government officials of the different cities were questioning the throne over your matters. To save Libra from stress, I had to come up with a show. Nobody else, other than you, me, and the head of the shadows know about this.”

Her tone was calm, and her words were hushed. She did not wish for Valerian to feel pressured, but since he found out on his own, she decided to come clean about the matter. Hiding things like this might push Valerian away.

The boy did not react for a few minutes, he was not the same as before. Ever since she told him to learn about social networking. He had been reading all the books on different topics related to politics as much as he could find the time for. He knew it well now that political influence was the most efficient matter to gain social standing.

This social standing will make his journey more manageable That said, Valerian asked, “Will it cause you trouble?”

Fragrantia shook her head and said, “No, it will not.”

Valerian nodded and said, “Would you like to dance with me?”, as he extended his arm to the lady, who gently clasped onto it.

The two walked to the dance floor and began to move around, Valerian was a little clumsy at dancing, but after a few moments, he grew stably, the posture became standard and the movements became graceful and more natural. The mood was joyful.

.....

Valerian did not stop and kept on dancing with different partners, Azula, Priscilla, Lady Consano, and Ashlyn. The last dance pairing was odd, but the people accepted it with grace when they saw the youngest prince was able to keep up with the princess. His appearance had garnered a lot of eyes.

Soon, the dance ended, and the guests were asked to have a meal before the reception came to an end. This was specially arranged by the Empress, and wasting would be a pity.

The silver kitten on his shoulder was ready to gobble up the place if she could. Valerian gave up unnecessary thoughts and then he waited to go back and sleep. He did not know how most of the day passed by, he was thinking about the influence the assassination attempt will bring him.

He could tell that the nobles were suspecting something already, after all, Libra had been a bit too calm about the assassination attempt. He could not deal with these guys, and thus relying on public opinion was a better option for him.

The whole day was occupied and Valerian returned to his room under the pretext of being tired, and when he was on the way, a pair of eyes were locked at his back. He could sense it, but he did not make it clear. He came to his room and lay down on the floor.

Fortuna did not go to the bed but curled up on his chest. She could tell that his heart was unsettled. Valerian could look at the moon clearly from the window on the side, and thought, “What is it? Why am I feeling like they are using me for some bigger ploy?”

The kitten did not even close her eyes, and just laid on his chest, silently, she wished to say something to him, but she was unable to do so. At this time, Valerian was not wearing the collar chain as he lay bare, and subconsciously opened his mouth to speak, but what came out was not his voice.

He let out a faint groaning sound. While he was sighing, Fortuna had stood up on his chest, she inched closer to his mouth. Valerian did not know why she was gazing at him as if she was surprised.

Before he could say anything, a voice rang in his mind, “You can speak dragon tongue?”

Valerian was shocked at this, he could tell whom this voice belonged to, he sat up and caught the little kitten in his palms, and again let out the groaning voice, “Fortuna, you can talk to me?”

Fortuna opened her eyes wide and said, “As expected of my slave, you are so sharp. Very good.”

This sentence turned Valerian’s face black. He said, “I am not your slave, I am your savior.”

Fortuna scowled and said, “You are my slave. Understood, I am a dragon, the supreme magical being. How can you, a human be my savior? Be logical.”

Valerian did not get angry despite her words, he was simply amused, the high and mighty expression on her face did not match her baby-like voice. He thought, she probably does not know, how adorable she sounds, forget it.

He smiled and asked, “When can you use human language to communicate?”

Fortuna looked at him and said, “When I grow up.”

“When will you grow up?”, asked the boy.

“I will grow up when I grow up, what sort of stupid question is this? To think I praised you for being sharp. Useless fellow.”, retorted the little kitten.

Valerian chuckled at her flaring temper and said, “Fine you will grow up when you will grow up. But why did you not speak earlier?”

Fortuna cast him a gaze and said, “I was not grown enough.”

Valerian nodded and said, “Fine, you win. But why do you say that the sounds I made are the dragon tongue? I have tried to use the sounds earlier to communicate with you but it did not work.”

The kitten gave him an exasperated expression and said, “Humph, of course, a dragon never loses. What do you know about dragon sounds? You roared out of instinct and thought you know the language. Silly, stop thinking about it.”

...

The realization that Fortuna could talk to him made Valerian forget all the troubling thoughts in his mind and they began to converse till the sun rose. In the morning Azula came to wake him up and found the boy grinning with excitement upon seeing her.

She asked confusedly, “What happened Val?”

The boy said, “I can understand Fortuna.”

He forgot that Azula did not know about her real identity. While on the other hand, the princess tilted her head and said, “Weren’t you always able to understand animals and beasts?”

Valerian froze when he heard this. He rushed back into the room and then came out with Fortuna sitting on top of his head. Azula was surprised at his speed, it was just a blink, and she said, “Where are you going in such a rush, get ready, mother has called us all to gather in the dining hall, Ignis’s in-laws will have a meal with us.”

The boy cast her a gaze and then said, “Later, I need to find her first.”

He ducked and charged out of the gap under Azula’s arm that held the door. His speed was so fast that it was raising a wind in the corridors. He made a beeline to the Empress’s room. The guards did not react in time, and Valerian had already knocked on the door, and said, “Mum, I need to tell you something amazing.”

It was only now, that he woke up from his state of excitement. He just called Fragrantia, mum. That was not something he wanted to do. It was an act of impulse.

A calm voice sounded from the other side, “Come in, Val.”

Valerian pushed the door open and walked inside calmly. He was very calm and conscious now, literally the opposite of his previous mindset. He stood inside the room and looked at the lady who was sitting in front of a mirror at the side, putting on her earrings.

Fragrantia asked, “What is it, child?”

She replied very calmly, making Valerian feel awkward. The lady turned her head to look at him and said, “You do not have to think too much, tell me what it is. The way you address me is not important, the emotion in your voice is more important.”

Valerian nodded and said, “That, I wanted to tell you that I can now understand Fortuna.”

Fragrantia looked surprised for a moment and then after regaining her composure she smiled, and said, “That is a good thing. Also, now you need to go and get dressed up. The breakfast is going to be a political one.”

Valerian tilted his head and asked, “Why political, are they not the relatives now?”

Fragrantia looked at him and said, “Royals do not have relatives. Understood, come time for your lesson.”

Valerian nodded and left the room.