POV: Lyra
Orion escorted me to my quarters before he flew home in his transport for cleansing and a change of attire. He selected a maroon shirt and black pants before putting on a leather jacket. After double-checking his appearance in the reflection panel in his living quarters, Orion flew back to pick me up. I emerged from the entrance in a bright red blouse and black knee-length skirt with moderately-high black heels. Wedges, to be precise. My cranial strands fell over my shoulders and back. Coincidentally, a gentle atmospheric current from the station's climate control graced our surroundings, causing my strands to flow slightly, highlighting my face.
Orion had never been struck by anything more flawless. He exited the transport to greet me, pressing a kiss on my lips as he whispered with a grin, "You're so beautiful."
I smirked as my skin shifted to pleased pink. "You look good, too. It's the first time I'm seeing you in casual attire."
"Mm... disappointed?" He asked coyly as he took my hands in his.
"No. Just envious." I replied. His brows furrowed in confusion so I explained. "I didn't think I would be going out for anything but the collaboration, so I didn't pack anything suitable for a date. This..." I gestured at the outfit I had on before declaring, "...is actually one of the outfits I packed for the collaboration. It's too formal for a date."
He snorted and pressed his lips to my forehead before he said, "I think you look perfect."
"Of course you do." I muttered under my breath before saying, "C'mon, let's go." He kissed my hand before we got into the transport.
The establishment was a fifteen-minute flight from my quarters. When we arrived and entered, the chatter died down and all eyes fixed on Orion, who had a hand around my waist. As they stood, bowed and uttered 'My Emperor', they studied me from the corner of their eye with great interest. Most already had glazed-over eyes, activating mind-touch with their companions about what they were seeing.
Who was this female?
Orion and I bowed in return. The Emperor explained the new formality and credited me for the idea, introducing me as the Empress. There were surprised gasps and exclamations as everyone bowed a second time and addressed me as that. I, too, offered a second bow and smiled graciously at everyone before the service android showed us to our seats in a corner. We sat facing each other at the small, round table, and the customers seated slightly closer to us emitted excited frequencies softly before quieting themselves, hoping their Lyrokan hearing could pick up our conversation.
After the android took our nutrient orders, Orion's large hands reached across the table to take mine before I could place them on my lap. He looked at me with overflowing love and affection, so much so that my skin started shifting to warm pink just by meeting his alluring gaze.
I cleared my throat before averting my eyes and saying in a small voice, "Orion, you really don't have to look at me like that for too long."
He chuckled and lifted my hands to press his lips to my fingers. "You're so cute when you're shy." That made my skin shift even more dramatically.
I wanted to retract my hands to cover my warming face but Orion's grip tightened as he enjoyed the sight of me shifting colors before him. Even his Lyrokan was observing me in pure bliss. Orion was filled with so much happiness when he saw me trying but failing to suppress an upward curl of my lips.
After taking a steady breath, I suggested, "If you want to keep looking at me like that to keep me flustered, Orion, can you at least talk about your family while you do it?"
He chuckled lightly before he asked while stroking the back of my hand, "What do you want to know?"
I shrugged. "Everything. Who's your favorite? Who's your least favorite? Why? Who did you look up to? Who do you miss? You know, everything. I don't keep up with the gossip about celebrities or royals, so I can tell you that I know close to nothing about the royal family before I met you."
Orion smiled wider and he started. "If those questions are for the time before we met, then my favorite was definitely Aunt Reida, Christian's mother. My least favorite has always been Greg. That should come as no surprise. Who do I miss? Hmm... Grandfather Brock and Aunt Reida from my mother's side, Uncle Conrad from my father's side, and my own mother, of course. My father... he's kind of a gray area. I miss the father-and-son excursions we went on when I was younger but in the years he trained me to ascend the throne... I saw a different side of him."
I held his gaze as Orion continued. "It was only when I helped with his duties did I realize not everyone had what we had, or lived the way we did. I knew we were the most powerful family but I didn't know the disparity between us and everyone else was so large. Lyrokans were managing well. But when I asked about the Kaelari, my father just gave me a thin data pad with a list of station names and their incomes. Nothing else. There was no record of welfare, support or even the general size and population of each station."
I suddenly muttered to myself, "So that explains the sudden annual census in stations since eighteen years ago."
Orion showed an embarrassed expression. "I didn't want to remain as ignorant as we always were, as I always was myself. I can't claim to be Emperor when I don't even know these foundational aspects about my people."
He averted his eyes and discomfort graced his features before he uttered, "My father... didn't see a need to give anything of value to the Kaelari. The first time he told me that Kaelari should be grateful that we let them exist, my whole perception of the man changed. He used to be this strong, reliable and caring father. When he was around the ministers and subjects, he exuded this air of leadership and confidence. I always tried to emulate him, to be him."
He scoffed darkly. My own thumb started stroking his hand as Orion continued his tale. "You're probably going to judge me really harshly for this, sweetheart but..." his grip on my hands tightened as he muttered, "I have never understood the need for combat practice... because I've never even heard of a Rogue attack until I was training to ascend the throne."