POV: Lyra
I shrugged, "Until we have more information, we can't be sure either. Our best guess is that terminating station leaders is just a cover-up. It's no secret that most rogues were rejected from their stations, by their Commanders or Partners. So, terminating them would make it seem like it was for..."
"Revenge. Rather than to siphon funds." Orion finished, finally understanding.
Christian then muttered ominously, "That's one very-carefully thought-out system."
Orion locked eyes with his cousin, "We've been kept in the dark for too long. Innocent beings are dying. We have to step up and speed up this investigation."
I suddenly picked up a familiar psychic signature. As I continued to scan the familiar signature as subtly as I could, Orion looked at the alliance and started speaking, "The locations mentioned in the rep—"
"Good morning, your Grace." I cut Orion off when I saw Greg looking our way from the corner of my eye. It was Greg's signature that I'd picked up earlier. Everyone stiffened when they saw this other Duke.
Greg was walking close to the alliance to steal a glance at me. But he didn't think he'd get caught doing it. He'd been doing it for cycles! His eyes said it all. The Duke was surprised he was caught looking!
Greg composed himself and cleared his throat before he offered a small smile and a bow in my direction as he greeted me in a gentlemanly manner, "Good morning, my Empress."
But Greg's smile faltered when he reluctantly turned his sights to his cousin and nodded the Emperor's way as he uttered, "Your Eminence." Orion and I both nodded curtly in return. Orion's face showed distaste but my expression was unreadable.
Before the alliance could offer Greg an obligatory bow, Greg stopped them with a hand gesture and said, "I don't think you all have to do that. It's no secret that I'm not worthy of a bow."
The Kaelari looked at each other in surprise and confusion. Wasn't this Duke the self-entitled one? They looked at me, waiting for a signal of what to do next but my expression was unperturbed and my smile was flat as I noted to Greg, "Self-reflecting on that subject already, I see."
Greg offered me the same small smile, and bowed slightly as he said, "As my Empress commanded. I shall take my leave now. Apologies for the intrusion." He felt the very hostile atmosphere by the way they were all throwing looks at each other and at him.
"No need for an apology, your Grace. I was the one who stopped you." I said with the same unperturbed face.
Greg wasn't expecting that cordial response from me. He bowed again with his small smile before striding away from their circle. The Duke stole the glances he wanted to steal before things got suspicious. What bothered him most was his cousin's hand around my waist. Not that there was anything he could do about it. When he was far enough, he smiled to himself as he acknowledged the fact that I spoke to him. Him!
After he left, Orion's and Christian's faces were still hard, watching the other Duke walk away, as if waiting to catch him doing something he shouldn't be doing. I wrapped my arms around Orion's arm affectionately to get my match's attention before saying, "How about we continue this discussion later, darling? Maybe in a less crowded location?"
When Orion met my doe-eyes, his core warmed and the corners of his lips curled up as his Lyrokan consciousness purred. He then pressed a kiss on my forehead, and faced the alliance as he suggested, "Maybe we could discuss this after midday consumption at my place?"
This sent another round of shock among the Kaelari. "Uh..." Toby tried to say something but even he was lost for words. They all were. Did the Emperor really just invite them to his place? And by his 'place', he meant his dwelling right? As in where he lived? And he was talking to them, was he?
Orion furrowed his eyebrows in concern in the awkwardly-silent atmosphere before he said, "Or we could reschedule if any of you already had something planned?"
I chuckled from his side, pulling Orion's attention to me as I explained, "They're just shocked, Orion. Look at them! Even the most-feared leaders and Specialists are taken by surprise! Again!" I continued laughing mercilessly at my friends.
The Kaelari narrowed their eyes at me until Toby taunted, "Well, I'm sorry that we're not used to such gestures, my Empress. Not all of us have a way of taming and controlling the fiercest of void-beasts."
My laughter stopped abruptly, and everyone else started chuckling at what my closest friend just said to me. My eyes turned fierce when I took one step forward and said, "Toby! I'm gonna—"
Orion hauled me back by my forearms and pressed a sweet kiss on my cheek as he cooed, "There there, star-heart. We've talked about this. And you know that I'm your indecent match."