“We’ll all be there with you,” Caledon said. “And for you.”
Grand Lady Geodin entered, smiling sweetly as she rounded the table to hug Daniel from behind. She kissed his cheek before she sat, saying nothing at all. She was merely there to offer her support, and Daniel appreciated that. Should he ask his questions?
Marcadon and Levidon joined them after the morning dosing, and Daniel promised himself to find time the following day to suck the doses out of his friend himself. Marcadon was already dressed impeccably in a Cubi cut suit, and he looked fucking gorgeous. He wore makeup, too.
“Dad, you’re up,” Marcadon said.
Seldon stood, winked at Daniel, and left the kitchen.
“Did Rosa do your makeup?” Daniel asked Marcadon, and he could even imagine the scent of makeup and looked forward to the feel of her fingers and brushes on his face. He hoped it would help calm him since it usually did. Then again, he’d never been as nervous as he was now—not even the first time he was in front of a camera, and he’d been a wreck then, too.
“Yeah, and she asked if she could do you, too.” Marcadon looked at Caledon.
The Lord peered over his cup, skeptically. “Me?”
“Yes, Daniel will be all hot and beautiful, Dad’s even following the trend. It’s only fitting that Lord Ilkil-Nol follows.”
“Really?” Caledon smiled, nodding to himself. “I guess you have a point, cub. Who knows, maybe we’ll see even more Incubi wearing makeup from now on.”
Daniel grinned, loving the idea of being a trendsetter.
“Do I need to wear makeup?” Aaron asked.
“Only if you want to,” Daniel said.
Aaron smiled. “When in Rome.”
“Hope that sentiment rubs off on all other aspects of your new life here.” And damn it, Daniel noticed he sounded just like Seldon.
“Aaron has come a long way,” Marcadon said.
“I agree,” Caledon said. “I know he’ll do you proud today.”
Daniel looked at Aaron, who smiled. “Lord Caledon and Grand Lady Geodin have helped prepare me for the formalities expected of me today. Plus a little surprise.”
Daniel smiled, trying to imagine what they’d come up with. And for a moment, he even forgot his nervousness. Of course, it all came crashing back the moment he remembered why a surprise was relevant for the day.
Seldon rejoined them looking beautiful and polished in a suit identical to Marcadon’s. The only differences between their suits were the overall color and the color of the lapels. Marcadon’s was red with a blue tie and handkerchief. Seldon’s was Green with a purple tie and handkerchief, but where Marcadon’s lapels were red like the rest, Seldon’s were gold. It was a mismatch of colors but considering eye colors, it all served a purpose.
“Your turn.” Seldon kissed Caledon’s cheek.
The Lord grimaced. “Please tell me you’re not wearing lipstick.”
“I’m not wearing lipstick, Lord Prudy Pants.”
Daniel giggled.
“Good, come here, then.” Caledon turned. “Holy fuck, you’re hot.” Caledon kissed Seldon on the lips and left the kitchen.
“And he’ll be wearing an all purple suit with gold lapels?” Daniel asked, testing if he got the idea behind the mishmash.
“Yes,” Seldon said.
“The only ones wearing clothing that matches their eye colors and gold or silver are officials,” Geodin said. “I’ll be wearing a grand purple gown with silver lapels.”
A gown with lapels? Daniel looked forward to seeing that.
“I’ll be wearing all white,” Aaron said. “I look like a hot albino.”
Daniel laughed because since Aaron’s hair was so blond that it was almost white, he could picture it. “Wait, how do you know what you’ll be wearing? I don’t even know what I’ll be wearing.”
“That’s because you’ll be naked all day,” Elakdon said.
Daniel gaped.
“Ela!” Geodin exclaimed.
Elakdon laughed loudly.
“Hey, I don’t mind going naked, I would just have appreciated the heads up.”
Geodin reached across the table to squeeze Daniel’s hand. “Glad to hear that because you’ll actually only be wearing a whole lot of jewelry and a cape, but the gold, silver, and gems that cover you are gathered in a way that they somewhat cover you.”
Daniel blinked. “I’ll be dressed in a treasure?”
“It’s only mandatory during the coronation,” Geodin said, sitting back. “After that, we have a suit for you, so it won’t be all day that you’re naked.” She sent Elakdon a slightly disapproving look which only made the King chuckle.
“Do you remember when I told you why Royals are adorned like that?” Seldon asked.
“To remind us of the responsibility we carry,” Daniel said, nodding.
“It helped ground me,” Elakdon said. “I hope it’ll have the same effect on you.”
Daniel hoped so, too.
Caledon reentered the kitchen, and Rosa had chosen a very subtle makeup for the Lord, and he looked amazing in the all purple suit with gold lapels. “Your turn, cub.”
Daniel stood, feeling it all coming a bit closer.
Rosadin sat by the vanity mirror in the master bedroom, and she hadn’t even gotten herself ready yet. Daniel wondered what she’d be wearing and figured he’d just ask to have something to occupy his mind with.
“A white formal gown.”
“So, white is for Minglers?”
“And Halflings.”
“And Aaron?” Daniel asked.
“An Untouchable accompanying a Royal is also in formal wear. Everyone close to you is in formal wear. Your clothes are over there. You should dress before I apply the makeup.”
“Nope,” Daniel said, grinning as he pulled off his shirt and took a seat.
“Nope?” she asked incredulously.
“Yup. I’ll be going naked.”
She sputtered laughter. But upon looking at him closer, she gaped. “Naked?”
“I have to be for the coronation, so no reason to risk getting makeup on the suit while changing in and out of it twice. After that, I’ll be wearing clothes.”
“Well…” Rosadin squeezed cream into her hands and massaged it into Daniel’s face. “I’m so nervous. What if I forget something?”
“Then know that it’ll be less noticed than if I screw up.”
“I’m sorry.” She laughed. “You have to be shitting bricks.”
“Oh, I am. So, change the subject, please, tell me about the Cubi you’re making excel in the human world.”
“Some of them are really good actors. When we’re alone, they’re sweet and all, but when they’re out in public, they’re every bit the primadonnas the human world expects. That text author you hired for the PR is brilliant.”
Daniel hadn’t hired the Mistress personally—she’d come highly recommended by Grand Lord Neardon, as she was of his House. She’d been the news scribe of his House for fifteen years, but now she ran the Cubi Public Relation regarding Heimli’s dozen beauties, and she even functioned as the brain behind their management. Everything went through her, and Daniel was pleased to hear that she was as brilliant as they’d hoped.
Heimli, his crew, and the beauties had returned to the new compound for the coronation, and Daniel wondered how it would have been if he’d been crowned at the old House. How many would be present today versus at the old House?
“Is your mom here yet?” Daniel asked.
“Yes, she is, and she’s so proud of Dad. She arrived last night. So did the last of your siblings.”
Daniel’s stomach fluttered. He’d finally get to meet them. All their plans for the moving in party at the old House had gone awash because of the military moving in, and since then, all Cubi had had too much on their hands for something as trivial as meet the family frivolities. Even if they’d had the time, Daniel didn’t.
He tried to relax and enjoy the pampering.
<
br /> “Oh, and I met someone,” Rosadin said.
“Hmm? Who?”
“A woman. Human. She worked as an assistant to one of the designers that Kirdin modeled for. We had some intense feedings.” She sounded ecstatic, and Daniel smiled. “Don’t smile now.”
Daniel tried not to, but he kept snickering at trying to hide his happiness for her.
“Okay, laugh!” she finally said, sitting back to do the same. Daniel opened his eyes and looked at his happy friend.
“Well, go on, tell me about her now that my happiness for you has ruined your work.”
She grabbed his hands and sat forward. “I’m in love, and she even quit her job to become Heimli’s assistant. She knows about us now, and I brought her here.”
“I get to meet her?”
“Well, maybe, yeah. She’s not allowed at the coronation, only Cubi are, but maybe afterward. If you want to?”
“Of course I want to meet the woman who makes your eyes light up like that! You’re my friend, and I’d be an ass of a friend if I didn’t want to meet her.”
“God, I love you, Daniel.” She hugged him tightly. “Oh no, I smudged it. Sit back, we’re actually in a bit of a hurry.”
“Okay, okay.” Daniel sat back and closed his eyes, still with a smile tugging. “What’s her name?”
“Heidi. She’s thirty-two and has the most perfect ass. It’s heart-shaped, I kid you not.”
“Uh, you sound hungry just thinking about her.”
“Oh, I am. But she has a wonderful sense of humor, and she’s a romantic. And she can cook, oh man can she cook.”
“She cooks for you?”
“Yeah.” She sounded lost in a happy memory. Apparently, she’d finished the makeup because she started in on his hair.
“I have to wear a cape so that might mess it up.”
“We’ll go for something that’ll survive it. And I’ll touch you up afterward when you get dressed, too. There. Look.”
Daniel sat up and looked in the mirror. He then changed his eyes to golden, and it looked stunning. “Thank you, Rosa.”
“You’re going to make a great King, Daniel.”
Daniel didn’t know what to say to that, so he stood and kissed her lightly on the forehead. He then shrugged out of the rest of his clothes and went back to the kitchen.
Elakdon grinned at him. “You’re not wearing anything until you’re being dressed in jewels?”
“No.”
Geodin snickered and glanced at Elakdon. “You thought he’d balk at it, didn’t you?”
“Human raised Halfling who’s been with the Cubi for only a few months? Yeah!”
“Did you feel shy?” Daniel asked, not being able to picture the King like that.
“Well, one thing is being naked on an everyday scale but standing in front of your people while being given that amount of responsibility? I was not fond of the situation. In fact, I’m pretty sure every Royal found the coronation to be stressful as hell and something to be over with in a hurry.”
Daniel’s nerves returned. “Not helping, Ela.”
“Sorry. The naked joke was to help you, but I see that blew up in my face.”
“I think he looks ravishing,” Seldon said, grinning.
Elakdon poured himself a glass of juice. “At least you won’t be the only naked person present.”
“I won’t?”
“No, naked is formal wear for a Royal. Not counting the jewelry.”
“So you’ll be naked, too?”
Elakdon smiled. “As will all the Royals. Does that help your nervousness?”
“Not a bit.”
“You may find Cubi who chose to go naked as well,” Geodin said. “It’s a tribute to you at formal gatherings.”
“Cool. What will my Guards be wearing?”
“We will be wearing formal armor,” Guard Lord Levidon said.
Well, that sounded interesting, and Daniel couldn’t wait to see what that looked like. He was especially eager to see the crest that would soon adorn his House.
Rosadin entered in a white gown. She looked like a beautiful bride, and Daniel smiled at knowing she’d found love.
“You look beautiful, baby girl.” Seldon kissed her on the forehead.
“Thank you, Daddy.”
“Shall we?” Caledon asked, looking at his watch.
Nerves returned, and Daniel had to pee.
Daniel had peed three times since they’d left the Royal Quarters and gone to the Royal Hall. He hadn’t been able to see anything on their way to the preparation room because all Guard Lords had walked around him so closely he was amazed they hadn’t stepped on each other’s heels.
Seldon, Caledon, Marcadon, Roardon, his mom, and Aaron were with him, and even though they conversed, Daniel didn’t hear anything but his own heartbeat thumping away in his ears.
Outside the door to the room, where all his jewels hung on a bust, Daniel could hear excited voices.
“Are you cold?”
“Hmm?” Daniel turned to find his mom looking nervous but stunningly beautiful in a formal white gown. It looked like the suits, except it had a skirt at the bottom instead of pants. Easy access for feeding—that was the whole point in the difference between skirt and pants. He smiled at her. “No, I’m nervous.”
“I can’t even imagine. Going out there naked?” She shuddered.
Daniel chuckled. “I don’t really mind that. I hope the past few days with my people have helped you understand why.”
“Your people,” she said as if tasting the words. He’d never seen that expression on her face before, and he had trouble categorizing it. Then she smiled. “I’ve seen enough bare flesh to last me a lifetime.”
Daniel couldn’t help but tease her. “Don’t tell me you don’t enjoy the view, too. At least don’t tell me a lie.”
And there it was, the smile that told him he was right.
“I still find it all very strange.”
“Even I do that, Mom.” Daniel stepped closer to hug her, but she stepped back, seemingly a bit awkward. “What?”
“You’re naked.”
“So? I’m your child. There can be nothing wrong with hugging your child, naked or clothed. And that’s the biggest difference between our races.”
She closed her eyes for a moment, then stepped in and gave him the hug he really needed—the motherly kind that made all sorrows and worries flee for the moments spent in the safety of her embrace. “I’m both so very proud and so very afraid for you.”
“Don’t be afraid, Mom. I’m not the President. I’m a Cubi King. My people’s survival depends on me, so they have no reason to harm me. I don’t have power anyone can gain from harming me.”
“Give me time to learn,” she said, stepping back to hold him at arm’s length. She still had that expression, and Daniel finally thought he knew what it was. Genuine pride in the man he had or was becoming. He’d never made her proud like that before. Not that he could remember, that was. He’d often seen that tired expression like the day he skipped out on school and ended up with Seldon, but never the one he saw now.
“My Prince,” Seldon said. Daniel turned to look at his lover, and he looked proud, too. Daniel had seen pride like that on his face many times now.
Seldon motioned to the bust. It was time to get dressed.
Roardon stood next to it, his purple eyes shining in a way Daniel had never seen. It was like he had glowing specks in his eyes. Daniel went up to his dad and stared into his eyes. “Why are your eyes shining like that?”
“Because I’m about to cry, son,” Roardon said, grinning, his voice thick and shaky.
Daniel hugged him fiercely. “Thank you for everything, Dad.”
Roardon sniffled, clutching Daniel close. “Now, let’s get you ready for your people.”
Daniel turned and let Roardon direct him to where he wanted him. Daniel’s mom came to help, and his parents adorned him together, piece by piece and pound by pound, it felt like. Daniel
thought he understood why a Royal had to be a green-eye because then the Cubus would be strong enough to not fall under the weight.
Luckily, it wasn’t as bad as he’d feared.
Roardon and Susan came to stand in front of Daniel, Roardon putting an arm around her as if he wanted to comfort her, yet he seemed far more affected by the situation, and she was his rock at that moment.
Seldon and Caledon stepped up on each side of Daniel and draped a heavy golden fabric over his shoulders. They then raised the hood, and he bowed his head in order to be able to see where he was going because the hood draped low in the front and covered his face.
“You ready, boy?”
Boy. Only Seldon called him that, and Daniel loved it. It helped to calm him a bit, knowing that Seldon was and always would be there.
“Yes, I’m ready.” And he did feel ready. Still nervous—scratch that, still terrified—but he felt ready. As long as he didn’t think about maybe having to pee…dammit.
The door opened, claiming all his attention. It was now.
Seldon put a hand on the small of Daniel’s back and gently led him out the door to the hallway leading up to the huge double doors to the Royal Hall. Daniel stepped carefully as he turned so as not to trip in the long cape.
“Stop,” Caledon whispered, and Daniel did. He couldn’t see anything, so he was completely depended upon their guidance. It held quite a bit of symbolism.
The two doors opened, the sound was heavy and deafening. Or did it just seem that way in Daniel’s ears?
Seldon once again nudged Daniel to walk, and he tried to keep in line between their feet which was all he could see. They walked a foot’s length in front of him the rest of the way, and as Elakdon had advised, Daniel kept his focus on their feet and nothing else. He could hear people around them. Murmurs and breathing, but he couldn’t see anyone.
Finally, the lowest step of his throne came into view, and he stopped and raised his head. He still couldn’t see anything, but he’d been told it was important he did because it was the signal for the next step of the ceremony.
“I am Nol-Elakdon, Sovereign King of this Kingdom. My sister, The Great Lady Dahlidin, has ruled this part in my place until a Royal was born to her House. Now a Prince has risen to take my place. So I step down and acknowledge the Sovereignty of Nol-Beaudon, the Royal of the sixth Cubi Kingdom.”
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