Finding Stardust

***

The newlyweds chose to take a week off from everything and just spent time with each other. Therius left all state affairs to his ministers and asked that he shouldn't be disturbed at all during the week unless there was something urgent.

In fact, if he could, he wanted to spend a year alone with his wife before he returned to working on government affairs. Ah ... at least, if possible, he wanted to spend the whole five months before Emma left for the academy with her exclusively.

But sadly, he couldn't do that. As a new king, he could not leave the capital for long. He still had to uphold his government and make sure all went well before he could leave and have more time for himself.

In a way, his first five years were the formative period of his reign as the new king. This was the most critical period to ensure that his power was strong and that no one can shake it.

His cousin Yared was still around, and some of Heron and Queen Ygrit's supporters were still scattered everywhere. Terren also couldn't be underestimated. As a sovereign kingdom, they now had a great deal of influence because they had an area and population that was almost equal to Akkadia.

"Hmmm ... after you finish your education and go back to the capital, I'll take a few months off to be with you. We'll travel and spend time alone," Therius said, gently stroking Emma's cheek, who was sitting on his lap.

His left hand was holding some official documents which he had been reading without being able to concentrate. Emma's body on his lap was too alluring, and it managed to distract him from his work.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore and put the document on the table.

"Where do you want to take me?" asked Emma, ​​turning her head towards Therius.

"There are so many beautiful places on this planet. I want to show you all of them. In the past, every school holiday, Xion and I would go on an adventure together and ..." Therius's words suddenly halted.

He was thinking of Xion again and became speechless. He really missed his friend. Why did life have to be this way? Why did their friendship have to suffer because of a woman?

Emma noticed Therius' attitude. She could guess what her husband was thinking. She also felt sad that she lost Xion even though her friendship with him was not as long as Therius and Xion. She could understand how Therius was feeling.

"Give him time," was all Emma could say.

Therius nodded. "I guess I have no other choice."

He did not know how many years would it take Xion and him to patch the friendship between them. There was also the possibility that it was not salvageable.

Emma confirmed Therius' words. "You're right."

She let out a long sigh. Emma was eager to see Xion happy. Maybe if Xion fell in love with another girl and move on from her, they would be able to reconnect as friends.

But the problem was that Xion wouldn't meet other women if he didn't leave his mountain. He could meet Emma because Therius invited him to go with him to get her to earth.

"You look sad," Therius commented. "I hope you're not thinking about Xion. You already have a husband. Better not think about other men. I'll be sad."

Emma patted Therius' hand while pursing her lips. "You know I consider him a friend. Of course, I care about him."

Emma considered Therius a friend too, but they ended up getting married, so her answer just now couldn't soothe her husband.

Therius felt that their sexual connection was extraordinary, even though the love between them was only one-sided. He couldn't imagine if Emma would really love him. Perhaps, their sex life would even be mindblowing.

He really hoped that time would come, and that Emma would be able to love him as much as he loved her.

"I'm going to throw a festive birthday party," Therius said to her. "I want to cheer you up."

Emma frowned at Therius' words. "It's your birthday. Why do you want to throw a party to cheer me up? Have a party for yourself, not for other people."

Therius smiled and shook his head. "I will do it for you, because when you're happy, I'm happy too."

Emma rolled her eyes at the man's words. Therius who was not expressive and cold on the surface had always been so open with his love for her after they consummated their marriage. Once they were physically and sexually united, it was as if the dam filled with his love for her was open, and he no longer hid his feelings and affections. 

Come to think of it, Emma now had been married to Therius longer than Haoran. In the past, she and Haoran were only married for two weeks before then Haoran fell into a coma and finally passed away.

Now, Emma and Therius had been married for three months and spend a lot of time together. As per their agreement, Emma moved into Therius' much bigger chamber and began making it her personal space.

They slept together, had sex and made out every chance they got, and were together whenever Therius wasn't busy with his work. 

In the morning, they would have breakfast together before Therius went to the royal palace to do his work. He and Emma chose to stay at the crown prince's palace and use the old royal palace for his office. 

Emma did not want to live in the palace that was once occupied by King Cassius and Queen Ygrit, who were responsible for her parents' deaths.

To make their lives more comfortable, Therius ordered renovations to his own palace. The grand white palace compound was now bigger and more comfortable. It had everything Emma needed in her life.

For his wife, Therius also built several bigger and more beautiful gardens with a small lake right in front of their chamber to make Emma feel more relaxed when she wanted to spend time walking around their home.

Therius would come home for lunch with Emma and they would discuss their activities for the day. While Therius was working, Emma would study with Atila and Anddara, who came to the palace and taught her.

This routine every day for three months brought Emma and Therius closer together, but at the same time Therius was worried that his wife would feel bored. That's why he intended to throw a party to keep Emma entertained.

His 29th birthday was used as an excuse to hold a celebration. Everything was done to make Emma happy. He still remembered how Emma seemed to really enjoy Aeron's performance during the last Three Moon Fire Festival. 

So, he wanted to invite the man to come to sing and entertain Emma. Now that he and Emma were married, and he already had her completely, Therius no longer worried if he invited the womanizer to perform on his birthday.

"I have a surprise for you," Therius said, hugging Emma's waist. "You will like it."

"Ahh .. what surprise?" asked Emma.

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise anymore," Therius replied. "I'll give you a hint if you kiss me."

Emma rolled her eyes and shook her head. "I can find out for myself. I can just call Avato here and read his mind."

Therius sighed. Ahh ... that's the downside of having a telemancer wife like Emma. He could not hide secrets from her. Luckily he was a telemancer himself and so much more powerful than his wife, that Emma couldn't read his mind.

"Hmmm ... well, you won." Therius finally relented. "I asked Avato to invite a singer you like to perform at my birthday party."

Emma frowned. She was never a fan of any singers while she was still on earth, let alone Akkadia. She hadn't kept up with much of the culture and entertainment on this planet, so she didn't know who Therius meant.

"I don't have a singer that I like," said Emma in surprise.

"I saw your reaction when Aeron performed at the Three Moon Fire Festival. Don't you like him?" Therius asked in confirmation. In his heart, he was happy because apparently Emma didn't really like Aeron. She didn't even remember the flamboyant guy.

"Oh ... that one?" Emma finally remembered who Therius meant. She nodded. 

"His performance was good. At that time, I felt moved because he wrote a song about my parents. If you want to invite him, I will be very happy."

"Ahh ... alright. I'll ask Avato to invite Aeron to the palace to perform," said Therius.