The Evil Emperor's Fragile Heart

Everyone stared at Mana quizzically.

Mana shrugged casually. "Raven is the one always using powerful magic," she said. "I just support him, don't I? That doesn't take all that much magic power, so…"

General Aquila chuckled and shot King Jaren a strange look. "What on earth are you teaching the children?" he asked.

King Jaren sighed. "Well, little Mana is not entirely wrong…" he murmured.

General Aquila resisted the urge to facepalm. Then he turned to Mana and asked, "Do you ever feel sick when you're using magic at all?"

Mana shook her head.

"Then you're all right," General Aquila declared. "We just need to build up your physical strength – Raven, make sure your little fiancée gets enough exercise during the day as well, ok? Let's make her strong and healthy."

Mana groaned pitifully. "I'm healthy enough," she complained.

Everyone burst out laughing.

"Sister Mana, you need to be healthy and strong to match up with Big Brother Raven! Then you can both be really cool together!" Rook said excitedly, his eyes full of hero worship when he looked at his Big Brother Raven.

"Indeed," General Aquila said.

"I'm with Father Aqi and Rook on this," Raven said firmly. "You need to be stronger."

Mana frowned at him. "I've got you, you heaven defying talent – what do I need to get stronger for?" she demanded.

Raven flushed.

Jules rolled his eyes. "Didn't you just answer your own question, Mana? Raven is a heaven defying talent – and you'll be right by his side – so don't you need to work hard to keep that spot?" he asked. "Don't think that we don't know that you're simply being lazy!"

Mana sighed and then glared at her dear Big Brother. "You've all ganged up on me," she accused.

"Well, it's for your own good," Bella chipped in. "I'd be very worried if I weren't strong enough to stand by Jules's side, you know – or if Jules weren't strong enough to stand by my side, either."

Mana shot Raven a complicated look. "Do you think the same way?" she demanded.

Raven bit his lip nervously and hesitated for a moment, but then he nodded firmly. "I worry," he said quietly.

"Mommy! Don't be lazy!" Azar spoke up.

"Et tu Azar," Mana murmured under her breath, knowing fully well that no one would understand the context of her words in this world. She stood up gingerly. "All right, then, since all of you seem to have planned out everything for me anyway, I'll follow instructions like a good little soldier," she said crossly.

King Jaren and General Aquila looked rather amused, and so did Jules and Bella.

Raven on the other hand, looked rather distressed at the sight of an unhappy Mana.

"Mana, I…" Raven began, but Mana simply threw a glare at the boy and stormed off without a word.

Raven's face crumpled.

King Jaren sighed and ruffled Raven's hair affectionately. "Don't worry about it, son. She's just throwing a sulk – my little Mana is really not a morning person. But we all understand that this is necessary, right?" he asked. "She'll get around to the idea – don't worry, all right?"

Raven nodded slowly, but refused to look up at his Papa.

Jules and Bella exchanged a meaningful glance.

"I'll have a chat with Mana," Jules said. "You guys can freshen up and we can meet up for breakfast in a bit?"

King Jaren and General Aquila gave Jules a grateful look.

Jules smiled at everyone, patted Raven's shoulder comfortingly and then ran after Mana.

Mana was actually feeling a bit guilty after she went off in a sulk and was wondering if she ought to go back and have a chat with the others – especially Raven. She could feel a slight discomfort in her chest – and that was probably caused by Raven feeling upset. That would he her fault, wouldn't it? Mana knew that her family was thinking and doing what was best for her – and even she realised that she needed to work on her delicate physique – but she was cranky in the mornings on the best of days, and the supposedly happy hormones that made other people happy after a bout of physical exercises always had the opposite effect on her.

Jules caught up with Mana soon enough.

Mana was quite surprised to see him. "Big Brother? What happened?" she asked. The discomfort in her chest intensified, making her feel rather apprehensive. "Is everything all right? Is Raven all right?" she asked worriedly.

Jules smiled slightly. "You know how Raven is – do you think he'll be all right when you're so unhappy?" he asked.

Mana sighed. "I'm not unhappy," she said. "I'm just sulking. I'm ten years old. I'm entitled to a sulk when I have to do things I don't like."

Jules chuckled. "Of course you are," he said. "But that doesn't mean that you'll get out of exercising. Other than causing Raven unnecessary distress – this isn't achieving any results, is it?" he pointed out in a matter of fact voice.

Mana rolled her eyes. "I know," she said. "I still want to sulk for a bit."

Jules laughed and patted her head affectionately. "You can sulk after breakfast, then – come on, let's freshen up quickly. Bella tells me there's some really good new stuff for us to try – you're liking the traditional cuisine of the Sapphire Kingdom so far, right?" he asked, blatantly trying to divert Mana's attention with the promise of food.

Everyone knew what a big foodie their little Mana was! In fact, if Azar hadn't been a child of a different species altogether, they'd have thought it was an inherited trait!

Mana was successfully enticed into feeling better – and she remembered the coffee milkshake Raven had made for her earlier. She felt a twinge of guilt when she thought about all the efforts the boy had put into making her happy and comfortable for the exercises – probably because he knew how much she detested physical labour of any kind. Her heart felt soft and mushy at the thought – and she decided that she'd get working on that promised tiramisu right after breakfast. That should make it up to Raven for her bad behaviour a few minutes ago, right?

Jules smiled as he saw the changing expressions on Mana's face, and he could spot the exact moment when Mana made her decision.

"All right," Mana said. "Let's go and get ready for breakfast."

Half an hour later, Queen Carolina, King Jaren, General Aquila, Jules, Bella, Rook, Raven, Mana and Azar met up for breakfast in a small dining room often used by the royal family for special guests.

"Mommy not sulking any more?" Azar asked as soon as he saw Mana.

Mana could only laugh helplessly and rub the little dragon's head. Then she sat down next to Raven and peered at him.

"I'm sorry," she said softly. "I just wanted to sulk for a bit."

"It's all right," Raven replied. "I'm sorry, too. I pushed you too hard."

Mana smiled and shook her head. "No, you were perfect – you even made me that delicious coffee milkshake in the morning," she said.

"What milkshake?" Azar immediately wanted to know. The little dragon gazed pitifully at Raven. "Daddy, you didn't make milkshake for Azar?"

The puppy eyed look was almost too much to bear, and Mana and Raven immediately felt rather guilty – they really should have saved some for their dragon child, right? But then again, Mana wasn't sure she wanted the baby dragon to have caffeine at his age…

"What's coffee?" King Jaren was equally interested.

"The brown brew of the Sapphire Kingdom – Mana called it coffee," Raven said.

Queen Carolina tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Coffee does sound better than brown brew – I think we can officially rename brown brew to coffee – what are your opinions on this, Jules and Bella?" she asked.

"Coffee does sound better than brown brew – not that I'd like that bitter thing anyway. But no harm in giving the thing a more attractive name," Bella said. "Right, Jules?"

Jules nodded in agreement – not that he'd disagree with Bella on something like this in any case!

"Do you want to try some now?" Raven asked, standing up from his seat. "It hardly takes any time to make – I can do it right away."

"I'll go with you," Mana said, springing up from her seat and taking Raven's hand. "I can also let the imperial kitchen staff know what I need to make tiramisu later – Big Sister Bella, would that be all right?"

"Of course, Mana," Bella said generously. "Just let them know whatever you need and whenever you need it."

"What is tiramisu?" Rook asked, his dark eyes glowing with anticipation. He had become one of the biggest admirers of the pastries made by Mana – and if it weren't for General Aquila keeping an eagle eye on Rook's diet – the boy would eat nothing but meat and pastries, and would drink nothing but chocolate milkshake!

Actually, little Azar and his Uncle Rook were rather similar in this regard.

Mana winked at Rook.. "Wait until the afternoon, and you can taste it for yourself," she said.