The Evil Emperor's Fragile Heart

After a bit of coaxing and cajoling, Raven finally confessed to Mana about the worry and the wish that was rising up in his heart.

Mana frowned at him. "So – you wanted to ask me if we can be exclusive? And that you won't marry anyone else, and you don't want me to marry anyone else, even as a side husband? And this is what was causing you so much distress?" she asked archly.

Raven nodded nervously. "I know I may be overstepping my boundaries and that I have no right to ask you for something like this, but I can't bear the thought of having anyone else and I am being very selfish when I say that I want you all to myself as well and…" he spoke in a rush and then trailed off abruptly when he saw the utterly furious expression on Mana's face.

"What in the world could possibly give you the impression that I wanted side husbands?!" Mana demanded. "Do you think I am going to grow up into some loose woman?!"

Raven shook his head vigorously. "No, no, not at all!" he cried is dismay. "That's not what I meant at all! It's just that it is very common for royals to have multiple partners and…"

"If you dare to take another wife or concubine or mistress or whatever, my dear Raven, fated soulmates or not, I'm going to break up with you, and you will never be in a relationship with me ever again!" Mana declared.

"I won't!" Raven protested. "The very thought of having anyone else makes me feel sick to my stomach! You are the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, Mana! Please believe me!" he begged with a pitiful expression on his face.

But Mana didn't soften even at his pitiful expression. "Then why are you asking me about other people?!" she demanded angrily. "Why are you telling me that you don't want me to have other romantic partners in my life?!"

Raven's face fell. He wanted to protest that it was unfair if Raven had only Mana while Mana had other people as well, but then he couldn't say that because it was he who had this problem, and even if Mana told him that she would allow him to take other partners, Raven would never be able to. The very thought made his stomach churn. And he selfishly wanted Mana to be the same as him – to be his partner and only his. He didn't want to share Mana with anyone else.

"Well?" Mana demanded, crossing her arms.

"Most royals have multiple partners," Raven said in a small voice. "I…" he trailed off, looking utterly miserable.

"I don't care what other royals do in this world!" Mana shouted. "You are mine and I am yours and there is no place for any third person in our relationship, either from your side, or from mine. So, if you dare take another woman or man into your life as a romantic partner in any capacity – you can forget about me. And as for me, you are my only fiancé, and you will be my only husband when we grow up and are old enough to be married. I'm not going to take anyone other than you. What's the point of our relationship otherwise?"

Raven stared at her blankly for a long moment, and then said in a faint voice, "Did you – did you just say that we would have only each other…?"

Mana poked Raven in the middle of his forehead with a slim finger. "How can you be so smart and so stupid at the same time?" she demanded. "What do I need other people for when I already have you? I'll tell you once again – it's always going to be you and me only, so you can forget about trying to bring in any third parties between us! You're going to have to make do with me for the rest of our lives, and I'll also do the same. It's going to be just you and me – and the moment a third person enters, it won't be you and me anymore. As far as I am concerned, commitment has to be exclusive, otherwise there is no point in it. Got that?!"

Raven nodded in a daze and then smiled a smile so beautiful that it was Mana's turn to be dazed – or, it would be more accurate to say – Mana was dazzled by his beauty.

Raven pulled Mana into a hug and rested his forehead on her slim shoulder. "Thank you," he murmured, and Mana could feel the joy surging in his veins through their bond.

With a sigh, Mana stroked the boy's back.

"Raven," she said softly. "I wish you knew how precious you are to me. I wish I could show you how magnificent you are in my eyes."

"It's enough that you are by my side and that you have agreed to keep our relationship exclusive," Raven whispered. "I don't need anything else. I am already so happy that I feel like I am floating in the clouds."

Mana chuckled and pressed a chaste kiss to his cheek. "As long as you are happy, then," she told him. "You know, it is absolutely fine for you to ask me to do things for you, don't you? You are the only one with the right and the privilege to ask me to do things for you – or not to do things for you, as the case was just now. It is very important for us to talk to each other about these things, you know? And don't put yourself down like this. You know how it annoys me when anyone slights you – even if it's yourself!"

Raven grinned at her. "Yes, my princess, as you wish!" he said sweetly.

Mana rolled her eyes. "And you're so beautiful and adorable that I can't even remain annoyed with you," she muttered, pinching his cheeks playfully.

Raven burst out laughing. "I'm glad that you think this way," he said, his eyes shining with joy.

"It is definitely to your advantage," Mana said to him. "Well, who asked me to be so fond of you? Now I have to live with the consequences of you having me wrapped around your little finger!"

Raven thought silently that it was actually the other way round, and that it was Mana who had him wrapped around her little finger instead, but then he wasn't sure that he ought to say it out loud.

"Why are you in a daze again?" Mana asked crossly, poking his cheek with her finger.

Raven couldn't help but blurt out the truth.

Mana giggled. "Well, we can both be wrapped around each other's little fingers, then," she said.

"All right," Raven agreed happily.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Come in!" Mana called.

Rook stuck his head in. "Are you two ready for dinner, Big Brother Raven and Sister Mana?" he asked. "Big Brother Jules and Big Sister Bella asked me to check with you. Everyone else is on their way to the dining hall," he informed them.

"Yes, we are ready, just give us a minute," Raven said, standing up.

"All right," Rook said.

A few minutes later, the three children were on their way to the dining hall, where a delicious feast had already been laid out on the table.

"I swear this is the Emerald Kingdom's foreign policy to fatten up people from other kingdoms!" General Aquila complained, with not a little amusement in his voice. "Jaren, really, tell me – how on earth are all of you not as round as a ball when you eat like this all the time?!"

"It's in their genes, Uncle Aqi," Bella said, her eyes full of grievance.

Everyone laughed.

King Jaren and Queen Dora seemed to have discussed whatever the issues between them were and appeared to have sorted out any and all such issues if their happy faces were anything to go by. Mana wasn't sure about Queen Dora yet – but she definitely knew that her Papa King Jaren had zero ability to fake a happy smile in the company of those he loved and trusted – like the group of people currently sitting in this room.

Mana, Raven, Jules and Bella exchanged a meaningful glance collectively – and all four of them felt quite relieved, for now.

Azar and Alya were perched on King Jaren's shoulders as usual and munching on the starters already.

"Grandpapa has the best food!" Alya declared, nuzzling King Jaren's cheek affectionately with her small head.

King Jaren laughed and rubbed her head fondly, which made Azar do the same thing. So, King Jaren ended up with two baby dragons nuzzling their small heads against his cheeks from both sides, and he felt very glad he had taken the beard off back then – otherwise, it would not have been comfortable for the two little dragons to nuzzle his face like this!