The Evil Emperor's Fragile Heart

Imperial Physician Kale was right. Mana did get her first magic surge two days later – however, her mood swings subsided significantly. Instead she became just like Jules and Raven during their surge – permanently hungry! She ate and ate and ate and ate until she was tired of eating, but still kept getting hungry.

"I want to be like Azar and dunk myself in a vat of love soup," she complained.

King Jaren and Jules laughed, but Raven asked her seriously, "Would you like me to make preparations?"

Mana threw herself into his arms. "You're the best," she said and kissed his cheek. "But we have to set a good example to Azar, don't we?"

"Azar good boy, Mommy!" the little dragon said immediately, opening one eye lazily. He was stretched out on King Jaren's lap like a feline, half asleep. Sometimes Mana wondered if their little dragon also had a bit of feline blood in him.

"Yes, of course, you're the best boy ever," Mana said absently – it had become almost a habit for her and Raven to respond this way whenever Azar declared himself to be a good boy – which he did quite often.

"I don't understand why I'm getting my magic surge so early," she whined. "I'm not even as powerful as you, what's the point?"

"You're definitely more powerful than me," Raven told her.

Mana frowned. "Don't be ridiculous," she said. "You're the heaven-defying, once-in-a-thousand years genius in our family!"

"But I'm under your control," Raven said softly. "Doesn't that make you more powerful than me?"

Mana's frown deepened. "Raven," she said seriously. "I have no intention of controlling you."

A flash of hurt appeared in Raven's rainbow eyes, and Mana hurried to explain, "What I want is for you to be able to do whatever you want to do, and whatever makes you happy – you don't always have to agree with me; even I know I can be unreasonable at times." She paused and pinched his fair cheeks. "Besides, it's not like I'm going to love you any less if you start telling me what you want – if anything, it'll make me happier!"

Raven stiffened for a moment, and then turned bright red from head to toe. "You – you just – you just said…" he stammered nervously.

"You said the big L word, Mana," Jules pointed out, grinning at the two of them. "And judging from Raven's reaction, this is probably the first time!"

Mana narrowed her eyes at Raven. "Surely this can't be news to you?" she demanded. "Don't you already know that I care for you?"

Raven deflated immediately. "Oh," he murmured. "You meant love as in care."

Mana sighed. This little boy would be the death of her. She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "It's definitely much more than care," she whispered in his ear. "And even though we're too young for romance, I do love you very much, Raven. And I hope that you do, too, since we are going to spend our lives together," she said softly.

Raven turned red again. "I do," he whispered hurriedly. "I mean, I love you too." Then he turned around and fled.

Mana shook her head at his retreating back, deciding to let him take a break. There was no need to embarrass the boy any further…

King Jaren cleared his throat loudly.

Mana looked at him quizzically.

"You two are too young for romance," he said sternly.

"I know," Mana said. "And so does Raven." She smiled at King Jaren. "Don't worry, Papa. We won't do anything improper until we have grown up."

Then she, too, ran off, presumably to find Raven.

King Jaren and Jules could only shake their heads fondly. Azar, who had fallen fast asleep again in King Jaren's lap, didn't even bother to look up.

Mana found Raven hiding in the garden in a practically secret spot which no one other than the two of them visited. He was sitting against a tree with his legs pulled up to his chest and his face buried in his hands.

"Raven?" Mana called softly. "What happened? Why are you hiding in here?"

"I'm not hiding," came his muffled and slightly hoarse voice.

Mana was immediately anxious and rushed to him. "Why is your voice hoarse? Are you feeling unwell again?" As she came closer, she noticed something. There was a bright red mark on one of his hands, as if someone had pinched him viciously. "What happened to your hand?" she asked worriedly.

Raven shook his head and refused to look up at her.

Mana sighed and sat down next to him, pulling the boy into a hug. "It's ok if you don't want to tell me," she said softly. "Just let me know if you're all right, and if there's anything I can do to make you feel better, ok?"

She took his hand and sent a wave of healing magic into it, and the red mark disappeared.

Raven finally looked up at her with a tear-stained face. "I was just too happy," he murmured, his cheeks turning as red as apples. "Sometimes I wonder if I've gone mad and am dreaming about all this – about you and Papa and Big Brother and Azar – and I'm afraid that I'll wake up and find myself locked up in a dark room again…" his voice trailed off. "I just pinched myself to make sure that I was awake."

Mana's heart ached and she hugged him again. "Don't hurt yourself again," she murmured in his ear. "The next time you want to check, just give me a hug. See, I'm warm and my heart is beating steadily. Doesn't that mean that this is all real?" she asked softly.

Raven nodded. Then he leaned forward and planted a reverent kiss on her brow. "Mana, I love you, and I want to marry you as soon as we are old enough," he said quietly.

Mana smiled at him. "I love you too," she said. "There's no need to worry about our marriage – we'll definitely get married when we're old enough. Knowing Papa, he's probably got half of our wedding arrangements already prepared in his head."

Raven chuckled.

Mana took out her handkerchief and wiped his face gently.

And then her stomach growled loudly, making her flush in embarrassment and curse this magic surge thing for making her perpetually hungry. She was quite annoyed with this phenomenon, especially since couldn't detect much change in her magic at all yet.

Raven laughed and stood up, and then pulled her up as well.

"What do you want to eat? I can make something for you if you'd like," he offered.

Mana squealed in delight and hugged him. "Anything! Whatever you make always tastes so good, sometimes I feel like picking up the plate and licking it like a dog!"

The tips of Raven's ears turned red. "I'm not as good as you," he murmured. "Or Big Brother."

Mana shook her head. "I'm better with baking, I'll give you that, and no one can beat Big Brother when it comes to barbeque. But you can make a full meal and every single dish you put in front of me tastes absolutely amazing!"

Her stomach protested loudly again.

Raven grabbed Mana's hand and ran towards the kitchen!