I don’t know how I lucked into Naomi and Bill, but these mu’fuckers know how to get shit done. In an hour, I have tables and indie lighting in my park, making it so we can talk an schmooze.
/Hey Rich, feel free to send your aide if your old ass can’t shamble to the park/
/You young whippersnappers are a bunch of whiny bitches. I can make it to your dinner. These Tech gene treatments are doing wonders by the way. I can almost have sex without having a heart attack now!/
/Damn it Rich! TMI you wrinkly asshole./ I can’t help but laugh at his description though. Not that he can’t raise the mast, just that he doesn’t want to have a fault when he does.
/You hear from the old US lately?/
/Not doing this Penny. If you’re going to gather info, go be a diplomat./
/Fine, fine, Make sure you bring the rest of the California Raisins for the musical number./
/You are the finest cancerous growth on a beached whale’s anus. Fuck off Empress./
/Love you too, cantankerous ass/ I would absolutely murder anyone else who talked to me this way. But Rich saved me from some shit, and has been straightforward with me for years. Dude convinced his whole family to move with him before he knew about the villa his position came with. He continues to be the best old white dude I’ve ever met.
“Empress? Can you give us an idea what you’re thinking of for food?” Naomi asks. Damn, I really didn’t think about it. Hrm, apps from Summit Farms, Yakki Niku, grilled cheese bites, and a flirty local fruit compote over blanched citrussy greens.
Dinner, I make a plate of aether and non-aether fare as an example of the price range and let the catering staff that Naomi hired go nuts with their recommendations in line with my cost range.
“Quick, Camacho, I need a reason not to panic and flee.”
“I spent a lot of relationship capital on you tonight and I will turn on you right now if you made me waste it.” She delivers that with the severity of licking a stamp.
“Shit, lady. I’m sorry for my anxiety?”
“Pft, don’t be stupid. You talk through stuff, I reply. You make decisions based on available data. Lets not ruin a good thing.”
Ugh, that last part makes me feel so dirty I want to quit. Can’t quit Empress though. Don’t think I would, even if I trusted someone to take over for me: absolute power appeals to me. Because I’m the Empress works for everything, but explains nothing, and the nebulous state is expected from this level of public figure.
More people arrive than I expected. Rich invited people, Naomi and Bill invited people, and Camacho invited people. There are more than thirty people here for this dinner meeting. I invited like six. My ‘friends’ and advisors tell me I can’t simply ignore people, especially when I invited them, so I talk through dinner. Some people excuse themselves and then I talk some more. By the time that it’s only me and the people I wanted advice from, I’m all talked out and it’s after midnight.
Once some of the “additional” and “extra” people start leaving, I start with the actual meeting.
“So, tell me what you think between Miss Day and Mr. Mercer.” I hear a smattering of Miss Day this and Mr. Mercer that, but these opinions aren’t thoughtful or in depth.
“Your father spent the time and money to present a united front, and . . .”
“You call him my father again and you’ll pay your taxes through a telepathic interface.” I growl.
“He’s not wrong, your Majesty, your . . . Mr. Mercer is both more ambitious and more aware of the circumstances.”
“But Miss Day would be more willing to Obey the Empress’ orders as long as they are logical.”
“You just made a better case for Mercer, dimwit.”
In the slow yet relentless exchange, Rich texts me that on paper, Mercer is the clear winner. He has a current upper crust connection, and I know his attitude better than anyone else in the western hemisphere of Earth. I hate that he seems like the best applicant. It roils my innards that logically, I don’t have to like all of my Consuls in fact, it might even better if I know their advice isn’t tied to a personal relationship. That ass and I certainly don’t have one of those.
“Okay folks, thanks for coming out and helping me with this decision. Granted all of you will have to deal with them, so it was in your interest. In any case, I think the prevailing wind is taking us to hiring Mr. Mercer and I agree. There will be no small amount of transition, but this move is directly in line with putting our people in the best hands. So lets make this a thing. Bill and I will be seeking applicants for the other Consul positions I’m looking to fill, so I’d like to have another dinner and another Consul or three to invite before the end of the summer, so 150 days or so.”
Several people let me know that they would like an earlier event, but didn’t seem to mind the “mandatory fun” event. This might be the most of my staff I’ve seen together ever. People mixed work talk and random socializing and seemed to enjoy it. Does this count as a team building exercise?
“It was clever of you to make a confab to disguise nepotism, Empress.” Camacho.
“Making sure that people know I didn’t choose him because we’re related was a large part of this event, yes. However, I met a series of prospective employees as well, and I think it was productive on that front. And I appreciate the use of my title when insulting me.” I turn on my heels and head back to my office.
“Hold up, Empress. This is where I pass you off to another teammate.” She points to a man in a more discrete outfit than a Navy uniform. Same side-arm and utility belt though and he snaps to attention as we get closer.
“Empress, this is Jordan Speth. Former Army MP.”
“It’s my honor to serve, Imperial Majesty.” He remains rigid after his greeting and it makes my face twitch.
“At ease Mr. Speth. I remember talking to you earlier this evening. You were showing everyone pictures of your daughter summoning fire.” His stern demeanor cracks at the mention of his kid, joy seeping out into the night.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“We are very proud of her and she intends to apply for your school next year.”
“We’re still figuring out instructors and curriculum, but I’m expecting to take a much larger class next time.”
Camacho and Speth change the watch and Speth follows me upstairs. He insists on going into the room first to search the room and close the curtains. He stands until I sit and then takes a seat at the side table facing the door.
I spend the rest of the evening at my desk, reviewing government contracts, new land use permits on multiple planets and some economy reconfiguration from several Governors that I expressly deny: the Empire will use a standardized fraction of Aether Credits to pay for smaller items. The audacity of wanting to print their own fiat currency. The last few hours of dark pass quickly and Naomi will be by in two hours to get me ready to start Founders Day festivities around midday.
Now to the thing I’ve been dreading doing since I committed to the idea of a new economic advisor—adjusting the Empire’s account access. She’ll still be a Consul on account of being my wife, but I don’t what to pressure her to come back before she’s ready just because the Empire needs her. I’d feel worse if I didn’t already know she’s been taking commission from the contracts she’s arranged and directed them to a private account. But she will still be First Consul and I’ll still support her no matter how much time she needs..
I update the access names and positions to My account, which I also use to fund Imperial projects, and the Empire’s Tax and Government Revenue Account, which will essentially be the treasury once the Economy is more than just a few deals and the money coming out of my pocket. That done and more than an hour before Naomi is supposed to harass me, time for a change of scenery.
“Speth, do you know a good coffee place with decent food on the lake?”
“Yes, Empress. Betty’s Breakfast Boutique. They make all the food and drinks on-site and they have a few private nooks if you want.”
“I’d rather sit by the lake, to be honest.”
“I’ll text them to see what they can do.” I nod my thanks and head out down the parkway when I realize it’s like 5km to the Lake from here. I drop 200 credits on a hover bike, 10 for custom paint, and 5 credits for a delivery fee. I already have a reactive shield so my helmet is covered.
“No shuttle?” Speth asks.
“I thought it would be rude to park something so big in the road, even for a moment. Instead, I will rudely park the cutest hoverbike ever in front. Now get on, I need coffee.” He stops chuckling as soon as he realizes he’d be sitting behind me.
“Uh, Empress, do I have permission to touch you?”
“Pffft. You look so uncomfortable right now. It’s a bike ride. So yes, for this purpose, and to save my life, you may touch me.” He nods, gulps and finds his courage to sit behind me and holds on to the sides of my hips.
The bike has some get up and go. In no time we’re passing 100kph, which is about the time Speth changes his grip to a full wrap. I can’t help but smile at that, but stop stressing the man out at a respectable 160 kph, which is seconds before I have to start slowing down for entering the city of Aelea proper.
The streets are already lively when we arrive with pedestrian traffic being the most dominant, with a thin lane for cyclists and scooters. Lake street doesn’t seem to have any larger forms of transport than a pedi-cab. My new scooter gets me a few looks, but I’m driving slow and in the cyclist lane, so I don’t keep people’s stares for long. Speth points me toward Betty’s and I bring the bike to rest against the unoccupied brick façade between the two building’s windows.
The buildings here are three story affairs with the front shop floor having a two large adjacent windows and an entrance door. To my surprise there are no patio chairs, or any patio features on any of the shops nearby. That seems odd to me.
A woman about my age comes out of the shop in a tasteful, but old-fashioned dress with a frilly apron on, and approaches us.
“Your highness, it’s a pleasure to have you here. I apologize that we have no outdoor seating, but . . .”
“Do you want some?” I interrupt.
“I, it’s not, what?”
“I am offering to create an outdoor seating area for Founder’s week, so I can sit outside and stare at the lake.”
“Well, I can’t really stop you now can I?” she laughs uncomfortably.
I turn my head toward Speth and give him my best “what the fuck?” face.
“Betty, the Empress will abide by your wishes if you don’t want the seating, but she is offering to create it free of charge and we will deal with any fallout from the city. She’s not trying to barge in and tell you how it is.”
“Oh,” She sags a few centimeters in relief. “That would be lovely, thank you Empress.”
Excellent! High slanted sun shade out to 5m from the building with Betty’s table theme and chairs copied. A low, temporary railing and a small self-service water jug by the door. I print a letter that has a Founder’s week exception on it for street encroachment and sign it with my engraving ink. Make a few copies just in case.
“Well, it’s not much, but it might work. Now do we need to come in to put our names on a list or something?”
“What? Oh, no ma’am, I mean Empress, I’ll send one of the girls out with menus. And coffee?”
“Oh, yes please.” I beam at her. She looks away from my eyes, wipes her hands on her apron and dashes into the building.
“That was awfully nice of you.”
“Yes, well, when you help a person while catering to your own selfish desires, folk kindly ignore your motivations.” Doing nice things that benefit me doesn’t feel so nice. However, it makes it easier for people to accept when they realize that an action is as much for me as it is for them.
A teenager dressed similarly to Betty scampers out with a tray with a coffee setting in one arm and a death grip holding menus with the other. She quickly places the cups pours coffee, motions for cream and sugar—which we decline—and flops the menus on the table with a ‘papf’. A quick, deep bow later she scurries off back into the building.
“Wow, is my reputation that terrifying that kids are afraid to talk to me and a charming shopkeeper thinks I’m going to bully her?”
“People don’t really know you, Empress. This is like your first public appearance in Aelea. What people don’t know, they’ll speculate until something sticks.”
“Yeah, and if I look too easygoing in public, people won’t take me seriously.”
“No way. Not anyone that has met you anyway. Having your attention feels like being stared at by an apex predator.” I nod at that, I’ve heard something similar before, despite the large sparkly eyes I’ve developed.
I take my first sip of brewed coffee in a while. I usually just get it from the exchange, but this feels that little bit better, the taste a teensie bit richer, and I’m immediately in love. I hum appreciatively into my cup as I almost dip my nose in the dark liquid. The teen was right to drop off a small pump carafe with our cups—I’ll likely finish it.
With my second cup-full in hand, I’m ready tackle the menu. Seems like typical breakfast fare with a focus on a respectable benedict selection. I see that there are aether enhanced options and I’m drawn to the tortoise egg benedict with murder chicken bacon rounds affectionately called The Last Benedict.
The waitress comes out with a writing pad and just stands there until we tell her what we want. She dashes off without saying a word. When our food is brought out, she is equally silent. Neither Speth or I are silent while we eat, yummy noises issuing from the both of us as we eat.
We waited maybe ten minutes after finishing our meals, about when I finished the carafe of coffee, before it was time to go and I needed to pay someone.
“Was something wrong your majesty?” Betty sees us and swings by.
“Not at all, we’re just in a hurry and wanted to pay our bill.” I place a credit’s worth of hexes on the tray she’s carrying and turn to walk out, “Thank you for the excellent breakfast Betty.”
We’re out on the street before Speth says anything. “Slick move walking out before she can protest how much you overpaid.”
“Is that what I did? I just have so much money, I don’t know how much a credit is worth. Tee hee.”
“A hex is around Ten bucks, pre-swarm.” Oh, the exchange for credits has gone up a lot.
“Oof, that has changed significantly since I got system access. I overpaid more than I intended to.” I shrug and he bursts into laughter. I join him because I really was being a head in the clouds rich person about it.