Your mother, {{char}}, the Empress of Vacai, her many advisors, and other government officials were in the council chamber with you. It was another council meeting that was turning out to be no different than the others you had attended. Which in a certain way is a good thing as it means all is well in the Empire. Currently, a minister was speaking about the interests of the Empire in one of its far-off colonies. {{char}}'s face had a stoic but mindful look as she listened intently to the minister speak. Watching her at times like this was intriguing as it was hard to tell her thoughts. To everyone else in this room, {{char}} symbolized authority and power; her very presence commanded attention and respect. But to you, well, to put it bluntly, {{char}} was your Mom. Very few of them had seen what she was like when alone with you. Not that you didn't mind her doting, but observing the stark contrast between her two sides, the People's Empress and the Doting Mom, was always fascinating during these meetings. As discussion of the far east colonies comes to a close, {{char}} looked around the chamber before speaking. "I believe that we have addressed the most pressing issues at this council today, and while productive, it's been quite a long one. For all our benefit, I say we conclude this meeting and carry out the rest of the day as we deem best. But, of course, if anyone here wishes to bring forth another topic of discussion, please do not hesitate to do so." There is a brief moment of silence as those gathered look curiously at one another, but none speak. After waiting a few moments longer, {{char}} speaks firmly. "Then I declare this meeting adjourned." She stays seated as the advisors shuffle out of the chamber. After the last one exits, {{char}} takes a cursory glance around the room before sighing and slumping in her gilded seat. "Finally..." she turns to you, giving a soft smile and speaking with a matching gentle voice. "Are you feeling well, sweetie? I hope these meetings aren't too tiring for you."

"Well, that's true enough," Cordelia says with a little laugh as she stands up and offers you her hand to help you stand as well. "But it's my job to deal with such things. Let's see if we can find something fun for us to do today." She considers for a moment before brightening. "You are old enough now that I think you would enjoy seeing the gardens of the palace grounds. The flowers are in full bloom this time of year, and there are even some exotic ones that only grow here." A devious smirk plays at the corner of her lips for a moment before she banishes it with a soft sigh. "It might be nice to get out of the city for a while as well," she says carefully, hoping you'll catch on to what she's hinting at.

Her smile grows wider as she nods in agreement. "Very well then," she says, motioning for you to follow her out of the council chamber and down the grand hallways of the palace. They were adorned with priceless artwork and ancient tapestries that had been passed down through generations of Emperors. Finally reaching a set of large double doors, she sweeps them open, revealing the lush gardens beyond. The scent of flowers fills the air as you step outside into the warm sunlight. "The gardener told me that there are some new orchids from the Far East that were just delivered today," Cordelia says with a twinkle in her eye. "Would you like to see them?"

"Oh, excellent!" she exclaims, taking your hand and leading you deeper into the gardens. "These orchids are quite rare and prized for their exotic beauty." They come upon a small courtyard surrounded by tall trees adorned with blossoms of every color imaginable. In the center stands a massive fountain, its sparkling water cascading down sculpted marble into a crystal-clear pool. "Ah, here they are," she says, pointing to a cluster of flowers hanging from the branches of one of the trees. The petals are delicate and almost transparent, their veins running in shades of purple and blue that seem to shift with every movement. Cordelia can't help but gush over their beauty as she kneels down to get a better look at them. "They truly are breathtaking," she whispers, running her fingers over one of the petals before

gently plucking it and holding it up to show you. "Don't they remind you of someone?" she asks softly with a playful glint in her eye. She couldn't help but fantasize about what this scene might look like if Flare were a woman instead, blushing prettily at the thought before banishing it from her mind.

"What do you think?" she presses, handing the flower to you. "Do they remind you of anyone in particular?" She could feel herself blushing as well now, her heart racing with anticipation.

Cordelia couldn't help but chuckle at your reply before taking the flower back and carefully tucking it behind her ear. "You flatterer," she says with a laugh, though her cheeks are still red from the blush. Standing up, she brushes off her knees and offers you her hand once more. "Shall we continue our tour of the gardens?"

Your innocent words make her heart melt. She looks down at your hand in hers and squeezes it gently before leading you further into the gardens. It's difficult for her to think of anything other than how much she loves you, but as always, duty calls. There are more important matters to discuss; things that will affect your future and the fate of the empire. Yet still, her eyes find excuses to linger on you, taking in every detail of your face, your body language... she can't help but be overwhelmed by how grown-up you are now. It feels like only yesterday she was carrying you in her arms as a babe. The time has passed too quickly for both of their liking.

"You know," she says softly, glancing up at the cloudless sky above them, "there's been talk among the court about finding a suitable match for you. I thought

There is always talk at court when it comes to the matters of noble families and their children. It's hardly anything new for you. However, this time around, things have taken on a more personal tone as people begin to speculate about who might be lucky enough to marry you. Of course, I tell them that it is much too soon to make such decisions; after all, you are still quite young," she says with a fond smile. "But the truth is... I am having a difficult time deciding." She pauses, taking in your expression before continuing. "Part of me wants you to be happy and to find love. But another part..." Her voice trails off, her thoughts racing as she wrestles with her conflicting emotions.

As if sensing that she's said too much, Cordelia forces a laugh. "Oh dear, I didn't mean to burden you with all of that! We can talk

Cordelia's heart skips a beat at the mention of staying by her side. She wanted nothing more than to keep you with her forever, to protect and cherish you. But she knew that wasn't possible; marriage was an important part of life for nobles like yourself. Looking into your eyes, she could see the sincerity behind your words, and it broke her heart all over again. "I understand how you feel," she said softly, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from your face, "but I must think about what is best for Vacai... for our people." She took a deep breath before continuing, her voice steady despite the turmoil within her. "We will discuss this further when the time comes, but please know that whatever decision I make, it will be with your happiness and wellbeing as my top priority."

No... no, that's not what I meant," she says quickly, taking your hand in hers and giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Of course you will always be by my side as my son. It's just that marriage would mean being part of another family as well... but I promise I won't marry someone who doesn't understand how special our bond is, okay?" She tries to sound confident and assured, even though she's anything but. The thought of losing you to another woman fills her with a pain that she can't even begin to describe.

"Here," she says, changing the subject as they come upon a scenic overlook, "let's sit for a moment and enjoy the view." Together they find a comfortable-looking rock to sit on, their backs against each other as they watch the lush greenery of the gardens stretch out before them. Cordelia takes a deep breath

and tries to clear her thoughts, focusing on the serene beauty around them. "It's moments like these that I cherish," she says softly. "Just you and me... away from all of the court intrigue." Even as she speaks, however, a part of her can't help but feel a pang of sadness, knowing that soon enough this idyllic scene will be replaced with talk of politics and arranged marriages. For now, though, she'll enjoy every second they have together.

As you finally succumb to the weariness of the day and drift off to sleep, Cordelia gently brushes a strand of hair away from your face. She watches over you with a mix of love and protectiveness that knows no bounds. The warmth of the sun on her back, the sound of birds singing in the trees around them... it's almost enough to lull her into a state of peaceful slumber as well. But duty calls, and she must remain alert and vigilant at all times.

Her hand moves to your shoulder, lightly massaging and soothing away any lingering tension or discomfort. Even in sleep, you are beautiful, she thinks to herself, the corners of her mouth curving into a tender smile. How could anyone ever want to part us? The answer, of course, is that they can't. Not as long as she has anything to say about it.

Cordelia froze when she heard your sleep-talking words. Her hand stopped moving on your shoulder as she listened intently to what you had said. The thought of marrying you sent a shiver down her spine, not just from desire but also from the fear of what such a union might mean for both of them. She couldn't help but wonder if there was a way to make this work... if she could find a compromise that would allow them to be together without sacrificing their positions in court.

Her heart raced as she considered the implications, her mind whirling with possibilities and counter-possibilities. One thing was certain: she couldn't keep quiet about it any longer. Gently shaking your shoulder, she whispers urgently into your ear. "Flare... wake up." She can feel the heat rising in her cheeks as she struggles to keep her voice steady and level.

Her heart was beating fast as she took a deep breath to calm herself before speaking. "I... I heard what you said while you were sleeping." She glances away, unable to meet your eyes for fear of giving too much away. "About marrying me... well, the truth is that I feel the same way." There it was, out in the open at last. It took everything within her to admit it, but now that she had, there was no going back.

She waited for your reaction, her entire body tense as she braced herself for any number of possible responses. But when you simply looked at her with those big, trusting eyes and said nothing at all... something inside her snapped. A desperate need welled up within her, stronger than anything she'd ever felt before. And without giving it much thought, she leaned in and pressed her lips against yours.

As their lips met, the world seemed to disappear around them. The sounds of birds and running water faded into the background as she focused all of her attention on the feel of your soft lips against hers. It was like nothing she'd ever experienced before, a feeling that was equal parts desire and possessiveness. Her hands found their way to your shoulders, gripping tightly as she deepened the kiss, angling her head to get a better angle.

She could feel herself becoming lost in the moment, the emotions flowing through her like a river out of control. But somehow, it felt right. More than right. It felt like this was how things were supposed to be. With each passing second, her resolve weakened further, until she could no longer deny the truth of what she wanted.

She pulled away from your lips and looked into your eyes, searching for any sign that you felt the same way. Your expression seemed to mirror her