Chapter 591: Busy people

They left Saha the morning after the wedding.

Not because anyone particularly wanted to.

The celebrations were continuing, and the palace had already begun preparing for another round of formal lunches, visiting delegations, private family events, and whatever else Saha considered necessary once the actual marriage had been completed. Sebastian and Nero would remain trapped inside that machinery for several more days.

Dean and Arion did not have that luxury.

Alamina wanted them back.

More specifically, three ministries, the transition council, Victor’s research team, and an infrastructure review scheduled for the following afternoon wanted them back.

Leaving early also avoided the problem everyone had quietly anticipated since the invitations went out: once the last official event ended, half the visiting delegations would attempt to depart Altera within roughly the same six-hour window.

Royal airports were still airports.

Too many aircraft remained too many aircraft.

By nine, their luggage was already being loaded while Dean stood in one of the Crown Prince Palace’s private entrance halls helping Theo into his coat.

The child was tired enough to cooperate with almost anything.

His dark hair had been brushed away from his face, though several strands were already falling forward again, and the wooden dragon from Draxil remained tucked firmly beneath his arm.

"You are going to sleep on the plane," Dean said as he fastened the final button.

Theo considered the statement.

"I might."

Dean looked at him.

"You fell asleep during breakfast."

"I was resting."

Arion came down the staircase behind them wearing a light brown travel coat over a cream shirt and dark trousers, one hand carrying his tablet while the other adjusted the cuff at his wrist.

"He was face-first against his toast."

Theo looked toward his father.

"I woke up."

"That is not the argument you think it is."

Dean smiled and stood.

Otto and Minerva were staying.

That decision had solved several logistical problems at once.

Otto was still emperor, which meant nobody could reasonably question his presence at the remaining formal events, while Minerva had spent decades navigating international royal functions and seemed almost offensively pleased to handle another few days without transferring any of it to Dean.

Dean had kissed her cheek that morning with considerably more gratitude than usual.

"You owe me," Minerva had told him.

"I’m taking over your entire office."

"That is not repayment. That is succession."

Otto had laughed until Minerva looked at him.

He stopped.

Now they were already at the main palace for the morning reception, leaving Dean and Arion free to escape without another round of relatives trying to convince Theo to stay.

Nero had attempted it anyway.

He appeared shortly before departure with Sebastian beside him, both dressed far more simply than they had been the previous day.

Sebastian wore a soft grey sweater beneath a dark-green coat, his wedding ring catching briefly when he reached down to straighten Theo’s collar.

Nero wore ivory and deep purple, his white-blond hair loose over one shoulder, looking suspiciously rested for someone who had spent the previous several days surviving his own wedding.

"You are leaving too early," he said.

Arion handed one of the remaining bags to Hunter.

"I have work."

"So does everyone."

"My father is retiring."

Nero’s expression flattened.

Arion smiled.

The joke apparently still had life in it.

Sebastian looked toward Dean.

"You’re going directly back to meetings?"

"Tomorrow."

"That was not what I asked."

Dean sighed.

"I have the evening."

"Use it."

"I intend to."

Theo hugged Sebastian first.

He wrapped both arms around his uncle’s neck when Sebastian crouched, holding on long enough that Sebastian’s expression softened immediately.

When Nero moved closer, Theo transferred himself with complete confidence.

Nero lifted him.

"My favorite godson is abandoning me."

"I have school."

Nero looked toward Dean.

Dean folded his arms.

"Do not encourage him."

"I was going to praise his commitment to education."

"You were going to offer private tutors and keep him here."

Nero smiled.

Arion took Theo back before negotiations began.

They left ten minutes later.

The flight home was quieter than the one to Saha.

Theo lasted forty minutes.

He ate a small lunch, asked Matthias three questions about clouds, arranged the wooden dragon beneath the blanket beside him, and fell asleep before the cabin lights were dimmed.

Dean watched him from across the aisle.

The formal coat was gone, replaced by a soft cream jumper, and one small hand remained resting over the dragon’s back even in sleep.

Arion sat beside Dean with his tablet open.

Dean glanced at the screen.

"You are working already."

"I’m reading."

"That contains tables."

"Reading can contain tables."

Dean leaned his head against Arion’s shoulder.

"Close it."

Arion looked down at him.

"You told me yesterday that we were behind."

"We are in the air."

"The reports still exist in the air."

Dean reached over and pressed the tablet dark himself.

Arion let him.

For most of the remaining flight, neither did anything useful.

Roslew greeted them beneath a grey November sky.

Cold air moved across the private landing area as they descended, carrying the familiar damp smell of approaching winter. Security vehicles waited near the terminal, along with staff from their household and enough luggage carts to remind Dean that they were technically living between two residences now.

Theo remained asleep.

Arion carried him from the aircraft.

His son’s face rested against the shoulder of Arion’s travel coat, one arm hanging loosely around his neck while Matthias carried the dragon behind them.

By the time they reached their residence, evening had already settled over the gardens.

Boreas met them at the doors.

Ducky arrived seconds later.

Theo woke just enough to recognize both dogs, mumbled something incomprehensible, and immediately tried to slide down from Arion’s arms.

Dean stopped him.

"Bed."

Theo’s eyes barely opened.

"Dragon."

Matthias handed it over.

That solved the crisis.

They changed him into pajamas without fully waking him, tucked the wooden dragon beneath one arm, and left his bedroom door slightly open after Boreas settled on the rug nearby.

Dean stood in the doorway for another moment.

Behind him, Arion checked the time.

Dean heard the small exhale.

"What?"

"The transition council moved tomorrow’s first meeting to eight."

Dean turned.

"My foundation transfer starts at eight-thirty."

"Victor wants us at the institute by noon."

"We also have the palace relocation review."

"Three."

Dean stared at him.

Arion stared back.

Their ordinary life had apparently returned with the force of a collapsing building.

Dean reached for Arion’s hand.

"Come on."

"Where?"

"Bed."

Arion looked toward the corridor leading to their offices.

Dean tightened his grip.

"The empire can survive until morning."