The Space Empress He Craved

Chapter 48

POV: Lyra

Ellia had a guilty expression and looked like she was about to breakdown in tears, her pathways dimming to almost nothing. I asked, "Ellia, what's wrong? Are some of the archives missing?"

She shook her head. "No. It's... Stars, I'm so sorry. Uh... a while ago, shortly after you ascended the throne, my Emperor, a few of us were ordered to... manipulate the finances for... a few of the governing members. We were warned that... if the real information was leaked, they will target our families... our younglings, when we come to have younglings." She looked at Russell on my lap as Ben held their daughter in his arms.

The three of us were stunned. I was the first to recover, my skin shifting to shocked white before I controlled it. "Ellia, what are you saying? Does it mean what you're compiling now has been manipulated?"

She nodded and tears started flowing uncontrollably from her eyes as she knelt on both knees on the floor, repeating 'I'm sorry' over and over again. I got up hurriedly from the lounger and gave Russell to Orion to hold as I went to kneel before Ellia. With my hands on her shoulders, neural sparks flowing reassuringly, I said in a calm, soothing voice, "Ellia, it's okay. You didn't have a choice. It's not your fault. Please, don't worry."

Christian and Orion were clearly in mind-touch—their eyes glazed as they communicated telepathically, Christian's pathways flashing with anger.

I got Ellia to stand. After a few more sobs, she could form coherent sentences. Her eyes were still fixed on the ground as she said, "These have been manipulated but uh..." she sobbed once before continuing, "I have the data crystals of the originals before the manipulation was done. We were told to destroy them outside division premises. Because I'm the most senior here, they let me take them. I tried to destroy them but I never managed to go through with it. I was always afraid that the disposal personnel would understand what was in the data so I just kept them in my home office locked up in several secure vaults. I am so sorry."

I asked, "You mentioned there are others who have been blackmailed. Who?"

"Uh, Brigetta Reese and Oscar Wildrow, my assistants. I am so sorry, my Empress. I am so, so sorry."

I pulled the remorseful woman into a surprising hug, locking eyes with Ben, who looked equally guilty. In my firm voice, I said, "Ellia, this is not your fault. You and your assistants have been pushed to a corner. You had to protect your family. You had no choice. Don't feel bad about it. You can still help us."

She sobbed and released me. "Yes, I can get them for you. I just brought back the latest audits last night. I'll hand them over... and I'll just dispose of these compiled ones."

"No." My firm voice rang through the room like a command. Even Orion's head snapped up to await my orders, his pathways shifting to attentive purple. I motioned to the compiled documents on the holo-screens and told Ellia, "We'll take these as well. Your superior would hear from the other employees by now that we're here. So if we left with those, it would get them to believe that any dirty hands remain clean, at least for a few more hours. But you and your family must relocate by tonight."

I turned to Orion and Christian, who both had hard looks on their faces, pathways dark with controlled rage. "We need a location where no one, other than the two of you, have access to, to house the three families who have been blackmailed."

They pondered for a moment before Orion said, "Our residences should do. No one sane would think of walking through our doors uninvited."

"Oh no, Your Eminence! We couldn't intrude," Benjamin exclaimed in shock.

I explained, "It's not an intrusion, Ben. Those corrupted ministers intruded when they started siphoning credits from government funds. You and Ellia helped us. Now, we must protect you and your family."

"Where do you live?" Christian asked.

Benjamin said, "Well, uh... up east, near Sector 57."

Christian nodded. "That's not very far from where my mate and I live. And the two assistants, Mrs. Morgan?"

"They're my neighbors. We've been friends even before working here. They know about me... still keeping the records."

"Perfect." Christian said with a smile, his pathways brightening slightly. "My mate and I can look after all of you and your families while we clean up this mess. You should tell them soon and pack quickly. You'll all be sleeping in my guest quarters tonight."

"Thank you, Your Grace." Benjamin bowed with gratitude. His wife followed.

Orion added, "I'll arrange private security to watch over your younglings when they're at education centers to make sure nothing happens to them. They'll be safe. And Benjamin, I'll personally notify the guest quarters regarding your absence. You'll still get your credits but we'll have one of your colleagues take your place for a while."

"Thank you, Your Eminence," Benjamin said in relief.

"No," Orion said with a smile, "Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Morgan. For choosing to help us, despite the risks."

Ellia looked at the ground, still utterly guilty. In a soft voice, she said, "I thought I could do it. Handing you the wrong audits, that is. There were nights when I would picture myself doing it. Just to rehearse in case this day came. I've always feared that this day would come. But when it came to this moment, I couldn't do it. I just couldn't."

She looked at me, her pathways flickering with emotion. "My Empress, Ben has told me about you. You are whatever he said and more. Your demeanor, my Empress, only exudes good intentions. So when I was about to misuse the trust all of you have put in me, it felt... too much to bear. It felt too wrong for me to go through it. I am so ashamed of myself for thinking of going against the very people who are there to protect us. But thank you, my Empress, for being so understanding."

Without another word, Ellia grabbed a data pad from her desk and started inputting something on the small device. She then handed the pad to me and said, "These are the names of the five people we were told to... not keep a correct record of. The proof is all at home but I thought the three of you would like to know first."

Orion suggested, "Lyra, sweetheart, you should hold on to that first. Don't let Christian or me see it until we have the three families safely relocated. We might not be able to control our expressions or temper among these culprits if we see them later this evening. And if they see through us, the families won't be safe."

I turned to my mate and asked, "You trust me to control my expression and temper?"

"I do." He said firmly with a smile, his pathways glowing with trust. "You've had years of practice controlling what you feel about some of the ministers that you and the other Kaelari loathe. This should be nothing to you. I trust you."

"Okay." I scanned the names on the device without emotion, keeping my skin carefully neutral silver. I then secured the data pad in my belt compartment. Orion was right. My face showed nothing. I didn't look like I'd learned anything new at all.

Ellia was transferring the compiled data to portable units when I suggested, "Maybe we should deactivate the viewport shields for the employees to see that Ellia is handing over these compiled documents to us, in case the superior has any favorites with prying eyes. It will seem more suspicious if we accept the information in an enclosed scene." I was walking over to the controls but Benjamin exclaimed, "No! Your Eminence, please. Let me." Benjamin was quicker and deactivated the shields.

Orion and Christian noticed I was right. No one looked at first. But as Ellia was checking whether the audits were in order on her desk and stacked the portable units one after another, there were a few curious employees glancing through her office viewport. She then made a transmission on her office comm, "Hi, Edward. It's Ellia. Can you and Tim come up here to get these documents for the Eminences and His Grace, please?... alright, see you in a bit. Thank you."

She looked at the three of us. "They'll come help you carry these. Thank you again, Your Eminences, Your Grace."

"Mrs. Morgan," Christian began, "What time do you finish your shift?"

"Six, Your Grace."

"Okay. Listen, I'm sending a transport. The identification is BLK 201. It'll arrive at six. It'll take you and your family back home to pack. The pilot will wait outside and a security officer will escort you all in to stand guard. Tell your assistants to pack and meet at your residence. We'll transport all of you to my home. I'll let my mate know. She'll have the quarters ready by then. Okay?"

Ellia nodded. "Thank you, Your Grace."

Christian offered a small smile, his pathways warming. "No need. It's the least we can do."

Knock. Knock.