Side Story: Nanoka
*** Nanoka ***
Public. Alzi, the Empress and my wife, asked me to walk around in public with her. The public hasn't seen me walking about in centuries, and I'm going to be hanging off the arm of the great dragon that loves to fly around all the time. Most of the night will be spent in a box, enjoying my granddaughter's performance, but Alzi wants a tour afterwards.
Dragons really are greedy.
"I've never seen you so nervous," Mother says. "I'm glad you asked me to help prepare you, but shouldn't you get Kou or someone from the younger generation to make sure you're not getting dressed like some ancient relic?"
"Isn't that what we are?" I chuckle.
"Don't let my mother or grandmother hear that," my Mother says. "I'm too old to be getting spanked."
"Apparently, I'm not too old," I say.
"I don't need to hear that," my Mother says. "But you look beautiful. Just like the day of your first wedding."
"I hope so," I say. "I don't have a chance to hide, with my white tails and everything that is Alzi. I have to fit the role of a supportive wife to the first-ever Empress! It is a fun role, but I'm not used to it."
"You're doing fine," my Mother says. "Now, stop talking to me and go meet your date. Tell Alzi that I'll handle Yuki and Nakuma. That poor girl could use some support. Your daughter should've stepped in to help her."
"I'll do better this time," I say. "But I suppose it's time to go." I don't wait for Mother to chide me about something else, teleporting to the front door. I'm sure my Mother is shaking her head about something before she goes to help Yuki and Nakuma.
Alzi turns the corner, with Shyla fretting about another beautiful dress she's made for the wonderful dragon.
"You look beautiful," I say. Alzi is showing more skin than usual; it is a date night, after all, and I've heard she's already visited a brothel in the area for some fun.
"And so do you," Alzi says. "Well, we need to get moving. We are bringing the entertainment with us, so we'll be holding everyone up if we don't get going."
It hurts a bit to see Alzi ignoring Yuki. I understand it's my granddaughter's fault, but family is family. I'll just have to hope something changes. We have plenty of time for the old feelings to burst through, but Yuki will have to fan those flames herself.
I help Alzi into the carriage, not that she needs it, even in the ridiculous heels she's wearing, and teleport our group to the city. We have to save all the time we can so that we can all be with our kids as much as possible. But if I'm going to be out in public, I'm going to do the full show, and my silly daughter can deal with this old Queen getting some attention. She did set up the marriage.
Alzi has already taken a few of my tails, even staring at me until I let a few more pop into view for her. One is wrapped around her neck like a scarf while she works a comb through the ones on her lap.
Nobody stands in our way as our carriage brings us to the old opera house, but plenty of them follow us. More than I would like.
"It looks like you're going to be showing off this old wife of yours," I say.
"I'm happy to," Alzi says. "We'll have to keep coming back until you've shown me the entire area. Maybe with a belly next time?"
"Greedy," is all I come up with before the moment arrives for us to leave the carriage.
Nakuma teleports Yuki, and I get ready to walk before my people again. Guards form a circle around the carriage to give us space, and then the doors open, and I have to show myself officially to our people once more. I'm no longer the hidden figure in the background, threatening to pop in and kill anyone who dares to challenge the crown.
Alzi drags me out of the carriage, then pulls me in close as we walk into the opera house.
"I got you flustered," Alzi whispers as Kou leads us up to our box. The crowd is now behind us, but only until our walk later. However, the guards should keep us free of annoyances for our short walk after this.
"Less than ten," I say. "Keep it to that, and we can do it with me pregnant next time."
"Nine, it is," Alzi says. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
...
If only that would be the end of the embarrassment tonight.
"What is this?" I ask.
"I told you: if you made Alzi fall in love with you, I would show you what scenes all my tails make," my Goddess says.
It's her, I think, bent over something while getting railed. It's several pictures of my Goddess doing those things. I've seen those...
"Yes, you have," my Goddess says. "Isn't it funny? My followers pick the side of my tail that is so unholy of me. You would probably prefer this side. It's me, leading the first group of Kitsunes in a raid against a stronghold that Nature's early creatures had made. I don't know how this is the side they all forgot about, but it's too funny to correct them now."
"You want Alzi to recreate those positions with you," I dare to say.
"If you can convince her to, I wouldn't say no," my Goddess says. "Just know that if you tell anyone about my tails... Well, I'm sure it wouldn't take much to get Alzi to see you filled up just like Yuki is."
"I understand, my Goddess," I say.