The King was the perfect escort. Cici felt a bit like they were on a tour, not out with the King of a country. He showed Cici several places of interest, peeking into the spaces so that Cici could check out everything.

Cici had no idea that they could do something like that, but the King quickly waved off any concerns that Cici had. Of course Cici could, they were the savior of his child. Anyone who said that they couldn’t go somewhere would have to go through him.

The only person who could truly tell Cici no was his own father, and he didn’t think that he would tell Cici no.

Cici had no idea why they were giving a random person this much freedom, but for their sake, it was a good thing that Cici was who Cici was. If it had been anyone else, they could have really been taken advantage of. It was a thought that followed Cici as the King showed them around the palace.

The first few places that the King took them were places that were relatively normal in Cici’s opinion. The formal dining room, the throne room without anyone inside it, his study, the kitchens, those kinds of places.

Cici was a bit surprised that he was allowing Cici to enter places that Cici knew normal people didn’t have access to, but the King didn’t seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to grow excited at being able to show someone around.

Cici, awkward but not a complete monster, would not be the one to crush his excitement. In fact, Cici’s own excitement grew because the little baby attached to them was also excited. It was like an amplification. If one of them was feeling a good feeling the baby seemed to make it fill both of them.

Cici had no idea if that was actually happening, but weirder things could happen. Cici didn’t want to ask about it in public in case it was just a royal dragon thing, which meant that Cici was keeping it close to their chest as they held onto the King’s hand, traveling around the palace.

The King took his time with Cici, explaining some of the historic meanings behind a few of the design choices in certain rooms, why certain things were the way they were, and what relatives of his had done.

Cici found the pillars in the throne room particularly interesting, and was confused as to why the current King didn’t have one yet.

The dragon had the audacity to smile, shaking his head as he stared at the place his pillar would be, a smile on his lips.

“I haven’t done enough good or enough bad for it to be marked down. Though, what I have done in the event of my child being stolen will be recorded. It suits me perfectly fine that the first thing on my own pillar is related to my children,” the King said, and Cici wondered if they were detecting a bitter tone to his voice.

Cici knew plenty of people who would be. After all, it was supposed to be his pillar. His story. He had, after all, spent about ten minutes explaining everything on his father’s pillar, but when it came to himself…

“I don’t know if I believe that.” Cici said quietly, surprising the King. “While I don’t know you well, your majesty, compared to what I’ve heard about previous kings you have been…very kind. Your reaction was pretty reasonable, I think, given how much freedom you’ve given the humans.” Cici said carefully. “They, the humans are…interesting,” Cici continued. The King glanced at Cici, curiousity in his gaze.

“You’ve spent a lot of time with them, correct? I think Ellandra said something about traveling with a group as a healer?” he hinted, and Cici nodded. Cici glanced away from him, looking around the room that they were standing in. A room steeped in a kind of history that Cici could only imagine.

Cici wasn’t ever bitter about the fact that they didn’t have much of the history of their people. Given that they had always been on the run, how could they keep track of their histories and traditions? It was enough that Cici knew who they were, and the basics. Sure, did Cici want to be without their family at this age? No. Who would? But in the time that Cici had been born, lived, and their parents had died, Cici had never, not once, been as afraid of dragons as Cici was sure they were supposed to be.

It was the humans that Cici had grown to fear, and the humans that Cici had to continue to work with and live with. They had been the ones who had taken Cici’s loved ones, not the dragons. In fact, so far the dragons had been the ones to treat Cici with the most kindness.

“Yes. I’m not the best, I only know the basics for the area that I grew up in. Lots of…trial and error, but I’m hardy. I bounce back quickly. My…people tend to live in the forests. Live off the land. We don’t really live amongst others.” Cici said quietly. “I also wouldn’t say that I’ve lived a particularly good life. That might be why I wanted to do something good this time,” Cici said. The King stared at Cici for a moment, confusion on his face.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked and Cici felt their face warm. They were embarrassed. He was a king, he didn’t need to hear any of the things that Cici was saying right now. He also had far more important things to do than listen to the ramblings of some humanoid who had come into his life only yesterday.

However, Cici wanted to be clear with him what kind of person they were. Who Cici was at their core, and also this seemed like a good way to let him know that he didn’t have to keep Cici around his child if they thought Cici was a danger to them.

Cici swallowed thickly.

“Well, your Majesty, there aren’t that many good, honest people who live in the forest full time. Most of them are highwaymen, robbers. They rob and steal from others, waste that money in towns nearby on booze and whatever tickles their fancy, and then rinse and repeat. I would float between different groups like that because it was easier and smarter to travel in a group than by myself,” Cici admitted. It felt shameful to say it out loud, but Cici didn’t want to lie to him.

He was the King. He should know what kind of danger he brought into his palace.

“That’s a solid decision. If you are by yourself, it is just more dangerous. Especially as a humanoid in a territory that is famously hostile to other humanoids. I do apologise about that. I know that dragons are the main reason that humans are so hostile to other humanoids, but I also know that my recent actions haven’t made that any better,” he muttered, looking embarrassed himself.

Cici felt their eyes widen and they reached for the King, grabbing his hand.

The King froze, Cici froze, but their lips kept moving.

“I already said that your actions were justified, your Majesty, and I still think that. You did nothing wrong. After all, who would think that a dragon would help humans steal the King’s egg and kill the mother? I would never even consider that possible. That, and my situation is a bit…different. I don’t exactly…fit in with the others,” Cici muttered, ducking their gaze. Cici’s face was warm and they jumped as the King reached out gently, wrapping his other hand around the one Cici had placed on his hand.

He slid Cici’s hand to the other, giving it a squeeze.

“What do you mean by that, Celestine?” he asked carefully and Cici let out a soft breath. How could they explain this in a simple way that didn’t look like Cici was asking for sympathy? Cici wasn’t, it was just the life that Cici had lived. The life that Cici felt they would continue to live once they were gone from the Dragon Kingdom.

“I, well, um, this might sound a bit strange or rude but…I think it’s pretty obvious that I have rather…unique features.” Cici started, glancing up at the King through their lashes. The King was watching them, his green gaze focused on Cici. Cici watched as his eyes scanned their face, taking in every little thing before sliding back to Cici’s gaze.

“You’re pretty, yes.” The King said matter-of-factly and Cici felt themselves blush. Cici wouldn’t call themselves that, but that was nice of him to say.

“Well, uh, sure. Um, with how I look there are some that have impure intentions when they look at me. Depending on who the leader of the group is that I am staying with, I can usually guess how long I can stay with them safely before I have to leave.”

The King’s expression darkened.

“What? They target you? Even after you heal them? Do you ask for an unfair wage?” he asked and Cici laughed.

“Wage? I have no use for money since I don’t go into towns. It’s not safe for me,” Cici said, and that seemed to upset the King.

“It’s unsafe? Why is it unsafe?” he asked and Cici realised that he was getting more upset. Cici wasn’t sure why.

“Well, I unsettle most people. Especially humans. They can tell that there is something not quite right about me. I usually just let people call me whatever makes them happy,” Cici told him and the King frowned more.

“Let me ask you this. Do you like living in the forest?” he asked. Cici paused. Did Cici like living in the forest? That wasn’t really something that Cici ever really thought about.

Cici took a long time to consider his words. Long enough that it was clear the King worried that he had asked too serious of a question. He opened his mouth to retract his question, something very unlike him to do, when Cici finally spoke.

“I…like climbing trees.” Cici said slowly. “I like seeing the stars when I look up during the night, but I don’t like the inconsistency of it all. I don’t think so, at least. It’s just…most of what I know and anytime I’ve lived in a city it’s been stressful. Very, very stressful.” Cici admitted quietly. “It has sometimes been good but then it has been very, very bad.” That was a mild way to put it, but Cici didn’t really want to get into the specifics about it.

The King watched Cici, watched how they had gone from a blushing, embarrassed humanoid to a pale, almost lifeless person. His brows twitched, his lips pursing slightly as he stared at them for a long moment.

“You won’t have to experience that kind of treatment here. Dragons are strange beings themselves, Celestine. If there is something you find uncomfortable, or someone upsets you, please let us know.” The King cleared his throat awkwardly. “You can let me know,” he clarified and Cici met his gaze.

For a moment, Cici found themselves transfixed. It was hard to pull away from those bright, jewel-toned eyes that seemed to stare into Cici and see into their very core. However, Cici was able to pull themselves away eventually and both of them took a step away from each other, a little awkward.

“T-Thank you your Majesty. That’s…very kind of you,” Cici muttered, then jumped. “Oh! I was supposed to be talking about your pillar and instead we started talking about me. I apologise.” Cici started and the King waved a hand, dismissing it easily.

“Don’t worry about it, Celestine. I’m not bothered. Shall we go somewhere else?” he asked and Cici nodded. Being alone with him in a room, any room, didn’t feel particularly safe. For the King. Cici’s heart was racing for some strange reason.