Red Sun Rising

"Daddy, twirl again!"

Aurora shrieked and giggled in delight as Julian spun her around on the dance floor. He was never much a fan of parties, especially dancing, but he could make an exception for his daughter. He'd dance with her every single day if it meant he'd be the only man she ever danced with. He picked her up and gave her a kiss on the cheek, brushing a lock of hair that had come loose from her plait back into place. Not long later, Rose rushed over, offering to take her out of his hands.

"You work too hard, Rose," Julian remarked.

"I don't mind," she said shyly. "I enjoy my work. I'm a very lucky person to even have a job."

"Why don't you take the rest of the night off?" Julian suggested. "Enjoy the party, or go spend some time with Stefan. I'm sure he's all alone at home tonight."

"I- oh. Are you sure?" Rose frowned. "Really, your highness, I don't mind-"

"You need the break, I can see it in your eyes," Julian said. "Don't you worry about us. We'll have a grand time."

"A grand time!" Aurora repeated, bouncing in Julian's arms from excitement. "We're gonna dance all night!"

Rose seemed a little hesitant, but gave a little curtsy. "Thank you, your highness."

Julian watched as she picked up her things and headed out the door to go home. Aurora caught sight of the Pallavian twins and wiggled out of Julian's grip.

"Can I go play with them?" she asked.

"Of course you can," he said.

She ran off to join them just as Calli approached Julian, watching her and frowning.

"Where is she going?" she asked.

"She wants to play with the twins," Julian shrugged.

"The twins are nine years old, Jules," she said, straightening out his collar for him. "I don't know how nice they'll be to her."

"Any child of ours will know how to hold her ground, you know that," he shrugged. "She'll be just fine. I'd rather have her be around other children than politicians."

"Where's Rose?" Calli asked, suddenly realizing who was missing.

"I gave her the rest of the night off," Julian said. "I figured she needed some time to herself and with Stefan, and I could have some time with my darling wife and child-"

He was interrupted by a hard punch to his arm from Calli, who leaned in and lowered her voice to a harsh whisper.

"Julian! I know exactly why you gave her the night off!" she snapped. "The reason we told her to come in the first place was so you would be free to socialize with the Pallavians. You liar... I know you sent her away just so you'd have an excuse not to talk to the ambassador."

"I love you so much," Julian said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her towards the dance floor. "Let's just dance a little while, and then we'll talk."

"Julian!"

"Calli!"

He turned her so they were caught up with the rest of the dancers, and soon she seemed to have forgotten why she was even mad. They managed to survive the rest of the party without making fools of themselves or insulting another culture and starting a war. As the party started to wind down and the guests began to leave, Julian and Calli took a moment to take a deep breath. When he looked over, he couldn't help but feel as if something was off with her.

"You didn't have a good time?" he asked.

"No, it was good," she said, a little too quickly.

"Something's wrong," Julian frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said.

"Calliope."

"Nothing is wrong," she shrugged. "Just... gossip, I suppose. It's stupid. I didn't let it get to me, but I'm a little irritated."

"Getting irritated is letting it get to you," Julian pointed out. “Come on, what was it?”

“I’m fine, Julian,” she sighed. “Really, I am. I’m just a little tired.”

“Off to bed then?”

“Off to bed.”

They started on their way out when they suddenly froze in their tracks, staring at each other with wide eyes. They’d both forgotten about Aurora.

“I’ll check the ballroom.”

“I’ll take the dining hall.”

They hurried off in opposite directions to start looking. Yeah, Julian got what he deserved for letting Rose go. He and Calli both wanted to do everything they could to be there for Aurora. Julian wanted to be every inch the man his father once was, and he knew that Calli felt the same way about her parents. There was nothing in the universe more important to him than Aurora. But the truth of the matter was, it wasn’t always up to him or Calli what they did. As King and Queen, there were duties that pulled them away from their child. They were still learning, and even if they didn’t like to admit it, needed the help.

As Julian searched, heart pounding in his chest, he couldn’t help but wonder how his own father did it. Gerald didn’t just have children; he had three little boys. And when Julian’s mother passed away, he didn’t have a wife or a nanny to help him, either. And Julian was sure that he and his brothers weren’t nearly as well behaved as Aurora.

He looked under the large table of the dining hall, sighing in relief when he found Aurora sound asleep under the table, cake frosting on her face and hands. He gently picked her up, letting her rest her head on his shoulder and being extra careful not to wake her. He went to find Calli first, watching the color return to her face as she saw them. She quickly came over to check Aurora over, gently wiping the frosting off her face.

“I wonder who she takes after,” Julian whispered. “You know, shoving cake into her face until she falls asleep…”

“Shut it, Julian,” she whispered back. “I almost had a heart attack.”

“You wouldn’t have to worry if you ate less cake.”

She swatted his arm as they headed back up to their personal wing of the palace. As they walked down the hall, Aurora stirred in Julian’s arms. She sleepily lifted her head, hair messy and dress rumpled, and looked between them.

“Is the party over?” she mumbled.

“It is, love,” Calli said, kissing her hand gently. “It’s time for bed. Go back to sleep.”

“Can I sleep in your bed?” she asked. “Christopher Jankin says there are ghosts, and not even Mr. Moko can eat them.”

“Christopher Jankin?” Julian frowned. “Is that Francis Jankin’s son? If he’s anything like his father, nothing that comes out of his mouth is real.”

Aurora squirmed in his arms, and he felt her arms get tighter around his neck. Calli gave him a look, and he sighed.

“Yes, you may sleep in our bed tonight.”

Her grip loosened slightly, and Julian moved past her room to his and Calli’s. She had fallen asleep again as soon as he tucked her in between where he and Calli usually slept, and for a few quiet moments, Calli and Julian just stood by the bed and watched her sleep. Calli was frowning again, and Julian bumped her lightly.

“The face is back,” he noted.

“We’re good parents, right?” she asked him, startling him a little bit. He thought for a moment, then nodded.

“Yes, we are,” he said. “Of course we are. We’ve given her the world, and we’re doing the best we can. What more would we need to do?”

“I don’t know. I just hope she’s happy.”

“You know she is. Off to bed, Cal.”

“Off to bed, Jules.”



Julian hadn’t been able to sleep very well with Aurora sharing the space with them, mostly because at some point she had rolled on top of him and her little body was covering his head and constricting his breathing. However, no one dared try and disturb the Centauri princess. Not even the king. She and Calli were still asleep when Julian had to get out of bed to meet with his council again. Lorian had to wake him up twice in the middle of the meeting, but Julian still didn’t care enough to pay attention.

“So, it appears that the Pallavian ambassador finds himself quite comfortable here,” Grory said, just then capturing Julian’s ear. “I suppose I should applaud our king, for not nearly causing a war this time with his guests.”

“It was one time,” he argued. “You tried to marry me off against my will.”

“Moving on,” Grory said checking his list. “Well… I suppose that covers just about everything. Other than some minor attacks, but I am sure that local law enforcement would be able to handle it.”

“Attacks?” Julian frowned, sitting up attentively. “No one said anything about attacks.”

“Oh, yes,” Grory shrugged. “Just a few attacks on civilians in the outer planets. Farmers, mostly. The casualties are quite slim, and the attacks appear not to be influenced by politics.”

“People are still dying,” Julian said. “Am I not supposed to care? You almost didn’t even tell me that-”

“You are allowed to care, your highness,” Grory scowled. “However, as an advisor to you, I advise that you trust in your small law enforcement within the planets themselves, and focus your mind on bigger things. Like your trip tomorrow.”

“My what?” Julian said, blinking in confusion.

“Have a good day, then!”

The council shifted uncomfortably, then quickly acted as if the meeting was over and said their goodbyes, giving Julian a quick bow before scurrying away. None of them tried to make eye contact. Julian grabbed Lorian and Grory before they could escape him too, giving them both a cold glare.

“Trip? What trip?”

“Ah, well…I thought you’d been informed already,” Grory said, chuckling nervously.

Lorian cracked an amused grin, slapping Grory on the back a little bit harder than what was considered a friendly gesture.

“Why don’t you tell our merciful king then,” he suggested, trying not to grin.

“Travenia,” Grory sighed, defeated. “You know you have to do it once a year, Julian.”

“Travenia??” Julian repeated, voice cracking. “I thought we weren’t going until the end of the year.”

“It is the end of the year,” Grory said. “In Travenia, at least.”

“No one told you until the last minute,” Lorian explained calmly, “Because they knew you’d try to find a way out of it. Don’t worry, Julian. It will only be a few days. Nothing will happen to everyone. Like you do every year, you go to Travenia, socialize a little bit with the people and the governors, and you attend a dinner to celebrate another year of peace since Ventio Azadi’s signing of the Accords. Every king since him has had to do it.”

“Ventio Azadi came up with this idea hundreds of years ago,” Julian argued. “I would think that if Ventio was alive today, he would think it was pointless, too.”

“If Ventio Azadi was alive today, you wouldn’t have to be King at all,” Grory spat.

“Someone find a way to bring him back, then,” Julian grumbled.

“You should be proud to be a descendant of Ventio,” Lorian said, glaring at Grory. “I know you’ll be fine. Calli will be fine. Aurora will finally be old enough to always remember how much fun she is going to have. Your name is Julian Azadi, and you inherited more from Ventio than his name.”

“Alright,” Julian sighed. “Fine. I’ll be nice.”

“Besides,” Lorian grinned, “Your council won’t be there.”

“You’re right. My bags will be waiting by the ship. Get me out of here.”