Mia’s World

Teslaimia practically skipped down the sidewalk before she entered Dan's teashop. She smiled at him and asked, "Could I have the scone of the day and a cup of jasmine, please?" She sat down in her usual seat and looked out the window as Dan worked.

He walked over and asked, "You seem to be in a very good mood today, things must be going well between you and your man?"

She giggled and asked, "You hoping he drops out of the picture?"

He laughed, "You know I am a happily married man. Wait... Are you interested in me? I can toss her out this instant!"

They both laughed and then she shook her head, "I'm just teasing Dan, things at home are wonderful, thank you. How are things around here? Getting back to normal yet?"

He nodded as he pointed to the scone, " So far so good. Since the airship disaster business is a little slow in the mornings but when afternoon breaks happen I can't keep up. By the way, I am trying something new with this one, it's creme-filled. A few others told me it was too sweet."

Teslaimia tried a bite and smiled, "I think it's delicious, but I enjoy sweets."

A few moments later a very attractive woman walked in the door and walked up to Teslaimia whispering in her ear before leaving. Dan whistled and asked, "Friend of yours?"

Teslaimia smiled and replied, "She is one of my employees, it seems I am needed at the office." She sighed, "Can you box up a dozen of the creme-filled scones? I think the girls in my office will love these."

*****

Jon and Roger stood awkwardly in front of Emily's desk as she rubbed the bridge of her nose as if warding off a headache. She broke the awkward silence by asking, "You honestly want me to hire, possibly the person I absolutely hate most in the world, to part of my military staff?"

Jon looked at Roger who frowned back at Jon before Roger finally sighed and said, "I won't lie to you, part of me knows that tactically, having this man in our chain of command is a bit like putting a fox inside the henhouse to guard it..."

Emily pressed her hands flat on the desk before slowly looking at each man in the eye, "But what? It's exactly that. This is the man who murdered my parents in order to steal the throne of the Windsor Kingdom from not just my mother and father but from me personally."

Jon coughed, "It was my idea, Emily. I know Drew better than almost anyone, well, Danny knows him the best obviously, but knowing him I can say that in his reasoning he was truly trying to save your life with this plan of his..."

Emily looked at Roger, "Why are you putting your name to this, speak the truth?"

Roger stood straight feeling challenged as he responded, "Andrew Windsor is a military prodigy. His tactical skills and battlefield planning are very impressive. His arrogance and cockiness are the only things holding him back from being possibly the best."

Emily started tapping her finger and said, "He can't have a public presence. You will also have him killed the moment he so much as looks at expanding his power. Put him in charge of planning only, no direct subordinates aside from office staff. If I die, he dies. Understand?"

Roger and Jon exhaled and nodded.

*****

Teslaimia walked through the front door of Mia's Secret, her lingerie store, and cheerfully spoke out, "Hello everyone, you're looking very pretty! Let's see some good sales numbers this week!" She walked straight through the shop to the employee's only door and was met by two very attractive women who curtsied to her.

"Your Highness, we have the weekly report for you." One of the women handed over a folder as the other handed her a copy of the Connaissance Observer. The first woman spoke again, "We have confirmed with our Embassy staff that your father has indeed promised you in marriage to the Emperor of Injia."

Teslaimia nodded as if it didn't matter, "Mhm. Have you located Andrew Windsor?"

"Yes, Your Highness, he is currently staying with Jon Alexander. He went together with him and Roger Colton to see Her Majesty." The woman explained.

Teslaimia nodded and said, "That's fine then, Emily will make the decision. What news do we have about that... Woman."

"We have no news, she hasn't appeared in old Eurment at all. Our best guess is that she has returned to Langland. Our shop there just opened and they haven't established a verified network yet. Also, messages from Langland will take at least three to five days by bird."

Teslaimia started to read through the folder and asked, "Is this true? Men are buying higher heeled shoes for their significant others?"

The woman nodded, "Yes, they seem to sell well together with our black lace teddy, matching stockings, and gloves."

Teslaimia smiled, "Interesting! Pull out one of those outfits for me then, please. I'll test it out tonight before Emily gets home."

Another woman walked up and said, "Your Highness, you wanted to know when the pretty nun from the Church came back? She was in yesterday. She bought these items." She handed over a small list.

Teslaimia smiled and said, "Thank you, this is just what I was hoping to see. Did she give any hints about which one she needed to show them to?"

The woman nodded, "Yes, it seems that it was one of the older men, she said the name 'Albert'."

Teslaimia giggled and said, "Very good. My name hasn't appeared in the Observer lately, make sure you mention the gossip about my upcoming arranged marriage to that new reporter. The handsome man. I like his columns even more than Mabel's. Make sure you spin it as a love triangle with Jon involved somehow." Teslaimia looked around, "Why haven't I seen Victoria today? I wanted to discuss some new design ideas with her today."

One of the attractive girls smiled and said, "It is Captain Staughler's day off so she also asked for the day off to be with him."

Teslaimia giggled with the other woman and shook her head, "That's fine then since we don't have anything else critical, I'll go bother the boys over at Future War. Did we get the delivery from them yet?"

One of the women walked up with a box and opened it showing one of the handheld Tesla Wasps. "They have delivered only the first dozen so far along with ammunition."

Teslaimia took the weapon out of the box, loaded it, and then sunk it down into her handbag. "Make sure that we get a dozen per location. I want all the girls to be armed." She looked over at the clock on the wall and gasped, "Oh! I need to go it's almost lunchtime I have to get across town!"

An attractive older man rushed up carrying a lunchbox, "I made Her Majesty's favorite and included those little cakes you like, Your Highness."

"Thank you, Roland, you are a lifesaver. Do I have a cab waiting?" Teslaimia smiled at the man.

"Of course, you'll be able to take your time walking through the building so you won't be flustered walking in. I have also made arrangements for the makeup and hairstylist to meet you in the lift." He bowed.

Teslaimia sighed happily, "What would I do without you all?"

*****

Emily tapping her fingers on her desk in annoyance as Teslaimia walked into the office looking glamorous carrying the lunchbox Roland had prepared. Teslaimia looked her over and asked, "You seem anxious, is everything alright?" She walked over and set the lunchbox on the table and took up her comfortable spot on the couch patting the spot next to her.

Emily stood up using her cane and walked over to the couch slumping down, "Two idiots came to my office today and I am questioning my decision."

Teslaimia took out two sandwiches and some side dishes neatly arranging two place settings as she chuckled, "Go with your first instinct. You made the decision now stand by it."

Emily nodded and said, "You're right. How has your day been so far?"

Teslaimia giggled, "Boring, I stopped by to see the girls at the shop, the place runs just fine without me so I just have to approve a few things and then I get to play the rest of the day. That's how you should run things here."

Emily pouted, "I have a meeting with the Nobles this afternoon, I'm going to be late getting home again. I hope you don't mind."

Teslaimia shrugged and said, "I'll just bug Jon for a while."

Emily raised an eyebrow, "Well don't tease him too hard." She stuck her tongue out at Teslaimia.

"Have you heard about what my father has decided?" Teslaimia asked as she ate half of one of the sandwiches.

Emily nodded, "You don't want to marry him, do you?"

Teslaimia chuckled, "I just want to know your thoughts on the matter." She looked into Emily's eyes as she tried to hide the smile from her lips by eating.

"I already told you my thoughts. Marry me, become my Empress consort." Emily said as she also ate, "If you aren't willing to marry me at least break ties with Fursia and officially become my citizen."

Teslaimia nodded and said, "Mhm, that was my thought as well. Speaking of our little talk last night, there's something I wanted to bring up again... An heir for your throne. I know you don't care about having children, the thing is, it's something I have always wanted. I'd be living with regrets if I didn't bring this up. We can't give each other a child, which means we need a man to help us."

Emily raised an eyebrow, "You are serious? Mia, any child that you or I have, would be with someone else. We can't have a child together. Did you want to marry Beaux and Lucas?"

Teslaimia laughed, "No of course not, their proposal just brought up something I had already been thinking about. When I first came here to meet you the idea was already in my head that we could be married to the same man and have his children. I would cosey up to you and use your attraction to me, to make it work, only I never anticipated that I would fall this deeply in love with you and that the man I had my heart set on would turn out to be such a disappointment."

Emily's brow creased in thought, "Mia, I am not comfortable with this at all. I don't want to be with a man just to have a child."

Teslaimia leaned into Emily who whispered into her ear, "If I get pregnant, will you love my child as your own?"

Emily stuffed the cake into her mouth not even tasting it, her anger showing on her face before she swallowed and then sighed, her features softening, "Mia, it's a lot to think about. Can you give me some time?"

Teslaimia looked at her and said, "I really do love you, Emmy, and you know I support you, I hope. I am willing to be yours alone, I just need a family and you need an heir. I am willing to have a child if you aren't."

Emily frowned, "I promise to think things over."

Teslaimia used her cloth to dab at Emily's lips and said, "Stop looking so grim, I just want a family with you. The worst that will happen is you have to change a few diapers." She cleaned up the rest of the lunch and packed it back into the lunchbox before giving Emily a soft kiss and saying, "Relax, you are the Empress now, try to be regal when you meet with the Nobles. I'll be waiting for you at home."

*****

Teslaimia made her way down to the Lobby where Roland was waiting, "Here is the outfit you requested, Your Highness. I have a cab waiting out front." She smiled at him and nodded.

"Thank you, Roland, I'll be going to Future War next. Take the outfit home for me. Emily will be late again, so have dinner sent over at seven. Let Jon know I need him to pick up from Future War at five." She giggled and then said, "No, better make it, four. He'll need time to come to get Emily later."