The Rogues Who Went Rogue
Chapter 67

Pellethia's self-doubt was not only laced heavy in her voice, but emanated strongly from her bright green eyes. Lucianne wouldn't have guessed that Pellethia had any problems with leading the empire had the empress not shown this side of herself to her. When Lucianne thought that Pellethia was strict and ferocious to her own people, the empress was actually...scared. The fear she instilled in her governing members was a defense mechanism to shield herself from her own fear of being stepped on, being overlooked, being a puppet to more than willing puppeteers. The fear was also probably another reason why Pellethia never found it in herself to channel the Empress's Authority. Pellethia probably couldn't draw out her power because confidence and emotional security wasn't something that she had properly developed yet. She doubted her own ability to properly lead an empire. It was without a doubt that she would doubt that she could ever wield that archaic gift.

"Pelly," Lucianne began. "In your years as empress, what is the moment you're most proud of?"

A small smile graced Pellethia's features, and she responded without hesitation, "Close the gender pay gap by the end of my fourth year on the throne. That was... phenomenal. No one thought I could do it when I brought it up, especially not the men who still saw me as a little girl, but I proved them all wrong. It felt really, really good."

"You don't happen to have a second proudest moment, do you?" Lucianne was trying to get Pellethia to recall the times she'd been a success despite all odds, warming her up to the possibility that she could do something like that again.

"I do. Choosing to be with Octavia despite the backlash. The elders claimed that homosexuality was going to ruin the sanctity of the imperial family since I'm the ruler. Some of them even started talking about overthrowing me. I asked for evidence of how my preference would inhibi the growth of my reign, and since there was none that was solid, I dismissed those who wanted to kick me out," she chuckled. "Rafael said that that was the most impactful thing that I'd ever done but removing the gender pay gap is still my first love." "That being said, Pelly, I hope you can see that you've proven to be more capable than many rulers that once ruled this empire."

"I do try to live up to the giants who've once sat where I now sit, but sometimes, I just feel like I still...lack something."

Lucianne's hand reached for Pellethia's as she spoke with assurance, "You don't lack anything, Pelly. You are more than enough. You have everything you need to defy all odds. The will that drove you to fight for and achieve all those past successes speak for themselves. And if you feel up to it...we believe that you're able to awaken the Empress's Authority in you."

Pellethia's eyes widened in shock for a brief moment before she shook her head and said, "It's not in me, Aunt Lucy. There's no such thing. There never has been."

"That's only true if you want it to be, Pelly."

She blinked in confusion and asked, "What?"

Lucianne spoke with certainty, "Your ability to break boundaries and shatter glass ceilings show that you have the ability to wield a power that others before you have not. It's in you, Pelly. But you have to believe that you have the power and the capacity to use it. I understand that the last empress didn't have it but what if you were destined to be the first empress to wield it?"

Pellethia started giving those words some thought while Lucianne gave her the time she needed. The empress then asked, "You really think I could?”

Seeing the hope in her eyes, Lucianne proceeded to say, "I do." She refrained from telling the empress about the glowing streak on her tail, not wanting to pressure her to force the Authority out because anything that was emotionally-forced was unstable.

Pellethia then said, "If I had that power, you don't think...I could somehow...control the more...magical parts of the empire, do you, Aunt Lucy?"

Lucianne read about those. The first few emperors were so powerful that everything that was imbued with magic in their empire was at their command because it was in their territory. The Forest of Oderem came after these emperors, so no one knew whether it could be controlled. Lucianne wasn't going that far if she were being honest, but what Pellethia suggested had definitely gotten the queen even more enthusiastic. “That's actually a wonderful thought, Pelly. I was more focused on unlocking the highest potential that's hidden deep within you, but controlling the magical aspects of your empire does sound like a great bonus."

Pellethia was touched, not only because Lucianne believed in her, but because Lucianne wanted to help her on a personal level. It wasn't about what Pellethia could do for her if and when she emitted that power. It was about helping her develop herself.

When it was around ten in the morning, the rulers bid each other goodbye for the nocturnal ones to go to bed. Xandar and Lucianne went home and spent time playing with Reida.

When the villa was a little too quiet, Xandar asked, "Babe, where are Tate and Stella?"

"The Labyrinthe Vert with Margaret. Tate told us after we landed last night."

"Oh," Xandar muttered as his hand stopped the red rubber ball in his daughter's hands from entering her mouth before he continued, "Right, that's today."