Khan dealt with the remaining guests, but his thoughts stayed on the strange event. His senses also focused on the symphony, keeping track of those two specific auras he couldn't wait to meet again.
Sadly, luck wasn't on Khan's side. Princess Felicia and Lynn left the hall while he was still dealing with the last guests, and chasing after them simply wasn't possible. Khan had to fulfill his role before obtaining any kind of freedom.
The matter could have looked suspicious, but that behavior was common among important figures. The nobles and other higher-ups left as soon as they completed the marriage's mandatory duties, which ended by congratulating the newlywed couple.
Only the guests interested in expanding their political network had remained in the hall when Khan was done with the introductions. They were still wealthy figures worth knowing and interacting with, but nothing at the nobles' level.
The end of the line cleared Khan of his duties as best man, but he didn't immediately pursue his political interests. He didn't feel tired but had still been on his feet for almost a day. He wanted a break, a drink, and silence to think about Princess Felicia.
The important guests' departure left many empty seats, and a few tables suffered from a similar fate due to the remaining dancing couples. Khan could use Rick and Lucille's temporary freedom as a distraction to head for an isolated spot, and a waiter appeared at his side as soon as he sat down.
Khan seized the bottle and glasses from the waiter's tray before sending him away. His tie felt tight while he poured his drink, so he slightly loosened it. He even rubbed the corner of his eyes before bringing that exquisite booze to his mouth.
The moment felt priceless. Khan could finally enjoy a second alone, and knowing the current silence wouldn't last added value to it. Still, his thoughts didn't let him relax since a new problem had joined his never-ending struggle.
'Princess Felicia,' Khan thought, his eyes wandering through the hall. 'Nognes family.'
The news wasn't revolutionary. The idea that Khan had noble blood in his veins was basically a fact, but finding the right family among those lofty figures was impossible for someone like him.
It wasn't only a matter of background. The nobles were hard to approach, even for extremely wealthy families. The latter usually relied on representatives who acted as sole connections to those unreachable figures, making any investigation impossible.
However, Khan knew Princess Felicia's behavior wasn't random. Her presence at the wedding could very well have something to do with him, but his brain couldn't find explanations.
'Maybe she was toying with me,' Khan considered.
That hypothesis had some value. Khan didn't lack enemies, and his fame could stir curiosity in anyone. Even if Princess Felicia wasn't part of a ploy, her behavior could have birthed from personal interest. She wouldn't even be the first Princess to do that.
Yet, Khan's hunches didn't lie, and his senses noticed something far different from Princess Edna's whimsical nature. Princess Felicia was calm, composed, and modest, and her features stirred his memories in ways he had never experienced before.
'That was my mother's hair,' Khan tried to recall, 'Wasn't it?'
Khan supported his head with a hand while continuing to drink. The memories of his mother were foggy at best, but he couldn't stop finding similarities in them. He even started noticing details and shapes that reminded him of his own face.
Of course, that peace couldn't last long. Many guests soon noticed Khan sitting alone, and their eyes lit up with various intentions. Most young women wanted a chance to flirt with the youngest Captain in history, while others were only interested in his political baggage.
The symphony warned Khan about that change in atmosphere, but he wasn't the only one to notice it. The sound of familiar steps soon reached his ears, and he half-turned to meet his savior.
"You look better when you are messy," Monica announced, ignoring the empty chairs to sit on Khan's lap.
"I could say the same to you," Khan replied, welcoming Monica into his arms. "Though I'm a bit conflicted when it comes to skirts."
"My, my," Monica joked. "It seems I must renew my wardrobe to keep you around."
"Or throw it away," Khan teased, cutting short Monica's giggle with a kiss.
Monica made herself comfortable on Khan's lap, leaning on his chest and resting her head on his shoulder. Princess Edna's relentless whims had tired her, but reuniting with Khan added fuel to her power reserves.
"Did you grab a glass for me, too?" Monica whispered, closing her eyes now that no one could look at her face.
"Of course," Khan confirmed, seizing the bottle to prepare another drink. "I knew you would have come to save me."
"It's my job to let all those sluts know you are mine," Monica scoffed. "If only you knew all the compliments I had to endure."
"Aren't you happy your man is so famous and successful?" Khan teased.
"Yes," Monica said before pouting. "No. Not when I can hear their dirty thoughts."
"They don't know you are the dirtiest of them all," Khan chuckled, leaning down to kiss Monica's hair.
"You won't talk your way out of this," Monica complained. "I'm mad."
"Will sitting on me while talking with the other guests fix that?" Khan asked.
Monica pretended not to hear Khan, and her pout didn't falter. Still, Khan had more weapons in his arsenal.
"What if I kissed you whenever they come to greet us?" Khan suggested.
Monica's pout broke into a faint smile, preventing her from remaining silent any further. "Then, maybe."
"You are enjoying that I can't drag you to our suite yet," Khan said, "Aren't you?"
Monica giggled, opening her eyes and straightening her position. She continued leaning on Khan's chest, and her hands quickly closed on the drink Khan delivered to her.
"Just a bit," Monica admitted. "Though I'd much prefer we were in our suite already, especially if you had nothing but your jacket on."
"Sounds to me you already have a plan," Khan exclaimed. "I happen to like it."
Monica kissed Khan before moving to his ear to whisper tempting words. "You must do something for me first."
"You are pretty bossy today," Khan stated, playing along. "What is it?"
"Nothing special," Monica unleashed her childish tone, stretching her legs to expose more of her thighs. "I'm afraid I might fall if you don't hold me."
Khan knew what Monica meant, so he pointed his scolding gaze at her. He didn't mind breaking Anastasia's rules every once in a while, but that environment demanded a higher decorum.
"The Global Army already thinks I'm a whore," Monica didn't give up. "Might as well let it know I'm your whore."
Khan could only heave a helpless sigh. Monica was still paying for the consequences of her interview, and the mess with Prince Samuel proved that. She didn't care about her reputation, but mentioning it cornered Khan.
"You still haven't told me what you want for your birthday," Khan sighed again, his free hand reaching for Monica's thigh.
"Pull me closer," Monica giggled, wrapping her arms around Khan's neck.
Khan complied, tightening his grip to perform the deed, and Monica couldn't refrain from kissing him afterward. Their stance was beyond improper in that environment, but the two allowed themselves to forget about it.
"I don't know yet," Monica revealed once the kiss ended. "A trip just the two of us doesn't sound bad."
"It would even be the perfect time," Khan added. Political chaos would unfold once he returned home, and the Thilku were bound to summon him afterward.
"Khan," Monica called, her tone growing serious.
"What is it?" Khan asked.
"What happened?" Monica asked, showing her concerned expression. Even without heightened senses, she could see that Khan was troubled.
Khan briefly inspected his surroundings before looking at Monica again. He didn't need to do that to check the area, but the gesture conveyed to Monica the secrecy of the topic.
"What do you know about the Nognes family?" Khan whispered.
"Nobles," Monica shook her head. "Nothing specific or unique."
"I expected as much," Khan cursed.
"Wait," Monica exclaimed, understanding dawning upon her. "Are they?"
"I'm not sure," Khan revealed. "The Princess said something odd, and that hair … I don't know."
Monica lowered her gaze, her eyes darting left and right as plans and ideas popped into her mind. Her entire education got to work to find a way to help Khan, but the hand that dived into her curls interrupted the process.
"Don't even think about doing something crazy," Khan warned, tilting Monica's face toward him.
"They approached you first," Monica commented. "Maybe they are regretting cutting you off."
"Maybe," Khan repeated. "Maybe they are interested in my mutations. We can't be sure."
"We can ask," Monica suggested. "Prince Rick and Princess Edna won't leave immediately."
"Should we?" Khan wondered. "Making waves so soon can be a problem."
The issue was deeper than that. Rick and Princess Edna probably knew nothing about Khan's noble background. The two would have to ask their parents, who would inform all the nobles about Khan's knowledge.
"My mother," Monica concluded. "She knows something. We should threaten her with my pregnancy again."
"You love using that card," Khan chuckled.
"I love thinking about it more," Monica timidly revealed, distracting Khan from the previous topic. The two lost themselves in their eyes, and their lips instinctively touched.
"They are coming," Khan whispered while his lips were still glued to Monica's.
"Don't forget to hold me," Monica ordered, leaving another short kiss on Khan's lips before straightening her position. "I won't forgive you otherwise."
Khan only had the time to smile before guests approached his table. A political aspect that he couldn't ignore had finally arrived. He needed more friends to protect himself from the consequences of his imminent coup, and that night would be his last window.
