(retroactive)

[her_imperial_radiance]

It is after the very first Bellparty.

"Dad never comes to these," Elspeth tells her grandma. "Too many strange Bells. If there were strange Edwards, Mama might have trouble with them too, but there aren't so far. But I can reintroduce you now, if you'd like."

Comments

[prima_sequentem]

"It's weird that I need to be reintroduced," says Elspeth's grandma. "But okay, let's go for it."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"It's been more than a century for him," Elspeth says, not ungently, "and he barely remembers being human. Most of what I knew about you came from Carlisle."

[prima_sequentem]

She sighs.

[her_imperial_radiance]

"- Also," Elspeth says, "he can read minds now; I'm not sure if that came up since you've been awake. Would you rather he not read yours? I don't care, but some people do."

[prima_sequentem]

"Well, that depends. If he reads my mind is he going to regret it?"

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Usually he doesn't, but you might be a special case. Why? What are you thinking?"

[prima_sequentem]

"That it's upsetting that my son forgot me."

[her_imperial_radiance]

"Maybe you can convince him to magically remember the first seventeen years of his life," suggests Elspeth. "Mama does hers, now."

[prima_sequentem]

"That would be nice."

[her_imperial_radiance]

Presently they've located Edward. He's not in the throneless throne room of the current capital, because Bella isn't; he's in their private quarters, standing by a window with his hands folded behind his back.

"Dad," says Elspeth.

"Hello, Elsie," he says. "...Mother."

[prima_sequentem]

She smiles wryly.

"Well, it's nice to see you've done well for yourself."

This is very true. Married to a global empress is a fine place for a child of hers to end up. She's proud.

[her_imperial_radiance]

He half-turns, smiles faintly. "I'm glad you think so."

Elspeth makes to slip out of the room, unless her grandmother would like to stop her.

[prima_sequentem]

She grins.

"I'm happy as long as you're happy, but since you're happy and an emperor I feel like I'm due for a little gloating."

[alicornucopia]

"I think I am happy, now," Edward says after due consideration. Then: "You realize the title of Emperor is almost entirely ceremonial."

[prima_sequentem]

"It still means 'married to an empress'. And a damn good empress at that."

[alicornucopia]

He smiles. "She is."

[prima_sequentem]

"I've noticed," she says, smiling back. "Hence the gloating."

[alicornucopia]

He laughs, a little. "- So apart from gloating. What do you mean to do now you're alive again?"

[prima_sequentem]

"I believe somebody floated the idea of Bella hiring me as imperial personnel officer. Sounds like a nice job."

[alicornucopia]

"Quite possibly. There are a lot of personnel, and it's been handled per department, so far."

[prima_sequentem]

"Reasonable. But not the most efficient it could possibly be. I like efficiency," she says.

[alicornucopia]

He nods. "Are you liable to carry on being human? That would make you the only one working for the Coven in any significant capacity."

[prima_sequentem]

"I don't have any plans to change my species anytime soon."

[alicornucopia]

Edward nods.

And:

"Carlisle always said you only asked him about me, not you."

[prima_sequentem]

She shrugs.

"It would've been harder to keep a lid on it if it was both of us."

Saving Edward was the priority. Saving herself would have been nice, but was strictly optional.