USD: A moment after entering

Location: Luna, Imperial Residency, Audience Hall

The audience hall was hushed, every eye fixated upon the interaction of the Celestia and the Empress.

At last, Empress Psi spoke, her voice devoid of warmth. “You may rise, daughter.”

Withdrawing her lips from her mother's hand, Celestia stood and met her mother’s gaze for the first time since entering the hall. A pair of ruby eyes stared back blankly, their depths unfathomable.

The audience hall was hushed, the earlier chatter and gossip silenced.

At last, the Empress spoke, her voice devoid of warmth. “You may rise, daughter.”

Withdrawing her lips, Celestia stood and met her mother’s gaze for the first time since entering the hall. A pair of ruby eyes stared back blankly, their depths unfathomable as ever.

“Take your place,” Empress Psi commanded, and Celestia hastened to join the line of her siblings. The order had been altered, positioning her between Andrew, her eldest brother and heir apparent, and Melanie, the oldest imperial yet to receive a core system to govern.

Both offered her fake smiles.

A pair of trumpets blared as the Empress rose from her throne, and all those present snapped to attention, pressing their fists to their chests in salute.

“All Hail Her Imperial Majesty Empress Psi! Unity, Strength, Progress!”

The Empress raised her hand and clenched it into a fist, silencing the hall once more. Her clear, authoritative voice filled the chamber, resonating with power and command.

“Today, we grant our daughter, the Imperial Princess Celestia, the fief and incomes of Jupiter and its moons. She shall henceforth hold the title of Imperial Duchess of Jupiter and be uplifted to Chi NAI, to match the rank of her siblings to prepare for her eventual elevation to system ruler.”

Celestia’s eyes widened in surprise and confusion, but she quickly suppressed her emotions, maintaining a stoic expression. She could feel the heat and scorn of her siblings’ glares on the back of her neck. Her small hands clenched into fists as she did her best to ignore their animosity.

No one had informed her of these plans, and she couldn’t comprehend the implications of her mother’s proclamation. She knew it marked a significant turning point, but not how it would affect her future.

At the back of the hall where the servants were gathered, she caught sight of Livia, who offered her a small, reassuring smile.

USD: A week later

Location: Luna, Imperial Palace, Imperial Medical Ward

Celestia awoke to the pounding bleeps of the hospital bed monitor. Opening her eyes made her stomach turn as everything spun with disorientation. It felt like she had not moved for days, and her entire body felt odd as she stretched. Every sound was overly crisp and clear, even the distant hum of machinery in other rooms sounded like she was right beside it.

A tinge of apprehension filled her as she recognized the hushed voices in the hallway outside her room.

“You’re paranoid and have nothing to worry about,” Melanie said. “She’s just another younger sibling. She’ll be sent to some far-flung system, eventually. I’m the one that’s being put out. She’ll get the next system I’ve already been waiting for forever.”

“You’re too naïve,” Andrew scoffed. “Jupiter is the most valuable holding in Sol, and at the rate of new systems, she’ll have more power than all of us in a few decades.”

“You said the same thing about Bryant, and look at what happened to his base when he was sent to Aquarii.” Melanie said.

“That was different. He wasn’t a ‘natural-born’, was he now?”

There was a pause in the conversation, but Melanie picked up on what he was hinting. “You don’t think she plans to replace you as heir, do you?”

“Who knows? Mother is unfathomable as ever. What I know is… what if she has another? You thought you’d get a system after her? You don’t think she can’t have more?” There was a dramatic pause as if he wanted that thought to sink in before he continued. “Mother bullied the others and maneuvered them into accepting our expansions, but the council has firmly closed ranks against her now. Until they catch up, there won’t be any more core systems. The Solarians are at least a decade away from another.”

Celestia felt a mounting trepidation at a second, even longer pause before Melanie answered.

“Then let’s simply show how unsuitable Celestia is. After all, she was human before becoming a NAI.” Melanie whispered.

That’s right. Mother made me a NAI now.

The experience was a blur after the point where she had met with her mother for their annual tea lunch the day after the announcement. Pulling herself up to sit up, her vision cleared, and the over-sensitive hearing became more bearable. Her body felt light, like a feather.

It felt like if she wanted to, she could jump and touch the ceiling.

Everywhere she looked, little highlights around items appeared, along with miniature descriptions that should have been too small to read but were still clearly understandable to her mind.

“She’s awake.” Andrew said, and the door to her room opened all the way as Tia’s two siblings entered.

Her new visual assistance highlighted both of them in a deluge of data streams.

|Nanite System Detected|

|Authenticating…|

|Chi Handshake, confirmed. |

|Friendly Signal, Accepted. |

Andrew frowned at her before speaking. “Finally awake, Celestia? Your prolonged recuperation took twice as long as it should have.”

Celestia looked down. “I’m sorry.”

Melanie stepped in front of him, a placating hand on his chest forestalling him as she shot off a sickening smile towards Tia. “Don’t mind our grumpy brother, Celestia. Let me help you get used to your new abilities.”

Tia blinked, looking up, confused.

“Why?” she blurted without thinking, the offer completely at odds at what she had heard earlier.

“Because you’re really my little sister now. It’s my job to help you.” Melanie offered with a smile.

Tia swallowed before cautiously answering. “Thank you.”

Doubt filled her chest, but…

There was a tiny glimmer of hope as well.