Emperor's Reckoning



She took a deep breath, attempting to regain her composure. "And to what do I owe this unexpected visit?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of amusement mixed with a dash of caution.

"Let's drop the pretense, and please, have a seat, after all, it is your room," said Cecile as she gestured to her seat.

Yala sat down as she was told, but her eyes never left Lyon and the others. "You must be really desperate to have this tome, that even you have to offend a great princess from a faraway land." She tightened the clutch of the tome toward her chest, her action revealed determination despite the situation she was in.

"You're composed enough," said Selena. "I guess this is not your first time."

"Is it that obvious?" Yala giggled. "Though, this is the first time someone one-upped me." Her glance fell on the man sitting by the window. She darted her glance toward the tome, and looked at the cover and the back. "Now I'm intrigued, really intrigued, you don't seem to want worldly desires, but this book is something that greatly interests you."

"I'm not the mob who tried to gain favor for a princess," said Lyon. "Even if you're a slave of some kind, I still want the book that you rightfully bought from the auction."

"You're not going to rob me?" asked the princess with a playful smile.

"Depends on my whim," said Lyon. "I don't normally rob, I usually just steal."

"Then why not steal it from me?" asked Yala.

"Because of your status," said Cecile. "Judging from the reaction of the cultivators around you, you seem to be quite a figure and the least we want is more trouble in our way."

Yala raised her brows, discerning from their conversation that they were unaware of her true identity, aside from the occasional mention of 'princess'. Deciding to play along and keep them in the dark about her true status, she kept her true name and position shrouded in mystery.

Her lips curled into a smirk, enjoying the intrigue that danced between them. The less they knew, the more advantage she held. "Well, well," she responded, her words tinged with playful mystery, "It seems we find ourselves in an unexpected meeting. I'm curious, how did you come to be here, and what's your interest in that book?" She subtly gestured towards the tome, her gaze never leaving Lyon's masked face.

"Are you willing to part with it, if I tell you why?" asked Lyon.

"I'm afraid that can't be done," Yala shook her head. "I've spent money to have this tome. A fortune even for kings."

"But not a fortune for you," said Cecile.

"True," Yala nodded, "I won't deny that spending that much will affect me in any way."

Yala, keeping her cards close, decided to probe further. "I'm intrigued by that book," she admitted, "but I'm also a woman of exchange. What could you offer me in return for it? Mind you, attempting to take it by force may not bode well for you."

Lyon leaned back, the smirk never leaving his face, "Oh, I'm all for negotiations. What would you like in exchange for the book, dear 'princess'?" The word 'princess' dripped with playful sarcasm, making it clear he doubted her royal status.

"First, tell me how you got to know with the two kings. Even the Holy Lion of Felidora has its pride toned down around you," said Yala.

Lyon began his tale, skillfully omitting certain details. "It all began when I entered their realm as a humble traveler. I happened upon the Felidora Tournament, and by a twist of fate, I ended up participating. The final battle was intense, and I must admit, I did manage to make quite an impression."

He paused for a moment, letting the suspense build, before continuing. "As the tournament reached its climax, I found myself facing off against several challengers. In the end, I was able to subdue the entire banquet, much to their surprise."

Yala's curiosity deepened as she listened intently. "Impressive," she remarked. "But I have to wonder, how did you manage to achieve such a feat?"

"He threatened the king that he would destroy the kingdom, and that's how they became friends," said Cecile, glossing over the details. "And Wolfric tried to ascertain certain things, but the foreboding consequences led him to become his friend as well, and that led us to where we are now."

"Wow, really?" Lyon raised his brows at Cecile. "I was orchestrating a good story."

"Wait, so that's not true?" asked Yala.

"It's the truth, some of it," said Lyon.

"Let me get this straight, you have the capabilities to fight the Kingdom of Felidora?" asked Yala. 

"No," Lyon shook his head, "Fight is not the right word, they won't put up much to be called a fight if it happened."

Yala couldn't help but find Lyon's story amusing, even if she doubted its authenticity. Her laughter bubbled just beneath the surface. She reached for her glass to take a sip, but something felt off. Her fingers froze inches from the glass, and her instincts screamed at her that something was wrong. The water in the glass looked perfectly clear, but a sense of unease washed over her.

"Did you—" Yala began to speak, her voice tinged with suspicion, but before she could finish her sentence, a sudden sharp pain pierced her neck. Her vision blurred, her surroundings spinning, and she felt herself slumping forward. The words Lyon tried to say were unintelligible as her consciousness wavered.

The next morning, Yala awoke to the gentle rays of early sunlight streaming into the room. Panic surged through her as she realized that the tome, which had been by her side the previous night, was now missing. She frantically scanned the room, her heart pounding. The masked man and his companions were gone, leaving behind only questions and uncertainty. The playful banter of the previous night had transformed into a daring heist.