Emperor's Reckoning

The appearance of the little wolf instantly brought their attention. Fenrir was sleeping on Lyon's hand as his figure slowly heaved up and down with his breath. After a marathon with his master, he was beyond fatigue, perhaps nothing could wake him up.

(That's right, keep your eyes glued to this creature) thought Lyon as he inwardly praising himself for the action he took. (Girls and cute things are inseparable by nature hahaha!).

Sylvianna was acting a bit shyly as she looked at the cute little wolf peacefully sleeping. (That's a really cute wolf!) thought Sylvianna as she was urging to abuse her position to reclaim the pet for her own.

"What a cute little wolf, what is its name?" asked Fei. Unlike her queen, She was mature enough to start the conversation.

"His name is Fenrir, don't let this innocent look fools you, he is quite lazy," said Lyon without forgetting to spell the truth about this cute wolf.

"Like master like pet," said Sylvianna with a chuckle. She will not miss an opportunity to ridicule him.

"Hey, I'm not lazy,"

"Yes, you are,"

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are!"

Fei had black lines over her head before she lightly tapped the dining table and sent the room to silence. Sylvianna looked pale as she saw the dining table was cracked from the 'light' tapping from her maid.

(Damn) thought Lyon while he gulped. He knew from the first time they met that Fei was someone not to be trifled with.

"Alright, we are getting sidetracked here, I figure that you are wondering as to why you are summoned here right?" said Fei with a smile. However, to everyone else in the room, her smile manifested to something sinister.

Lyon could only nod against her aura.

"Well, I will let the queen explain that to you," said Fei

Sylvianna coughed, before addressing the matter.

"In the recent event that has been happening, the kingdom has been flourished thanks to your effort."

"Our area has expanded from a tiny kingdom to a respectful kingdom that it deserves. The citizens have never been happier to settle in our kingdom, the future generations also brimming with happiness."

"Thus, with the power bestowed on me by the progenitor of this kingdom, my late father, and by the consensus birthed from the meeting with the royal families,"

(Wait, aren't you the only royal family left?) thought Lyon as he had black lines over his head hearing her statement.

"I hereby announce that you, Lyon Torga, as the new duke of Nostria!"

*clap*clap

Fei was the only witness and the only one clapping, making the entire event awkward.

"Wait, don't we need like an entire ballroom and I should kneel in front of you, and you put your sword of honor or something over my head? Don't we do that kind of thing?!" shouted Lyon in disbelief.

"Nah, we are tight on money lately," said Sylvianna as she casually swatted the idea.

(You just said the kingdom has flourished!) thought Lyon as he couldn't believe this queen in front of him.

"Well now, let's focus on pressing matter, we are currently in a war state against the Heavenly Dawn, so as the duke you are obliged to help," said the queen while she sipped her tea.

(This woman! That was her entire ploy!) thought Lyon. She was giving him the highest position under the queen for that purpose. To bind him with Kingdom Nostria.

Even though if he had not been given any position in the kingdom, he would still help.

Lyon could only let out a breath, "So, how is the war going? I don't see anything different than before, the city is bustling, the merchants seemed to live normally."

"Yeah, well that's because they didn't know it yet," said Sylvianna while sipping her tea.

"Then? What are you waiting for?!" said Lyon.

An unprepared kingdom during a war is doomed to fall.

"You, we are waiting for you to give them the info," said Sylvianna while sipping her tea.

"What? Why me?"

"Because you are the duke, with you and me giving them the info, they would not panic, I think."

---------------------------------------

Right on that exact afternoon, a notice was spread to let the people gathered around the place where Queen Sylvianna would give her speech.

"Alright guys, lined up properly, no pushing no pickpocketing!" said Lukas, the admirable rookie soldier.

"C'mon, just let them be, let loose for a little, they are people, not ducks," said a man with an extraordinary beard as he approached his underling.

"But Captain Zusk!"

"Shh, don't be so loud, just stand there and everyone will maintain their own order."

(Urgh! Why do I feel familiar with this conversation) thought Lukas as he had a bad feeling.

*hic

Captain Zusk's face was red as he occasionally smiled. The only thing that's keeping him from dropping to the ground was his own lance.

"Good afternoon Nostria!"

The queen's voice from the balcony was heard as the commotion was stilled. No matter who they were, they couldn't disagree that she was beautiful.

"Today is a great day as I announce the great news that surely been the talk of the kingdom," said Sylvianna with a smile.

She knew how much Lyon was worth in the kingdom. Some people might regard him as higher than her status.

"Meet your new duke, Lyon Torga!"

(Is she a queen or an announcer?) thought Lyon as he walked beside her.

His appearance made the kingdom screamed. His unfathomable feats were told in scrolls and shared as children's bedtime stories. He was a living superstar at the moment.

Lyon smiled at the praises that were chanted under his sight. He slowly lifted his right hand as the crowd went silent.

"Guys,"

Lyon looked at the anticipation inside the crowd's eyes.

"We are on a war against the Heavenly Dawn,"

.

.

.

.

The kingdom was silent for a good two minutes that even the birds flapping their wings could be heard.

"Whaaaat!"

The kingdom screamed.