Emperor's Reckoning

Meanwhile, inside the Phantera Kingdom.

Luna was greeted with a warm welcome from her people like a princess should. The respectful tone of smiles and not mention the gifts wrapped inside a little basket as she made her way toward the palace on foot, garnered her impression in the minds of those of old and those of young.

However, the appearance of the driver who pulled the horse, with the carriage, gave off an uneasy feeling. Under the gentle welcome, some people had their saliva jumping down their throats once they got a glance at this 'giant' figure.

Luna had a wry smile as she looked at her people. She knew that his name was not as resounding as Lyon's name but they knew who he was.

Graham was unperturbed by the gazes lambs that he could rip open with his bare hand, however, something did catch his interest. His eyes batted before he looked at the center of the kingdom. A statue was there. His neutral sharp expression was broken as he gave a smirk.

The statue of which Luna had bespoken before was complete. The young man that had saved the kingdom was honored with the sculpting of utmost perfection. He described with his toes facing forward and a book in his hand, which he appeared to recite, and the other one writing the air with his index finger. An inscription was laid below.

"Hero of Phantera Kingdom, Lyon Torga," Graham muttered, "Heh, he always never care for the title hero."

"Luna!" a familiar cry of a woman made Luna raise her brows.

Luna raised her brows before seeing her mother rushing outside the palace. She was running with both hands clutching up the skirt like a young princess approaching her prince.

"Mother," Luna said softly as she rushed forward.

"Stop," her mother said.

"Eh?"

Bewildered by her response she was urged to ask, "Wha—"

Her words were swept before her mother gently knelt with both knees on the ground she embraced Luna's belly softly before, putting her ear first to listen. Her smile slowly vanished as she frowned.

"Mother... what are you..."

"Shh!"

"Honey, you shouldn't do that in public," said the king of the Phantera Kingdom.

"Shut up!" said Luna's mother with her index finger raised at the ruler of the said kingdom.

The people made a wry smiles seeing the royalty scene in front of them. Though their bearings were completely different, they were still a family like the others.

Soon, Luna's mother sighed, "I can't believe it, do I need to teach you how?"

"Eh? What?" Luna raised her brows before seeing her mother putting her arm on her waist. "What are you talking about mother?"

"Where is my grandchild?!"

Luna's jaw was slacked open as well as the whole kingdom. Graham raised his brows, even the stoic one couldn't help but react.

"A-A," Luna's heart pumped more blood inside the veins of her cheeks than it should. She was flushed red beyond recovery. Her hand was trembling before she blinked hard, "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MOTHER!"

Inside the palace, in the throne room.

"I can't believe you just said that in front of all the people, honestly!" said Luna before she sighed. She knew getting flustered over her mother wouldn't mend the situation that had already happened.

"Luna, I'm sorry, but you know how old I am, I'm not getting any younger," her mother sobbed to her husband. However, the latter could only smile wryly.

"Don't play victim now," said Luna.

"Well, I've tried," said her mother as her expression immediately turned neutral.

Luna had black lines over her head seeing how fast her mother changed her mood. "Mother..."

"We already put Lyon Torga as the next king in the Phantera Kingdom, it's rightly said so right on the bottom right of the inscription under the statue," said her mother.

"What?" Luna and her father exclaimed.

"Father?!" Luna said.

"I-I did—" the king felt a sting in her forearm. It was so blatant that Luna couldn't even pretend not to notice her mother's sneaky cue.

Luna sighed, "I don't think it would be possible to have children with him for now."

"What?!" Luna's mother slapped her husband's armrest to a crack. She frowned and was radiating with rage as she stood up. "I might owe him my life but how dare he forsaken my daughter! I want an answer!"

"Honey, calm down," said her husband. "You know, Lyon is not that kind of guy, he might be a blatant player but I think he is quite responsible. I mean, look, he even goes out his own way to the Dark Continent for the sole purpose of finding a way to attach Karina's arm."

"Forearm," said his wife.

"Right," he nodded.

His wife let out a sigh. "Fine, fine," she sat back down.

"Mother, please calm down," said Luna before she looked at the guards and told them to leave the throne room.

Seeing that only her family and Graham were left in the throne room she continued. "Lyon has some circumstances that he needs to deal with first."

"His impotent?!" her mother exclaimed.

"What? No?!"

"Well, how do you know?" her mother raised one of her brows. "Did you fuck him last night?"

"Mother!"

"Honey!"

"What?"

"My holy..." Luna didn't even know to whom she must pray.

"Heh," Graham smirked. ( It would be a real treat if the master was here ).

"Mother, he is not impotent, I mean, if there is a word that exists for the opposite of it, I would have used it."

"Damn..." his father muttered.

Luna massaged her forehead with her fingers. She couldn't believe she had just said that. Looks like his influence had finally come into effect. "Mother, he needs me."

Her mother had her berating words stuck in her throat as she parted her lips.

Seeing the subtle sign of her mother started to open her ears more, she continued, "Lyon has a past that he had yet uncovered. He realized it, but to attain that memory, he would have his soul pummeled and crushed. In that weak moment, he needs me."

"..." her mother closed her lips.

"We are trying to get him ready for that, for it is his destiny."

"Destiny? Hahaha, I thought he is the type to not believe in that thing," said his father.

"He tried to fight it once," said Graham before the atmosphere turned a bit solemn.

"I-Is that the reason why he lost his memory?" asked her mother.

Graham refrained from his answer.

Luna glossed her lips with her tongue before answering, "We don't know the whole truth yet, but he is, I mean was, at the top of the world."

"Like the whole Mortal World?"

"Maybe even more," said Luna.

"His name is known throughout Heaven and Hell," said Graham.

"Hell?!" the king raised his brows. "That place... it exists?"

"Worse come to worst, the Mortal World might be in danger if they knew about his existence, however, Paradise's double-edged plan in erasing his name would soon wound them. Once he regained his memory, there is nothing stopping him from uprooting Paradise and Purgatory," said Graham.

The king gulped. "W-Why would he want to do that."

Graham closed his eyes and crossed his arms. However, as they awaited their answer, he didn't give any.

"Woah! Hahahaha!"

A burst of familiar laughter stunned them.

The onlookers of the central piece of the kingdom got their attention caught. They all turned their heads only to have their lips parted. They compared the figure standing in front of the statue with the statue. Their eyes went back and forth before one of them gulped and muttered, "It's him..."

"It's him..."

"It's the hero..."

"Hmm... not a bad sculpt," Cecile leaned forward and gave a rough examination with her hand rubbing her chin.

"Darling, you never used a grimoire."

"Hahaha!" the young man crossed his arms, "But they nail my face, look how awesome I am."

"It's the hero!!"

The throne room was shocked by the reverberating roar of the kingdom.

Luna smiled wryly. ( Why is he more popular than the princess they once adored ).

"Welp, looks like son-in-law came to a visit, better have a chat with him," said her mother as she stood up.

"I-I don't think that's possible," muttered her husband. ( The excitement of the people is just too... damn it! This suffocating envy!)

"Vanquisher of the dragon!"

"No! Vanquisher of demons!"

"He heralded as the King of Deo!"

"Hero of the Phantera Kingdom!"

"Hero Lyon, no, King Lyon!"

The young man crossed his arms tighter and give a smirk toward the statue that depicted him reciting a powerful spell— failing to notice the additional note in the right bottom corner. He jumped before sitting with his legs crossed at the top of the statue's head and giving the people a peace sign.

"Oh he's reciting a spell!!" said one of the onlookers.

( It's a peace sign you dumbass ) thought Lyon as he sighed inwardly.