Emperor's Reckoning

Inside the palace of Luderia.

The group was hosted by the king and the royalties under the chandelier's glamorous light. The table was served for the private event, even Aelina had never seen the dining hall filled with various delicacies.

"The arrival of a hero, huh," she muttered.

"Huh?" Lyon raised his brows. "Did you say something?"

"No, nothing," Aelina shook her head before giving him a warm smile. "How have you been?"

The prince sighed seeing the two awkwardly share a common conversation. "Sister, I have heard that you have missed our dear hero."

"Wha?!" Her face blushed but the prince was not about to show mercy.

"She did?" Lyon asked.

"En," The prince firmly nodded. "Sometimes I found her daydreaming by the ledge of the window with your name uttered out."

"That's a lie! I never permitted you to enter my chamber in the first place!"

"Honestly my dear," the king pitched in, "Every maid that tended your chamber knew about it, thus it's very common knowledge say to speak."

"Kh!" Her words stuck inside her throat as she buried herself under her palms. It was the only place that she could think of going. Her legs were shivering with guilt but she didn't want to leave the dining hall since it had been a long time since she met him. The man in her dreams.

"Hahaha," Lyon laughed hearing the prince's and his father's words.

"Hahaha," the king laughed, "So what are the hero's plans?"

Aelina made an effort to peek between her fingers.

"I'm not a hero, never wanted to be one," Lyon shrugged. "but I'm not gonna lie, the attention and the treatment I've been getting sure make me grin a lot."

"You are a hero, were you not there to handle those vile vile creatures, we might not have made it out alive," said the king.

"There is always more than one side of the story," said Lyon. "They were trying to reach their home, it's just that they choose the wrong method, the worst method."

Aelina had her eyes opened wide as she saw Lyon's eyes turning sharp.

"Ah well, all turns out well is it not?" said the king. "I understand that you might have some trouble winning that battle, but your tale is being spoken every now and then. I've heard that some of the entertaining troupes were trying to relive your action in battle."

"Oh?" Lyon raised his brows.

"Hahaha, looks like we have intrigued your attention now," said the prince.

"A play of his heroism?" Cecile raised her brows, "What do you say, Selena, do you want to watch him being portrayed?"

"I will go if darling goes," said Selena. "It interests me not to see a fake darling when I have the real darling right here." Selena immediately locked her arm around his beloved.

Aelina put down her hands and showed her lips pouting as she looked away.

"Perhaps, you two can go watch it together?" asked the king.

"I'm afraid that would be impossible," said the prince. "The troupe is not performing anytime soon, besides, we are still rebuilding the square."

"Oh, right, hahaha," Lyon made a fake laugh. It was his battle with the king with eventually earned him the kingdom's ultimate weapon, Gungnir— which eventually be given to Sylviana later on.

"Hero Lyon, are you going to Garuda after this?" asked Aelina.

"Yes, I must visit her at my earliest convenience," said Lyon before his face turned dejected. Fenrir was looking at his master with a few blinks before he got out of Luna's embrace. He walked onto the table before sitting right beside Lyon's plate.

"Wu?" the little black wolf tilted his head.

"Heh," Lyon smiled before patting his head, "I forgot to say this, but you did a wonderful job back there, Fenrir, were it not for you, I may have been too late to save her. I would never forgive myself then."

"Karina is in Garuda City," said Aelina. "She will be delighted to see you."

"Aelina, I..."

"No, no, oops the food is getting cold if we talk too long," said Aelina before she stabbed the meat with the fork and put it in her mouth. She chewed exorbitantly with her cheeks filled before gulping it all down.

The king looked at his daughter with a tinge of helplessness before saying, "Let's have a feast then. You too Princess Luna, your father might grunt, but your mother will berate me if I don't treat you well here."

"Hehe," Luna made an awkward laugh. Her mother's influence rose far brighter than her father was for as the king of the largest kingdom in Deo— second only to Heaven's Dawn — knew her ferocity with her words.

"I wonder if you will grow up just like her, my, mind my words, of course, you are, splendidly in fact," said the king.

"I've heard that some of your fame garnered you the title of Godmother," the prince added.

"I..." Luna was speechless as the dining continued on.

They all shared a joyous conversation. A little laughter here and there, a nice cozy dinner with the elites of the kingdom. After that.

"Are you sure you're not going to stay for the night?" asked the king as the moon was at its peak hours.

"Surely you can spare your presence a bit longer here," said the prince. "Why not visit our pill store? Surely uncle will have all smiles seeing you, after all, he used your name to gain an abundance of the coin."

"The sly old fox is nothing but trouble, but I must say he is a good businessman," muttered the king.

"Come now, father, I've learned a lot from him, unlike my late older brother who only knew how to brandish his sword."

The king sighed, "It's a peaceful night, let's not talk about him."

Lyon smiled wryly before his eyes wondered, "Wow, she is really that drunk?"

"You've seen how red her face was," said Luna. "She is not a drinker but she insisted."

"At least she could drink," Lyon sighed.

"Oh, you can't drink? But the last banquet you did gulp some, didn't you?" asked the prince. ( Before destroying the balcony altogether with the elites and others ).

"Yes, he is not allowed to drink any liquor, at all," said Cecile. "This is an iron rule."

"Kh!" Lyon had his words stuck inside his throat.

"Don't worry darling, you always loved citrus drink too," said Selena.

( That's...) Lyon sighed inwardly. "Well, at least she is getting better tomorrow morning."

"Lyon, can I talk to you for a second," asked the prince.

"No?" Lyon quickly answered.

"Oh... ok," the prince answered.

Lyon shrugged his shoulder, "What are you trying to say? You can say it here."

The king sighed, "Let me do it."

"Hm?" Lyon raised his brows.

"I need a favor, Luderia needs a favor," said the king. "It's about my youngest daughter."

Lyon had his opened wide as he recalled how he met her just before entering the banquet with momentum. "Chloe, hair brown as apricot."

"Lyon, you have to pull some brake," said Cecile.

"Hey, I didn't do anything to her."

"You kissed her lips right in front of the guests," said the prince.

"Anything remotely dangerous," continued Lyon.

The ladies beside him looked at him with agitated glares.

"Well, what's up with her?"

"We haven't heard of her since she went out to forge her own path," said the king.

"Your scouts can't track her?" asked Lyon.

"We've tried but she either eluded them or she is somewhere they can't reach," said the king.

"Chloe," Luna muttered, "She is a worthy cultivator. She has a calm mind yet prowess as well in battle."

"Yeah, she is incredibly talented, even more than my late older brother," said the prince. "But she is a bit uncontrollable, in a good way of course."

"I understand," Lyon nodded. ( She was the one that took me in after I fell naked in the middle of the street of Mabia before... Damn it Fenrir! This is all because his tail dodged my hand! I went all that way... but then again, I met Cecile's father somehow and grandpa Sun ).

"What if she refused to come back?" asked Selena.

"We are not asking her to come back," said the king. "We just want to know if she is alright."

"Alright," Lyon nodded. "I can't promise you anything but, I will talk to her if I found her."

The king and the prince nodded sincerely before the group left the kingdom in silence.

"Hm?" Graham who was leaning by the carriage raised his brows. "Are you coming with us?"

"Shh! Please sir Graham," a hooded figure approached before the moon revealed her beautiful complexion.

"Okay, get in," said Graham. "It's not like you can hide from older sister Selena."

"C-Can you help me? I'll be grateful," said the hooded figure.

Graham shook his head, "It's impossible, especially in a carriage like this. Don't worry, master won't mind."

"Aelina?"

A familiar voice jolted the hooded figure before she turned around and made a wry smile. "L-Lyon..."