Emperor's Reckoning



Lyon wiped his glazed lips with a napkin and left a chunk of meat on the table. He burped and caress his stomach before he looked at the host with a smirk on his smile. "You seem to be hinting at something."

"Yes?" King Cae raised his brows.

Lyon leaned forward and looked at those weary eyes with his sharp ones. "Which side are you on?"

The king smiled, "I'm glad that you asked, the Broken Rose Kingdom is one of those in power in Second Heaven, we are vassals to none!"

"And?" Lyon raised his brows.

"And... of course, I too seek control over Second Heaven."

The three students were shocked as they heard what the king had just said. Noah dropped his fork before asking the king, "Y-Your majesty, does that mean!?"

The king showed his palm as a gesture to not be tensed, "Don't worry about it, that doesn't mean that I will oppose your teacher here. Besides, in my humble opinion, ruling Second Heaven alone is too impossible for me." he sighed before looking at Lyon with a smile, "But you, my friend, perhaps you have the power to be the one."

"I'll pass," Lyon waved his hand away as he sighed. "I still have more pressing matters to deal with, Second Heaven is not really a place I would like to rule anyway."

"Ah, what a shame," the king shook his head, "Looks like this realm is too small for you."

"It is," Selena answered.

The king smiled wryly, "I-I see, your husband must have taken you to explore many many things."

"He did," answered Selena coldly. She looked at the king before mentioning, "You said that your wife and your daughter will come in the middle of our feast, where are they?"

"Ah, perhaps you misheard me," said the king, "I said might."

"Do they know about your hunger for power?" asked Lyon.

"Of course, they knew my ambition, but controlling Second Heaven is not a priority for me," said the king.

"What's your priority then?" asked Lyon.

"Hahaha," the king laughed as he stood up. "Come, let me show you instead."

Lyon stood up and Selena followed. The three students quickly finished the meal before following them to the balcony. 

Swallows were seen zipping the air before unfurling their wings. The ships below were gently dancing by the mercy tune of the wave and some of them were on a voyage. He was creating the world of nature, there was something that you might want to make

The king stood with a proud smile on his face. "My father before me, the late king, was a loving person and kept this kingdom prosperous as his father before him— my grandfather— did the same."

"I see," Lyon nodded. "This kingdom is your priority?"

"Yes, for me, controlling the Second Heaven is just another means of bringing reassurance to my kingdom," answered the king.

"Aren't you afraid of the nobles trying to take your place?" asked Lyon.

"Ugh, you really have a sharp tongue there my friend," said the king as he jokingly clenched his chest. "But you're right."

"Y-Your Majesty?!" Ifiz said in disbelief. The diplomatic matter was too internal for outsiders like Lyon knew. The captain of the royal knight was at a loss.

"Hahaha," the king laughed. "It's fine, Ifiz."

"U-Understood, your majesty," Ifiz could only bow.

"Internal affair," Lyon muttered, "Not a single kingdom ever not have one."

"Correct," said the king as he darted his glance back toward the port below. He grinned, "You know, this reminds me of a story my grandfather used to tell me."

"Wow, must be really ancient," muttered Lyon.

"Hahaha," the king laughed. "If you look at me now, and count the years, then yes, perhaps dust is the only one that could rival his age."

Lyon smiled.

"You have seen our founder's statue, haven't you?" asked the king. "Well, my late grandfather said that, in that era, our founder was just another bright cultivator of many, but he or she lived a simple life, hunting for food, laughing with friends, very, very humble."

"Hm? So your grandfather knew the founder that well?" asked Lyon.

The king merely smiled and continued, "There was a king that the founder found mesmerizing in that era. A king that was so illustrated, that the entire era was painted with his tracks, though, my late grandfather never mentioned the king's name to me."

"And? What about this king?" asked Selena.

"The king hardly make any conquest and his land never expanded whatsoever due to this, he refused to take part of any land forcefully, however, he was not benevolence as well, he would take up his sword if his kingdom was threatened or attacked and by then, his eyes would show no mercy," said the king. "Just like that, my grandfather passed it down to my father and my father to me, to not make any conquest as well, thus this land never grew one inch bigger."

"Such an individual... how can he fit to be a king?" asked Noah.

"Hahaha, you and I both shared the same curiosity kid," the king smiled before his eyes went distant, "However if I keep this up, time will deplete us, sooner or later as the other powers of Second Heaven grow stronger."

"So you're afraid," asked Lyon.

"Indeed," the king turned his head. "I have thousands of lives riding on my old bone shoulders."

"The king might refuse conquest, but what about the queen?" asked Selena.

"Huh..." The king raised his brows as he looked at Selena. "I... I don't know, my late grandfather never mentioned the queen of the kingdom."

"I see," said Selena as she crossed her arms and refused to add any more detail.

Lyon looked at Selena with furrowed brows. His eyes squinting but before he could say anything, the king was one step quicker.

"D-Do you perhaps know the story as well?" asked the king.

Selena closed her eyes and her gesture was neither denying nor accepting. The three students looked at the wife of their teacher with gulps. 

( She knows something! She definitely knows something! ) thought the three of them. For a woman that had visited Paradise, her knowledge was vast and unbound, unlike those who were still maturing.

"I-I see," King Cae answered before he noticed the shadow cast on the floor was getting longer. He turned his head, "Ah, it's the sunset."

"There is a sun in heaven as well," said Lyon. "What's the difference really...?"

King Cae turned and apologize, "I'm sorry, it seems this old one has taken too much of your time, why don't you all stay for the night in my palace?"

"Are you sure?" Lyon asked. "You know that hosting us is already a risk, hosting us a for a day? You're gambling, King Cae."

"Hahaha, do you not trust in Ifiz and my military capabilities? We might be small, but we pack a punch," said King Cae.

"Sometimes quality can't overcome quantity, King Cae," said Lyon with a smile.

The king was taken aback as he heard what Lyon just said. The latter just used his own words against him before a day had gone by.

King Cae smiled, "I believe that nobody can hurt you with the way you are now, or let me rephrase that, nobody wants to face the consequences of opposing you, my friend."

"Then King Cae, can you extend your hospitality further?" asked Lyon.

"Huh?" King Cae was slightly surprised by his words but then gave out a warm smile with open arms. "Of course! Anything you need? If I have it, I will give it to you, my friend."

"Then I will be shameless and ask a request," said Lyon. "Do you know where Drogan is at?"

The three students were shocked. They looked at the king almost in unison. The warmth and serene atmosphere suddenly turned cold and crawled their skins. One wrong move could yield a disaster. 

The sun gradually set as they passed the twilight phase. The stars hardly occupied the sky as the moon was only a scythe bright. 

( W-What's going on? Is the king keeping something from us? Does he mean any harm from the start? ) thought Noah as he gulped before he closed his lips. He had jollily eaten the food that the king had prepared. He leered over and saw the food that was on the king's plate was cut indeed and sighed in relief. 

"What is the meaning of that question, esteemed guest?" asked Ifiz in a rougher tone.

"I'm not talking to you Ifiz, you didn't even eat a single food," said Lyon as he locked his gaze toward King Cae. "You may have cut the meat to pieces, but you never eat them, do you, King Cae?"

The king was displeased as he was receiving a demeaning glance from Lyon, "Ifiz, bring my plate here."

"Yes, your majesty," said Ifiz rushing toward the dining table.

"Stop right there," said Lyon before he smirked, "Reinhard, bring me my plate instead."

The king raised one of his brows before Lyon presented him with his plate. A chunk of meat was still on there and the glaze almost reflected the the doubts in the king's face.