Rise of the Cosmic_Emperor

Andrea attempted to drill Hal further on whatever Tanya was planning but soon gave up the whole idea as pointless.

She eventually decided she was not going to get anything out of this devilishly handsome blue-eyed young man and the longer she remained in close contact with him, the more likely it was that she would do something she would forever regret.

Better to send him off now before things got worse.

"Guards, bring the girl." She ordered and in a matter of seconds, Marla was escorted in and she looked between Hal and Andrea with a knowing smile,

"It's over already?" She asked to which Hal sighed deeply.

Andrea acted like she had not caught the meaning behind Marla's words, and merely adopted a stoic expression as she ushered them away,

"Goodbye" she told Hal who nodded with a light smile as he and Marla turned around to walk out of her chambers and her residence entirely while guided by the guards.

This time, as Hal and Marla made use of all the required teleportation circles in their bid to be out of the Imperial Palace, they had no more interruptions.

But even then, Hal wondered if he had not simply been lucky.

With two visits to Tanya's residence, many involved in the race for the throne might indeed be keeping an eye out for him, and had it been someone else and not Andrea, it might not have been so easy to get away.

That said, it was also worth noting that while it was not really the reason she called him to her chambers, the main reason Andrea paid attention to him was because of her unique reaction to seeing his face.

In fact, Tanya was sure to have many visitors that were much more inconspicuous than himself, and most of them would have nothing to do with her plans and ambitions and might merely be seeking guidance.

'Ah, a wonderful excuse' Hal thought.

He was a runemaster just like Tanya and she ranked above him so it stood to reason that he would be believed to have quite a number of things to learn from her.

Not to mention that with the list out, it would be known by now that she was his sponsor so his regular visits (they were bound to get more regular with the search of the orb fragments) would not be too eyebrow-raising.

All in all, Hal eventually decided he was safe enough.

After all, even if he wasn't, he was kidding himself if he thought he could always live under the radar and away from the public eye.

After he participated in this Entrance exam, he was bound to be thrust into the spotlight.

Unfortunately for Hal, he had no idea that even before the Entrance exams would officially commence, he would already be well known among all those present to watch the Exams and beyond.

Courtesy of his shameless grandfather...

More on that later.

Once out of the palace grounds and back on the Imperial city streets, Hal contacted Tanya with his communication talisman to tell her bits of his meeting with the Imperial consort.

Making sure all information he rendered only referred to Andrea's interest in knowing Tanya's plans.

"Wonder why she's so interested. I haven't noticed anything that would suggest any other member of the Inner court or even my siblings showing the same level of interest. Oh well, just be careful. I doubt it's actually anything to worry about" she said.

Hal nodded,

"That's what I thought" he said and made to end the conversation when Tanya bid him to pause.

"Oh, and I forgot to tell you, accommodation has been prepared for you in one of the Imperial city's most prestigious hotels. The Rose Petal Hotel. The height of luxury.

As my 'protegee' who is taking part in an examination that is reserved for the absolute best of the young generation in the entire Haron continent, I can't let you settle for less.

All expenses have been taken care of, so enjoy" once she had given him directions on how to get to the hotel, Tanya disconnected.

"'The height of luxury'. That sounds nice. Maybe she's not as stuck up as I thought" Marla said having listened in on the conversation.

Hal chuckled and stopped a Carriage to take them to the hotel.

After all, one single death scare should not be enough to stop him from ever taking commercial transport again, should it?

...

The Rose Petal Hotel...

Tanya had not been sugar coating. It truly was the height of luxury.

The structure was immense and a beautiful mix of white and red colors that gave the entire hotel a romantic look.

The guests he and Marla noticed walking in and out of it were dressed to showcase their status and show that the hotel did not just admit anyone.

That said, it was probably at its fullest at the moment with the Royal Academy entrance exams being so imminent and many important individuals coming from all over the continent to watch the clash between the best of the young generation.

Hal walked inside and went directly to the front desk,

"Hi" he said to the male clerk who looked up at him with a smile,

"Hello, welcome to the Rose petal hotel" he said.

Hal nodded while Marla was having a look around at all she could see of the huge structure with Hal knowing she was most likely comparing the hotel's size to the Mansion inside the Harem space.

"I am under the impression that accommodation has been prepared for me" he said.

"Name?"

"Hal"

"Last name?"

"None" Hal said.

He was pretty sure Tanya did not need to give a powerful last name to justify preparing accommodations for him in her own hotel.

Oh yes, Hal was sure the Rose Petal Hotel was Tanya's just like the Rose petal restaurant in the Silva Duchy capital and part of her information-gathering network.

"Okay then" the clerk said as he began to check the records until he indeed found Hal's name and then his demeanor changed as he went from being professionally polite to being genuinely polite.

Whatever he saw in the records must have caused the change but Hal had no intentions of pondering as he received the Rune key meant to open the rune-locked door of the room he had been given.

The clerk directed him and Marla to the teleportation circle that would serve to take them to the room much faster and it was only after Hal unlocked the large double doors and walked into the room that he realized the reason for the clerk's surprise.

It was not a room...but a humongous suite at the very top of the rose petal hotel.

"Oh damn" Hal could not help but say.

After a quick look around and the realization of the fact that there were more than enough rooms in the suite for seven individuals to stay in, Hal had a feeling his accommodation was only changed into a suite after he made mention of his allies.

I.e after he left Tanya's residence.

It was probably more of a personal lavish room before then.

Then his senses suddenly warned him that it was not just he and Marla in the room but he had only just turned to come face to face with the intruder when she snapped her fingers and Marla fell unconscious having breathed in pink mist from said snapped fingers.

Elsa grinned at Hal and licked her lips,

"We meet again"