"Let me fully introduce myself. My name is Leonard. I'm the Third Prince. The Commander is my elder brother, Francis. He's the First Prince. I have another brother. His name's Isaac. He's the Second Prince." Leonard introduced.
'They're princes? Oh well, it doesn't matter.'
"I'm only following you because I need to meet the King." Rem said sternly.
"Don't be mean! I want to be friends with you. Can I? Please?" Leonard implored.
"No," Rem replied bluntly.
"Ehhh??? Why not?"
"I just don't want to."
"Alright, fine. We don't have to be friends. We can start by being acquaintances! If you didn't know, the King is a horrible one. You should be careful around him." Leonard warned.
"Why? Isn't the King, your father?"
"He is. I don't want him to be my father though... I never did. He's a bad person." Leonard's brows furrowed.
"I see..."
'Family problems, I suppose? Come to think of it, in the streets, I've seen so many people living in the streets everywhere in the city. Only the places near the palace didn't have anyone living on the streets. Nobles probably live near the palace. The commoners, like always, would always be in poverty...'
"We arrived. Come in! I'll guide you to the King. Don't forget what I said before." Leonard lead Rem to the King.
The royal palace was enormous. It looked fancy, luxurious, and expensive. After walking in the long hallway for a few minutes, they stopped in front of a humongous door that was red with gold surrounding it. Two knights were guarding the door.
"Third Prince, what are you doing here for?" One of the knights guarding the door asked.
"I'm here to meet the King. I've brought the winner of the tournament held at the Arena here." Leonard said coldly.
"Understood. You may go in." The knight nodded, opening the door.
Leonard and Rem entered. When they did, the first thing Rem saw was the long, red rug with yellow patterns on them. Looking around, she saw a row of knights at each side of the rug. In the furthest middle of the room, there was a large, fancy chair. The King sat there. He was observing Rem and Leonard's every movement. Leonard stopped a few meters away from the King and kneeled with his head down. Rem copied Leonard and did the same.
"Greetings to King Arthur IV," Leonard said.
"Greetings to King Arthur IV." Rem said after Leonard.
"You may rise." The King said in a raspy voice.
"I've brought Rem. He's the one who was ranked first in the tournament." Leonard stated, looking up at the King.
"Would you like to be one of my knights? I'll let you be a Lieutenant." The King ignored Leonard and looked at Rem.
"No, thank you." Rem answered.
The King's brow twitched.
"Then what would you like?" He asked.
"May I receive the privilege to go anywhere in the city excluding the palace?"
"A mere commoner like you? Don't even think about trying to receive anything. I even offered you to be a Lieutenant! How dare you refuse my offer! Just because you won the tournament doesn't mean you can get cocky..." The King growled.
'How was I cocky? Was going anywhere in the city too much to grant?' Rem wondered.
"Guards! Capture this man for trying to assassinate me. Capture the Third Prince for bringing an assassin here. Throw them both in the cells!" The King ordered.
The knights hesitated because they all knew there was no assassin but they did as they were told. Tho them, it was normal. The King would always give out unreasonable demands.
"I told you," Leonard whispered.
Leonard grabbed Rem's arm and ran towards the exit. Before he could leave, the knights blocked him.
"Well, I knew he was unreasonable but I never knew he would throw me in the cells too." Leonard sighed.
Rem didn't say anything. She waited for the Knights to attack. When they did, Rem used her martial arts to make every knight who tried to attack her become unconscious. Behind the King, a few mages appeared and chanted a few spells at both Rem and Leonard.
"Oh shoot! I can't move!!!" Leonard yelled.
Rem remained calm as the King laughed manically. There was a dark aura surrounding him.
"What are you waiting for? Get them out of my sight!" The King said in a menacing tone.
"Understood, your majesty!" The knights said at the same time, putting on shackles on Rem and Leonard.
They were then dragged to prison.