After Neyan kissed him, Baron felt uncomfortable. In the one hundred and twenty years of his life, he never kissed any girl. If someone who kissed him wasn't Neyan, he might have been angry.
That day, Baron had just finished sending foodstuffs to the palace. He didn't want to be like his father, a fighting general. He would rather be a provider of food than risk his own life to protect Emporion Land.
Providing food is also a noble work. If there is no food, all the palace members will starve.
Baron and Loma are resting at the edge of the garden in the palace. He enjoys fresh fruit, which is given the magic dust of Mamesein flowers.
"What's the matter with your face?" asked Loma.
Baron turned to his best friend. "I am fine."
Loma stared at him with his sharp eyes. He is a scorpion animagus. Loma rarely changes his shape to a scorpion because he would look like a monster.
Loma is a giant animagus. He became the leader of the royal guard. His body will become a scorpion, and his head will still be in the shape of a human head. It will change only at the crucial moment.
"You can't fool me. I've heard the news about you and Princess Neyan," said Loma with a chuckle.
"What, exactly?"
"That you and Princess Neyan will get married soon."
Baron laughed. "It's just a rumor. I and Neyan don't love each other."
"They never talked about love," said Loma. "Princess Neyan always tells her ladies that you are her future husband. She ever asked me to escort you if you suddenly went to the human world. "
Baron's laughter grew louder this time. "You escorted me to the human world? Don't you have another work? "
"I don't want that either, but if Princess Neyan orders it, I will immediately do it," said Loma firmly, typical of a royal guard.
Baron gave up. He didn't want to argue about it. It would be great if he could walk with Loma into the human world.
"Baron, I'm curious, why don't you love Princess Neyan? Isn't she a very beautiful and kind woman?" asked Loma.
"Love isn't just about being pretty and kind, Loma. Neyan and I grew up together. I just think of her as a sister, nothing more than that," replied Baron.
A royal servant walked towards them. "Greetings, Mr. Loma. I was given orders by King Valo. Mr. Baron was asked to face the King right now."
"What is the problem?" asked Baron.
"I do not know. Please follow me," said the servant.
"OK."
Baron stands up while biting a large apple, following the palace servant. Loma nodded at him.
The palace looked bustling. A group of guards lines up neatly while walking with rhythmic footwork. They wear the same uniform with the lion logo on the chest.
The servants were busy carrying a pile of clean clothes in their hands. Another servant brought a large jug filled with fragrant water containing Mamo Rose petals and various other flowers whose name Baron did not know.
The castle walls are equipped with protective spells to avoid attacks from The Catcher and the evil witch. From a distance, Baron can see Kumar--the guardian of the portal--is standing tall, holding a magic sword that was used as a key to open the lid of the portal.
Only the hedgehog animagus was given a special gift and order from the King to guard the portal. Nobody dared mess around with Kumar. That Animagus does not like to hang out with other animagus.
At least Baron was friends with him enough to allow him to go to the human world. It seemed like Kumar was quiet; even so, his eyes were watching his surroundings.
Baron looks straight ahead, following the palace servant. Finally, they enter the main hall. The servant opens the door for Baron after the guards give them their way. Then the servant withdrew.
King Valo is sitting on his throne. Queen Inayba is seated next to him. Then there is an advisor standing beside the King. He is Blaker, the owl animagus. They seem to be waiting for Baron's arrival. He is almost sure what King Valo wants from him.
Baron quickly lowers his head and salute while placing his hands on his chest. "Greetings to the King and Queen."
"Stand up, Baron," ordered the King.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Baron as he straightened his body.
"Come here, come closer to me."
Baron strolls towards the front of the throne.
King Valo is the ruler of the Emporion Land and the father of Neyan. He is a lion animagus that all animagus have to submit to him.
Queen Inayba smiles sweetly at him. Baron smiles back. Queen Inayba is a combination of beauty as well as majesty and strength. She is an eagle animagus. No wonder Neyan got the blessing of those foldable wings from her mother.
"It's been a long time since we saw each other. How are you, Baron?" asked King Valo.
"I'm fine, thank you, Your Majesty. May I know what made King want to see me?" asked Baron, looking down respectfully.
"Baron, you know that I have great respect for your late father, General Shiram. According to our agreement in the past, I want you to marry my daughter, Neyan."
Baron swallows hard. The King even had to meet him in person to discuss this matter. He feels terrible if he refused the King's orders.
"I'm apologize, Your Majesty. I didn't mean to refuse, but there was no love between me and Princess Neyan. I can't take this marriage for granted."
Queen Inayba seems surprised to hear this. She arched her brows, looking disappointed. King Valo nodded in slowly as if he understood Baron's feelings.
"What makes you don't love Neyan?" asked King Valo.
"I love her, only as a sibling. She is a beautiful and kind girl." Baron feels like he is copying Loma's words.
"I've made a pact with your father, Baron," said King Valo calmly.
"I'm so sorry, Your Majesty. It looks like I can't accept this matchmaking."
"God damn it!" exclaimed Blaker. "You must not refuse the king's order!"
Baron gasped. He didn't like Blaker. The Animagus was too controlling and looked like he was intimidating to the King.
"I have my own life. My late father never told me to marry Princess Neyan. I don't want to get married if it's not based on love. That's fair enough. After all, Princess Neyan doesn't love me either. We are no more than just brother and sister."
When he said that, he felt Neyan's presence beside him. Her body smelled like flowers. Baron turned his head and was flabbergasted. Neyan just folded her wings and looked down to salute her parents. Her face looked sad and disappointed.
"Neyan ...," whispered Baron.