"Father!!"
Sounds of footsteps echoed on the hallway, all the maids of the palace made way for the newly hired Legion Commander of the Imperial Knights.
"Father, wait! Listen to me!"
Pierre De'arc, the heir of the De'arc Duchy and the brother of the Empress of the Regulus Empire. With his outstanding aptitude and overbearing presence, no one can say that he is not worthy to be the Legion Commander of the Regulus Empire.
He tried to reach his father's shoulders but was aggressively shoved away by that person. Pierre tried to look at his father, Duke Kelvin right straight in the eyes but, he couldn't do it.
"So you will just give up your position with me because you were offered a higher place in this forsaken palace?! Huh?! Do you know what you did?!", Kelvin stared at his son furiously.
"That's not it, Father! Look at me... Do I look like a liar to you? You're the one who raised me, you're the one who raised us.", Pierre tried to explain.
"And yet here you are, throwing dirt on my name! There are so many reasons to refuse him with your glib tongue. But, you... still chose him... over... us!", Kelvin pointed his fingers in every word he said on Pierre's armor.
"I love the North more than my life, Father, and you know that! I'll even tarnish my honor just to save it from the Emperor's greedy hands. But, that bastard of a man threatened my sister, so if I don't watch his moves and keep him in check, he'll have all our heads on a pike.", Pierre said, calming his father down.
He knew that the whole week since they've arrived in the Imperial Capital, his father has never rested once and stress was becoming his burden.
Upon realizing that his father may not take his explanation as a proper excuse, Pierre steeled himself and decided to do one thing that will completely change his life from that moment.
Pierre kneeled in one knee and lowered his head in front of his father, "I, Pierre De'arc, vow to the heavens and to my father that I will never do anything that can harm the De'arc Duchy or I shall be smitten by the heavens and never be reborn again!"
"No,no! Why, my son?!", Surprised by the sudden words of his son, Kelvin helped his son to immediately get up, but it's too late.
The sky became dark and a mark of a fiery spear lit up in it, covering the whole Imperial Palace, indicating that Pierre's vow was sincere and the heavens have heard it.
"I made a third vow, Father. No one can undo it, except the gods.", Pierre said with a straight face.
However, Duke Kelvin suddenly punched Pierre in the face, knocking him to the ground. "...Then let's hope the gods will have mercy upon us all.", he said while feeling dejected. He didn't even managed to stop his son on making an unchangeable vow because of his pride.
"The Emperor is definitely connected on the Zodiacs' change of personalities. Some of them even forgot that they had a child with each other.", Kelvin added, hoping to change the topic.
Pierre spat out blood from his mouth and stood up, then suddenly embraced his father tightly after a pause. "I promise you, Father, none shall happen to my sister and her child. Trust me..".
Duke Kelvin felt awkward and just patted his son's back, twice. He then saw a man, wearing glasses and a white robe, embroidered with golden patterns that Kelvin has never seen before, walking towards them.
Kelvin frowned and pushed his son away, getting ready to greet the one and only person who was said to be second to The Prophet in foretelling, 'Capricorn' ~ Mikhel Nostrad.
"Well, well... If it isn't Lord De'arc. I'm honored to have been graced by your presence.", Mikhel said and bowed courteously.
"Hmph.. It seems like the Emperor has loosen the lace of his new dogs. I don't feel a slightest bit of happiness to see your smug face here.", Kelvin huffed and looked at Mikhel with contempt.
"Grumpy as always... Stubborn old men tends to act like that, especially when they came from the North.", Mikhel said to Kelvin with a smug face, adjusting his glasses.
"You dare...-"
"Ah, yes. Commander De'arc, the Emperor is looking for you. It seems like he found something for you to do, so you better get there on time.", Mikhel passed by the two, never minding the furious face of the insulted Kelvin.
Kelvin spat on the ground when Mikhel was nowhere to be seen, then turned to Pierre, "You go first, I will prepare for our departure. My soldiers are not used to the weather here on the capital, it makes them more... irritated.", he said.
"I will go to the throne room then, Father. We'll see each other when the Emperor will see you out.", Pierre bowed then left his father alone in the hallway.
Kelvin watched his son walk away with a gloomy face. He was never used to being left alone by his family. He felt the same when his daughter left the De'arc duchy and was married to the Imperial Family.
He just sighed and turned to look for his men, knowing that his son will never again be able to lead the North once he was appointed to the Legion Commander position.
Pierre was always amazed everytime he walks in the throne room of the Imperial Palace. All the pillars were glistening by the light of the sunlight that passes through the windows made of glass, depicting the events on how the Regulus Empire was built from scratch until the time it stood above all kingdoms.
The glass artwork that shows the Emperor, Leopold, lifting the head of the Demon King that was said to be slain by him was portrayed behind the high golden throne that the Emperor was sitting on. Pierre's eyes twitched as he took a glance at it again while kneeling.
"Arise, Lord Pierre. I can't have my Legion Commander kneeling while I address my words that you will be doing later on. You shall now be my sword that slays the wicked and garner peace upon my lands.", Leopold said, smiling amiably with his perfect teeth.
Pierre stood up and stared at the Emperor. He wears a golden robe that covers his lower body while showing his bare chest. The domineering aura still oppressed Pierre's fiery nature.
"I shall do as you command, You Majesty.", Pierre said.
"I expect no less, brother in-law... Guarding the northern borders against demons and invaders must have been tiring for you. Maybe I am right, you're real place is here with us, just like the time we conquered the Desolate Zone.", Leopold said, while he took a glance at the burned scar on Pierre's neck.
"We simply did our jobs back then, Your Majesty, and the is to protect you and the young heroes from danger. It is my honor and as well as my comrades who had died back then to serve you.", Pierre answered quickly.
"That morbid place took a lot of potential knights that should have become great pillars for the empire. I still feel regretful for them until now.", Leopold said with a sad look.
Pierre suddenly became irritated by the words Leopold and thought, 'What nonsense?! You're the one who brought them to their deaths!.', while clenching his fists.
Those knights, including the Grand Duke's son were like a brother for Pierre. Having them being insulted even after their deaths made Pierre's blood boil.
"Your Majesty, we're quite late for the other agendas today. Please tell Lord Commander your commands.", Viscount Lent's voice was heard from the left side of the room, breaking the silence. He has been given special treatment in the palace from the moment Lady Cleo became the Queen Consort. He is now living at the best time of his life.
Leopold watched Pierre's furious eyes stare at the pawn that he recently elected and grinned behind the cover of his hand. Messing with this stubborn and hot-blooded people gave him excitement.
"Ah, yes. I forgot about that... I thank you, Minister Lent... Lord Commander, you will take my army and bring the neighboring countries within our hands, with the help of the Zodiacs! It doesn't matter how long it will take you, but I will prohibit you from doing one thing: Don't touch the Church of the Holy See.", Leopold said as he put his index finger up on his last sentence. He was serious about the last words he said. The church was another absolute power in the Renald Continent just like the Regulus Empire.
The Holy See's influence reaches throughout the lands, amassing a lot of resources and people. Regulus Empire should take precautions when dealing with the church even if the Holy Pope Julius, who was said to be the strongest being alive, died just a few weeks ago.
"I shall do as you wish, Your Majesty.", Pierre bowed.
"... And I know this will be a foolish request, but I want you to swear that none shall ever happen to my sister and the prince that will cause then harm. I beg you.", Pierre kneeled, keeping his head down. This is the only thing he can do in this situation.
Pierre knew that the Emperor will give him an unreasonable request to let him stay out of the Imperial Palace. Leopold can even have him build a fort from the demolished Demon King's castle inside the Desolate Zone, but Pierre already thought about that.
Then the air in the room suddenly vibrated and became tensed, making it hard to breathe for the silly left ministers! A golden aura surrounded the golden throne of the emperor, rampaging like a wild fire in lush forest.
"You think I will bring harm to my own blood and beloved wife? You must be really foolish, brother in-law.", Leopold stared at Pierre, his voice serious and irked. His voice trembled in anger together with the vibrating pillars in the room.
Pierre didn't answer and continued to kneel. He waited for Leopold to say the words that he wanted him to say. And that made it become an even dangerous situation for the weaker ministers inside the throne room.
"Please calm yourself, Your Majesty! Your loyal subjects are suffering together with Lord Commander!", Viscount Lent kowtowed on the ground, under the immense pressure from the Emperor's aura. His loyalty to throne cannot be stopped by anyone, not even the Emperor.
'What is with this ass licking bastard's loyalty?! He risks his life just to look good in front of the Emperor... Hmmp, not like I care anyway.', Pierre stared at the suffering face of Viscount Lent while easily warding off the oppressive golden aura of Leopold.
Seeing that his stubborn Legion Commander didn't say anything and only resisted him, Leopold just sighed and retracted his aura. "Why all the De'arcs so stubborn in your words? I hope my son never gets that attitude or I will diligently discipline him. Alright, alright, get up, Lord Pierre... I swear that no harm will get close to my wife and my son until the Legion Commander comes back! Are you happy now?"
Pierre just smiled at him, then bowed, "I shall take my leave then, brother in-law. I hope you will keep your promise until I get back victorious."
Pierre then left the throne room, paying attention to the ministers that was staring at him intently until he got out.
'Wait for me until I return, you foolish cowards! I'll burn you with my own spear when I found out you did something!', Pierre thought while nodding at the guards at the door.
Wearing his dark red armor, the Legion Commander walked passed the hallway towards the room where the said to be the most talented people resides. Pierre decided to meet the Zodiacs once again.