My room is quite dark as I've decided to start today early. At the feet of my bed is the outfit that I'll wear to the conference later this evening. It's the standard, a slim uniform with gold accents across the black fabric. I quickly wash up and get changed while my maids finish keeping my equipment. I set off for the main hall as usual for a morning roll call.
Luna greets me with a smile as I walk towards her. Today she's wearing a black uniform that matches mine. The others are wearing similar uniforms that also match the look of mine, I address them and explain today's schedule. The conference being held later today will take place in the city hall after midday.
Just as I finish one of the maids rushes in, she looks like she has something urgent to say to me.
"SIr, a noble from the House of Cecille has arrived at the front door. She is demanding an audience with you and won't take no for an answer."
I'm puzzled, "She? Ekaterine, do you mean Lucia is here?"
Ekaterina raises her head in question, "Apologies Sir but, who is that?"
Jin smirks and smugly crosses his arms, "Ho-ho, has our Helio been flirting while he was away from the frontlines?"
I glare at him and sigh, "I've known Lucia for a long time Jin before I made you, my knight. You could say she's my second childhood friend after Lin."
They turn towards Lin who's silent. Turns her head away.
I suppose she's jealous that I've been talking with other women, fair but I've been with Lin far longer than anyone else.
As I walk towards the main corridor something changes at me and knocks me over, hair covers my face as I try to get up. I realized that Lucia entered the mansion impatiently to see me and bumped into me as she was running. What a commotion, my knights are laughing as if they've been gassed.
"Ouch. Oh, hey there Helio! Didn't see you there, sorry."
"It's fine Lucia, next time wait for me to open the door if you really can't wait."
Lucia slumps her shoulders a bit, "Okay."
She dusts off her skirt as she gets up and puts her hand behind her back to bow.
I shake my hands in protest, "You don't need to bow to me, in legitimacy I have nowhere near as much standing as you do."
"I'm not bowing because I think you have a higher standing than me, you have dark magic right? Clearly you're stronger than my entire family in terms of magic!"
"Still, if someone else saw that you'd be in question."
I sigh and greet her knights; I invite them inside the conference room. My knights stand guard outside the room. We sit down and the maids bring us tea and a few snacks.
"So, you didn't just come here for a visit, did you?" I ask.
"Precise as always Helio." She signals her guards to leave."
We wait for them to exit the room before Lucia begins to speak.
"I'm sure you know how hard it's going to be for you later today."
I nod in agreement, "Yeah, the conference is going to be quite a pain but it's worth the hassle. It's been quite a long time since I've spoken to the other nobles, much less the King and Prince themselves. I hope I don't stutter."
She giggles, "Don't sweat it. You have quite the silver tongue and alongside your intelligence I doubt any of the sort."
I'm glad she said that I've never been praised much with such honesty. My parents wouldn't give mind to me whenever I'd advance or work my ass off trying new things.
We continue talking until Jin knocks on the door.
"Are you lovebirds done talking? We better leave now, or we'll be late to Sir Helio's first official conference."
"My apologies for keeping you so long, I shall be on my way as well and Helio." She grabs my shoulder, "Good luck."
"Thanks."
She leaves and I follow her. Lin greets me with a pout as she joins me Steia and Jin to our carriage. Kayden's already waiting to pull the carriage as we approach a huge chariot. Its walls are painted a dark black with streaks of red and gold splattered like blood and sweat. The wheel's polished and the top decorated generously in gold ornaments.
"Quite the extravaganza my lord, no?"
"Indeed, it is quite extravagant Kayden, I'll leave Toad and Shion with you when we arrive."
"Yes Sir!"
We enter and Kayden gets the horses running, the streets are filled with people of both high and low ranking. Any event like the recent would certainly attract huge audiences, I just hope it won't distract me.
Many other chariots follow and soon there's around 30 chariots all riding to the main hall for this event. Alongside The King and Prince, I see many familias like the Leon Familia and Asterix Familia which Lucia comes from, alongside The King and Prince. Before long we arrive, and Kayden stops the horses.
"Sir we've arrived. I bid you good luck!"
"My most thanks Kayden."
He waves off and tends to the chariot.
As we approach the doors, I can already begin to hear the snickering and talk behind my back, mostly about my appearance. Lin is obviously aggravated at this and decides she wants to intervene.
"Good evening, Sir, I wonder if you could do a favour for me."
The Noble replies with a look of disgust, "What could someone like you ask me that I have not been asked before?"
"Please stop speaking bad of my lord. Your behaviour towards him is not only unwarranted but out of place."
"And what right do you have to tell me that? It's as if your master has some way to make me fear him, no?"
I turn my back towards Lin, intending to get her to back off but instead the Noble sees it and turns away in fear. Lin returns to my side as I sigh. Now I'm in the spotlight.
We enter the main hall and the first thing I see is the huge displays of multiple national treasures ranging from weapons to paintings and jewellery. Each piece is heavily guarded to fend off robbery and the guards aren't half bad either. The lightning is mostly natural as the ceiling is a gigantic glass pane coloured to show the tales of many heros. The light going through the pane falls onto a huge conference table where the King sits at the end, awaiting everyone's arrival. All the head Nobles take a seat one by one until the seats are filled. The King signals his guard to close the door. The guard does so and with a bang the conference has begun.
"I am most thankful to see everyone I invited is indeed present. I hoped that the major Familias could attend as even I am a bit taken aback because of this situation."
A tall man barely older than me with red hair speaks up, his golden jewelry flashing as he talks. "My King, may I present to the company what you have gathered so far?"
"Do as you like Mikhail."
Mikhail bows and begins.
The document he reads has a recollection of my parent's assault and my outbreak and collapse, then he says my familia situation and who the new Familia lead should be. When he's finished many of the nobles have faces of uncertainty and others have ones of thought and disbelief. Some of them are talking to their guests around them, probably on what to do next and the situation. My brother is the first to speak.
"What the King's attendant says is true. Even though I've been receiving the love and attention of my parents, I always knew that it was undeserved." He begins, "As we've all heard, Helio is quite well experienced not only in the sword but magic too, even though I am older I can't compare to him. I suggest Helio to be the next leader-"
"So what? Just because he's so competent does not get him a free pass. I've also been working hard to earn my title and so have you Atlus. I refuse it." My cousin Arianna says while flashing her pride. "You can't just go around deciding what's what brother, even as the eldest you don't have that right." She continues.
"Yes, brother Atlus may not have the right but neither do you dear sister." Michael, her younger brother says.
My sister also begins siding with Arianna, the other nobles also join in telling their own thoughts on the matter. I can tell The King is annoyed by the back-and-forth arguing when he stands.
"Silence, we came here to speak as civil beings, not argue."
My brother looks in disappointment, "I expected this to happen, so If I may." He looks to the King. "I purpose we have a contest tomorrow to see who'll lead us, the other nobles may enter to gain control over our familia as well."
"I agree to this, a contest will not only prove Sir Helio's ability but also prove that the familia can function properly without the former leaders. Any objections?"
"Not an objection but a suggestion of sorts." Someone says.
"And what do you suggest, Lady Lucia?"
"As someone who has gotten to know not only the Leios Familia but also Lord Helio, I believe the contest should be tomorrow."
"Why not, and even if we change the date when?" The King questions.
"Seeing as Lord Helio is fully recovered I don't think it's a bad idea to start it today." She says with a smile.
The King sits down and speaks to Mikhail on the side. After some time, he looks back and speaks his mind. "Since it is still evening, I suppose we can do the contest today, the arena is being sorted as we speak. I wish those who compete luck."
The conference ends as he leaves the room.
As I get up my brother runs towards me, "Helio, it has been a while is not it, you were quiet during the entire conference. Are you all, right?" he asks.
"I'm fine but I was quite impressed by how defiant Arianna was, I never expected Uncle Jason to not keep her in check." I replied.
"Ah then you must've not heard, it's expected since you've been on the frontlines for a while. Uncles Jason and Aunt Maria have both stepped down for their branch of the familia, that's why Arianna was there with her servants." He tells me.
"I see, I have been away for too long indeed. I'll catch up with you later after the contest."
"Good luck brother and also, be careful I haven't seen what Arianna's been doing for the past few years."
He pats my shoulder and leaves.
I look back to Lin and Jin who have been waiting for me.
"You guys wanna go prep now or?"
"You haven't seen man-to-man combat like this in a while. Why not!" Jin says with excitement.
Lin Bonks his head, "Don't be so loud, I'll also help you Sir."
"Thanks then."
"Ow…"
After getting my belongings we arrive at the area around sunset ready to face off against the other nobles. When I enter the area one of the King's servants welcomes me and leads me to the room where the other contestants are. I tell Jin and Lin to stay behind and watch me from the stands, they nod and leave off.
The room is filled with people from other Familia's and my own, all decked out in armour and weapons ready to compete. The first person I see is Arianna who looks at me with displeasure and beside her is my sister, Julia. The rest of the room is filled with people from both the Lune and Flare familia's, I suppose their heirs are competing for control over the Leios'. The announcer comes on. "The first match will begin in 5 minutes, all attending this round please report to the stadium now!"
My sister and one of the two Lune familia members walked out and onto the stage. My sister grabs her falchion and heads out while the Lune member takes a longsword. The longsword scraps on the ground loudly as they leave. I look back to my cousin as she has a face of certainty towards my sister's victory. Moments later my sister returns perfectly fine while the Lune member is covered in scratches and bruises.
"The second match begins in 5 minutes, please approach the stadium!" The announcer says.
I grab my swords and head out; I look behind myself once I leave and see Arianna following me. The stadium is right outside so travel is short. I get to the stadium but before I even see it, I can hear it, the people in the stands are excited to watch the fights.
I enter and see many familia leaders and other nobles sitting near the King and Prince, all staring at me in anticipation of the fight. I look back and enter the arena, Arianna takes the side opposite me.
"The most anticipated fight begins now!"
"3!
"2."
"1."
My heart beats like crazy.
"Begin!"