As they walked through the halls, the sound of their footsteps echoed against the walls, filling the quiet atmosphere. The Royals walked in a straight line, each lost in their own thoughts as they passed by the luxurious decorations and the intricate designs of the walls. The butlers and maids that saw them coming would immediately stop in their tracks and bow deeply out of respect, acknowledging the Royals' position of power and authority.
The lighting in the hall was dim, casting long shadows that seemed to follow them as they walked. The air was filled with the faint scent of lavender, a fragrance that seemed to be the signature of Saint Levara's estate. The silence that had fallen over the group was almost deafening, each step of their feet only serving to amplify it.
Despite the stillness, there was an air of anticipation among the Royals. They were walking to the King's chambers, after all. For most people in Setale, even the possibility of being in the same room as the King was a distant dream. But for them, it was a reality. It was a chance to meet the enigmatic ruler of their country and perhaps gain some insight into his true nature.
Akane leaned in close to Lars, her lips curving into a sly smile as she whispered, "Are you excited?" Her half-lidded gaze met his, sending a thrill through him. "It's going to be my first time meeting him too," she added with a playful flick of her hair.
Lars felt a warmth spread through his body as Akane's breath tickled his ear. He couldn't help but notice how her smile and the way she moved her hair was enticing, her every movement graceful and alluring. He tried to maintain his composure, but he couldn't help but feel the excitement building up inside him.
"Y-yes," Lars stuttered, trying to maintain eye contact with Akane but finding it difficult. "I am excited." He cleared his throat, hoping to regain some semblance of composure. "I mean, it's not every day you get to meet the King, right?"
He gave Akane a small smile, hoping to convey his enthusiasm without being too obvious about it. The thought of being in her company, and in the presence of the King, made his heart race. He could feel the anticipation building up inside him, and he knew that this was going to be a momentous occasion, one that he would never forget.
Genichiro cleared his throat, shifting his weight from one foot to the other as he interjected into Akane and Lars' conversation. "If I may," he began, catching Akane's attention. "As newcomers to the Royals, the King has yet to formally perform the accolade ceremony on the two of you," he explained. "It's a tradition that signifies the induction of a new Knight into the Royals, and it sets you both as real Knights in the eyes of the people of Setale."
He paused for a moment, his eyes scanning Akane's face to see if she understood the significance of the ceremony. "As for the ceremony itself, it will be a grand affair, fit for the occasion. The King will be there, along with the most prominent members of the court. You'll be given an audience in front of them all."
"Ooh! I was taught about it when I was learning to be a butler." Lars stated.
Akane's mind drifted as she imagined the grandeur of a knighthood ceremony. She wondered if the Setalian's way of knighting was the same as in her world, where the King would tap the knight on the shoulders with a sword, signifying their duty to the Kingdom. As she walked, she couldn't help but imagine the moment when she would be called upon to kneel before the King and be acknowledged as a true knight. She thought about how the ceremony would be, the grandeur of the occasion, and the sense of pride she would feel once the accolade was bestowed upon her.
However, the thought of kneeling before someone else once again put a slightly sour taste in her mouth. She had been forced to bow down to many people in the past, and the memories of those experiences still lingered in the back of her mind.
She'll simply come up with an alternative to kneeling if she needs to.
Snapping out of her thoughts, she saw Ayenna and Ghazal speaking to her, as Shu awkwardly walked in between the two groups. He had a solemn look on his face, making it clear he wanted to get this over with.
Akane turned to her Knights as she winked. "Wait here for a second, okay?" She stated, as both Genichiro and Lars watched as she turned towards Shu and began to walk his direction.
As Akane approached him, she swayed her hips seductively, adding a flirtatious touch to her movements. She batted her eyelashes playfully, her lips curling up into a mischievous smile.
When she reached him, she lightly tapped his shoulder with her hand, her fingers brushing against his skin in a deliberate, almost sensual manner. "Shuuu~," she purred, drawing out the syllables of his name and adding a seductive lilt to her voice.
Shu turned to face her, his expression sour and his eyes filled with irritation. Akane's playful demeanor didn't seem to be doing much to ease his frustration. "What do you want?" He said in a harsh, solid whisper.
"I just wanted to check up on you, you seemed pretty down," Akane stated, tilting her head as she looked deep into Shu's eyes. "Besides, we're friends now aren't we?" She stated with her signature smile, attempting to capture Shu's heart.
"I'm fine, and we're not friends," Shu stated coldly, knocking her hand off his shoulder as he attempted to ignore her.
Slightly irked at her failure, Akane walked back up to him, tilting her head as she looked at him innocently. "What's wrong? I thought we made up?" She said in a slightly higher pitched tone, on the surface appearing innocent, while in reality, she was just watching to see his expression.
Shu's veins began to pop as those words escaped her mouth. The past hour, everything that had happened simply elevated his anger. It kept piling further and further up, and he just had to sit back and hold it in.
With a smug expression, Akane gazed at Shu, attempting to seduce him with her fiery gaze. She batted her eyelashes and licked her lips, trying to appear enticing.
"Let me make something clear here. The only reason I didn't incinerate you and that entire room was because of all the people you have this 'spell' cast on. Unlike Genichiro over there, I'm not so easily swayed by a simple batting of your eyelashes." He stated, his eyes borderline about to bloodshot, as he attempted to keep his voice down. "Frankly, you disgust me, you dirty whore." He stated, scoffing as he walked past her.
Akane simply watched him walk past, her expression on the outside unchanging. On the inside, though, a spite of anger struck her mind. But, this was fine. She didn't mind a small game of cat and mouse. Shu had actually helped her, he gave her something to do to replace her boredom.
Genichiro and Lars silently stepped back up to her, as Akane dropped her smile and appeared slightly sad, causing Genichiro to stare daggers into the back of Shu.
Eventually, after ten minutes of walking through the Central Authority, the Royal Palace of the King, the group reached two massive doors that dwarfed the ones in Saint Levara.
"We've arrived. Don't make a fool of yourselves." Ghazal stated as he lightly touched his hand on the door.
As Ghazal touched the door, the spiraling white mist spread throughout the crevices in the door, like tendrils of mist coiling around the frame. The mist began to glow, gradually emitting a bright white light that illuminated the hallway.
As the doors opened, the Royals stepped into a vast space. The room was incredibly spacious, with towering walls of white marble that gleamed under the bright lights that hung from the high ceiling. The floors were polished to a high sheen, reflecting the light and creating the illusion of a never-ending space. The air was heavy with the scent of incense, adding to the regal atmosphere of the room.
At the end of the room sat the King's Throne, an ornate chair of gold and silver, adorned with precious stones that glinted in the light. An older man, presumably the King sat atop the throne, looking regal and imposing in his flowing robes of deep purple, and his small golden crown which wrapped around his mostly bald head. To the right and left of the throne were two massive pillars, their surfaces engraved with intricate patterns and scenes of great battles and victories.
To the sides of the throne room, separated by a velvet rope, stood the audience. The Royals could see the anticipation and excitement in their faces, as they eagerly awaited the audience with their King. Among the crowd were people of all kinds, from commoners to the wealthiest of the wealthy. Each wore their finest clothes, and their demeanor conveyed the importance of this moment.
Lars' eyes wandered around the throne room, taking in every intricate detail of the gold-plated walls and the gleaming crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The room was so grand and opulent, it was hard to believe that it was real. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the hall, making him feel small and insignificant compared to the magnificence of the space.
As he approached the front of the room, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest. He was about to meet the King, or at least stand in his presence. It was generally the publics opinion that the King was the most powerful man in Setale, and he couldn't help but feel a little intimidated.
He straightened his back and tried to put on his most confident face, but he couldn't shake off the feeling that he didn't belong there.
Shu, on the other hand, seemed less impressed by the grandeur of the room. He had grown up surrounded by the trappings of royalty and had seen many throne rooms in his lifetime. What caught his attention instead was the figure seated on the throne. The King was not what he had expected. He was an old man, frail and balding, with a thin crown perched on his head. Shu felt a tinge of disappointment, wondering if this was all there was to the mighty ruler of Setale. Perhaps this is what Ayenna meant when she said to keep his expectations moderate.
Akane ignored the King entirely, looking at what was around him. The Throne Room was positively beautiful, a level of wealth that she'd never seen before. But even beyond that, the audience of the King, a massive amount of people that would give their lives just to be able to exist in the room she was in currently. That concept, that attention the King was getting, she wanted it.
The sound of her own heart pounding in her chest filled her ears as she gazed up at the throne, where the King sat, his regal presence commanding respect and admiration from all those around him. Akane's eyes trailed down to the intricate design of the throne, decorated with jewels and gold, glinting in the light. But even with all the grandeur and majesty of the Throne Room, the sheer amount of people present, all there to bask in the presence of the King, was awe-inspiring to her.
The feeling of admiration and desire to be the center of attention filled her heart. She could see herself on the throne, with people lining up just to catch a glimpse of her, to hear her words. She wanted it more than anything, and she would do whatever it took to get there.
The audience chattered as the Royals entered the room, commenting on Royals, both new and old. Their words were quickly shut down with a single, booming voice.