When a person is awakened just as they are drifting into slumber, they typically feel quite disheartened. Count Leyman, the highest official of New Athens City, currently finds himself in such a melancholic state. However, he cannot direct his frustration and vent it towards the person who roused him from his slumber. The perpetrator of his sleep disturbance happens to be none other than the ruler of this empire, Emperor Rudolf XIX of the Golden Lion Empire.
It was late at night when the emperor arrived in New Athens. Yet, despite the late hour, the Emperor was anxious to acquire information about a particular individual. As a result, he promptly contacted the city's highest official, Count Leyman, and connected to his video feed. In the brief moments that Leyman reluctantly appeared on the screen, his bleary eyes and disheveled appearance hinted at what lay beyond him. It was with that sight that the Emperor couldn't help but frown. Perhaps prompted by the Emperor's disapproving look, the unfortunate Count Leyman quickly confessed to the intrusion, then terminated the call. When the conversation resumed, Leyman had changed into more presentable attire and was now seated in his private study. Astonishingly, these swift changes took a mere 30 seconds to accomplish. The Emperor couldn't help but ponder that if all his officials exhibited such efficiency, he'd have far fewer headaches to contend with.
"Retrieve information for me on someone named Angel, a young woman residing under your jurisdiction, and her younger brother, Sylvan," the Emperor instructed and then promptly disconnected the call. Leyman, now fully aware that his night's rest was disrupted for good, set out to fulfill the challenging task of identifying a woman with just a first name amid the numerous inhabited planets within the Alpha Galaxy.
Summoning his subordinates and keeping them awake during the night, Leyman mused wickedly while awaiting their response.
The following morning at 9 o'clock, Count Leyman arrived at the Emperor's palace, bearing a folder containing the requested information. Rudolf was in an unusually good mood that morning due to a pleasant dream he'd had. In his dream, he had the chance to reunite with Angel. When he entered the reception room and saw Leyman, he even offered the Count a kind smile.
Witnessing the Emperor's warm smile, Leyman momentarily lost his train of thought. All that remained in his mind was a simple query: "Why is the Emperor smiling at me? Should I be delighted or alarmed? Ordinarily, an Emperor would smile at me only to bestow a reward or plan my demise. Leyman felt beads of perspiration forming on his forehead but dared not wipe them away, still puzzled about the cause of the Emperor's smile. Could it be a sign of dissatisfaction with his work efficiency?
"Cough! Cough!" Rudolf's cough served as a gentle reminder to Leyman, who was momentarily lost in thought. Upon seeing the Emperor's impatience, Leyman recollected his mission and swiftly approached, offering the results of the previous night's labor with both hands.
Seeing the Emperor delve into the information, Leyman proceeded to introduce the details, albeit at a leisurely pace. "Your Majesty, there are 32 administrative planets under the Alpha system, housing a total population of 101.7 billion, including 500 million women named Angela. Among them, 21.29 million women also have a younger brother named Sylvan."
Rudolf, however, was not attentive to Leyman's words. After obtaining the necessary information, he promptly turned to the page for Mu 3 star. He soon discovered Angel's photograph in the dossier and excitedly murmured, "It's her!" Subsequently, he delved into Angel's file with fervor.
"Angel Eagle, female, 18 years old, born in the Galactic Calendar year 8730. She hails from New Athens City, New Athens, Alpha System. Her father, Wolf Eagle, a hereditary baron, passed away in the year 8736 due to a pirate attack, as did her mother, Lao La Ige. She has a younger brother, Sylvan Ige, who is 12 years old. His place of birth was New Athens City, before departing to Priest 3 star as part of an interstellar voyage. Presently, he resides at Eagle Manor in the Alpha System on Priest 3 star. The manor includes a butler, Bob Eagle, aged 73, who has been in service to the Eagle family since the era of Wolf. Furthermore, there is a distant uncle, Jason Eagle, a hereditary baron, presently residing on Planet Mu 3 within the Alpha System..."
After absorbing Angel's story, Rudolf was overcome by a profound sense of sympathy. He had resolved to cherish this young lady and provide her with the finest life had to offer.
"Enough with the introductions. I've found the person I was seeking," the Emperor cut in, ending Leyman's exhaustive explanation. "You've done a commendable job."
Receiving the Emperor's words of praise, Leyman felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from his heart. It appeared that the Emperor's earlier smile had conveyed approval. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I am simply performing the duties of a humble official. I am truly honored by your gracious praise," he conveyed his gratitude while making a discreet attempt to wipe away the sweat from his forehead. The Emperor's kind words had alleviated his anxiety and discomfort.
"Kindly arrange for Baron Jason Eagle to escort his niece, Angel Eagle, to New Athens. I would like to meet them," the Emperor issued fresh instructions to the Count. "However, do not inform them of the purpose. Simply tell them I requested their presence in the city for a meeting."
"As you command, Your Majesty!" Leyman replied, backing out of the palace's conference room. He was determined to swiftly fulfill the Emperor's tasks. This opportunity was precious to him, and he aimed to make the most of it. With any luck, he could leave a lasting impression on the Emperor's good graces and possibly secure a transfer back to the imperial capital. After all, the capital was the heart of the empire, and any official stationed there held a higher standing than a regional governor of the Alpha System. Such thoughts prompted Leyman to hasten his steps.
Jason Eagle, perplexed by the order from Count Leyman, found himself assigned to escort his niece, Angel Eagle, and was instructed to journey to New Athens without delay. He couldn't fathom the reason behind the sudden summons, and he contemplated several possibilities. One unlikely notion was that the Earl had fallen in love with his niece. Nonetheless, this was improbable, for Angel had never left Mu 3 or come into contact with local nobles. Therefore, he ultimately ceased pondering the matter, concluding that it was best to follow the instructions.
During this trip to the capital, Jason chose to bring his nephew, Sylvan, along. Despite his striking resemblance to his late cousin, Wolf, Jason had grown fond of the boy. Each time he saw Sylvan, it stirred memories of his cousin's tragic fate, and this had gradually made him somewhat uncomfortable around the young boy. However, this didn't signify a lack of care; rather, it was a manifestation of his lingering sorrow. On this journey to New Athens, Jason saw it as an opportunity for Sylvan to visit his birthplace
. The Eagle Manor on Mu 3 had been entrusted to the care of their family butler, Bob Eagle.
Sylvan's voyage aboard his Uncle Jason's private spacecraft was filled with excitement. The experience of traveling among the stars far exceeded his initial journey on the "Kitty Hawk." The latter took nearly a year for interstellar voyages, while Jason's vessel reduced the journey to a mere three months. During those months, Sylvan was frequently found at the window, gazing out at the cosmic panorama. The stars never ceased to captivate him, leaving an indelible impression.
Angel, on the other hand, experienced a different set of emotions. Her unease could be attributed to a medley of reasons, ranging from thoughts of past misfortunes along the same route to memories of Green's melancholic expression before parting. It could also be tied to the sudden and enigmatic nature of this journey. Angel's disquiet persisted throughout the three months of travel, only subsiding once she set foot in New Athens.
Unbeknownst to Angel, King Rudolf XIX had kept a vigilant eye on her and her brother's journey. He had even dispatched a team of Praetorian Guards to shadow them discreetly. Therefore, when Jason's spacecraft finally landed, Rudolf was well aware of their impending arrival. The Emperor's emotional state began to mirror that of his younger self, harkening back to his days as a prince eagerly anticipating a rendezvous with the late queen. He felt a mix of nervousness and eager anticipation, a sentiment that transported him to bygone days. It was a nostalgic sensation, one that made him feel decades younger.
Upon landing in New Athens and settling his children into the old Eagle family residence, Jason received a summons from Count Leyman. He heeded the call swiftly. However, when Leyman informed him that the true summoner was none other than the Emperor himself, Jason was flabbergasted. The notion of the Emperor desiring to meet with him felt like an incredible dream.
The meeting with Emperor Rudolf XIX of the Golden Lion Empire became a surreal experience for Jason. When he eventually left the Emperor's palace and returned to the Eagle family's old residence, he could hardly believe that it was all real. The Emperor wished to meet his niece, and the Emperor was already familiar with Angel. Furthermore, the Emperor seemed to contemplate taking Angel as his concubine. This bewildering situation left Jason in a state of disbelief, and he promptly fainted upon returning home.