"What?! You're going to the palace?!" Farah exclaimed, shaking Kaiser's shoulders vigorously
"Yeah, since Amelia invited me, of course, I have to go" Kaiser replied, stepping back to free himself from her grip
"You're about to meet the rulers of this continent, so you need to learn proper etiquette when interacting with them" Zani remarked calmly
"I think so too. Can you teach me about that?" Kaiser asked, turning toward Zani
"I wouldn't know" Zani replied with an expressionless face "Neither Farah nor I have ever set foot in the palace, so we're no different from you in that regard"
"Exactly" Farah interjected, waving her tail to hide her slightly scrunched-up expression "Which is why I think you should ask Myreni. She might know more about these things"
"That makes sense" Kaiser nodded in agreement
"Well then, I'll go see her now. Goodbye, everyone" he said as he stood and made his way toward Myreni's study
When he reached her door, he knocked softly
"Myreni, may I come in?" Kaiser asked.
"Come in, Kaiser" Myreni responded
With her permission, he opened the door and entered. Inside, he found her sipping tea. Wearing glasses that framed her sharp, mature face and her jet-black hair cascading neatly, Myreni exuded an air of seriousness.
"Am I interrupting?" Kaiser asked.
"Not at all. I've finished today's work and was just relaxing" Myreni said, placing her teacup on the table
"So, what brings you to me?" she asked
"Well, I was recently invited to visit the royal palace…"
"The royal?" Myreni cut him off, her tone suddenly icy and distant
Her abrupt change in demeanor caused an invisible pressure to settle in the room, and Kaiser's shoulders trembled unconsciously
Realizing her reaction, Myreni quickly composed herself and apologized
"Sorry, Kaiser. It's just that I don't have the best experiences with the royal family" she said, removing her glasses and rubbing her eyes wearily
'Not the best experiences with the royal family?' Kaiser thought, surprised by her words
He recalled the time he'd mentioned Amelia to her before 'Now that I think about it, she didn't seem too happy when I brought up Amelia last time' he mused
"Was it Amelia who invited you?" Myreni asked, her usual calm demeanor returning
"Y-Yes" Kaiser stammered, pulled out of his thoughts by her question
"Then you want me to teach you proper etiquette, don't you?" she asked, brushing her fingers through her black hair
"That's right. Amelia mentioned I'd be meeting her father and brother, so I want to make sure I behave appropriately in front of them" he replied
After a moment of contemplation, Myreni nodded "Alright, I'll teach you"
"Thank you, Myreni" Kaiser said gratefully
She spent the rest of the evening teaching him the basics, such as greetings and conversational etiquette. The brief lesson concluded within the same day, as Kaiser quickly grasped everything
The next morning, Kaiser stood outside the gate of his mansion, his appearance meticulously prepared. He was waiting for the carriage Amelia mentioned she would send to escort him to the palace. Not long after, a luxurious carriage arrived, pulling up gracefully to the gates
The carriage was primarily white with golden accents, bearing the emblem of a bird with outstretched wings, a symbol of the Zephyros continent, representing the people's spirit of freedom
"Greetings, sir. My name is Bob, and I'll be escorting you to the palace" the coachman said as he stepped down and bowed
"Thank you, Bob. But I'm just a commoner; there's no need for such formalities with me. My name's Kaiser, and I look forward to your guidance" Kaiser replied
A brief look of surprise flashed across Bob's face before he composed himself and nodded. "Thank you, sir. I'll keep that in mind" He then opened the carriage door "Please, step inside"
Kaiser nodded and entered the carriage. As he sat down, he was immediately struck by the opulence. The interior was adorned with intricate golden patterns, and the seat was even more comfortable than his own bed
The journey quickly began, and after about an hour, the carriage came to a halt. Bob opened the door, helping Kaiser out of the carriage. As Kaiser stepped down, he couldn't help but marvel at the view before him
From a distance, the Royal Palace was a magnificent sight, its pristine white exterior gleaming against the blue sky and lush greenery. Elegant and symmetrical architectural lines exuded harmony, while beautifully landscaped gardens surrounded the palace with neatly trimmed hedges, gravel pathways, and blooming flowers
While Kaiser admired the palace's grandeur, a knight approached him
"Greetings, sir. I've been assigned by Princess Amelia to escort you," the knight said.
"Please, lead the way" Kaiser replied
The knight guided Kaiser into the palace. Everywhere he looked, the interiors were adorned with expensive decorations—detailed paintings, exquisite vases, and luxurious furnishings. After walking for a while, Kaiser spotted Amelia in the distance, her figure instantly recognizable. She was running toward him at full speed
"Princess, you can't run in the hallway!" a voice called after her
Amelia stopped abruptly in front of him, grabbing his arm "Kaiser, you're finally here! I'm so glad you came" she said, shaking his arm excitedly. Over the days they'd spent together, the two had grown close, and Amelia had started to show more of her genuine emotions
As she enthusiastically shook his arm, Kaiser found himself overwhelmed by her appearance. She wore a white dress made of soft, flowing fabric that swayed with her every step. Its simple design highlighted her natural beauty. Since he was used to seeing her in a cloak, this image struck his heart deeply.
"Huh? Why aren't you saying anything? Are you okay, Kaiser?" Amelia waved her hand in front of his face, snapping him back to reality
"I-I'm just surprised by how stunning you look in that white dress" he quickly replied
His words made Amelia's face turn bright red
"Y-You too… You look great in that outfit as well" she stammered in response
True to her words, Kaiser was wearing a white turtleneck sweater paired with black trousers. As usual, his appearance was striking.
"Thank you" Kaiser said with a warm smile
"W-Well then, let's go meet my father and brother. After that, we can explore the palace" Amelia said, pulling his hand as she led him further into the palace
Kaiser and Amelia walked through the grand halls of the palace, where the light from the crystal chandeliers reflected off the marble walls, creating an atmosphere that was both majestic and warm. Leading him into a vast hall adorned with historical paintings and intricate tapestries, Amelia softly spoke,
"My father and brother are in there. They'll be delighted to meet you."
The grand, intricately carved doors swung open, and Kaiser was greeted by the hearty laughter of two men sitting together at a long table. He had been introduced to these two figures by Myreni just yesterday.
One was Emperor Arthur Zephis, a middle-aged man with lightly graying hair that only enhanced his commanding presence. He wore a simple yet dignified ceremonial outfit, and his kind eyes and warm smile immediately conveyed a sense of approachability.
Seated beside him was Amiel Zephis, Amelia's brother and heir to the throne. Amiel exuded youth and energy, with his shimmering white hair and sharp, intelligent eyes. He wore a plain white shirt, lacking the ostentation one might expect from a prince, yet his confident demeanor and radiant smile made him the focal point of the room. Around them, numerous knights stood guard, a subtle reminder of the unparalleled importance of these two men on the continent
"Greetings, Your Majesty" Kaiser knelt and bowed his head respectfully
"So, this is Kaiser?" Emperor Arthur stood and approached, shaking Kaiser's hand with just enough firmness to convey sincerity "Amelia has told me much about you. I must say, your appearance is as remarkable as she described"
"Father!" Amelia quickly intervened, trying to prevent Arthur from saying more
"You flatter me, Your Majesty" Kaiser replied with calm composure and unwavering politeness.
Amiel chuckled, patting Kaiser's shoulder in a friendly manner "Oh, no need to be so formal. Just call me Amiel. Amelia says you're quite adept at conversation. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better"
"It would be my honor, Your Highness" Kaiser responded
"Now, stand up. Today, you're here to enjoy time with my daughter, not discuss state affairs," Arthur said cheerfully.
"Thank you, Your Majesty" Kaiser said carefully
"You're free to explore. It seems my daughter can hardly wait another second," Arthur remarked, glancing at Amelia, whose face turned red with embarrassment.
"Take good care of my daughter" he added with a lighthearted tone
"Of course, Your Majesty. I'll remember that" Kaiser promised
At his words, Amelia quickly stepped forward, taking Kaiser by the arm and pulling him away
"Goodbye, Father, Brother. We'll be off now" she said, waving as they left.
Once Kaiser and Amelia had left the room, Arthur and Amiel's expressions shifted immediately
"What do you think?" Arthur asked
"Too striking" Amiel replied
"Indeed. That boy's appearance is far too distinctive. He's certainly not just some homeless orphan" Arthur said, stroking his chin thoughtfully "Have your men investigate his background thoroughly. I don't want any trouble with someone who has black hair again" His voice grew heavy as he spoke the last part
"Yes, Father. I'll do it" Amiel replied
"There's no need for that" an unexpected voice echoed from the corner of the room
"Protect the Emperor!" The knights immediately drew their weapons and pointed them toward the source of the voice. Both the Emperor and the Crown Prince became visibly alert as they turned to face a cloaked figure standing across the room.
The figure remained still, undeterred by the drawn blades. His ember-colored eyes glowed, and waves of blue energy radiated around him, creating an immense pressure that filled the room.
"A N-Nova?" The people in the room quickly grasped the caliber of the intruder.
The cloaked man tossed a small object toward the Emperor, who instinctively caught it.
"Do not even think of investigating that boy" the mysterious man warned before vanishing as abruptly as he had appeared.
Arthur regained his composure and examined the item he had caught. However, his expression quickly shifted to one of horror.
"What is it, Father?" Amiel asked, noticing the change in his demeanor
A brief silence filled the room before Arthur, his voice trembling, finally replied
"T-The Aiz family"