Meeting [1]

[Nine days later]

[Pargoina Empire]

[Royal Palace]

In the majestic palace situated at the very center of the capital city, royal guards patrolled the entire area, their bodies tense, for they all knew who was present inside the palace.

After the incident in Ekari Kingdom, the whole empire was in turmoil; it had been more than a decade since any member of the royal family in the human domain had been blatantly targeted like that.

Step.

Step.

Within the hallway of the palace, a middle-aged man with light blonde hair and matching eye color walked with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Imperial Commander."

The passing royal guards immediately bowed their heads as he walked past them.

Drake Cuevas, the Imperial Commander of the empire and the father of Keegan Cuevas.

Step.

His steps halted in front of a huge door as he stood there.

"Huff..."

Exhaling softly, he knocked on the door before entering, and as soon as he did, a wave of pure mana pressure assaulted him.

He flinched slightly before composing himself and walked in front of the middle-aged man sitting at the head chair with long dark blonde hair and eyes.

"Your Majesty."

Drake bowed in utmost respect.

"Hmm, how are things going, Drake?"

Quinton Nara Pargoina, the emperor of Pargoina, looked at Drake, his piercing eyes boring into him as he asked.

"Everything is prepared, Your Majesty." Drake replied as he straightened his back before standing beside him, "...The rest of the Dukes will arrive shortly."

"Paul and Randall will also be here, right?" Quinton asked again, looking around the empty round table.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Drake replied firmly as the door of the meeting hall opened once again.

This time, a girl entered.

Her hair cascaded in soft waves down her back, a captivating blend of strawberry blonde.

Her eyes, a mix of green and amber, shimmered with intelligence.

Her fair complexion complemented her beautiful face.

She is the first princess of the empire, Sylvania Alea Pargoina.

"Father."

Arriving in front of Quinton, she bowed slightly, greeting him.

"Take your seat."

He instructed sternly, making her nod and take a seat on his left.

The door swung open once again, and this time, five people entered the meeting hall.

Leading them was a middle-aged man with brownish-black hair and the demeanor of a warrior, the current head of the Mairac Dukedom, and one of the most powerful fighters in the empire, Alvin Sai Mairac, father of Miley and Lucas.

Walking beside him was a tall, imposing man with a stern expression, slightly nervous, and piercing blue eyes like his hair.

He was Azariah's father-in-law and Christina's father, David Shea Mendonca.

Behind them was a grey-haired man with a gentle look on his face, walking calmly and composedly, his eyes fixed on the emperor.

Walking beside him was a handsome man with short silver hair and piercing crimson eyes that resembled his daughter's.

His expression was composed, borderline stoic, as he moved with his hands clasped behind his back.

Randall Del Estiere, father of Shyamal and the earl of the empire.

Lastly, behind them walked a mature woman with a beautiful face adorned with light green hair that touched her shoulders, matched by the same color eyes.

She is Counselor Nevaeh Hampton, mother of Ivan.

"Your Majesty."

All of them bowed slightly, greeting him in unison.

"Take your seat."

Nodding, Quinton said, his voice a little husky. All of them took their seats except David.

"...Is there something you want to say?" Quinton asked, tilting his neck a little.

"...I sincerely apologize for what happened because of my daughter." David bowed his head, his voice rough. "...I didn't want this to happen."

"...It's fine."

Quinton waved his hand nonchalantly, but his voice was unpleasant, "...Honestly, I was hoping for your daughter's engagement to break with him."

"...Why, father?" Sylvania asked curiously, glancing at him. "...Is it because you wanted Christina to marry Jonathan?"

"...No, foolish girl." Instead of Quinton, the one who replied was Nevaeh. "...He wanted to marry Esmeray's son with you."

"...Why?" Nevaeh's words didn't faze her even a little bit as she replied.

"....I thought father didn't want to marry me within the empire."

"...Not until he started to use mana." Quinton replied to his daughter's query. "...Things changed when Esmeray's son started to show his talent."

Sylvania nodded her head slightly, her expression unreadable as she turned silent.

"Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty." Drake whispered softly, standing beside him.

"...But wouldn't it have been better to marry Lady Arianell than Lady Sylvania, who is five years older than him?"

"...Doesn't your son like Arianell, my old friend?" With a chuckle, he asked, glancing at him.

"It doesn't matter; the empire comes first." Drake replied firmly, without a shred of emotion.

"Is that so?" Quinton mumbled. Ignoring his previous question and sensing his lack of response, Drake also quieted down.

"..Your daughter is truly cunning, David." Nevaeh's comment made him focus on her. "...By sacrificing her virginity, she secured the Aljanah bloodline in your family—"

"...Say one more thing about my daughter, and I will make sure you remain in bed for an entire year."

David threatened, his voice low but the turmoil of mana around him showing how serious he was.

"David." Quinton interjected, making him calm down while Nevaeh looked at him in amusement. "...Take your seat."

"...Yes, Your Majesty." Bowing slightly, he took his seat.

The door opened up once again, and this time, a mature woman entered.

Her face, a masterpiece of sculpted beauty, displayed high cheekbones and a perfectly symmetrical structure.

Her skin was smooth and flawless, with a pale, porcelain quality that contrasted strikingly with her dark platinum hair.

Her eyes, a piercing shade of grey, devoid of visible emotion.

Without greeting anyone, she sat down in her seat.

"...Show some respect, Lady Esmera—"

"..It's fine." Quinton interjected Drake's annoyed words as he looked at Esmeray. "...You took your time."

"..Why was I called here, Quinton?" Ignoring his comment, she asked, comfortably sitting in her chair.

"...Paul." Quinton sighed as he called on Oliver and Aimar's father. "...Tell everything that happened in Ekari Kingdom."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Paul stood up from his seat as he recounted all the events that happened in Ekari Kingdom.

From the negotiation between the empire and the kingdom to the massacre that occurred at the birthday party of Inës.

Complete silence fell in the hall as all of them sat quietly, processing all the information they had received.

"...So, what's the Church's response to this?" Quinton was the first to compose himself as he asked, looking at Nevaeh. "...What are they doing about it?"

"...They are using this to their leverage." She replied, shaking her head.

"...But they are not being too forceful about it because most of those who died in the massacre were against the Church."

"Hmm, anything else?" He asked again, nodding his head.

"...And this isn't helping much."

She mumbled, taking out a tablet and playing a video—in which Azariah walked inside the hall the moment Irisveil said the word [Exiled Prince].

"The Ekari Kingdom is doing their best to suppress the video." Paul added, looking at him. "...But we can't be sure if it gets 'accidentally' leaked."

"I heard the youngest princess threw a tantrum." Quinton asked, "..What was that about?"

"...She wanted everyone to know that Azariah was the one who saved her." Paul replied softly, rubbing his brows.

"...But the Church made sure that this news remained hidden from the masses."

"...How obvious are they going to be?" With a chuckle, Nevaeh commented before looking at Esmeray.

"...What are you going to do if they try to frame your son?"

"...They can try." She replied nonchalantly. "...It's not like he really is the one they are looking for."

"...What about the Hesperia Kingdom?" They shifted their focus to David as he asked, "...Anything about them?"

"...No clue." Paul replied, shaking his head. "...Honestly, everything that happened that day is shrouded in mystery."

"...Any news about Delwyn?" David pressed further. "...We never found his body; maybe he is still—"

"David." Sighing heavily, Paul interjected. "...Everyone related to that kingdom is dea—"

"Ailsa had the clue, she told me. She was close to knowing what happened to her kingdom!!"

Slamming his hand on the table, David rebuked, glaring at Esmeray. "...But her entire family was executed before she could do anything!!"

"Heimdall family were executed for being traitors—"

"Shut up!!" He exclaimed, glaring at Paul who tried to interfere.

"...How pathetic can you be, David?" Esmeray asked, her voice laced with disgust and contempt. "...Still mourning over a dead woman."

"...Mind your words, Esmer—"

"..In case you forgot, let me remind you." She sharply interjected, her lifeless eyes boring into him.

".... Ailsa Hesperia rejected your love and married into the Heimdall family and gave birth to a boy named Asher....

....Then there's you, whose wife died without knowing what love is because you couldn't get over Ailsa."

"... Lady Esmeray, leave it—" Paul tried to interfere again, but one look from her made him stop.

"You also wanted Christina to marry Asher, right?" Esmeray questioned, making him look at her. "...Why? Was it because you wanted to be close with her, huh?"

"You don't know anything—"

"And yeah, remember how your negligence almost made your daughter kill her infant brother?" She added, looking down at him as he stumbled back into his seat.

"...Had Azariah not been there, you would have lost both of them that day."

"Sigh..."

David sighed tiredly, closing his eyes, excluding himself from the conversation.

Silence reigned for a few moments, heavy and uncomfortable, until Quinton cleared his throat. "Anyway, onto the next topic, about the Shyamal."

They all shifted their focus to Randall, hearing his words.

"...Before we start," Esmeray took the lead, looking at him. "....Are you still fixated on that?"

"...I am doing what's necessary, Lady Esmeray," he replied solemnly.

"...Are you sure?" Quinton asked, frowning. "...She is your daughte—"

"...I am sure." Randall interjected, taking a deep breath, his expression turning ruthless.

"...I want the Vessel dead."