THE LION'S DEN

The peaceful morning at the Sun Palace was disturbed by the commotion at its gates. The east and south gates were filled with decorated knights, hired by all the noble families of the empire.

It was the father of the Empress, Duke De'arc who ordered them to rally towards the Imperial Palace, not flaunt their strength, but to show the Emperor that the noble families were not easy to be bullied inside and outside the palace.

The imperial guards and mages took their respective positions to greet the incoming group of knights with red capes in their armor, led by none other than the Duke of Basalt, that defended the empire on two fronts just like the only Grand Duke that the empire had, Kelvin Jonas De'arc.

The bystanders outside the gates watched the red-caped knights enter the palace while the Emperor awaits them inside. They were speechless as well as excited to see what will happen next.

"I'm so glad to see you again, Duke De'arc. I didn't expected that you will take the full force of the noble faction here."

The Emperor greeted the leading horseman in red cape with a different armor from the others. The man got off his horse as well as the knights behind him and kneeled.

"We meet the sun and the savior of the empire!", they said.

The leading horseman then took his helmet off and stood face to face with the emperor, his emerald green eyes are filled with burning anger inside, but he seem to have hidden it.

Duke De'arc then smiled and put his hands on Leopold's shoulders.

"Hahaha! I'm just here to meet my grandson, you don't have to meet me here personally like this."

Leopold kept a poker face, an amiable smile with no hostility at all.

"Oh, is that so? Then, what's my father in-law's Basalt Knights doing here with that massive force behind you. You seem to be so excited about the news that your grandson was born, huh?"

Duke Kelvin turned to look behind while laughing like Leopold just said some joke.

"Ahh, that's nothing... They're just so happy by the news, that everyone under my banner came down south with me. This is the quarter of my men! Can you believe how they love my grandson? Hahaha!"

Duke De'arc raised both his arms to show off the soldiers behind him, carrying different banners under the De'arc duchy. The Basalt Knights as well as the soldiers outside the gates all cheered together, banging their shields and shouting.

Leopold's anger flared up as someone was flaunting his powers in front of him, but the De'arc duchy had made many contributions throughout the Regulus family's reign, so Leopold can't just kill them.

"Pierre..."

Kelvin nodded at a Basalt knight that was holding his red spear. The man that the duke ordered has a better cape than him, it has a darker red shade than the duke's.

"FIREBORNES!! SILENCE!!", Pierre shouted, his right arm raised with a clutched fist on his horse.

Then, all the soldiers outside and inside the imperial palace went silent as soon as they heard Pierre's order.

Leopold noticed that the man who shouted used infused gracia on his voice to make it louder, even reaching the southern gate that was a hundred metres away from them.

"Brother in-law, I've never heard your voice for a long time. Why don't you come with us and have some tea to celebrate our reunion.", Leopold called out to Pierre.

"... I'm not worthy to have some tea with you as I am acting as the Basalt Knights Commander right now."

Pierre removed his helmet first before declining Leopold's request for everyone in there to see the burn scar on his neck.

"I apologize on behalf of Pierre. I was the one who ordered him not to leave his duties."

Kelvin tried to lower his head but, Leopold stopped him.

"There's no need for that, father in-law. Why don't you let Pierre see my wife, then. They've never met in a long while, I'm sure she'll be happy to see him again.", Leopold said with a smile.

"Yes... I will also love to see her. But, I have something to talk about with you first.", Duke Kelvin step ahead towards the Sun Palace to tell Leopold that it's time to hear what they were truly here for.

"Make yourself at home, then."

Leopold took a sigh, then look back to see Pierre and the Basalt Knights staring daggers towards him.

'These people are tiring me out... Just making the things more exciting.', Leopold thought, while he snickers.

The Emperor and Duke De'arc headed towards the Sun Palace to have their conversation in private while the Basalt Knights Commander go to the Moon Palace, where the Empress is resting.

Pierre touched the scar on his neck that he got from a flame type star beast in the inner ring more then three years ago. Just remembering the feeling of the green fire burning his flesh gave him shivers.

They placed the horses in the stable so that they can move freely, the breeze of wind inside the Moon Palace was nothing like the other places Pierre had been to. His blonde hair was slightly blown away by the wind created by the array that his sister requested.

The thirteen knights in red cape cannot believe that they were all still inside the Imperial Palace. The Moon Palace was giving them a peaceful vibe unlike the Sun Palace that has an overbearing presence. It was like, they are were inside a forest as they trudged towards the garden where the Empress currently rests.

"Commander... Are you sure we are still inside the palace? I feel like I can live here for the rest of my life.", one of the knights behind Pierre said.

"Yeah... Like you can do that. Beat the commander first before dreaming about living here. You're always kissing the ground when he beats you up nicely.", the Basalt knight with a rose carved on his armor jest.

The thirteen of them laughed as they get close to a hut made by gracia. They saw the Empress who was sitting on a rocking chair, while holding her son on her arms.

The Basalt Knights knelt except Pierre, he touched the wooden pillars of the hut and felt that it's quality was perfect. He then looked at his sister who was sitting confused, looking at him.

"You got better again, Joanne...", Pierre praised her, a small smile showing on his face.

Joanne was still looking at him, tears dropping from her eyes.

"B-brother..? Is father also here?", she asked him.

"He is chatting with the emperor, don't worry about him... How's your recovery?"

Pierre approached the rocking chair to touch his nephew's face, he resembled his mother more. The prince has golden blonde hair that resembled Leopold, but other than that, the child resembled nothing more from him.

"His name?", Pierre asked his sister.

"Leon... I'll give the thinking of the other one for Leopold. It's his son, after all."

Joanne stared at Pierre blankly, almost looked like she's telling him to save her. The works inside the palace are completely different from the outside, which was terribly unsuitable for Joanne who grew up as a Saintess inside a monastery for nuns.

"I'm sorry for coming late... That bastard always orders us to go to the frontlines since he was crowned. Father and I will try to bring both of you home."

Tears formed from Pierre's eyes, his emotions were in conflict. Both helplessness and anger filled him inside, the scene of his beloved sister being forced to marry someone she doesn't like just because of petty reasons.

"Don't cry for me, brother. I knew you were being suppressed but, I still did nothing. I must be the one apologizing."

Joanne bowed her head lightly, her eyes are filled with sincerity.

"Joanne, I -

"Brother, please!.. Accept it, my apology.", Joanne's eyes were pleading to let his idea go because she knew that the walls also have ears.

Pierre was irritated for what her sister did, but not what she said. He knew that Joanne was acting like this because she had no choice but to refuse what he just said.

"So, this is what it feels like... living in the lion's den. I'm sorry, for what I've said earlier that made you... uncomfortable, Your Majesty.", he said awkwardly.

Pierre kneeled on one knee, then steeled himself to force the words out of his mouth. He knew he had to leave, saying something that could harm an imperial family member was bound to be whispered in different ears.

Pierre walked beside his subordinates, then bowed towards his sister.

"We shall be taking our leave now, Your Majesty. I hope you have a good day with the prince."

When they were all living, Joanne watched the Basalt Knights pass through the bridge that she made as she mumbled while having a tear drop in her eye.

"Take care, brother."