The Royal Palace of Celesta.
It was the symbol of power and royalty inside the Dorian Capital of the Celesta Kingdom. The palace was built by the most talented architect centuries ago right after the end of the First Great Holy War for the First King of the Kingdom of the Celesta, Dorian Celesta.
Despite the size of the Palace, not all the rooms were occupied. It was the place where the most important people of the Kingdom were residing after all. The King, Queen, Princes and Princesses.
But today, especially a lot of guards were present. Something curious was the diversity of those guards. They were all wearing different kinds of armors despite all belonging to the Celesta Kingdom.
"Hey! Did you push me?"
"What?" The man who was accused scanned the other from head to toe and sneered. "A knight of the Duchy of Duke Roger? I understand your stupidity now."
"What did you say?! A dog of the Duke Tarmias is speaking to me like that?!"
"Please stop that. We are in His Majesty's palace." Another man with a different armor joined."
"A knight of Duke Scarlett is sure good at acting," another one snorted.
The three knights toward the other group of knights who were wearing a grey armor.
"Falkrona…" The knight of the Scarlett gritted his teeth.
The knights of the Falkrona army were trained by both for a long time by the powerful previous Dukes and the current one, Thomen Falkrona was even more strict than his predecessors. His younger cistern Belle Falkrona also trained the knights thus transforming the already mighty army of the Falkronas to an unbeatable one. They were known across the world for being the most powerful army of the Celesta Kingdom.
"Sigh…that's why I didn't want them to come…" A man with an armor bearing the royal emblem of the Celesta kingdom shook his head exasperated.
"You know how it is. All the Dukes hate each other and their knights learned that from their colleagues." His mate laughed while enjoying the quarrel between the knights.
"We are all from the same Kingdom…we should help each other though…"
"Ahahaha! How many years do you think we've fought together with the other knights? There is not even an ounce of bond between us!"
"I don't think this is something laughable…we should be on our guard just in case…"
"In case of what dude? Nothing will happen in this Kingdom! The last great war happened more than three hundred years ago!"
"What's happening here?"
The noisy knights all shut their mouths when an authoritative voice rang. They all turned toward the voice and found a muscular man. His presence alone was enough to inspire respect from all the knights.
"L-Lord Seaven!" The knight with royal armor greeted the blue-haired and blue-eyed man.
He was Davis Seaven, the Knight Commander of the Celesta Kingdom. He was the Knight Commander of the Celesta's Royal Army. He was also David Seaven's father.
"The Knights of the Dukes are all uneducated? Is that the time to quarrel with each other?" His voice boomed powerfully and made all of them uneasy. "Such a disappointment. Your Lords are gathered all in this place and you are all ashaming them like little brats."
His look of contempt made all of them lower their heads ashamed of their behavior.
Davis gave a last cold glance and left.
"Are all the Lords gathered?" He asked one of the knights following him.
"Y-Yes, Knight Commander! They are all in the meeting room with His Majesty!"
"Good." Davis said and quickened his steps. He reached the third floor of the palace in two minutes and knocked on one of the biggest doors.
After a few seconds, the door opened, revealing a large room with a large round table in the center of the room. Around the table were seated several figures. Davis held back his gasp feeling the baffling pressure condensed inside a single room.
"You are here, Davis," said the man who sat on the most ornamented chair. His words were laced with amusement, and everyone knew right away who he was. It was none other than Charles Celesta, the King of the Kingdom of Celesta himself. The father of Alfred Owen Celesta and Aurora Avia Celesta.
Despite having seen him often Davis' eyes flicked over to him, and he felt a sense of awe and fear wash over me. The King's piercing green eyes seemed to look right through him, and he could feel the weight of his power bearing down on him. His short golden hair was adorned with a matching golden crown, a symbol of his royalty and status.
"Your Majesty." Davis bowed and went behind his King and next to another man.
"You are late, Davis," A green-haired and green-eyed man said in a cold tone.
"Greenvern, do just your job." Davis said in a low tone.
"It's okay, Peter." Charles waved his hand.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Peter Greenvern, the Royal Guard Commander nodded. He was the one responsible for the protection of the Royal Family and the Royal Palace. He didn't care about others as long as he could keep the Royal Family safe. He was also the father of Thomas Greenvern.
"Now, let's start." Charles started. "First and foremost, I would like to thank you all for accepting my invitation despite its suddenness."
"Of course we would accept, Your Majesty. You are our King." A man with brown hair said with a flattering tone.
"Years are going and you are still the same Roger. The King must be happy to have such a loyal man on his side." Another man with dark green hair and brown eyes said with a laugh but a bordering mocking laugh. He was Draven Stormdila. Miranda's and Loid's father and also a [MONARCH], one of the strongest people of the Kingdom and world, like Charles Celesta.
"What did you say?" Duke Mark Roger, also Carla Roger's father, narrowed his eyes.
"You are in front of the King. Show some respect." Peter Greenvern furrowed his brows at Draven's and Mark's behaviors.
Mark snorted at Peter. "I will never disrespect the King but you Peter, I will. Since your son lost pathetically against that brat with Zeus' Legacy, a lot of nobles are mocking my choice of fiance for my little girl."
Peter gritted his teeth at Mark's words but kept his mouth shut.
"Seriously?" A man with bright red hair and red eyes opened his eyes wide. "I knew that he was strong but he really beat your son, Peter?" Duke Avner Scarlett, Eric's and Rubina's father, asked in surprise.
"You seem a lot more jovial, Avner." Charles Celesta shifted the topic before it escalated.
"Oh, yes, Your Majesty." Avner smiled. "Actually my daughter who was seriously ill two days ago is now healed and fine…It's really a relief."
"Oh. That's excellent news. Eden would never leave innocent people in torment," Charles said and glanced at Draven. "You must be happy as well, Draven. Your son, Loid, was planned to be betrothed to Rubina Scarlett, if I remember?"
"Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot that." Draven said with a laugh. "The agreement is still on, Avner?" He turned toward Duke Scarlett.
"Of course, Draven." Avner replied with a smile.
"Very good then! I was afraid that another engagement would be broken…" Draven said and glanced at a man who still hadn't spoken yet.
Everyone's gazes turned toward the grey-haired and grey-eyed man whose presence screamed nobility. He was Thomen Falkrona. Duke and the one possessing the most powerful army of the Celesta Kingdom.
They all waited for Thomen's answer.
Of course, they knew that Draven was speaking about the promised engagement between Miranda Stormdila and Edward Falkrona. Because of Edward's fall into misery, Draven Stormdila decided to break the engagement for his daughter's well-being. Thomen didn't say anything and also agreed to cancel the engagement.
Thomen's grey eyes seemed lost in thoughts for a few seconds before he spoke. "Such things are recurrent in the world of nobility. Princess Aurora also canceled her engagement months ago and recently…" Thomen's grey eyes shifted to Peter Greenvern. "Roger decided to spare his daughter as well."
"Spare? Ahahaaha!" Draven cackled at his best friend's words. Even Duke Roger seemed amused.
Peter though didn't look happy at that free insult toward his son.
"I don't think the rupture of an engagement is something to laugh about." A cold voice cooled down the atmosphere.
Roger gnashed his teeth, recognizing the voice of his worst enemy. "Tarmias…"
With jet black hair, piercing red eyes was Duke Jarett Tarmias. The father of John and Layla. He was crossing his arms and seemed already tired of the meeting.
His gaze as he spoke out those words was aimed at none other than Charles Celesta. It was an indirect message to Charles to not forget the agreement of engagement between his daughter, Layla and Charles' Heir, Alfred.
The tension seemed palpable as they all had problems with at least one person present in the room.
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