—Thud —Thud —Thud
The sound of footsteps reverberated through the air as Adrian, Nathaniel, and Charlotte descended from the ships, making their way down the sturdy wooden stairs.
Each step Adrian took seemed to amplify the pounding of his heart as he approached his mother, especially upon seeing her cold eyes and indifferent expression.
A wave of realization washed over him, flooding him with the awareness that he was in deep, deep, deep trouble.
'I'm fucked up.'
Arriving before them, the trio immediately greeted the royal figures.
"We greet Her Majesty the Empress of the Aeon Empire and Her Highness the Consort."
They spoke in unison, their voices filled with respect and deference.
Aerilyn acknowledged their presence with a nod and ordered.
"You may rise."
"Thank you."
Soon, she turned to the woman with dark blue hair and greeted her with a smile.
"Welcome to the Aeon Empire, Princess Charlotte."
Aerilyn's voice conveyed a sense of genuine hospitality.
Charlotte, visibly grateful for the warm reception, responded with gratitude, her voice filled with sincerity.
"Thank you so much, Your Majesty."
After a brief silence, the Empress continued.
"I am aware that all of you must be fatigued from your arduous journey. However, I kindly request that you endure a little longer as His Majesty desires to meet with every one of you."
"We understand."
Shortly thereafter, they boarded their respective carriages, each one accompanied by a contingent of Aeon Knight cavaliers.
The coachman promptly urged the horses forward, setting the carriages in motion.
—Neigh!
The rhythmic clatter of hooves and the creaking of wheels filled the air as they made their way through the grand streets of the Empire.
—Clip —Clop —Clip —Clop
Adrian's cerulean eyes were fixed on his mother, who sat across from him, engrossed in a book.
Minutes passed, yet Aerilyn remained silent, her attention solely focused on the pages before her.
He couldn't help but feel a sense of unease creeping into his heart.
The absence of any affectionate gestures or even a smile from his mother weighed heavily on his heart.
It was clear that her anger stemmed from his recent act of lying, a natural response for a mother who cared deeply for her son.
But…
Somehow, Adrian didn't like it.
But deep down, Adrian couldn't deny that he had grown attached to Aerilyn over the past three years.
The love and care she had shown him had made him view her as more than just an Empress of this Empire; she had become his mother in every sense of the word.
As the atmosphere inside the carriage became increasingly suffocating, Adrian stood up and approached her.
Aerilyn's voice rose in alarm as she instinctively reached out to help him sit next to her, her concern evident in her voice.
"Ian, that's dangerous!"
"Hehe, thank you."
Adrian chuckled softly, appreciating the fact that his mother still cared for him despite her anger.
Startled, Aerilyn suddenly realized that she was angry with her son.
Choosing to ignore him, she swiftly turned her back on him.
Adrian couldn't help but stretch his smile even wider.
Unfazed by her reaction, he leaned his head on Aerilyn's shoulder, seeking solace in her presence.
"Mom, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
Aerilyn asked curtly without removing her eyes from the book.
"For lying to you and causing you to worry."
After a few seconds of silence, Aerilyn closed her book, releasing a resigned sigh.
She turned to face Adrian, her expression filled with a mixture of sadness and concern.
"Ian, that's not what I'm angry about."
Aerilyn clarified, her voice softening.
She gently cupped his face, her touch conveying both love and worry.
"I just hate the way you rush into danger without informing us, the adults who can help."
While what her mother told her was true, both he and Nathaniel could simply inform adults to handle the situation.
However, if they were to do that, they wouldn't be able to uncover the truth, gather information, or potentially find clues that others might overlook.
"You're just a kid, what if you get hurt and—"
The fear of losing him overwhelmed her, and tears began to stream down her face.
Adrian's heart skipped a beat, witnessing the pain he had caused her.
"Mom, I'm so sorry."
He gently wiped away the tears from his mother's face.
"I never meant to make you cry."
She pulled him into a tight embrace, holding him close.
"I know you're strong, Ian, but your safety means everything to me. Please think twice before putting yourself in danger."
"I promise to be more careful and considerate of your feelings."
"Thank you."
Aerilyn soon planted a kiss on his forehead.
.
.
.
"His Highness Prince Nathaniel and Prince Adrian, and Princess Charlotte of the Kearny Kingdom are entering!"
The guard's voice echoed through the grand hall, announcing their arrival.
The grand mahogany doors swung open gracefully, revealing a sight that commanded attention.
At the center of the room, seated upon an intricately carved dais, was a man in his forties, exuding an air of confidence and regality.
With his chiseled features and a crown adorning his head, he was undeniably handsome.
—Thud.
As the doors closed behind them, the trio approached the Emperor, their footsteps echoing softly against the polished marble floor.
With a synchronized motion, they gracefully bowed before the Emperor and spoke in unison.
"We greeted the Emperor of the Aeon Empire."
"You may rise."
As they straightened their posture, the Emperor's attention shifted to the woman with navy hair standing beside Nathaniel.
His eyes softened, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"Princess Charlotte, welcome to the Empire. It is an honor to have you here, Princess. Your presence signifies the beginning of a new era for our kingdoms, one of unity and prosperity."
His voice echoed in the hall.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. I am humbled by your warm welcome and grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this alliance."
"As you may be fatigued from your journey, I will arrange for an escort to accompany you to the Palace."
"Thank you so much, Your Majesty. Your kindness is truly remarkable."
With a nod of acknowledgment, Arthur signaled to a nearby attendant, who stepped forward with a respectful bow.
The moment Charlotte and her attendant left the Throne Room, the man's once warm and welcoming demeanor had transformed into a dark and foreboding presence.
His cold, red eyes shifted to his two sons who stood before him.
As both Adrian and Nathaniel had anticipated this moment, they had somehow managed to compose themselves, refusing to succumb to fear.
Their faces remained calm and collected, there was no sign of anxiety.
Arthur couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in wonder.
What could possibly have given them such unwavering confidence in the face of impending consequences?
A silence hung in the air, stretching on for what felt like an eternity.
Finally, Arthur broke the silence, his voice carrying a hint of curiosity.
"Before we delve into the discussion, I want you to hand over your Telespheres."
Adrian and Nathaniel exchanged glances, their thoughts intertwining telepathically, silently communicating with each other.
'He knew.'
With a shared understanding, they removed their Telespheres and handed them to the emperor's attendants.
Arthur's gaze remained fixed on his sons as he received the devices.
"So, who changed the setting of the Telesphere?"
Not wanting Adrian to be entangled in the situation any further, Nathaniel stepped forward and admitted.
"It was me,"
"I see."
Arthur's response, however, surprised Nathaniel.
The emperor simply nodded, his expression unreadable and Nathaniel couldn't help but wonder.
'Just that?'
He had expected his father to be angry or disappointed, but instead, Arthur seemed to be withholding his emotions.
Soon, Arthur continued.
"Given my busy schedule, I'll get straight to the point. You will be rewarded for saving the Princess, but you will also be grounded for a year. Unfortunately, this time, you won't be able to use your reward to lessen the duration of your punishment."
Adrian immediately took a step forward and addressed his father.
"Your Majesty, I've been hearing about the unsolved cases of kidnappings that have plagued the continent for years."
Arthur leaned back against his cushioned throne, his curiosity piqued.
He didn't understand why his son suddenly brought up this topic.
"So?"
Realizing that he had caught his father's attention, Adrian nodded confidently.
"That's right. I know a way to put an end to those cases."
The revelation not only surprised the Emperor but also the people present in the throne room.
Murmurs and whispers filled the air as everyone tried to comprehend the significance of Adrian's claim.
"How?"
Arthur demanded, eager to know more.
Adrian, however, shook his head, a hint of determination in his eyes.
"If you promise to lift our grounding, I will share the details with you."
Arthur's skepticism was evident as he questioned his son's proposition.
"But what if it's all a fabrication? How can I trust your words?"
Adrian, undeterred, offered a solution.
"Your Majesty, we will wait until the investigation is complete. If our claims are proven false, we will accept the consequences willingly."
Silence enveloped the throne room as Arthur tapped his armrest, deep in thought.
—Tap —Tap —Tap
He weighed the potential risks and rewards of Adrian's proposal.
After a brief but contemplative pause, Adrian couldn't help but break the silence.
"So, what is your answer, Your Majesty?"
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