In the meeting room, the heavy scent of ink and parchment hung in the air. The banquet preparations were complete, all listed and the atmosphere shifted as Maximus leaned back in his chair. His eyes, usually warm and inviting, now reflected a grave seriousness. “Alright then,” he began, his voice steady and commanding, “Now that all preparation is done, let’s address the main topic.”
Hiro, his forehead creased with worry, ran his fingers through his hair and sighed deeply. “Right…” Maximus’s gaze swept across the room, landing on each face in turn. “So, did you find anything related to Kai’s kidnapping?” Sakura, her expression somber, shook her head. “We reached all the sources, but we couldn’t find anything.” Hiro’s voice trembled as he added, “I am still scared… I still remember the day when he was taken away from us, and I couldn’t do anything…” His mind was suddenly flooded with the harrowing memory of his younger self, bloodied and out of breathe, as buildings burned and demon corpses littered the ground. He could only watch helplessly as a demon disappeared into the sky with a baby in a basket.
Back in the present, Sakura reached out, her hand clasping Hiro’s, offering silent comfort. Celestina’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. “About that, we have a suggestion for it,” she announced, her eyes alight with a spark of hope.
Maximus nodded, a knowing look in his eyes. “He should be here by now.”
“Who?” Hiro asked, his curiosity piqued.
Maximus started to explain, as the scene shifted to the garden where Kai and Elysia were enjoying the serene atmosphere. The palace’s grandeur was on full display, with vibrant flowers and the gentle sound of water from ornate fountains.
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a striking figure. A young handsome man, around Kai’s age, approached them. His royal attire, blonde hair, and blue eyes set him apart from the others.
“Ah!”, Elysia’s face lit up with joy. “Brother Ray!” She ran to him, and he caught her in a warm embrace, his affection for her clear.
“Hey Eli. How have you been?” Ray asked, his voice kind and caring.
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“I am great! But where did you go, brother?” Elysia’s voice was a mix of happiness and curiosity.
As they chatted, Kai asked Eva. “Who’s he?”
“He is the crown prince,” Eva responded back.
Kai’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait… so they had three kids then?”
“No, Sir.” Eva continued, “The crown prince was adopted by the Emperor. He was the son of the Emperor’s and the Archduke’s close friend. After their friend died in an accident, the emperor took him in. Also, he is the one to whom the first princess is engaged to,” Eva explained.
Kai watched the prince, a myriad of thoughts running through his mind. “So, what’s his name?” he inquired.
Before Eva could respond, Elysia called out to him. “Brother! Come here!” Her smile was wide and inviting. Kai wheeled himself over, and Elysia eagerly introduced him. “Brother, let me introduce you. This is Brother Ray, the Crown Prince.”
Ray offered a polite bow. “It’s nice to meet you. My name is Ray Leonhart.”
The two exchanged a look of mutual understanding, acknowledging the intricate web of relationships and power within the palace walls. Kai brought out his notebook where he wrote but paused for sometime before showing it, “It's nice to meet you as well. My name is Kai Hamada.” Ray stared at him for a moment, when Elysia spoke in between, “Did you knew were coming to the Palace today, brother Ray?”
He looked over at Elysia, giving her a small smile. “Not really. I was called here by uncle Max.” Elysia tilted her head, when a maid came to the three of them, “Excuse me, your Highness. The Emperor is looking for you.” To this, Ray told her, “I will head there now.” The maid also added, “The Emperor also called for lady Elysia and young master Kai.” To this Elysia and Kai shared a glance at each other, before heading to the room.
When the trio reached the room, Ray greeted Maximus with a respectful nod. “Hello, Your Majesty.” Maximus waved his hand in a carefree manner, shaking off the formality. “Drop the formalities, Ray. Come and sit here,” he said with a warm smile. Celestina noticed Kai and Elysia trailing behind and raised an eyebrow. “Oh? You guys met already?” Elysia proudly announced, “Yeah! I introduced them to each other.” Sakura chuckled at her enthusiasm, beckoning Elysia over and patting her head affectionately.
Kai and Ray both shared a smile as they watched Elysia being her cheerful self. Ray turned back to Maximus, “So, why did you call me here, Uncle Max?” Maximus smiled, but before he could answer, Hiro interjected. “Well, you did meet Kai there, right?” Ray nodded in affirmation. “So, I want to ask one favor from you.” Ray’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “What favor?” Hiro replied, “Since both you and Kai are of the same age, I want you to help Kai settle in.”
At this, both Kai and Ray were taken aback, exchanging a look of mutual confusion.