'His majesty, huh?'

In a grand and luxurious office, she occupied a plush sofa, her gaze fixed upon the man who sat opposite her.

As she arrived at the destination, Kuro guided her inside. With a discreet knock, he swung open the massive double doors, granting her entry to the office.

Entering the office, she encountered a tall and slender, yet sturdy man with golden hair. His back was turned towards her as he stared outside through the floor-to-ceiling window.

From its lofty vantage point, the office offered a panoramic view of an endless expanse of azure sky stretching beyond the window. The boundless blue panorama only heightened the room's grandeur and splendor, as if the office were situated atop the world, beholding it from a singular perspective.

Her gaze fell upon the man's silhouette, her own reflection shimmering on the pristine glass , but the angle prevented her from discerning his face.

She held her silence, her lips pressed together in uncertainty, as the man turned towards her with a faint smile.

As the sun's brilliance obscured his features, she strained to discern his face, but his blood-red eyes, unwaveringly fixed on her, emitted an aura of profound gravity and authority, captivating her with their intensity.

"Hello," his voice, deep and resonant, had reached her ears, the smile on his lips deepening as he spoke.

Now, she sat as some maids brought exquisite refreshments and tea for both the man and her and respectfully bowed as they left the office.

The man gestured her towards the refreshments and she gave him a polite nod as she thanked him. She picked up the marble white cup with golden pattern and brought it to her lips.

The man gestured towards the refreshments, and she responded with a polite nod, expressing her gratitude. She delicately lifted the marble white cup adorned with golden patterns to her lips, savoring the aroma of the tea before taking a sip.

She couldn't have been less interested in partaking in polite tea time with a seemingly high-ranking stranger, yet she found herself compelled to play along with the situation nonetheless.

The man too picked up his cup and took a sip taking his time as he oozed dominant power from each and every pore of his body.

The man lifted his cup, his movements deliberate and measured, exuding an aura of dominant power with every gesture. As he took a leisurely sip, his huge presence filled the room with an undeniable sense of authority.

The man was attired in a white muslin shirt with a few top buttons left casually open, complemented by black crisp trousers and shiny, polished shoes. A black coat draped over his shoulders, adorned with a gold chain brooch securing both sides. His ensemble exuded an air of elegance and authority that matched the grandeur of the setting.

Clad in a white muslin shirt, its top buttons casually undone, paired with sleek ivory trousers and white leather shoes, the man exuded effortless elegance. A ivory coat with gold seams draped over his shoulders, fastened by a gold chain brooch, added a touch of regal splendor to his ensemble. In contrast, she couldn't help but feel out of place amidst his refined presence and the regality of the setting.

Her observation of the humans in this place revealed a consistent trend: everyone adorned themselves in aristocratic attire.

Despite the year being 7098 in an aristocratic society, she couldn't help but notice the presence of electricity and advanced technology, evident from the illuminated room and the mobile phone resting on the Emperor's desk.

She noted the seamless fusion of modern elements, devices, and features intertwined with the classical, old-world aristocratic designs adorning the surroundings. It was a striking juxtaposition, marrying tradition with innovation in a harmonious blend that reflected the unique essence of this realm.

'Which era is going on here?'

"I'm certain everything seems quite indecipherable to you."

The man's words broke the silence, prompting her gaze to snap away from the reflection on the tea's surface to meet his eyes.

"You're not from this world," he declared, his tone matter-of-fact, making it clear he was stating a fact rather than posing a question.

She blinked in response, then nodded once, accepting the truth of his statement.

'I guess that's how it really is,' she conceded to herself.

"Did you pass through a magic circle which brought you here?"

She averted her eyes momentarily, deep in thought, before meeting his gaze once more with confidence.

"I don't know if that thing was a magic circle. It was an electric kind of a black hole with sparks emitting from it and..." Her voice trailed off, her mind racing with memories of the strange portal that had transported her to this unfamiliar world.

Should she tell him about the hand?

"And?"

"...A hand, a hand pulled me inside the black entity and I suddenly found myself in a school's storeroom."

The man raised his eyebrows ever so slightly, a sudden dark shadow over his eyes, before turning his attention to the view outside the window. A faint furrow formed on his brow as he appeared lost in thought, contemplating the implications of her revelation.

"Did something happen before the appearance of the black hole?" he asked, his gaze still fixed on the scenery beyond the window.

The murder...should she tell him about it too?

After a moment of contemplation, she responded to the man with a calm voice, "My family was murdered when I returned home from school."

The man shifted his gaze toward her, his eyes widening slightly with concern as a faint furrow formed on his brow.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

"I'm sorry to hear that."

She just nodded as she brought the cup to her lips again.

'Not like I mind it.'

At this moment, the murder of her mother and sister was the last thing she would mind about.

"My apologies, but could you provide me with the precise details of the situation?" he inquired, his tone respectful yet probing.

'Why?' She couldn't help but wonder, but decided to speak the truth regardless.

"I returned from school, and it was late in the evening. The front door wasn't locked, and when I stepped into the living room, I discovered the family members brutally murdered," she recounted, the memory vivid in her.

She glanced up at the man and continued.

"I happened to find a flower, which was probably not brought by my family members as both of them had pollen allergy. And just then, a black hole appeared at the wall, and right before I was pulled inside it, someone was about to enter the room."

"...Which flower was it?"

"I don't know its name."

"The color?"

She looked at the man with a slight raise of her brows, a hint of surprise flickering in her eyes.

Was that what he was curious about out of the whole story?

"Pink."

She hadn't deemed it necessary to mention the flower, yet its presence lingered oddly at the forefront of her thoughts.

"Do you think your family had any friends or visitors over?"

"I believe not."

Her mother seldom ventured out of the house, her sister and she herself had no friends. Their distant relatives remained estranged, making unannounced visits highly unlikely. Her conviction in this was unwavering.

Silence enveloped the room for a brief interlude, until the man's voice broke it, compelling her to involuntarily turn her gaze toward him.

"You don't seem to mind it," he remarked.

"What might you be talking about?" She responded, though she was pretty sure about what he was talking about.

"....The death of your family. You don't seem to mind it much," he stated, his tone neutral.

"Who knows," she replied with a shrug, her expression unreadable.

At her vague answer, his lips slightly tipped upward, yet his eyes remained serious.

"I'm sure you have many questions. Feel free to ask me," he offered.

"...I'd appreciate getting a proper understanding of this place," she replied, seizing the opportunity to express her curiosity right away.

The man nodded in acknowledgment, and then, after a moment's contemplation, he raised his hands and flicked his fingers. What transpired next instantly captured her full attention.

A holographic apparition shimmered into existence, casting a dazzling golden aura, captivating her attention completely.

The holographic projection unveiled a planet, one reminiscent of Earth, yet distinct in terms of its continent shapes. Its sheer scale was awe-inspiring.

"Legends have it that at the dawn of the world, three dragons took human form to govern the realm," he began to recount.

As his words wove through the air, three resplendent dragons manifested before them, soaring with regal grace around the planetary projection, giving the impression of being entirely alive.

Each of the three dragons emitted a unique hue of luminance, their forms imbued with distinct characteristics.

With an elegance unmatched, the Golden Dragon traversed in the air with unparalleled grace. Its scales, akin to liquid gold, captured and danced with the gentle rays of light, casting a celestial luminescence. Each sinuous movement was a symphony of serpentine beauty, as its elongated body wove through the air in a hypnotic cadence. Within its gaze, golden orbs shimmered with ancient magic.

Cloaked in scales of iridescent onyx, the sinewy form of the Black Dragon gleamed like a rare gemstone. With every graceful motion, its long, serpentine tail traced mesmerizing patterns in its wake. Eyes as deep as the abyss bore witness to untamed and mysterious power. As its massive wings unfurled, feathers as dark as midnight, the very atmosphere quivered with reverence.

The Red Dragon blazed with fiery scales, embodying primal strength with every sinew. Muscles rippled beneath its armor-like scales, legs like pillars of granite, it strides across the air a symphony of power. Its dual sets of leathery wings, reminiscent of ghostly sails, carried it with destructive aura through the air. Adorned with jagged spikes, its elongated neck culminated in a menacing visage, ruby eyes holding unmountable power.

As the dragon projections swirled and danced through the office space, each seemingly guided by its own will, she found herself spellbound, her breath caught in her chest. Without so much as a blink, her gaze traced the movements of the majestic creatures, their presence filling the room with an air of ancient magic and wonder.

"Their dominion was absolute, their power divine, commanding the awe of all who beheld them," the man elucidated, "each embodied a sovereign realm, distinguished by their resplendent hues: black, red, and golden."

Three distinct family crests materialized in the air, each aglow with its unique hue-black, red, and golden.

"The Divine Dragon Emperors bore offspring destined to inherit their dominion. Their descendants are born with the blood and authority of absolute rulers. That is the fundamental understanding of this world," he concluded.

"..And you are the Golden Emperor."

"That, I am. I am Theodore Kanemoto Ryuujin, the current Emperor of the Golden Imperial Court."

Her gaze lingered on the man before her, absorbing the weight of the revelations he had imparted.

In the presence of such a prominent figure-an Emperor, no less-she found herself quite at a loss for how to respond.

From the Emperor's perspective, her demeanor might have seemed insolent-a stark departure from the expected reverence typically offered in his presence. Her casual approach could easily be misconstrued as a disregard for customary decorum, a misstep that could carry unintended consequences.

But then again, she had never considered the nuances of interacting with a high-profile emperor hailing from an unknown corner of the universe. The complexities of etiquette and decorum in such extraordinary circumstances had never crossed her mind.

In her heart, she harbored a quiet hope that the Emperor did not expect her to rise and perform the formalities of greetings and courtesies typically associated with such encounters.

In the lingering silence, a low chuckle escaped the lips of the Golden Emperor, slight amusement evident at her conflicted demeanor.

"I wish for the lady to feel at ease, unencumbered by the weight of titles," he spoke as he sipped his tea, a small smile gracing his lips.

'Great, aren't you nice?' she remarked inwardly with a dry humor and a sense of relief.

Clearing her throat slightly, she posed her question, "Is the world governed by the three Imperials individually or cooperatively?"

Her gaze remained fixed on the family crests, and she proceeded with her questioning, ignoring the earlier introduction of the man as the Emperor due to her being at a loss about how to react to that revelation.

Her gaze remained fixed on the family crests, deliberately sidestepping the earlier introduction of the man as the Emperor. Uncertain of the appropriate reaction to such a revelation, she chose to ignore it for the moment.

The Emperor's smile persisted as he responded, "Each Imperial Court holds sway over thirty percent of the world, with the remaining ten percent designated as neutral territory. Those dwelling within the neutral zone are exempt from the governance of the Imperial Courts."

"I see... and the sculpted creatures in the crest represent each family as well?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued by the intricate details of the imperial insignias.

"Indeed, though the sculptures change with each new Emperor," he confirmed. "Every member of the imperial lineage possesses their unique Shikigami, serving as their emblem. These are then sculpted into the Imperial Crest to reflect the succession of the throne."

"Shikigami?"

"Indeed. This world is fraught with curses, blessings, magic, monsters, and demons. It is for this very reason that the Imperial Families exist- to safeguard the world," he explained.

Her gaze swept over each Imperial Crest, each one shaped like a shield

The Golden Crest showcased a regal Phoenix, its wings outstretched in a display of majestic grandeur. Across the Black Crest was a roaring lion adorned with glowing tattooed markings. And upon the Red Crest, a sly Nine-tailed fox lurked with its cunning gaze. Behind each creature stood two grand swords crossed, their blades gleaming.

"The nobility constitutes thirty-five percent of the population, while the remaining majority consists of common citizens," He summarized.

"...If I may, Your Majesty, I have a few more questions," she directed her attention to the Emperor.

"Do ask," The Emperor nodded.

She inquired all at once without wasting a moment.

"Why did you have your knight escort me here? What motivates you to respond to all my queries, and how do you know that I am not from this world?"