They had a little more than one hour to get to the palace. Crystal and Altia had to change their clothes, and the (former?) princess had to gather her knights to come as an honor guard. Nero was confused and withdrew into deep thought. His sister was strange. She still shied away from any male that wasn't either him or their father. Even with Byron, he knew from Altia that she took more than a month to get used to him, and did the same thing they did in Rafflesia, forced herself to allow him into her personal space.
Not even Knazer with whom they delved together for the time he stayed away. The eanling was trained by her to act as a butler, squire, or page. One of the first lessons was to keep a safe distance from the lady.
Now he couldn't help but feel a throbbing sliver of doubt encroach at the back of his mind. He feared she would return to Coriander, back to her pearly tiaras, seaweed gowns, and tridimensional marine dance balls.
He went through the portal to get her. They would ride on a carriage convoy from the Lyceum to the palace. Nero raised an eyebrow when he saw Serena's knights in formal uniform behind her.
"They are coming," Nero stated, not asked.
"Yes. We are walking in from the palace's guest gate. We'll be seen. You see, His Majesty didn't ask for discretion. He just invited us," She said with raptorial eyes. "People will know we came to talk to the King. Comment. The nobility's grapevine will burst in flames with rumors and gossip. People might hurry along with their plans, and that is good. The King will have to exercise caution with us. If we went unannounced, he could just dispose of us. Twelve knights are nothing in the leonals' center of power, but they could do some damage in a fight. Enough to let us escape."
"Yes!" Captain Lentyon saluted. "We'll protect the princess and her adoptive family with our lives."
A bit too heavy on the fanaticism but Nero shelved it under knights being loyal to their ward. Since Crystal wasn't reacting badly to it, he just went along.
"We'll have my parents, the Dean, and the Guild Master with us. There's no way they will try anything, but it is reassuring to have your support."
Now, bringing to the palace invaders that just a week ago were at war didn't seem like the best idea, but the whole idea of politics didn't seem like the best idea either. Nero chuckled when he butchered the word and coined the definition "multiple infestations by blood-sucking arachnids" for the malapropism "poly-ticks". Crystal gave his sudden bout of mirth a raised eyebrow and he explained. She then promptly raised the other eyebrow. A minute later it clicked and she laughed.
"That's actually pretty accurate," She chuckled and pumped her fist, feigning excitement. "So, let's go get our blood sucked."
Crystal strutted to the carriage and stopped. As if it were obvious, Lentyon picked up her hand, and only then she climbed into the vehicle. A nereid knight climbed with her and the door closed. Two knights went on the coachman's seat and two on the footman's rest behind. Just like a Royal escort should be. The woman inside the carriage was not Crystal but a princess Serena from before he kidnapping. Nero sucked in his teeth, pushing aside these impressions. He kept them to himself as he climbed into his own carriage with Altia and his parents.
Maybe it was all just an act to gain them leverage with the king. Nero could only hope and wait to see.
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The convoy reached the gates and entered the paved pathway to the side entrance without a problem. One by one the passengers walked out of the carriages. The Dean was with his black robes but Amaryllis changed into a dress that seemed made of silver leaves. It caught the sunlight and sparkled. The knights from Coriander formed up five to each side and the captain ushered the princess out. Serena's back was guarded by the nereid knight and they walked.
On the castle side, a set of stairs above them, a black cat-kin liveried servant, an usher, looked at Serena with a sliver of confusion leaking from his facade. If Nero had to guess, he wasn't expecting Royal guests. But that was not their problem. Serena waved and beckoned Nero to approach. He did with Altia close behind. "Stay by my side, brother and sister."
"How are you holding up?" Nero whispered after she took his left arm and forced Altia to stay on her left.
"Barely," she answered without looking at him, her sharpened gaze focused on the usher like a barracuda sizing up sardines for a snack.
They climbed, the twelve knights forming six abroad by two deep and following behind Nero's extended family.
The liveried servant bowed once they reached the top of the stairs. "Your Highness, Princess Serena. What a pleasant surprise. We weren't expecting you."
Serena blinked and let awkward silence fall. Only after the cat-kin's adam's apple bobbed did she hook him in. "His Majesty invited my brother and family to tea. Why wouldn't I be here?" There was a hint of indignation and offense in her tone.
"Of course," He bowed deeply but Nero could see his jaw muscles locked as he hid his face. "This way, please."
They followed through a set of hallways and Serena made sure to nod and smile to every single noble that was able to see the entourage pass. The outer palace would fit very well in illustrated dictionaries right next to the word 'wealth'. Gold, marble, platinum, and glowing Essence lamps framed paintings, stained glass windows, and other works of art depicting the power and wealth of the country and the ruling leonals. Nero also noticed most of the nobles at the palace were either leonals or cat-kin of several ethnical groups. Leopards, panthers, and others.
Once they reached the gate separating the inner palace from the rest, the servant stopped before the guards in ceremonial plate armor blocking the way through the door.
"I'll have to ask your knights to wait in the side room. Refreshments are available for them."
"Captain," Serena turned around and asked with a soft yet firm voice. "You are dismissed until second notice."
Lentyon saluted. "As you wish, Your Highness."
They marched into a side room. From what Nero could see, it was a waiting room with comfortable seating. It made sense since knights were lower nobility but still aristocracy. He worried for a moment for their safety but if this feeling was shared by the princess on his side, he couldn't tell.
"Dean Xalazuniox, may I ask you to wait for your ward at the guest room?" The usher asked with a bit less confidence than he should. He wasn't expecting this show of force.
"I'll stand by my godson's side, thank you," The draconid answered.
Nero froze at the declaration but Serena tapped his arm. He met her gaze and she mouthed "later". The cat-kin nodded to the guards and they opened the doors. The seven guests walked into the inner palace. Nero noticed how the decoration changed. The outer palace was all about opulence and wealth but the inner palace's theme was brutal power. Trophies from Dungeon bosses, pieces of high-level equipment from long-gone kings and princes. These pieces of equipment were worthless for anyone else, but they were anything but unremarkable.
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They also showed that most Kings and princes didn't die in a Dungeon, or if they did, their bodies were retrieved and their gear put in exposition. There was no explanation next to the historical artifacts. Maybe it was assumed anyone worthy enough to gaze upon them would know that this was the glaive of King Xander Alexander I, first of his name and slayer of dragons. Nero had no idea whose glaive was that but it looked like a cool description for the impressive weapon.
They soon reached a double door with four guards on each side. Nero recognized some of Aslanbek's knights. The usher led them to a room on the other side of the corridor. "There are drinks and refreshments. Ask the servants for anything you might need. His Majesty will call for you when he's ready.
"Now, the waiting game," Amaryllis pouted.
"Yes, he'll let us simmer for a bit in here. It is expected," Serena agreed.
Nero looked around. He caught and squeezed Altia's hand, then met Xalazuniox's gaze. "Care to explain, Dean?" He asked in a confrontational tone. He should probably be diplomatic and try to understand, but he found out he had no patience left.
"Things will change," The draconid answered. "You are aware of your power. Of how valuable you are. How dangerous you are. There will be those that will seek to profit from you without giving anything else in return. Those that will seek to eliminate you because you are a wildcard and they treasure their stability."
He huffed a puff of smoke from his large nostrils before continuing. "We've had the Arbitrium for centuries, and only now the craft of [Gadgeteering] is blooming. Do you know why technology, the knowledge never advanced? Tell me what you think, research assistant."
"I might have an idea, but please. Enlighten me," Nero answered.
"There are people that don't want technology. People that would rather destroy information and blanket the world in ignorance to dominate it. I abdicated my station to create the Lyceum because I don't agree with that. There's a century of work from these two claws within those walls. And yet we're targeted. Envied. It is only by my own personal power that the institution remains."
"You need backing, Nero," Serena said after she grabbed his hand. "There are people plotting your assassination right now. The only way to keep them away is to make it too expensive to eliminate you. The meeting today hopefully will add another couple of digits to the bill."
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It took two hours for the King to call them. During that time they went through their strategy once more. They had some hard demands they wouldn't give up, some soft ones that were up for negotiation, and several things to offer the King. Releasing Aslanbek from his vow and the relics of the First King was among the most important ones.
In the room, Nero met the King, princes Aslanbek and Ahadi, and princess Aliah. He sat between Altia and Crystal, with his parents at his right and his godparents to the left. The younger Royal scions were paying Nero a great amount of attention.
The first hour of the meeting was exactly as stated in the invitation. Afternoon tea. Nobody addressed any of the important subjects. Nero followed Serena's lead and just spoke of the food, weather, interesting Dungeons around the capital, most of them not in his party's strike zone - the ones he considered personally interesting were a mere playground for the high-leveled people around them. Nobody seemed to be in a great hurry to address anything. It felt as if they were meeting with old acquaintances. It was prince Ahadi, the bookishiest Leonal Nero ever met - out of his sample of five - that broached anything not-inane.
"So, Nero, what is your fighting style?" Prince Ahadi asked.
He might as well have cast [Blizzard]. With a dash of [Flash Freeze] to boost. The conversation died, teacups floated on stilled hands. Nero met the prince's eyes and saw genuine, childish excitement and curiosity. He seemed younger than his siblings and after giving it some thought, Nero remembered that Bast didn't rank their heirs by age but by the level cap. Ahadi was the third prince because he was the third-highest level cap. The young leonal couldn't be much older than him.
"I usually shoot annoying stuff until they stop being annoying," Nero joked honestly without giving it much thought.
Fourth Princess Aliah lightly snorted a treble purr before she rose her hand to cover her muzzle. Her eyes shot a scornful glance at Aslanbek and Nero noticed his faux pas.
"Does it work often?" she asked watching the Crown Prince askance.
"More often than not, it does. By the gods, that monstrosity of a slapdash weapon he put haphazardly together is an ungainly and gruesome sight," Serena gossiped to her fellow princess.
"But it was a custom design and it does the job," Altia added to defend Nero.
"Indeed! it seems it did," Aliah smirked at her brother.
The story of how Aslanbek was defeated leaked in the royal family, at least. No doubt some dukes and marquis should know already too. And Aliah was getting some giggles at her brother and everyone else's expense. Aslanbek had a slight frown, fighting his body to not give his sister the sweet schadenfreude she craved.
"Enough," King Zander said without shouting, but his presence spread on the room and silenced everyone. "Before my children embarrass me more, let's get to the point. Nero, the crown is pleased with your services. Your unwitting intervention during the incident with Princess Serena gave us an unexpected resolution. We also know you braved the inflamed mob at the Lyceum to destroy a mind-altering totem. As a reward for those, I issued the edict, to protect you and your family.
"Your services to Tyre and the participation in the last fight for that accursed valley also pleased us. Mayleefa's badge is proof enough of that. Despite my warning, Aslanbek clashed against you, and you spared him. You have my thanks as a father. However, I cannot have the heir to the throne beholden to nobody."
Nero grasped Serena's hand when Tyre's name was mentioned. He nodded at the King's demands.
"First, Your Majesty, I have a tribute for the crown," Nero said. "Dean?"
Xalazuniox removed two crystal cases. "Relics of the First King, Your Majesty. One-of-a-kind cards never saw before. Our historians checked the catalogs and the quotes. [Leonal Honor Armor] and [Glorious Roar]. Here."
Breaking protocol, Prince Ahadi gleefully took the cases. "These are... amazing! They're genuine. Are these from the new Dungeon? The one where brother Tyre is... imprisoned?"
Nero nodded without saying a word. Xalazuniox continued.
"There's another orange card, one that while doesn't have a direct mention to King Asad, has a very auspicious name. I present you with [King of the Pride]," He handed another crystal case to the prince. "This card is also the only one of its kind."
Prince Ahadi looked like a child on his birthday as he placed the three cases in front of him. His siblings and father were reading the cards from afar, their Perception more than enough for the task.
"Did you submit these to Mrs. Aluphina Eilinove?" He asked.
"No. We thought it would be prudent to allow the announcement to come from the Royal Family," The Draconid answered.
"Excellent! Father, allow me to draft the submission! What a magnificent set!" Ahadi gushed over the cards.
"Son," King Zander said with a nod. "We shall leave the details to you. You will also arrange suitable compensation for Adventurer Nero of Hom." he looked at Nero. "Your tribute pleases us. My son's honest praise is more than enough proof of it. Now, we must return to the subject of Aslanbek's debt."
"What do you suggest, Your Majesty?" Unwavering, Crystal opened the negotiations with great aplomb.
"This is not the first time such debts happened within our family. In ancient times, we'd offer highly skilled servants from our sworn bannerman to devote their lives to the debtor in the place of our scion. But the times changed. Servitude is not the way of this country anymore. Tell me, Nero. what is your heart's desire?"
Nero looked to the side. He met Altia and Amaryllis' gazes. The pixie gave him a thumbs up and mouthed "Go for it".
"I want justice for my sister. Just that. What your son did to her is inexcusable. You said old customs exchanged one life for another. I trade Aslanbek for Tyre. Your Majesty should publicly reproach his actions and forsake him. Strike his name from the annals of the royal family. He shall forevermore be called just the shameful prince."
For a brief moment, King Zander's muzzle snarled. There was an implied accusation that the Royal Family let it happen, but it was true. After the quote from the First King in the armor card, the King paused to think.
"We are inclined to agree. However, we wish to claim a minor service from you, Nero of Hom. Should you accept it, your wish shall be granted."
"Is it Your Majesty's wish to transport troops to Honeywitch so the Kingdom can retake the county?" Nero asked. Zander nodded. "We won't engage in the combat or bring them back. The rail tracks are destroyed for several miles, and we accept this task in the name of the budding friendship between our families."
That one was a bet he could place his last coin on. His transportation services were too convenient and the need to retake Honeywitch before Hye-Sung could consolidate her domain too dire. It also showed that the King was aware of Nero's fast movement abilities. It was possible after Aslanbek obtained the key information that allowed the tracking signals to make sense.
"Then it is settled. Princess Serena," Zander said with a heavy voice. "My son and our negligence wronged you. The King proclaims and it shall be known throughout the Kingdom. For his vile transgression against the Third Princess of Coriander, the name of Prince Tyre shall be struck down from the family tree. He shall forevermore be called the Shameful Prince. A reminder to us that we are not perfect."