As both the young prince and Mili slept both Emilia and The Elfin Imperial Guard had soon arrived late into the night.

Causing both The Elfin Imperial Guard and The Celestial Praetorian Guard to then meet to arrange the young prince's personal guard supervised by both Emilia and Aldra along with Celie for obvious reasons.

While Bradley had stayed up to get updates from Theodore who had asked to tag along resulting in Theodore and a small detachment of The Celestial King's Guard to then taking charge of The Celestial Royal Guard.

After taking charge Theodore had then conducted nighttime observations with several scouting parties including those belonging to The Cinis Royal Guard who was there to assist and show some effort on behalf of The Kingdom of Cinis.

All of them were welcomed however they didn't have anything to do other than observing alongside The Celestial Royal Guards and listening in on both Theodore and the detachment of The Celestial King's Guard.

All the while in Theodore's command tent Theodore couldn't help but shake his head.

"Why bother showing off 'their' unfamiliar banners if no one even knows who they belong to? And they so openly and proudly show off their insignificantly 'small' fleet and lazy construction efforts.."

Theodore helplessly observed causing a member of The Celestial Royal Guard to then quickly deliver another report surprising Theodore causing him to then helplessly smile.

"Thank you for this guardsmen, be sure to take some time off and get some rest.."

Theodore thanked.

Causing the guardsmen to then immediately bow before then quickly leaving the command tent causing Theodore to then read over the report once more.

"Their numbers aren't much different from several days ago, numbering only in the six thousand however it appears several VIPs had arrived just recently?"

"From their descriptions, it could be the children of Polus's 'royals' and some appear to be even more carefree so as to play hunt in the dead of night.."

"This is a good opportunity if any, I will take a small detachment of The Celestial Royal Guard to apprehend these children while the rest of The Celestial King's Guard should stay behind to continue their efforts, inform me if any changes arise"

Theodore ordered before then putting on his elegant ornate golden helmet and leaving the command tent, after leaving the command tent Theodore had soon gathered his detachment of Celestial Royal Guard.

Before then stealthily entering the unknown forest.

"Bi-Big brother are you sure we should be out here a-at night?"

A scared little girl asked causing her brother to then reassuringly shake his head.

The little girl was in fact one of the VIPs Theodore had mentioned a child of one of the many royal participants in this expedition.

The little girl wore an elegant brown royal hunting attire and boots with an unknown bronze insignia complimenting her pristine white skin, brown hair, bright blue eyes, and adorably elegant features.

Her brother wore her much larger counterpart complimenting his pristine white skin, brown hair, eyes, and handsome features.

"There's nothing to worry about Grace! Our Royal Guards are more than enough to handle any beast! Our favorite captain here is even a Legendary Powerhouse!"

"Not to mention the other royal guards already being at the peak with high chances of entering The Legendary Realm already"

The brother reassuringly bragged causing Grace to then adorably nod.

Causing both to then dive deeper into the forest, unknowingly they were being observed by Theodore and The Celestial Royal Guard.

Causing Theodore to then helplessly shake his head.

'Ignorance is bliss I suppose.. the poor kid has yet to realize Legendary Realm Powerhouses can easily be swatted away with a mere glance of a Sacred Realm Powerhouse'

'Let's hope he doesn't already believe that's the apex, he does show some potential after all?'

Theodore thought causing both him and his detachment to then quickly follow.

After venturing so far into the forest Grace and her brother had yet to find anything causing the captain of the guard to then freeze before then realizing something.

Causing him to then signal to the guards to then take up a defensive formation.

"Bi-Big brother what's wrong?"

Grace worriedly asked causing her brother to then curiously look around.

"I don't sense anything Jacob could it b-"

The brother asked causing Jacob to then quickly stand in front of the two.

"Elliot, Grace stay behind me.."

Jacob warned.

Causing Theodore to then finally make his presence known alongside the surrounding members of The Celestial Royal Guard surprising everyone after noticing their golden armors, Insignias, and their craftsmanship.

Causing Jacob to then feel a cold chill down his spine.

"Thei-Their armor.. and those insignias?"

Jacob worriedly muttered surprising Elliot.

"Bi-Big brother ar-are they going to hurt us?"

Grace tearily asked causing Theodore's heart to then helplessly melt causing Jacob to then notice that Theodore was in fact the leader.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Before then attempting to sense his breath causing Theodore to then helplessly smile before then directing his Sacred Breath directly towards him causing Jacob to then almost vomit blood.

After noticing this both Elliot and Grace had become terrified causing Theodore to then finally step in.

"I am Lord Commander Theodore Vale, Captain of The Celestial King's Guard.. and High Lord of The Celestial Vale, those surrounding you are members of The Celestial Royal Guard"

"We were informed of these incursions and ordered by The Celestial King of The Kingdom of The Celestial Vale on behalf of The Kingdom of Cinis to detain and investigate these parties involved in these.. incursions"

Theodore carefully explained surprising everyone else causing Jacob to then build up the courage to then speak.

"Incur-Incursions? We weren't aware we were trespassing into another's realm.."

Jacob surprisingly confessed causing Theodore to then frown.

"Is that so? Is it possible that you weren't aware of the unprovoked attacks on mines belonging to The Kingdom of Cinis and the sinking of one of their 'Ancestral' Patrol Ships?"

"These acts alone can be considered deliberate acts of war, I was ordered by his majesty to detain such parties"

"Please come with me, any attacks directed towards The Celestial Royal Guard or myself won't be tolerated and would be seen as an attack on The Kingdom of The Celestial Vale"

Theodore warned surprising all three causing Jacob to then reluctantly nod.

Causing Elliot to then reveal his staff before then pointing it towards Theodore causing Theodore to then sigh.

Before then quickly disappearing and reappearing in front of poor Elliot in mere moments before then grabbing Elliot's elegantly crafted wooden staff.

And breaking it with one hand as if a cheap toothpick, surprising everyone once more causing Grace to then quickly rush in between the two.

"Ple-Please don't hurt my big brother!"

Grace tearily begged surprising Theodore.

Causing his heart to then quickly melt once more and resulting in him helplessly smiling.

"Neither of you will be harmed little one.. however, aiming his staff at me was a hazard.. I stopped him before he had a chance to hurt both himself and you, please forgive me for frightening you two?"

Theodore reassuringly apologized surprising all three once more causing Grace to then adorably look up to Theodore with an adorably surprised expression.

"Re-Really? Bu-But you didn't have to break big brother's staff.. that's what a bully would do?"

Grace shyly mumbled.

Causing Theodore to then helplessly smile once more.

"I won't deny that fact, and you're right.. but sometimes it's better to be a bully if it means no 'one' gets hurt, how about this? As an apology, I will get him an even better one after this mess is over?"

Theodore surprisingly asked causing Grace to then adorably look to the now composed Elliot causing Elliot to then embarrassingly blush.

"Th-That will be fine, I-I must apologize as well.. I still can't believe my fear for both my and my sister's safety pushed me to do something so incredibly embarrassing"

Elliot worriedly confessed.

Causing everyone to then sigh with relief.

"It's fortunate that you encountered us rather than a wandering Sacred Powerhouse, I fear they'd lack my understanding?"

Theodore sighed.

Surprising both Jacob and Elliot along with their guards as well.

"Di-Did you say Sacr-Sacred?"

Elliot surprisingly asked causing Theodore to then nonchalantly nod before then pointing out everyone accompanying was as well.

And soon after Theodore and The Celestial Royal Guard led Jacob, Elliot, and Grace along with the rest of their guard to their encampment surprising all three after seeing so many people wearing similar golden armors.

Causing Grace to then adorably hug Theodore's hip surprising him causing him to then adorably smile before then playfully patting her head causing her to then adorably giggle.

After getting everyone arranged Theodore had soon spoken to Jacob in private in the hopes of finding out more, it seemed both Grace and Elliot were the children of Queen Angelica of The Kingdom of Dreams surprising Theodore.

"The Kingdom of Dreams.. does it have anything to do with The Dragon of Drea-"

Theodore curiously asked before then being cut off by a scream causing both to then quickly rush out of the tent.

Before then seeing Grace hiding behind a member of The Celestial King's Guard all the while another was nonchalantly detaining a small cloaked figure.

"Report?"

Theodore asked.

Causing one of the nearby guards who had seen what had happened to then respectfully bow.

"My Lord this cloaked figure attempted to 'harm' Lady Grace, fortunately, no one was harmed however we did find this dagger and insignia along with a lowly relic that concealed them on this figure.."

The guard answered before then handing the three items to Theodore surprising both him and Jacob causing Jacob to then frown.

"It seems our alliance may have already fallen through.. we've not only been lied to but were also forced to waste enough of our precious resources in this useless 'expedition'.."

"If they believe they can make us disappear and take advantage of The Kingdom of Dreams then it'll only help them knowing we haven't reported back yet"

Jacob seriously explained surprising Theodore causing him to then signal to the guards to send the hooded figure to his tent before then relaying the events to Bradley.

Causing him to then approve an earlier decision for an operation against such an incursion, after relaying and getting the confirmation Theodore soon returned to the tent where the hooded figure was being held.

Before then dismissing the two guards to wait outside.

"Who hired you to harm that child little one?"

Theodore curiously asked causing the small figure to then immediately ignore him causing him to then helplessly shake his head.

"I knew you wouldn't be that cooperative on the first try.."

Theodore helplessly laughed before then noticing no one had yet to remove the small figure's hood.

Causing him to then curiously unveil the small figure's face surprising him after noticing the fact that the small hooded figure was in fact a little girl, the little girl wore a dirty black hunting attire, hood, and boots.

Complimenting her muddy platinum blonde hair, face, paleish green eyes, and adorably dead features causing Theodore's heart to then quickly drop after noticing her dead expression.

"You've been through quite a lot haven't you miss?"

Theodore sadly asked causing the little girl to then ignore him once more.

"Little Miss.. I won't ask about what happened earlier, it seems Jacob had already speculated who sent you, but I'd still like to ask something from you, do you have a name? Where are your parents?"

Theodore worriedly asked.

Causing the little girl to then ignore him once more.

"Do you have parents?"

Theodore worriedly asked causing the little girl to then once again ignore him.

Moments later Theodore signaled to one of the guards to then bring him some dinner.

All the while also asking him for an extra plate while he's at it, soon after the guard had returned with two plates of curry covered with deep-fried chicken cutlets after having been recommended by Lady Mai.

Before then leaving causing the little girl to then smell the air causing Theodore to then smile after noticing some form of a reaction.

"Are you hungry? I know it's late, but you look hungry.."

Theodore curiously asked.

Causing the little girl to then look towards the food with the same dead expression causing Theodore to then helplessly remember something before then finally removing his helmet and fixing his hair.

"Sorry for that! I sometimes forget I have that thing on.."

Theodore helplessly apologized causing the little girl to then finally look to him with a slightly different expression surprising him.

Causing his heart to then helplessly melt.

"Sorry for the late introduction, let me formally introduce myself, I am Lord Commander of The Celestial King's Guard"

"And Highlord of The Celestial Vale.. with the titles out of the way my name is Theodore, you can call me Theo if you'd like?"

Theodore reassured causing the little girl's expression to remain the same.

"I'm also a High-level Sacred Mage and a Mid-Level Sacred Knight to boot, so you needn't worry about anyone hurting you.."

"And I'd like to think I have a 'reputation' among the gods as well, so at least that's something going for me so divine or otherwise I'll protect you?"

Theodore proudly reassured causing the little girl's expression to then finally change once more causing Theodore to then smile before then remembering something again.

Causing him to then move to her side along with his plate before then cutting a piece of the cutlet.

"I've never truly fed anyone before, other than my little sisters of course! So you'd be my first? Open wide! I promise it's good"

Theodore happily reassured.

Causing the little girl's expression to then finally change once more, after Theodore had adorably fed her the small piece of the cutlet.

All the while causing her to then quickly become teary after being introduced to something she haven't had in a very long time.. a hot meal.