Emperor's Reckoning

The hooves were hitting the ground as the horses dragged the elusive white carriage. The trees parted as they went to a straight line and the blinding light shone above them as they exit the forest.

Lyon couldn't help but covered his eyes to readjust his vision. "Wow."

The sun was nestling itself behind the vibrant clouds as birds flew by in pairs, flapping their wings to the edge of the horizon. The smell of agriculture from both sides of the road was a refreshing medicine from the bustle everyday work. A stream of the river flowed through the middle as a bridge made of paving was there to cross it. The shine from above made the water glitters as if they were made of birthstones.

From the bridge onward the road was no longer made of dirt but paving instead. A little further, a huge brown gate with the swallow symbol could be seen right above it. The gate was made of a thick wood where the locks were made of a huge metal bar. As the gate was mostly open at times, the locks had never been used in quite some time.

The horses' mane was fluttering to the right as they run toward the paving roads. Two soldiers that guard the gate immediately noticed the incoming carriage and waved at them to stop for an inspection.

With a neigh, the horses came to a complete halt. One of the soldiers was checking inside the carriage through the window while the other approached Lyon.

"Good morning travelers, haven't seen you around before, where are you from?" asked one of the soldier.

He noticed that the carriage belonged to Luderia but there might be imposters. After all the place was in hectic situations so it was normal for him to be cautious.

"Good morning, eh, soldier? My name is Lyon, I'm here to escort the lady beside me and her sister inside the carriage to their homes."

The soldier squinted his eyes to look at the sleeping beauty beside Lyon. She looked familiar yet not familiar to him.

"Hnn?" Clemora's eyes flutter before lazily opened her eyes. Releasing her head off Lyon's shoulder, she tugged her hair behind her ear.

"L-lady Clemora! Welcome back!" said the soldier with a bow. The other soldier immediately followed suit as he saw that the one inside the carriage was actually Biane.

It took a second before Clemora realize what's happening. (D-don't tell me he saw that I was sleeping on top of Lyon's shoulder?!). With a shade of red, Clemora cough. "You only saw me going back sitting beside my driver, got it? No more in-depth details! You know the consequences."

"Y-yes lady!" the soldiers were scared out of their wit. They were a nobody in this game of chess if they forced themself to be a piece than prepare to pay the price.

Then Lyon commanded the horse through his reign to get inside Luderia. As the carriage went, the two soldiers were talking to themselves.

"Damn, what a lucky lad that driver is," said one of them while shaking his head.

"Tell me about it, Lady Clemora was highly sought after just like her step-sister Biane, but no man had the opportunity like that driver, I bet his ancestors grave is exploding right now haha," laughed the other as he patted his partner's shoulder.

"I heard rumors that half of the aristocrat was asking for their hand in marriage but they refused them all despite their father's encouragement."

"Tell me about it," said the soldier while shaking his head.

"I wonder if the driver is lucky or unlucky though, he is definitely a newcomer but the state Luderia is in right now is not favorable."

The other soldier sighed as he said, "Tell me about it."

He looked at his partner that said the same thing over and over again while squinting his eyes.

"What? Something on my face?" said his partner.

"No, nothing, it's just that, this shift feels longer when nothing is happening,"

"Tell me about it."

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Inside the gate was a massive city bustling with noises. The building was themed like in ancient Europe as the medieval aroma permeating in the air. The road was big enough to fit three carriages at once and still have a sidewalk made of solid paving.

"Uwah, this is really a bustling city huh," said Lyon stating the obvious. Though Nostria was a kingdom, this was on an entirely different level.

"This is only the lower class of the city where commoners do their everyday job and try to make ends meet," said Clemora before continuing, "Just keep going north and we will enter the noble and royalty region."

"Clemora, do you believe in the power of the masses?" asked Lyon playfully. He made it so that the horses walked slowly with each tap of them was clearly heard.

"Yes, I do, I mean, why do you think I still sit with you in the driver seat," said Clemora as she winked then smile at him.

Lyon looked at her with one of his eyebrows risen up. Then he noticed that the people around him were talking between themselves as they looked at the duo. (I see, so I'm the scapegoat huh) instead of being angry he was amused.

(Then, you're wrong if you think I would lay low and accept this) chuckled Lyon inwardly.

"I guess you need to send them a clearer message," said Lyon before stretching his right arm and grabbed the farther part of Clemora's shoulder, pulling her closer to him.

His action was always unpredictable and contradicted people's common sense. She was trying to be subtle, that's why she warned the guard from the entrance, but all of that was for nothing.

Clemora had her eyes opened wide then glaring at her driver. Even though she was blushing, she slowly made a fist so that only he could see it.

Lyon smiled as he saw the cute side of her, before he whipped the horses, "Let's go!"

As the carriage went to a deeper region, the rumors started to spread like a wildfire in a forest.