Emperor's Reckoning

The weathering storm outside was full of thunder and lightning with rude gales of wind brooming the sea into raging waves. The ice inside the glass melted slowly before hitting the glass with a click as the opened book flipped another page.

The young man was sleeping on top of the bed alone. The blanket had embraced him to bring the much warmth that he needed, but the smile that was on his face was no more. His neutral face seemed unfazed and the quality of sleep he was getting didn't diminish even with the loud rage of the sky. The rain that hit the floor and the wind that blowout the curtains only brought about a serene feeling and calming sense to his unconscious mind.

The soul was sleeping but his natural instinct sensed no one in the vicinity of his figure. The woman that had laid him to rest was gone, the dragon woman and the Throne winner were as well. Adhere to the bed that was the best quality there was in the world. The young man didn't know that the three left because of the person who opened the door.

*CLICK!

The cup was put down to adhere to its trustworthy saucer plate. The steam coming out of the extravagant milk was soothing and permeated the luxurious room. The crackle of the woods from the firepit was calming as the carpet fur on the expensive wooden flooring slightly fluttered. A huge chandelier hanging from the ceilings brought about light that opened the view from every corner of the room. However, the said chandelier was not made to hold candles, it was made to hold hundreds of mana orbs that lightly floating up and down in a wave pattern. The glamorous chandelier was made of a metal that was comparable to black Mythril.

Crossing her legs after putting the cup back, she straightened her back on top of the fluffy cushion of a chair that she sat on before letting out a sigh.

"Seriously... what are you three up to in that room," asked Priscila. She looked at the woman that was resting on top of a curvaceous sofa with her head resting on the armrest.

The long slender legs were only covered with soft silk that had a low opacity but it gradually heightened as it got to her private parts. Her slim waist was tied by a cotton belt as her top had the same opacity pattern as the bottom part. The deep V revealed the cleavage of her voluptuous breasts that could kill a man. She heaved as her auburn eyes looked at the ceiling,

"Don't ask me, ask these two," answered Cecile without pointing at the other three females in the room.

"Hah..." Priscila let out a sigh at the attitude that her daughter had shown but she didn't mind her laziness before she turned her glance toward Yunesia and the woman she had never seen before.

"Yunesia... It's been a while, I see you put on some weight on a certain part of your body," Priscila chuckled. Nobody dared to jokingly say something like that to a genius like her except of course the mother of the empress herself.

The two people in front of Yunesia were the ones that had never curry favor with her. Even though they were powerful enough like the others and even more than some, they didn't act with greed for power.

Yunesia smiled in response before looking at Ayumu who appeared to still have a hint of resentment behind those eyes of hers. However, it was clear that the latter was still feeling complicated about the whole situation. On one hand, she was so close with her eternal idol while on the other hand was the only woman who had come out unscathed, unlike her father.

"Then.. who are you, young lady?" asked Priscila with a joyful smile as she looked at the beautiful hair of jade that belonged to the woman with vertical silver pupils. (This woman, she is out of love isn't she... she is really cold), despite her thought, her smile didn't fade.

"Lumina... My name is Lumina."

"Ah," she clasped her hands before continuing, "what a wonderful name... you have beautiful eyes too. Like a... hmmm... I can't pinpoint the saying..."

"Like a sword that cuts through jade."

"Hm?" Priscila slightly tilted her head as she looked at Cecile who casually says the words without any contemplation.

"How did you know?" Lumina glared at Cecile before the latter picked up the glass of wine nearby.

"Of course I know, I'm his wife, the very first and the very best. I know all about him," she took a sip before looking at the red liquid dancing in the glass as she slightly shook it.

The words 'his wife' sent a stinging sharp blow to her heart and Ayumu, though they had different contexts. Meanwhile, Priscila couldn't believe how casually she said her relationship status against her own mother. She decided to accept as it is for now, if not the various emotions will begin to succumb her into a meltdown later.

"Ah right, I meant to tell you that there will be a banquet tomorrow evening.... wait... FIRST? You mean he has a SECOND?!"

Lumina didn't get to ask before Priscilla almost passed out by her daughter's words. Ayumu had her jaw pulled downward and locked as she looked at her idol. The image of the perfect woman slowly crumbled right before her eyes but Cecile didn't faze against their reaction. She was still looking at the wine before her lips pointed upward.

She put down the glass of wine before slowly standing up. Her tall and lean figure had a hint of muscularity as her body contracted when she stretched. She yawned without her hand covering it up before she smiled and approached Lumina who had a thousand questions inside her head.

The two stood against each other but Cecile was the only one smiling as she slightly looked down because of her tall figure. The auburn hair suddenly fluttered before her face leaned in right beside her right ear and her left hand grabbed Lumina's right shoulder. With a soft voice that only the dragon woman could hear, she left a message before Lumina's eyes opened wide with every word that she uttered.

'He never forgets you.'

"Welp, I'm going to sleep! Hehe!" she immediately left the room before everyone in the room could take a second breath. The speed was astonishing despite her figure, only a few tap of her foot was heard before she whooshed herself out.

"Hey wait! Geez, that tall girl of mine! Don't forget about the banquet tomorrow!" Priscila could only shout in hope that it reached her daughter's ears.

"Alright, for the meantime you beautiful ladies please stay for the night and attend tomorrow's banquet. There will be a lot of opportunities and delicious food tomorrow, so please enjoy the night at my house. Bernadetta will prepare the guest room... but before that," Priscila smiled before Lumina's eyes opened wide as her head was pressed onto a bosom. She was still occupied by the words that Cecile whispered to her before the warmth that she felt put it aside.

"I don't know what you have been through, but I can see it in your beautiful eyes that it has been hard. Don't worry, don't worry..." Priscila rubbed her back as she consoled Lumina out of nowhere. "A woman shouldn't condemn it all by herself, believe it or not, people are always weak at nature, its okay to cry or let your emotion go once in a while."

Lumina was standing awkwardly, she didn't know what the woman was saying at all but somehow, she didn't mind it. The sudden embrace of a mother had long she forgotten since her own had only loved her in the name of glory. She could only give a slight nod before Priscila let her embrace go.

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The door was slowly pushed before it closed with a click. The auburn eyes looked at the young man that was sleeping soundlessly. The heave of his chest put the blanket that covered him up and down. She smiled before taking off her clothes and put them aside.

The rain was still going on without delay but the woman turned naked and opened the blanket that covered the young man's warmth. She laid her head to rest so that her face was against his. She pulled the blanket back to cover them both before her hand reached out and touched his cheek.

"Aren't you glad... you met her again."

Despite her tall figure, she snuggled on top of his chest before embracing him under the blanket.

Meanwhile, under the stormy rain, a figure was standing right in front of the door to the castle.

"Madoka... you do it."

"No..."

"Get over here you!"

"F-Fine."

With a fake cough, Madoka knocked on the door before it suddenly opened right after the first knock.

"I knew it..." Ayumu shook her head.

"Hehe..."