Emperor's Reckoning

Lyon excused himself from the ladies before he yawned once again. He took a walk inside a hall before a glance of his eyes caught Sylviana sitting in the garden alone.

He slightly furrowed his eyebrows. (Where is Fei?)

The unusual sight of her sitting alone pried his interest. He decided to approach her and made sure that his footsteps were heard by the silver-haired woman.

"Hm?" her ears slightly twitched before she turned around.

She saw him walking with his hands behind his head like his unusual lazy bearing. However, she quickly turned back around nervously.

"Hm?" Lyon raised his eyebrows as he saw her nervously turn around. (What is she doing?)

(Shit, why is he here now at all times!) thought Sylviana as she had a cold for her shoulders. (How should I say this?! How should I thank him?! Ah... I'm not ready!) she shook her head.

Lyon suddenly leaned his face to her ears from behind before he innocently asked, "What are you doing, Sylviana?"

"Eek!" She jerked her shoulder up before hitting his chin and made him bite his own tongue.

Lyon immediately turned around and squat down with his mouth opened. His eyes were glaring red as he fanned his tongue with both of his palms. He couldn't even writhe in pain as his vocal cords only produced a donkey's mating call.

"That's your own fault for sneaking on me like that," said Sylviana as she crossed her arms before snorting away.

Lyon stood up with his pain receptors dancing inside his tongue. He sat opposite her before he asked, "What's gotten into you? It's very unusual to see you here alone."

Sylviana furrowed her eyebrows, "What do you mean? Do you mean I cannot be here without Fei? Are you looking for Fei?"

Her tone was fast and precise. Lyon was caught off-guard by her rapid words.

"No, I'm here because of you."

Her heart immediately skipped a beat before her lips slightly opened up. Her face was flushed to a tinted red as her goosebumps rose. She was not expecting those words to come out from a perverted man like himself.

"W-W..." her words stuck in her throat and her face felt as if something was pulling it inward.

"D-D-Don't say stupid things!" said Sylviana with a reprimanding tone. However, her face of full red definitely belied her intention.

"It's not a stupid thing, I mean, I've never seen you being alone in a garden before," said Lyon.

"I... Can't I be alone in a garden?" said Sylviana before she crossed her arms.

"Hmm... I guess so," said Lyon. "But are you sure you're alright though?"

Sylviana nodded repeatedly.

Lyon smiled, "Alright then, I'm glad that you're alright."

He stood up before walking past him.

"Hm?" he felt his hand was grabbed before he came to a stop. He took a glance against her head before the latter said, "I.."

"What is it?" asked Lyon.

Sylviana took a deep breath before she let out a sigh. "Nothing..."

She let go of his hand with her head slightly hung down.

"Is that so..." said Lyon. "Alright then, I see you later."

Sylviana opened her mouth and was about to say something before closing it down.

"En." She nodded.

Lyon nodded back before he left her alone in the garden.

Sylviana put her hands on her thighs before she buried her finger in her palm whilst pulling the fabric of her clothing. She took a deep breath at the swelling unrest inside her heart before letting it all out with a disappointing sigh.

A breeze of wind rustled the branches from the tree that provided her a shade of cool. She closed her eyes before she leaned back on her chair and looked up toward the sky.

"..."

"...eh?"

Her eyes blinked coherently a few times in a row. She was trying to process what she was seeing, the reflection on her pupils.

"What are you doing... Lyon?"

Instead of the bright blue sky that she was supposed to look at. It was the charismatic face belonging to a youth that unanimously united her world and made Nostria the powerhouse that it was.

Lyon's eyes turned slightly narrowed. He was slightly bending forward with his hands inside his pockets.

Their hair was slightly fluttered by the next wave of breezing wind.

(A dream huh) thought Sylviana before she reached out and touched both of his cheeks. Her face was invitingly blushing.

"I wanted to thank you... for saving me," said Sylviana before she pulled down his face whilst closing her eyes.

The suppleness of her lips crossed paths against his.

It took one breath away before she gently let her go. She was smiling a smile that could contest against Cecile herself. The allure of the silver-haired beauty was devastating.

"Oh my~"

Sylviana's eyes immediately snapped open as she heard Fei's voice.

Fei put her hand on her cheek as she let out a sigh of relief, "I can be assured now."

Lyon looked up toward Fei.

(Eh?! Why are you looking at her?!) thought Sylviana. (This is not a dream?! This is not a dream?!)

Her lips quivered. "Wa,wa,wa,wa..."

Her entire goosebumps rose as the word 'embarrass' couldn't contain what she was feeling anymore. Her hands trembled as her pupils started to swirl.

"Hehe," Lyon scratched his cheek, "This is—"

Sylviana instantly got up before her forehead hit his chin.

The thunderous pain immediately banged his brain as his tongue was once again got caught between his two sets of teeth. His wail of a donkey resumed.

"Oh, so that's where the weird sound came from. I thought sir Garuda's donkey was in the garden for a second there," said Fei as she let out a sigh of relief.

"Wa!" Sylviana immediately jumped out of her chair and hugged Fei with tears in her eyes.

"Why are you crying, Miss?" said Fei.

She shook her head before burying herself to her bosom. "There, there, alright, let's go to your room."

(My tongue!) screamed Lyon inwardly.