Emperor's Reckoning

Lyon's nose slightly twitched before he turned around and saw a steward bringing a silver tray. The glistening food was already feasted by his eyes before it even landed on his plate.

"Sorry for the wait," said the steward as he make a slight bow.

"Huh?" Hilde's senses came back just as she heard the steward's voice.

The steward carefully placed the dishes right in front of them before leaving with another bow after he was done serving.

Lyon spare no more seconds as he grabbed the fork and knife.

"Err, did I hear you right?" asked Hilde as she made a wry smile.

Lyon had yet to pierce the meat with his fork before he looked up, "Huh? What do you mean?"

"That you want to kill Hezar?"

"Oh, that, of course," said Lyon as he picked up the venison on the plate with his fork and munch on it. Were there any onlookers watching they would have berated him already. He was sitting in front of a princess, a well-renowned one at that, but he as a guest dare to eat without even letting the host say a word or two.

Hilde was flabbergasted by how casually he said those words. Hezar was not a weak cultivator, yet this man from the mortal world was going to kill him and it seems he didn't feel any pressure at all from his grand goal.

"Why?" asked Hilde as she furrowed her eyebrows. (Only a man that wished to die wanted to kill someone like Hezar)

Lyon stopped his munch before he swallowed. He pointed her with his fork, "Are you related to him?"

"No."

"Then it's fine," said Lyon as he shrugged his shoulder before he grabbed the slab of meat with his fork and accidentally slammed it on his plate. The shock made the other plate slightly jump before falling down. "Heh, sorry."

Her lips slightly twitched as a bead of sweat appeared on her temple. "I-It's fine."

As Lyon sliced the meat he muttered, "One must be ready to die if they are ready to kill."

Hilde's eyes immediately turned sharp, "You mean..."

"That guy organized my death through dirty hands. He wanted to keep his hand clean," Lyon smiled at the meat before putting it inside his mouth.

"He wants you dead? How did you escape?" asked Hilde.

"Escape?" Lyon chuckled before he averted his glance toward her eyes as he smirked.

Her pupils were shrunken. "I-I see."

Lyon gave a slight snort with a smile on his face before returning to eat.

(He killed them) thought Hilde. (This guy has spine! A really hard one at that. Surviving the assassination attempt was considered lucky by some but here he is, trying to sever Hezar's life).

Hilde smiled as she watched him eat like a destitute person.

"Hm? Aren't you going to eat?" asked Lyon after he swallowed a mouthful.

Hilde shook her head with a smile on her face.

"Well, alright," Lyon suddenly stood from his chair and took her plate and brought it to his side of the table.

"Eh?" She was in disbelief as she saw what Lyon had just done. Her mind was stunned but the young man paid no heed as he kept on eating. She had never met such a man before, not even her peers. She was always revered because of her status as a princess and the many merits and honors that she brought throughout her life. Yet, the man in front of her treated her like none of those.

She suddenly opened her mouth in the middle of his munching and said, "Do you want to be under my wings?"

"Heh?" Lyon's cheeks were full before he made a hard swallow.

(This man, this is what I've been looking for, I'm sure with the right training he would do wonder. Not just anybody could withstand the aura from Rupert).

Lyon blinked twice before she added. "Don't worry about Hezar for now, I can protect you."

She pointed her thumb against her bosom. "I hate Hezar too, but killing him now would be troublesome. You must stay under the shade first before when the time is nigh, you show him your fangs then. I'll be your shade."

"You'll be my shade?"

Hilde nodded, "Don't worry, no one will dare to touch you with me as your backing."

Lyon chuckled before it escalate to a laugh.

Hilde furrowed her eyebrows at his tactless act, "What's funny?"

Lyon shook his head, "Do you not hate the mortal?"

Hilde didn't hesitate, "I don't. There is no reason for me to hate those from the Mortal World. I know, I know that you must have tasted a bitter experience coming here. I've heard that Heaven is heavily revered by the mortal cultivators but it is actually nothing but a place with denser mana."

"Then? Why the sudden interest in me?"

She leaned slightly forward with both of her hands on the table. "Your potential."

"Potential?"

"Yes! You can withstand Rupert's pressure even when you are standing face to face. I doubt even I can do that."

"Who is Rupert?" asked Lyon.

"What..." she sat back down in disbelief. (Is he joking?). "Y-You don't know Rupert?"

"I'm not that fond of knowing a guy's name," said Lyon shamelessly before he picked up his fork once more.

"I, I..." Hilde was speechless. "H-How, what? What do you mean you don't know Rupert. He is the last winner of the tournament."

"Oh? And?"

"You grabbed his wrist as he tried to ask Cecile to go and have lunch."

"Oh, that guy," said Lyon nonchalantly.

"T-That guy..." she muttered helplessly. (I know that my name is not as big as Rupert, but... he ought to know right?!).

"Lyon, do you... know my status?"

"You're a princess."

"I mean," She pointed to the wall where there was a huge insignia etched to it. It was the spear bequeathed by the sun. "Do you know that that is?"

"You're kingdom's logo?" asked Lyon as he shrugged his shoulder.

"L-Logo?! It's insignia!"

"Oh, okay sorry."

"Honestly, Lyon, don't tell me, you know nothing about this place?" asked Hilde as she was a bit scared asking the question.

"Absolutely no idea, hahaha."

"Seriously?" she asked with disbelief.

Lyon shook his head. "Nope."

"Th-Then, why did Hezar want to kill you?"

Lyon crossed his arms before his eyes turned sharp, "He captured the leaders of the Mortal World."

(What..?) her eyebrows rose. "Captured as in?"

"Most likely hostage," said Lyon. "I want to free them but accidentally humiliate him in the process."

(So you offended him...) thought Hilde. (This is serious, never thought he would go that far).

"Then this is all the more reason that you should be under my wings, with this information I can make him surrender them," said Hilde as she stood up.

Lyon smirked, "Thanks for your offer but there is no need. I could free them at the time if I willed it so, but I have some personal matter here."

(Free them at the time?!) thought Hilde.

Lyon grabbed the napkin before drying his moist lips of the greasiness of the food.

"I see, you're here."

A beautiful woman walked in with grace and royal clothing that brought Lyon's eyebrows to slightly furrowed. Her eyes were slightly narrowed and seemed demeaning from her gaze.

"Mother?" exclaimed Hilde before she stood up.

"Don't mother me, the opening ceremony has started already, your father told me to get you, you naughty child! What are you doing here eating with, huh? Who are you?"

Lyon stood up from his chair before he slightly bowed, "My name is Lyon."

(Doesn't ring any bell) thought Hilde's mother. "Where are you from?"

"Mortal World," answered Lyon.

"Mortal World," she muttered before she squinted her eyes against her daughter.

"Well, thanks madam, I didn't know that competition has started already, better get going hahaha!" Lyon laughed as he went past them. He raised crossed he clasped his hands behind his back before walking leisurely.

"M-M-M-Madam?!" she immediately turned around and was about to raise her arm to point at him before her daughter grabbed her wrist.

Her daughter shook her head as she said in a low voice, "It's complicated, I will tell you later."

"Lyon, one last thing!" called Hilde.

"Hm?" Lyon turned around.

"Cecile, what is your relationship with her?" asked Hilde.

Her mother instantly looked at her daughter before averting at the young man.

Lyon raised his eyebrows before he smirked, "Heh, it seems like she is really popular here."

He took a deep breath before he turned around and walked away.

"Hm?Hey! Wai—" Her word was cut off not by anyone else but by her own. Her eyes opened wide as her pupils were shrunken. Lyon didn't speak a word but the freezing cold that crept up her spine occurred once more, that was because his index finger was pointing to the platinum ring behind his head as he walked out.