Emperor's Reckoning

The restaurant they were heading to had a luxurious front. Subsequent of glimmering lights from the grand chandelier. Adorned with creative graphics on the walls to the entrance, they brought a royal feel to any passerby.

Nobody was around at the time of his arrival, which was perfect. Since most of them still sat dumbfoundedly in the arena, there was no need to reserve a seat.

Lyon nodded before he stepped in.

"Wow, it's empty, haha!"

"Oh?" a submissive tone was heard before a middle-aged man with a big smile on his face comes out from the kitchen counter. He wore a simple apron and his eyes were small to a narrow slit. The man exude happiness as he walked. However, seeing Lyon and the group, he was immediately intimidated.

One was taller than the others, a tall beautiful woman, a fiery woman with no regard for rules, a woman whose silence was deadly, a man who seemed to be a butler, and then the young man in front of them who was laughing for no reason.

(This... are we having a festival?) thought the middle-aged man.

"Old man! I will have your finest dishes and finest drinks!" said Lyon before he sat on the biggest table available.

"Wha..?" the middle-aged man was stupefied before Assid approached him with his intimidating sharp eyes.

The middle-aged man took a step back. He was not a fighter, he was a cook, but seeing Assid, he immediately felt that his pride as a cook was being challenged.

"Bring us your finest liquor, but do keep in mind that only, ONLY, give young master water."

"Huh?" the middle-aged man was stupefied. There had been no one that ever dined in his restaurant order simple bland water. They would strive for the finest liquors, the best in town.

"If you bring him liquor, then the destruction of Afurnae will be entirely your responsibility," his ghastly tone made the middle-aged man's face shrink as he slowly nodded.

Assid looked around before he had his eyebrows furrowed. "Where are your waiters or waitresses?"

"Err..." the middle-aged man was nervous to answer before he let out a sigh. "I, have none..."

"Hm?" Assid pinched his chin as he asked, "Are you the owner?"

The man shook his head, "My father was..."

"I see," Assid nodded before he walked into the kitchen room. "I will help you cook."

"Eh? What?" the middle-aged man was stupefied before he followed him.

"You are the owner, lead," said Assid as he knotted the apron to his waist.

"Eh...?" the middle-aged man couldn't believe it. "B-But, what about your young master, s-surely I can't offend him?!"

"He would have agreed with this," said Assid.

"What?"

"I agree with this."

"?!" The middle-aged man turned around before looking at Lyon was already inside the kitchen.

"In fact," Lyon smirked as he put on his apron before tying it to a knot. "I will hel—"

"Alright dearest, enough of your ploy and come with me."

"Eh?" Lyon opened his eyes wide before he leered to the right to see a hand above his shoulder. His neck was strangled by one hand as he was dragged outside. "No~"

"Alright, just sit back down," said Cecile as she chuckled. "You think you can drink liquor under my watch? Well, you can, but not right now."

"I see, so you have seen through my plans," said Lyon as he was being dragged l

Assid let out a rare chuckle before he lit up the stove with simple magic. "Now then, where is your recipe?"

The middle-aged man had his shoulder slouched as he blinked in disbelief. (What a weird bunch...).

Lyon sat back down with the rest on the biggest round table on the second floor. The chair was made from high-quality wood and the table from natural marble.

Lyon grunted as he crossed his arms. He closed his eyes as his nose pointed down.

"What is it?" asked Lumina. "Are you that hung—"

*Growl

The growl was at the utmost of uproar. It was vehemently loud that the hanging chandelier slightly swayed. Even Graham couldn't help but have his eyes widened a bit.

"Woah! Who's that?" asked Lyon as he chuckled.

"Hm? Emperor, that's not you?" asked Kesya.

"C'mon, stop it with this 'emperor' already, just call me young master... and no, it wasn't me."

Lyon shook his head.

"Well... it was me," said Cecile as she chuckled.

Lyon opened his eyes wide in disbelief. "Woah... really?"

"En," Cecile nodded.

The words inside Lyon's mind crashed against each other and nothing was produced. He turned into a nihilngual with his mouth slightly opened. He averted his gaze toward the opened empty plate on the table instead.

Cecile chuckled before she winked at Lumina.

Lumina's cheeks turned a red hue before she meekly nodded. 'Thank you.'

'Your welcome.'

"Well..." Kesya grinned before she asked, "I will pay for this meal."

Lyon and Cecile both raised their eyebrows.

"What?" asked Cecile, "You?"

"Of course, empress, I have the money you know."

"You do?" asked Lyon.

"What's that supposed to mean?!" said Kesya as she was a little bit annoyed by Lyon's words.

"Heh, I mean, you... er... don't look like you have money hahaha!"

"I have! In fact, you help me get the money," grinned Kesya as she crossed her arms.

"What?" asked Lumina before she furrowed her eyebrows. She leered toward Lyon. (He never give me any money).

"What?" asked Lyon, "Really? When did that happen?"

He was having cold sweat with the dragon beside him glaring in silence.

"It was yesterday night!"

"Huh? Really now," uttered Cecile before she put her hands on her waist as she averted her glance from Kesya toward her dearest. "Do you have anything to say?

"I... uh... your welcome? Hey, I don't even know what she was talking about okay?"

"Oh, how can you forget it," said Kesya she pressed her cheeks and shook her head.

(Why are you bashful?!) thought Lyon with veins for his eyes.