Emperor's Reckoning

Lyon the others proceeded to the dining hall where the others had waited for his return.

The dining hall was adorned with a green nature theme as its main attraction. Veins of natural plants were breathing at the sight. A huge painting of a giant tree painted the ceiling as the hue of mana could casually be seen with naked eyes along the lines of the stroke. White mana orbs could be seen hovering around the dining hall like a little white harmless fireball.

The fantasy in front of his eyes was like a dream but he soon gained his composure as he saw everyone else There was the usual group, but his eyebrows furrowed as he saw only Kesya of the three generals.

"Is Assid in the kitchen again?" he muttered. "Then where is Graham?"

"I'm right here, young master," said Graham as he somehow appeared beside him.

Wanda immediately took a step back through her sheer instinct. The half-giant was like a sore thumb among the rest but his presence was hardly detected by her divine sense.

"I see, where were you?" asked Lyon. He was no longer easily surprised by his generals' abrupt entrance.

"I was outside, young master," said Graham as he bowed with his eyes closed.

"Catching some fresh air?" asked Lyon as he grinned before he put his hands over Graham's shoulder. "Graham you shrewd fellow, you should tell this young master if you are going to do that, hehe."

"Hm?" Graham raised his eyebrows. Since his height was way taller than his master, he naturally bent his back a little bit. "What do you mean, master?"

"You sly half-giant, don't make me say it, hahaha!" Lyon chuckled.

Graham raised his eyebrows, still confused at what Lyon was meaning to say.

"You are looking for a woman, right? Haha!" Lyon laughed proudly as he smacked Graham's back. In this world, he was probably the only man dared enough to smack him without fear. "That's good, that's good, hahaha!"

Graham's pupils shrunk a little bit as his mind suddenly traverse to the past. A similar voice echoed inside his mind

---

"Graham you sly boy, were you looking at women's ass again? Bahahaha!"

*Click!

"?!? S-Selena?! Crap!! Gotta run!"

"Huh?" meanwhile, the young man that was sleeping while leaning on the wall opened his eyes. "W-What? Did master call—!!"

A black hair suddenly fluttered past in front of him before a gust of wind smacked his bratty cheeks. His face immediately squinted before he turned around to see his master was being chased by his woman.

"Graham! Don't listen to what Lyon said!" said the woman with beautiful black hair without turning around. "Tch! Lyon! Why are you running if you are not guilty?!"

---

Graham smiled before he looked at his master, "Not really."

"Hahaha!" Lyon laughed before he smacked his chest proudly, "If you are in need of advice, you can always talk to your young master, I have a few tricks of my own, haha! You might be able to master a thousand art but to understand a woman, it would take two lifetimes! Which, I have haha!"

Graham showed a rare smile as if he was taken back to his younger self. (Thank you, for coming back, master).

"Hmm? I wonder what are you two talking about, seemed suspicious," jested Cecile.

Lyon turned around with a grin on his face. "Haha, there is nothing serious, this is just guy stuff."

"Oh?" Cecile raised one of her eyebrows before she smiled and walked away without any comment.

On the other hand, Lumina had her eyes squinted as she looked at him with slight exasperation. Lyon naturally smiled wryly (I guess dragon really has heightened hearing).

"Alright then," said Lyon as he saw a vacant seat beside Cecile. With beauty by his side, why would he choose another seat? However, to his surprise, Lumina was one step ahead and sat beside Cecile without any words spared.

Cecile raised one of her eyebrows as she looked at Lumina. The two didn't exchange glances as the latter seemed to be more interested in the food on the table. The auburn beauty chuckled before she looked at Lyon with her hands clasped.

(Since when are they best friends?!) said Lyon inwardly with a twitching wry smile.

Lyon shook his head before he smiled and went ahead toward the vacant seat beside Lumina. However, Kesya suddenly stood up from her seat and dumbly sat on the seat that he was eyeing.

(W-What?! What the hell is this passive-aggressive?! What's wrong with you women?!) thought Lyon as he furrowed his eyebrows. His obvious exasperation brought a chuckle to the three ladies except for Lumina.

Graham looked at his master (Look's like, even with two lifetimes, you cannot understand a woman).

"I will lower myself and offer you a seat right beside me, will you grant this humble princess's offer?"

The soft tone made Hilde raise her eyebrows before she turned around to see Cherie, the princess of the Sverine Kingdom, bowed her head slightly against Lyon.

"Oh my, sorry for my daughter's straightforwardness, I hope you don't mind?" said Wanda with a smile.

Lyon looked at these two women that were like two peas in a pod. The tree surely had not fallen far from the tree, perhaps straight down.

Cherie definitely shared some if not all of her mother's best features. There was hardly anything that resembled the current king of the Sverine Kingdom. Her eyes might not be as bright and clear as Hilde but they were frightening in their own right. The future of the Sverine Kingdom seemed not too shabby with her leading the next generation, however.

"I thank the opportunity but I think that I will sit with you and Hilde by my sides," Lyon crossed his arms with a smile.

Hilde was surprised by her suggestion but she didn't refuse it either.

"I see," Cherie smiled before she took a glance at Hilde.

The two of them suddenly set tension between their smiles.