Emperor's Reckoning

Her goosebumps rose as if she was electrocuted. The soft whisper made her pupils shrink to a dot and her eyes widen. She was a fortune-teller, a powerful cultivator as well, but even she couldn't detect the presence of another. It was alike, akin to the scene that happened in that place.

She could hear her smile before the latter walked past her and revealed herself.

Slightly muscular but her figure was lithe overall. She was as tall as the person that the lady fortune-teller saw in that place. Her iconic auburn hair was knot into a fusion of dragon and waterfall braid. The queen aura of Wanda felt minuscule against that one smirk from her auburn lips.

"Cecile?" asked Lyon as he raised his eyebrows. "Where were you?"

(Cecile...) thought the lady fortune-teller.

"I was sightseeing with your lover," said Cecile with a smile.

Lyon smiled wryly as his cheeks turned red. He scratched the back of his head before he laugh like a fool.

"Lover?" the lady muttered.

Cecile averted her gaze from the love's fool to the famous lady fortune-teller. "Should I call you by your name?"

The lady was still in shock inwardly but she kept her smile. She knew from those two words that this auburn-haired beauty was not ordinary. "It would be meddlesome if you call me by my name."

"Really? I don't think First Heaven will even recognize your name," said Cecile before she crossed her arms then leaned on Lyon's shoulder then she rested her head on top of it.

(Does she know who I really am?) thought the lady fortune-teller.

"Maybe not, but someone might. I don't want to take that risk," said Vivi.

"Vivi," Lyon nodded as he muttered. "That's a good name."

"It seems that you are here for a reason as well," asked Vivi with a smile. "Did you predict that I was going to take a stroll in the garden?"

"No, it is all just a mere coincidence, though, do you believe in the word?" asked Cecile with a smile.

Vivi merely smiled, neither denying nor admitting.

"I see," Lyon nodded once more. "So like, are you a princess too?"

"Hmm?" Vivi raised her eyebrows. "What makes you think so?"

"Just a guess," said Lyon as he chuckled.

"Lyon, do you think you only attract princesses and queens?" jested Cecile as she chuckled.

Lyon smiled wryly at his wife before he fixed his glance toward the lady in front of them. "Nice to meet you, uh, what should we call you?"

"Call me Lady Fortune-teller," said the lady as she smiled.

Lyon furrowed his eyebrows, "Really?"

"Let's respect her request, Lyon," said Cecile. "After all, I need her help."

"You do?" asked both Lyon and Vivi at the same time.

Cecile smiled before she raised her face off of Lyon's shoulder.

"No, no, no," said Lyon as he pushed her left cheek back on his shoulder. "Stay there for longer."

Cecile snorted with chuckles before she kissed his neck.

Vivi had her lips twitching as the couple was lovey-dovey right in front of her. (I feel like a third-wheeler).

The soft sensation made him smile before he asked, "What help do you need from her?"

"Oh you need not be concerned about that yet," said Cecile with a smile.

"Yet?" asked Lyon as he furrowed his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"It means what it means, Lyon," said Cecile as she touched his nose.

"Alright," said Lyon as he nodded.

Vivi furrowed her eyebrows (Is he not going to ask her what it is? What's wrong with him?).

"Thank you, Lyon," said Cecile before she kissed his cheek.

"Where is Lumina by the way? It's unusual of her not to be by my side," asked Lyon.

"Well, I dragged her out of the bed. She was clutching you tightly," Cecile chuckled. "You can find her eating in the inn's restaurant."

Lyon smiled wryly. "She is really fond of eating."

Cecile shrugged, "What do you expect, she is a dragon after all."

Lyon smiled as he shook his head. "It seems like you want to talk with Vivi alone, oops, Lady Fortune-teller."

Cecile got off of his shoulder before he nodded.

"Alright, then have fun you two," said Lyon with a smile before he left.

Despite the devastating beauty in front of him, he left. He put his hands behind his head as if he had not a single shed of care to the world.

The two of them watched his back shrinking further away as he left the garden.

Cecile smiled before averting her glance back to the lady fortune-teller.

"Hm?" she raised her eyebrows before she smiled. "It seems like you have more questions than I do."

Vivi smiled, "Can't say that I have none."

"I have a request for someone like you," asked Cecile with a smile.

Vivi furrowed her eyebrows. "It seems like you know something more than I thought you know."

Cecile smiled.

---

Cherie squinted her eyes a little before she caught a familiar figure. She raised her eyebrows, "Ah, he's back?"

"Hm?" Lyon raised his eyebrows as he noticed Cherie.

As soon as he arrived in front of her, he asked, "Were you waiting for me?"

Cherie smiled, "Of course."

Lyon put his hands down before he grinned.

"Lyon, did you already know who she is?" asked Cherie.

Lyon smiled before he nodded. "It's pretty obvious."

Wanda laughed. "Of course, you would notice such beauty in Afurnae at once if she were to be here from the moment you stepped into this city."

"I know right," Lyon laughed proudly.

(That, I don't think that was supposed to be a type of praise) thought Cherie but she smiled nonetheless.

"Then where are is the lady fortune-teller?" asked Cherie as she noticed that he returned alone.

"Oh, she is talking with Cecile," said Lyon.

"Cecile?" Cherie furrowed her eyebrows. (What could she possibly want to talk about? Her future? I highly doubt it).

"Well, it's best not to disturb the two," said Wanda as she smiled.