Kaiser was the first to step out of the chamber, his presence immediately commanding attention. Clad in armor as dark as midnight, each piece meticulously crafted and sharpened to perfection, he seemed less a warrior and more an incarnation of cold, deadly monarch. The armor itself was sleek and sinister, an artistic blend of brutal practicality and intimidating elegance.

At the very center of his chestplate rested a large, angular gemstone, brilliant and blue, like a stark contrast to the blackness of his armor. The gemstone pulsed softly in sync with his calm heartbeat, illuminating with each slow breath. Kaiser adjusted the gauntlet on his right hand, feeling the newly embedded Albus crystal beneath the armored surface.

Celestine's gaze fell on him, and her golden eyes widened slightly at the sight. She hesitated, then offered a small, genuine smile. "You look... exceptional, Kaiser," she admitted softly, her tone sincere but measured, a slight blush dusting her cheeks. "It suits you perfectly."

Kaiser tilted his head, an amused smirk playing at the edge of his lips. He glanced down at the armored plates, then back to her."Why, Princess, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were complimenting me."

Celestine rolled her eyes slightly, regaining her composure with a dignified huff. "Take it however you wish. I merely spoke the truth."

Kaiser chuckled softly, rubbing his thumb gently over the embedded Albus crystal. It felt strange yet oddly comforting. Turning fully to her, he asked with casual curiosity, "How exactly did you manage to find brand-new armor and weapons for everyone, perfectly sized at that? Quite a feat, even for royalty."

Celestine's smile grew faintly enigmatic. "I have my sources," she explained cryptically, folding her arms lightly beneath her chest. "Let's just say I know a rather skilled artisan. And while it was certainly expensive, it's well worth every Sul spent."

Kaiser raised an eyebrow teasingly, his tone slightly mocking. "So we're valuable investments, then?"

Celestine's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of pink, her golden eyes sharpening with mild annoyance. "Don't talk like that. You're not some investment or commodity."

Kaiser allowed himself another quiet chuckle, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Relax. It was merely a joke, Celestine."

But his laughter died abruptly, his expression turning stone-cold in an instant. Something tugged at his senses—a presence subtle yet unmistakably out of place. His glowing red eyes intensified, the pupils constricting like a predator's. Without hesitation, he drew his new sword, a masterfully forged blade, long and wickedly sharp, and pointed it decisively toward a seemingly empty corner of the hall.

Celestine's eyes widened in confusion. "Kaiser, what are you—there's no one there," she insisted, her voice faintly incredulous.

But Kaiser ignored her protest, his voice chillingly calm yet undeniably lethal. "Reveal yourself. Now."

Celestine stepped forward quickly, intending to reassure him again, but before she could speak, a high-pitched scream pierced the quiet air. A child materialized seemingly from thin air, trembling and wide-eyed.

"What in the—" Kaiser murmured in disbelief, sword still aimed steadily at the newcomer.

The boy, no older than eight, stared up at Kaiser, eyes massive and panicked. Then, in a blur of movement, he dashed across the room and threw himself into Celestine's arms. She stumbled slightly in surprise, automatically catching him.

"Kaiser, stand down," Celestine sighed heavily, exasperation mixed with relief flooding her voice. "He's harmless. Just a family friend."

Kaiser reluctantly lowered his blade, expression carefully neutral once more, though irritation flickered beneath the surface. He eyed the child skeptically, a bit impressed by how well he could hide his presence.

Celestine gently held the child, smiling despite her mild irritation. "Kaiser, meet Mike Otharon, son of one of my father's closest friends." She glanced back down at the boy, tone gentle but admonishing. "Mike, what exactly are you doing here? You could've been hurt."

Mike clung to Celestine tightly, burying his face against her armor. He blushed deeply, his eyes bright with excitement. "I wanted to see you! You smell really nice today, Celestine," he said with a boyish, shameless grin.

Celestine's gentle expression quickly dissolved into one of amused disgust. She promptly pushed Mike away slightly, shaking her head. "Kaiser, kindly remove this troublesome child from my presence."

Instantly, Mike straightened up, panic momentarily breaking his smug facade. "Wait! Wait! I'm sorry!" He stepped back quickly, holding up his hands defensively. "I'm here with my brother! He's just—he's just taking forever to catch up! Don't kick me out, please!"

Celestine sighed once more, her tone softening with understanding, eyes full of patient warmth. "Of course you are. You're always getting ahead of him, aren't you? Very well, just behave yourself."

Mike beamed again, eyes sparkling mischievously as he straightened proudly. "Thank you, Celestine! I promise I'll be a good boy for you!"

Kaiser merely watched the entire exchange with skepticism, his irritation fading into mild curiosity. His red eyes narrowed thoughtfully, evaluating the new situation carefully.

"Interesting friends you have," he commented dryly to Celestine, eyes still fixed skeptically on the boy.

Celestine shot him a look of mild irritation, though her lips curled into a reluctant smile. "Be polite, Kaiser. Mike is…special."

Kaiser tilted his head slightly, expression neutral but still sharply observant. "Special indeed," he murmured softly, more to himself than anyone else, his tone leaving it deliberately ambiguous whether it was praise or mockery.

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Mike seemed utterly unfazed, his curiosity shifting eagerly toward Kaiser. He stared up at him, eyes shining in awe and fascination. "Wow! Your armor is amazing, Mister! Can I wear it?"

Kaiser raised a single eyebrow in mild amusement, his voice calm but edged with faint sarcasm. "No."

Mike deflated dramatically, visibly disappointed. "Aww."

Celestine shook her head gently, finally stepping forward again and guiding Mike slightly aside. She gave Kaiser an apologetic glance. "I promise he's not usually this troublesome. Now, Mike, where exactly is your brother?"

Mike grinned, pointing enthusiastically towards the doorway. "He's just outside! He was talking to one of the pretty girls. You know how he gets."

Celestine closed her eyes briefly, shaking her head in quiet exasperation. "I see."

Another set of doors swung open and Aria stepped through, her presence immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the hall. Her new armor fit her like a second skin—deep forest-green leather and blackened steel plates, every surface traced with silvery filigree in the shape of spiderwebs. An elegant cloak draped from her shoulders, clasped at the throat with a brooch in the shape of a spider, the legs splayed out over the fabric. The sleeves and breastplate shone in the blue-light. A longbow, dark as midnight, rested easily in her hand. At her hip, a quiver was filled with arrows, their fletchings a striking pale white. In the dim light, her pink hair looked almost aflame, and her blue eyes shone clear and sharp.

Kaiser watched Aria enter, his expression unreadable. But he noticed, immediately, the way Mike's eyes widened as he stared at her. The boy's mouth twisted in a crooked, perverted grin. Under his breath, barely audible, Kaiser heard, "Heh, another pretty lady…"

Kaiser suppressed a sigh. This kid would be trouble.

Mike, put on a show, clutching his heart and staggering dramatically. "WAAAA this guy threatened me! He's so scary!" he wailed, voice cracking in theatrical despair as he darted towards Aria, arms thrown wide for a comfort that was at least half performance.

Aria puffed her cheeks, hands on her hips as she scolded Kaiser. "Hey! Don't be mean to a child, Kaiser! What did he ever do to you?"

Mike, emboldened by her rebuke, made his move, sprinting for her like a pup seeking shelter. But before he could get anywhere near, Kaiser stepped in smoothly, intercepting the boy with one hand and gripping the top of his head like one might catch a wayward cat. His crimson gaze bored down into the boy.

Mike wilted immediately, feet dangling helplessly, but still managed a pitiful look at Aria. "See? He's so mean! Save me, pretty lady!"

Aria rolled her eyes, crossing her arms in irritation. "Kaiser, put him down. He's just a kid!"

Before Kaiser could reply, or decide whether to drop Mike or launch him across the room, something changed in the air.

Kaiser's eyes narrowed, just as a high-pitched twang cut through the hall. An arrow whistled out of nowhere. He barely had time to flinch before it buried itself in his hand, making him let go of Mike at once.

He barely registered the child hitting the ground before a huge, armored fist materialized from the side, impossibly fast for its size. Kaiser twisted to dodge, but the hand moved with uncanny precision, following his movement, and crashed into his side with bone-shattering force. He was flung across the polished marble, skidding to a halt near the far wall, blood already welling from the pierced hand.

Groaning, Kaiser forced himself to his feet, gaze sharpened to a knife's edge. Three new figures stepped into the hall,

The first, farthest back, was a tall, athletic young man with red hair, cropped short and wind-tossed. His armor shone with a polished silver gleam, perfectly fitted, ornamented with blue stones on each shoulder. He looked so much like Mike, and yet older. He held a brilliant red sworn on his hip.

Beside him stood a woman whose presence was as bold as her attire was questionable. Her armor, if it could be called that, was little more than a set of black leather straps and thin plates, designed more to distract than to defend. Her white hair was cut at sharp angles, and four eyes, two natural, two smaller, lidless ones set above her brow, studied the room with inhuman calculation. She smirked at Kaiser, baring sharp white teeth.

Closest, still lowering his massive fist, was a mountain of a man clad in deep-iron armor, the plates etched with bull-like horns curling from his helmet. His eyes were slitted, gleaming with a dull red glow. He flexed his gauntleted hand, knuckles cracking like thunder, and regarded Kaiser with the silent challenge of a true juggernaut.

Mike scampered behind the red-haired archer, grinning widely. "See? My brother's here! Told you not to mess with me, Kaiser!"

"Is this what passes for hospitality now?" the older brother drawled, voice echoed off the walls. "Noble guests harassed, children roughed up… Such chaos, and all before lunch." From across the room, he gestured lazily toward Mike, who still lingered near Kaiser.

Celestine stepped forward, her poise unshaken but her words edged with command. "Enough. This is neither the place nor the time for conflict—"

He cut her off, offering a shallow bow with exaggerated politeness. "Princess Celestine, ever drawn to trouble. Some might say you collect it. Or perhaps" His eyes slid to Kaiser, "It's just your taste in company."

He straightened, expression hardening. "And you. Kaiser Dios, was it? The infamous Arkhold traitor himself. I heard all about your little spectacle—attacking the King's own guard, as if our laws don't apply to you. Maybe you did the city a favor cleaning up some lowlifes, but only a fool or a madman assaults a Kingsguard."

His hand rested lightly on the hilt of his sword, thumb brushing the guard—though he made no move to close the distance. Instead, he let the silence grow, his voice clear and cold. "And now you've chosen to frighten children. By law, I ought to draw steel right now—defending my brother's honor, and the honor of the crown. In fact, if I ran you through on this floor, I'd likely be congratulated for it. That's how justice is written here in the South."

Celestine stepped firmly between them, holding herself with all the authority of royalty. "Enough, Peter. This is the royal floor. There will be no duels nor any threats, especially not here." Her voice was like velvet wrapped around steel.

The red-haired noble gave a slow, mocking clap. "Royal floor, is it? I must have missed the sign at the door. My apologies, Princess. But defending one's kin isn't a duel, it's more like a… Duty. Surely even you will respect that."

He flicked his wrist in a languid gesture. "Delia, to the side." The woman in the skimpy black attire moved with sinuous grace. She nocked an arrow, not quite aiming at Kaiser, but every movement was a veiled threat.

Delia cocked her head, sizing Kaiser up with an amused leer. "Suppose you want to try my poison again, pretty boy? Or did you enjoy it the first time?" Her voice dripped with playful malice.

Kaiser straightened, cracking his knuckles as he removed the poisonous arrow. "If your aim was better, you'd have shot something vital. I hope you're not this sloppy in a real fight."

Delia's lips curled into a hungry grin. "Try me. I've been told I have a talent for bringing arrogant men to their knees." She winked at him, but her fingers never left the string.

Peters voice was venomous. "It'd be a shame, Kaiser Dios, if you forced me to act within my rights. An attack on a noble family member, on royal grounds, no less? That's a story that travels quickly. You'd be surprised how many accidents happen, even in safe places." He let the implication hang, a challenge wrapped in etiquette.

Celestine's patience thinned, her tone icy. "If you or your companions start something here, you'll answer to me and the entire Southern court. Is that what you want, Otharon?"

He turned to her, putting on his courtliest mask. "Of course not, Princess. I'm merely concerned for my dear brother's welfare. That's all." His eyes flicked back to Kaiser, and in a low, almost inaudible voice: "But if a dog bares his teeth, you put him down."

Kaiser's eyes narrowed. "If you want to test me, draw your weapon. Otherwise, stop wasting everyone's time."

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