31

"First, I must thank you for saving my daughter. Tell me, what do you want?"

As the Emperor of Cransia, he could give anything they want as long as it's not unreasonable.

Christopher predicted this yet he was still undecided about what thing he wants. He only wanted to save the Princess, he didn't need anything except that.

"Hm, I believe your names are Marlon and Christopher."

Aquila said.

"Yes, your Majesty."

"Then, tell me, Marlon and Christopher, do you need money or perhaps position? "

Emperor Aquila remembered the face of two persons when he looked at them. Charles and Edson were stiff when they presented themselves to the Emperor. Two decades had already passed. Aquila shrugged, he believed their sons inherited their bravery and awkwardness.

"Your Majesty, this humble one doesn't need anything.…"

"Me too, your Majesty."

Christopher said his thoughts. He didn't need a title because he would inherit his Father's position. He would be the Count. As for Marlon, this man had no dreams in life. He just wanted to spend his time leisurely. For him, having a title would imprison him.

Emperor listened to them and he laughed.

"Pfft-Kuhahaha!"

The nobles were struck. This was the first time they saw the Emperor laughing inside the Hall.

Aquila couldn't control his mouth. Deja vu. This was the exact answer that their parents said.

Many nobles had fallen when the Continental War happened.

Aristocrat families lost their leaders and heir. The Cransia conquered an enormous land but the people who could manage were diminishing. They died in the war.

He asked the Count and Marquis if they wanted their territory to expand but they answered no.

"Kuhahaha!"

How ironic that these two sons were the same.

Marlon and Christopher were sweating. They didn't know what's going on. They just decline but the Emperor was laughing. Their faces were twitching.

"Okay, haha. I believe you don't need a title. Then, how about Gold? Or a house? Perhaps a land in the Capital?"

"………"

They were silent. They were not accustomed to the pressure of this Hall. The nobles were looking at them, waiting for their reactions.

"Hm, good. I will give you Gold, House, and Land."

Emperor Aquila stood up and left the hall, three people followed him. They were the Prince of this Empire. The Empress didn't attend because her head was aching, however, her two sons were.

"Yes, your Majesty! Glory to the Empire!"

The nobles saluted and stood straight.

Christopher and Marlon scampered and return to the place where the Marquis was standing. Marquis laughed and smashed their backs.

………………

"How is it, Father!? Did they accept?"

"Aria, I ask them. However, they didn't speak about anything that they want. That's why except for the title, I decided to give them all."

"Is that so…"

Princess Aria was anxious. Perhaps, Christopher was disappointed in her. She already said to her Father that they didn't need anything. After all, she's the one who asked them first. But the Emperor didn't approve it.

The nobles would talk to his back if he didn't reward them.

Prince Julian was just looking at his father and little sister. He sighed in relief when he found that his sister was okay. He thought he'll lose Aria.

"B- But, they're not angry or disappointed, right!? What if he starts to hate me……"

Aria stuttered thinking that Christopher would be disappointed.

"Hm? What are you talking Aria?"

"N- Nothing Father!"

Aquila's expression begun to frown. He felt like her daughter was hiding a secret. However, he believed that this was not important compare to the problem that he must solve.

"You can now leave. Me and your brother will talk about something. And don't ever go out, if you don't have guards."

"Yes, Father…"

Aria left them with an agitated expression.

"Did you feel like something is different in Aria's behavior?"

The Emperor asked his eldest son if he detected any changes to his sister.

"Father, are you talking about that she didn't nag you much? I believe the abduction changed her…… I called the Royal Doctors, they said Aria was fine but we need to be careful. We must not talk about the abduction because this can trigger a trauma..."

Julian paused.

The Prince especially asked a Psychologist to examine the Princess. Fortunately, the Doctor didn't detect any negative change, Aria was still fine yet they need to be cautious. The aspect of psychological injuries was hard to determine and cure.

Aquila couldn't control his anger. The room temperature was decreasing. The tea on the table was freezing.

The Prince looked at his father but he didn't stop him. He too was frustrated. He wanted to immediately declare a war to kill those bastards.

He couldn't believe that an abduction happened inside their territory. Particularly in the Capital where the security was on another level.

They were glad that nothing happen to the Princess. But they couldn't forgive the three kingdoms. They promised to themselves that they would kill every last royalty of these countries. Even if there's Vrede Acquiescent, they would kill them.

The hatred was already planted. The Empire was known as the strongest power of this Continent. Emperor Aquila would use his remaining strength to end the three.

"What do you think? Who're the spies?"

"I asked Luze… but she's clueless. However, I found two rats in the maids."

Julian threatened Luze, the-lady-in-waiting of Aria. The woman cried when the abduction happened but Julian believed that Luze knew something. His decision making at that time was severed because of the situation.

He slapped the woman, she cried, he thought she's acting. He believed Luze was part of the abduction because she's the one who gave the idea of asking the Prince to join the Princess to visit the Theatre.

However, his assumptions were wrong. The woman was innocent. She's currently recuperating in her father's territory, Duke Obata. The Prince was guilty, his judgment was clouded at that time.

Thankfully, some parts of his deductions were right. There were spies in the maids.

Aquila gritted his teeth.

"Tch, those dead can't talk."

Prince Julian nodded. His eyes were red. The maids that they imprisoned was dead. They didn't know how the maids died. They inspected the spies and left them naked. The jail was full of guards and no one could enter without them noticing. But, they were wrong.

An hour later, the Prince went to the jail to interrogate the spies.

His shoulder was bandaged but he did his duty. However, he saw the maids dead. Their necks were cut and blood was flowing out.

…… Their clues about the abduction were none.

"There are only two conclusions. There's an Awakener or Stealth Master inside the Palace."

Aquila drunk the cold tea but his expression did not relax.

(Note: many people were asking me if Christopher will gain power. After the capital arc, Christopher will gain it. Actually, I have 25+ chapters stacked and I'm close to the ending of this arc. )