I took them aboard the boat I'd left tied to the beach. I hadn't planned on bringing more than four people... but I had to rescue all four, in theory.

  And if I say I rescued them "in theory"...

  We reached the empire fairly quickly. After all, it was a relatively short journey, but it was absolutely miserable...

  It was quite the ordeal.

  Leon's personality clashes sharply with mine.

  Upon landing in imperial territory, I made sure to disembark in the capital city first.

  I didn't explain this before, but the capital is a massive, gigantic island, protected by enormous walls that guard its interior. Even though it's a flying island, which is already a great fortress in itself, they've added walls for extra security.

  In this city lies the heart of the empire, an impenetrable bastion and the safest place in Krystalis, the world's name. It is also home to the Red Dragon Academy. Situated in the most secure location in the world, it naturally boasts the finest teachers and the most comprehensive curriculum for young people transitioning into adulthood. However, due to its prestige, only the absolute elite manage to be accepted. And let's not even mention the commerce; the sheer amount of money circulating in this country is staggering.

  Several guards awaited us at the docks, and the moment we disembarked, it was obvious they had to inspect the ship.

  A few minutes later

  "Hm..." The guard sighed. "I see you have some rather troublesome companions."

  "Yes, please excuse them... they're... incompatible." Maria sighed in turn.

  "You piece of shit dwarf!" Leon roared, grabbing my tunic.

  Leon was drenched in some strange substance.

  "Oh? You don't think your flames are inextinguishable, you pathetic simp?" I said, still smiling mockingly as he choked me.

  "They are, but I don't know what the hell you threw at me!" He gritted his teeth, furious.

  "W-w-well..." I gasped, struggling for air, "they don't seem to be a match for science..."

  "You damn runt!" His grip tightened, his face contorted with rage.

  "We're adventurers," Maria sighed, cradling Kaelion, who slept soundly in her arms.

  "Could I see your identification? I need to confirm you're adventurers."

  "IDENTIFICATION?" Leon's anger flared even more. "This is the last straw!"

  With effortless strength, Leon threw me.

  I shot through the air. My back slammed against the guardhouse, and I rolled several meters along the pier. The people around me stared in shock at the scene.

  "Ugh..." I gasped, struggling to sit up.

  Leon stepped off the ship, his feet striking the marble tiles with such force that they cracked.

  "Do you not recognize the one who could be your king, should he so choose?"

  Leon lifted the guard by his armor as if he weighed nothing.

  "I-I beg your pardon, my lord..." The frightened guard seemed to recognize him, but couldn't recall his name.

  The guards around him began to stir equally, seeing the mess they'd made.

  "Leon Ignivar! Son of Archduchess Ignivar! You damn fool!"

  Flames began to engulf him, writhing violently as if responding to his fury. In an instant, the guards, along with the crowd surrounding them at the dock due to the commotion, began to kneel, showing their respect.

  While I was just writhing around, my goal was to make him angry because... what would happen next was:

  Zap! A sharp crack echoed through the air, and the flames were instantly extinguished.

  "Let go," Maria said, shaking her hand after slapping the back of his neck.

  "Tch..." Leon clicked his tongue in annoyance but obeyed and sat down on the ground.

  The surrounding crowd and guards were stunned.

  "I-I apologize for my husband's behavior. He's quite... temperamental, as you can see." Maria lowered her head, Kaelion now slung across her back. "You apologize too."

  Leon remained silent, staring in my direction. I, on the other hand, grinned from ear to ear, and he only responded with an annoyed eye twitch.

  "Don't worry," the guard said, rising weakly as he cleaned his armor and removed his helmet.

  He was quite young.

  "The apologies are ours, after all," he said, kneeling again like his companions. "Failing to recognize someone from the Ignivar family is unforgivable."

  "N-no, it's n-not necessary. I forgive them. Please don't worry, really..." Maria sounded nervous.

  Maria calmed the situation, and the guards offered to transport us in a hastily prepared carriage from the Royal Family. They couldn't allow one of the heirs to the throne to be seen by their people in such a state.

  The four of us were seated in the carriage, Leon beside Maria and Kaelion beside me.

  "So, tell me, little Kaelion, how old are you?" I asked, smiling as I spoke to the child.

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  "I'm... 12? Yes, 12 years old." He looked at his mother for confirmation.

  She smiled and nodded.

  "You sleep quite a lot for someone so big, don't you?"

  "Mom says it's better for me to sleep a lot so I don't waste so much energy."

  The boy is so much like Leon; Maria's genes didn't even try, haha... Meanwhile, Leon was just staring out the window, sitting wild and free, you know, like a bad boy, one foot on his knee and legs spread wide, his chin resting on his hand.

  Maria simply smiled as she watched her son interact with someone else.

  I may seem calm on the outside, but...

  "You haven't learned magic?"

  "Dad doesn't want to teach me..."

  I'm shitting myself here...

  First, I need to secure an appointment so the Queen will agree to see her cousin.

  Second, I need to convince the Queen to rescue her cousin.

  Third, Leon doesn't have to sell me out right now.

  My goal here is... NOT TO BE SENTENCED TO DEATH!

  "And you know..." I looked at his mother as if seeking an answer.

  "He's young, just like your son. You can call him whatever you like, but... don't be disrespectful."

  "Uncle Liang."

  "I'm only a few years older than you, but I like the sound of that," I said, extending my fist.

  He bumped his fist against mine in return.

  "And nope, I don't know anything about magic either. I just know a little about this and that," I said, laughing.

  "W-what do you mean, 'this and that'?"

  I continued chatting with little Kaelion. He has a sweet personality and is quite attentive to his surroundings, just as you'd expect from a story's protagonist. Plus, he's... how should I put it... captivating? Or influential? At such a young age, he gives me a sense of well-being.

  The carriage came to a halt. Leon clicked his tongue, stood up, and kicked the carriage door open with a bang.

  "Don't make a scene," I said quietly.

  He didn't even respond. He simply got out of the carriage, and Maria, lowering her head in my direction, apologized as she helped him down.

  The castle before us was imposing. We crossed the walls that guarded it without realizing it, as the carriage had already passed through without being identified. The courtyard was vast and filled with flowers everywhere. The ceramic tiles seemed perfectly chiseled, and guards were stationed everywhere.

  An elderly man with an eye patch stood before us, wearing no armor, only an elegant butler's suit. He stopped abruptly, adjusted his monocle, and sighed.

  "Greetings, Prince Leon," his raspy voice carried genuine concern. "It gladdens me to see you in good health."

  "Keep your comments to yourself, Claudio." Leon's defiant gaze, burning with hatred, fixed on the old man. "I answered your Queen's request and I'm here. Take me to her."

  "Certainly, but first, allow me to ask you a question."

  Don't fuck with me, old man...

  "Who informed you?" he asked with a smile, glancing at us.

  I didn't even have time to escape before Leon grabbed my robe and dragged me along.

  "This Naerun, I assumed it was true since few would dare use the name of the Queen's daughter."

  The Queen's daughter...? Wait... Isn't Seraphindra the Queen?

  "Well, conveniently, there was a request from you," Claudio said, clapping his hands. "Please follow me."

  Maria descended the stairs with Kaelion in her arms and looked at Leon.

  "So, what's the plan?"

  "Just follow me. My aunt won't cause too much trouble." Leon sighed, a faint click accompanying the sound. "Let's get this over with, and anything else, Liang."

  I raised an eyebrow at him.

  "I hope you're good at escaping." A wicked smile spread across his face.

  Swallowing hard, I braced myself for what lay ahead. We entered through the massive wooden doors leading to the royal castle's chambers, crossing a vast hall I imagined was purely for show. We ascended a grand marble staircase, my feet sinking into carpets far too soft even for my previous life. Expensive portraits of the royal family lined the walls, and pots held utterly bizarre plants.

  Above all guards and stewards, we walked through the corridors, shielded from their watchful eyes. Something smelled foul, very foul.

  Claudio stopped abruptly before a massive golden door. It looked like pure gold...

  "Your Majesty is somewhat occupied, but..."

  "I don't care. Open the door, Claudio, or I'll kick it down myself."

  Claudio's smile never wavered.

  "Of course, of course..." Claudio chuckled like an old grandfather.

  He snapped his fingers, and the door swung open automatically. I tried to figure out how he did it, but saw nothing... could it be magic?

  The first sound we heard was a murmur of voices from some counselors gathered at the far end of the hall. They fell silent when they saw the door open.

  At the end of the vast hall stood an enormous golden throne. Several guards in black armor, armed with spears and shields, were stationed throughout the room, standing guard. Finally, a woman sat arrogantly on the throne, resting her chin on her hand as she sighed. Her hair was reddish, her eyes the color of rubies, and her beauty was as sharp and striking as Leon's. Most importantly, a crown adorned her head, set with three gigantic rubies.

  But isn't that the Queen of the Game...? Who is this woman?

  "I'm impressed by your efficiency, Claudio," the woman said, her voice both delicate and commanding as she rose to her feet.

  Instinctively, I felt an urge to kneel, but something—an external force—repelled that sensation. I noticed Maria also wanted to kneel, but Leon grabbed her hand, forcing her to remain standing.

  Aunt Erika," Leon said calmly.

  Erika? Aunt Erika?

  "Nephew."

  "I answered your summons. Would you be so kind as to tell me why you called?" He sounded like a different person.

  The Queen raised an eyebrow and sighed.

  "My dear Seraphindra will soon turn twenty, dear nephew," her words were like daggers. "And as you know... as the son of my sister, you have the same right as my beloved daughter."

  Leon clicked his tongue, clearly already irritated.

  "You have the right... to inherit the throne," the woman said with a calm smile.

  Maria gasped, covering her mouth, as did Kaelion.

  "Aren't you going to introduce me to your... companions?"

  Leon sighed, straightened up, and placed his hand on his chest.

  "Yo, Leon Ignivar, son of the Archduchess of the House Ignivar and supreme ruler of the northern islands, I renounce my right to the throne. I had a son out of wedlock, which exempts him from his royal rights to fight for the throne." I looked at the counselors who also filled the hall.

  Maria blushed slightly but coughed to cover it up. Meanwhile, Kaelion took his mother's hand.

  "Is that your verdict, nephew?" the Queen asked, her voice dripping with satisfaction. She settled back onto her throne with an almost insulting calm.

  "I hate wasting time... and so do you, Aunt," Leon replied unflustered. "That should be enough, shouldn't it?"

  "Indeed, dear nephew..." she smiled. "Though I have another question."

  Her eyes locked onto mine.

  It felt like a direct blow to the chest. My knees wanted to buckle, but they didn't. I don't know if it was pride... or pure survival instinct.

  "Ask away," Leon said.

  "Have you started using slaves, Naerun?"

  I'm dead. I knew this would happen, but... why did I ignore it?! Shit!

  "You know I detest slavery," Leon interjected, frowning as he looked at me, now genuinely confused. "Wait... isn't he your subordinate?"

  "Of course not," the Queen replied with a sharp smile. "Mine are obedient. With a single glance, they kneel before me."

  I swallowed hard. In my mind, I was already drafting my will.

  "Interesting..." she continued, rising to her feet once more. "I haven't made the order to find you public yet, did you know that? Only Claudio was aware of it."

  "And I haven't delivered it," he replied immediately.

  I instinctively took a step back.

  "W-wait, we don't need to resort to such questionable measures..." I murmured, slowly sliding my hand toward the smoke bombs hidden in my robe.