Emperor's Reckoning

The shine of the sun slowly crawled inside a room and brought a warm hue to the fur carpet through the large windows that were shaped like a bullet. It crawled up to a hanging blanket on the bed before it touched a skin of a young man that was sleeping on top of it.

His hair was shiny black, and his clothes were well neat. He didn't snore, but his eyes twitched the moment mother nature kissed his eyelids. They fluttered before he slowly opened his eyes.

His vision was a bit blurred the moment light came right into his retinae.

"Huh?"

He pushed himself up slightly before leaning his back against the headboard.

"Ugh," he squinted his eyes as he slowly massaged his temple. "What, what happened?"

He looked around and saw he was the only living thing in the place. However, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked at a cup in a small coffee table that was exuding a small amount of steam.

He got off the bed barefooted and then approached the cup.

"It's tea," Lyon muttered. "Now, who would always have tea in the morning."

He contemplated for a while before he shrugged his shoulders.

"Almost everyone is drinking tea in the morning!"

Lyon sighed before he sat down with his legs spread. He leaned his head back on top of the chair as he looked at the ceiling.

(What happened yesterday?) thought Lyon. "And where is my wife?!"

"I thought getting married was looking my woman first thing in the morning, but apparently, it's not."

Lyon stood up before he took an unused towel from the inn that was provided beforehand then head inside the shower. After the quick rinse, he looked at himself in the mirror before smirking at his own face. He changed his clothes before heading out of the room.

He was in the hall but saw no one till he arrived at the receptionist where the staff was terrified and nervous. Lyon rolled his eyes, "Calm down, woman, I'm not going to eat you."

"E-Eh? You don't?" asked the receptionist as she bowed. "T-Thank you very much for your generosity, esteemed young master!"

"Esteemed young master?" Lyon raised his eyebrows. "Nevermind, where is everyone?"

T-They are seeing the fortune-teller off," answered the innocent receptionist. 

(She is as stiff as a pole) sighed Lyon inwardly. "Oh, and where is that?"

"I-In the town square, esteemed young master! Eek! Please forgive my tone, esteemed young master."

Lyon sighed, "Nevermind."

"But do tell me where is the town square."

"Eh? W-Well, the town square is, I mean was, er..."

Lyon had a wry smile inwardly as he looked at how nerve-wracking it was for the innocent receptionist to be talking to him. He was very well younger than her but she was terrified of him. However, he couldn't blame her for her lack of calmness. He was after all, partially responsible for the destruction of the beloved city.

"Nevermind, I will look for them myself," said Lyon as he walked outside and gave her a wave.

"P-Please do come back again!" said the receptionist as she bowed. (Please don't).

He raised his eyebrows the moment he saw the festive of yesternight was nowhere to be seen. Not a single lantern was in sight, not even single trash on the street was sighted too. The efficiency made him nod as he took a stroll in the city once more. 

The clean atmosphere belied the nervous gazes that the passing cultivators gave him. He nonchalantly put his hands behind his head like usual. He strolled the street like he was on vacation, but he soon found the crowded place that appeared to be the place where Vivi said her goodbyes.

"I humbly thank you for your generous courtesy," said Vivi with a slight bow toward the two princesses and the queen of the Sverine Kingdom.

"Please don't be, this is a matter of course," said Hilde with a nod.

"As a matter of fact, we hope to have given you a better reservation in the next tournament," said Cherie as she smiled.

"Yes, and we certainly will," said Wanda.

Vivi smiled under her pink veil, "Certainly, I will look forward to that."

The onlookers wore all smiles to the esteemed figure and beauty. Her presence brought radiance to the ruins that were of their city. However, the said woman had her eyes elsewhere.

"Oh? Are you looking for someone?" asked Wanda with a smile.

"Yes, I actually, I am looking for Cecile," said Vivi with a sigh. "But perhaps, it is not fated."

Wanda chuckled, "Oh, I thought that you are looking for someone else."

"I wonder who could that be," added Cherie.

"Please, stop teasing me, Queen Wanda," said Vivi with a fake smile. "I wanted to have a little chat about what happened yesterday night, but I guess I will find out when fate allowed me to."

Wanda furrowed her brows inwardly. (True, there is something bizarre happening yesternight. Everyone suddenly blacked out without any recollection of what was happening despite the palpitation that we all felt at the same time after we woke up from consciousness. Even the fortune-teller did pass out without any fight right in front of me).

Hilde contemplated (If there is something unexplainable happening, could it be him again?)

Cherie smiled (It must be his doing, I don't know what happened, but I'm positive Lyon is at it again. Though maybe not him directly. It's even more suspicious that Cecile and the others didn't even make an appearance).

"So like, this horse flies? That's so cool!"

The four women raised their brows as they heard a familiar voice. They immediately turned their heads before they exclaimed the same name.

"Lyon!"

"What?" said Lyon before the horse licked his cheek. "Hey! What are you, a dog? Haha!"

The driver glared at him but his trembling hands refused to move. He had remembered the lesson that he was taught by one of Lyon's subordinates.. His head could be flying before he knew it.