Emperor's Reckoning

The downpouring of the rain was still ongoing even when the day had gone by. The sun was in a contending battle against the thick black clouds but it had no sign of winning.  The sea was raging but the festive of the banquet was about to begin soon. 

In the throne room, the broken ceiling was already fixed spotless. There was not a sign of debris or even dust on the clean floor below. The single throne that was the center of attention didn't lose its splendor against the uniquely set clean tables that hosted a variety of delicacies. 

Bernadetta walked to the center of the empty banquet before clapping her hand once. Then, they came with a whoosh right in front of them with their hands held on their back. The group of maids did an astounding job in cleaning the entire huge and vast building in less than a single night. Not to mention fixing the rooftop with such finesse. 

"The banquet will begin this evening until who knows when. I hope all of you are in your best shape to bring your best service. We are not the usual maid you see in a noble house, we are professionals! Paid by the illustrious Treas family! We are part of the family and let's do our part!"

*Ehem

After a fake cough, Bernadetta changed her tone to the usual self, "Man, this speech from my predecessor is really weird..."

The sudden boost of morale that the group of maids received suddenly vanished into thin air as their leader slouched her shoulders. Their mouth twitched as black lines appeared over their head. 

"Well anyway, the sun is going down soon enough, though, the weather is quite fuming for some reason."

The moment she laid down those words, the thunder in the sky strikes the raging sea as the latter roared through the waves. 

"Is this a bad omen?"

Jin muttered as he looked against the window in his room. His eyebrows muttered before he reached his face with his hand and smirked. He pulled his face off against the flash of thunder before stretching his neck with a crack. 

"Or is it a good omen... heh," Jin smirked with his hands placed on his waist. There was not a single shred of fear of what's going to happen later at the grand dinner, or banquet one may call it. Fists were bound to be thrown and blood was destined to be shed.

"It's been a while since I wear my emperor cloak... yup... it still fits, now then," he turned around with a flutter of his cloak before heading toward the door.

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The grand banquet was going to be held soon and Jugen's group was already preparing themselves from the glamorous elite inn that they were hosted in by the richest family in the world. The sound of a neighing horse was heard under the storming weather, a beautiful and large carriage was pulled by eight horses with a single assigned driver dressed in maid attire.

"Our ride has arrived," said Jugen with a smile on his face. He was particularly excited about the upcoming event, even though his big brother didn't win the competition. The valor of his might was clearly shown in the now-ransacked East City. 

"You guys can go without me, I will take care of Miss Sylviana first. She is my top priority right now."

The rest of the group had become mellow with their eyes but on the other hand, they had respect for her. A loyal companion is worth more than treasures from heaven. 

"Don't worry so much, but your presence is indeed needed. Though I may not be a physician of some sort, I can still see with my eye that her mana is regulating. All she needed is just like the local physician said, a much-needed rest from extreme fatigue," Kyoko smiled as she looked at Fei who attend her master.

"Well then Fei, if she woke up, be sure to take her to the banquet," said Karina with a smile before the latter respond with a smiling nod.

"Wait a minute Jugen, aren't you going to take care of that old man that hubby gave?" asked Ryona playfully as she leaned her face while raising her eyebrows up and down.

"P-Please don't," he shook his head before he took a glance at the room where he left the old man was at.

"Astonishingly, that old man also started to regulate his mana, so don't be surprised if he woke up and suddenly choke you because of how you treated him," Kyoko chuckled.

Jugen gulped in horror with his heart palpitating and palms turned sweaty. His shoulders vibrated in instinct before he ran outside.

"Welcome to—"

Jugen disregard the polite maid that was in the middle of her bow before entering the carriage in one swift movement.

The maid was left with a gobsmacked face as she muttered 'eh' in the process. With her hand holding one giant umbrella to provide access to the carriage she shook her head to regain her sense.

"Phew, what a weird fellow," she muttered under her breath. With the heavy downpour of the rain, there was no way that Jugen who was inside the carriage could hear what she said.

"Well then, let's go," asked Luna after she tied her hair into a ponytail. Her eyes turned sharp as she walked in front of the group as if she was leading them. 

The maid had her eyes opened wide as she looked at the group of beautiful women coming straight at her. Every single one of them was a grand masterwork of the gods without any flaw. Beautiful in their own way. The blonde, the fox, the tomboy, the wild, the brunette, the sisters, while the way they walked already gave off their unique personalities. She gulped as she could smell trouble even with the stench of the soil permeating because of the rain. (Captain Bernadetta, I don't think the banquet will be held smoothly with these kingdom-toppling beauty joining in).

Luna furrowed her eyebrows as the rest followed suit. A cry was heard before they slightly glance to the sky amidst the rain. 

"Phew, that's a lot of guests!" said Ryona astonished.

"Do you think the place could handle such sum of people?" asked Princess Aelina.

*Ehem!

The maid made a fake cough to pull their attention away from the sky toward her. 

"The Mistress Priscila has a really big throne room that is bound to fit even the one hundred Crown Winners with their grandson's best friend's daughter's son included. So do not be worry, there will still be a lot more space left for you to dance under the beautiful chandelier light that was made of the material with the highest grade you can find in the market of the elite, some are not even in the market."

"What?"

"Who?"

Biane and Clemora both had their eyebrows went one up and the other down as they looked at each other before turning their glance toward the maid.

"Be rest assured that there will be enough spaces to dance or chats and glamoured yourself with the eyes of many since all of you are certainly going to make the chandeliers the second thing to illuminate the room," said the maid.

"Your flowery words are well trained and entertaining. It's as if out of instinct that you said that, but no matter, I respect your profession and the ability in which you perform. You don't mind if I smoke right?" asked Kyoko before she pulled out her favorite long thin pipe with a slick of her fingers.

"You are absolutely welcome fox lady! Now then, if everyone is ready, please head inside and find yourself a seat, the journey won't take long but there are little snacks and wine that you could enjoy... even fruit juices from other worlds are there for your tongue delicacies!"

The professionalism that the maid showed indirectly applied to the status that the Treas family had. She still kept her smile before every single one of them entered the carriage. With a slight bow, she closed the door before acting as the driver of the carriage. 

Their destination was the huge castle in the Center City. Even though the invitation was sudden, the experts that wanted to curry favor them were not little. Not including the Crown winners that failed to sit on the only throne available, sect leaders, and notable people from various regions were also included in the banquet that was bound to be bloody from their speculations. Thus, only people who dare enough to pay the price that will come.

"Rest as much as you need Lyon," muttered Cecile before she planted a kiss on his forehead. She had spent over the night and day just resting beside him to give him natural warmth. She begrudgingly let him go before the smile of his turned neutral.. She immediately chuckled before she shook her head and picked up her clothes.