The Mysterious Black Magician

And besides, Rea told him beforehand that it was the empress who asked her to change the reward inside the golden chest that he acquired after clearing the first elimination round of the competition.

"By the way, where is that girl?" Immediately asked the empress. Yman and Rea looked at each other in wonder. Perhaps who she meant is Cinde. Yman thought.

"Uhm your highness, do you mean the girl with wolf ears and red hair?"

"Fufu, yes, the Lupine girl."

Said Empress Eleanna as she giggled.

"Uhm, she was summoned to her family, your majesty."

Wow, it's a dream come true to be able to exchange a word with an empress, in person! Yman thought..

".....", "Oh, is that so?"

"Yes, your majesty," he respectfully replied.

Yman noticed the slight change in the empress's expression. She looked dejected. "Aunt, your majesty," Rea called out. Rea sounded worried. Something felt unnatural. The empress lifted her hand to say that she was fine and there was no problem.

Though he felt it was suspicious. 

In fact, the empress's summon was supposed to be more important and powerful in the empire. So why would Cinde wasn't here? Her family probably knows that she received a summon from the empress.

Upon pondering for a brief moment, he came up with the two possible reasons. One, something unexpected happened that disallowed Cinde to come, this made him worry for some unknown reason. Two, her family might have a bad relationship with the empress which was very uncommon. After all, the empress was the most powerful person in the empire. So, who would dare to oppose her? Wait, wasn't her majesty wasn't the real descendants of the Empire? She only took the crown after her husband, the emperor died?

So basically, the real descendants might disagree with her. Yman was able to come up with such a conclusion just based on the many books he read before. There was a high chance that some families opposed the empress's ruling. Possibly, they wanted someone from the real successor family to succeed the crown and not some Royalties from a different kingdom.

Based on the books he read before, the empire could have a monarchy or democratic type of government. He was curious about it. However, even though he was curious, he could not ask the empress about it since he came here for different reasons. In any case, he would ask that disaster bringer girl when they saw each other again about the reason that she didn't comply with the empress's summons.

While Yman was mulling,

"Your majesty, the other guests have just arrived," the maid suddenly came and reported about the arrival of another guest.

Yman, Rea, and the empress glanced and saw Cinde together with two other people.

But, erm… Yman remembered them. They were the two people with remarkable magical energy in the competition, if his memory didn't betray him.

"Oh, welcome!"

The empress stood up with her hands embracing each other. She greeted them equally, with a bright smile on her face.

Seeing Cinde, Yman thought that his initial thought was wrong after all.

"Crimson? Miss Ella— I mean princess!" Cinde stuttered after realizing that it wasn't good to call Ella without honorifics outside the campus.

Honestly, Cinde was surprised to see them. She never expected to see them inside the palace. She comprehends the reason why Crimson was here, to guard Princess Ella.

Though it puzzled her that she was summoned together with these people from the other families. If the empress wanted to gather strong youngsters, it should be her brother Ember instead of her. Coming together with Hilion Gustav and Roman Hammerhelm is just out of a sense for Cinde. These two were known to have great talents.

In any case, she was grateful that she came. After paying her respect to the empress, she ambered excitedly and sat beside, on the other side of Crimson.

"Is it true that your family summoned you?" He asked her in a whisper upon sitting beside him. 

"Mhm," she nodded. "But don't mind it. It's just a family thing. Regardless, d-did you miss me?" She suddenly asked while fidgeting slightly.

"....."

Crimson fell silent while blinking his eyes, wondering if it was important to know if someone misses you. "I… I…" he found it weird! He found himself unable to reply.

Will he say yes? Or will he say no? Cinde was staring at him, waiting for his reply. But she turned bashful when she noticed Crimson slightly nodding his head.

Roman and Hilion also took their seat. The two of them were secretly glancing at the person, sandwiched by two beautiful women.

They wondered who this man was. It was the first time they saw him. Princess Ella and Cinde seemed to know him though.

"Okay everyone…" said the empress to get their attention. Then she continued, "I know that you are wondering why I summoned you today. But before that…" the empress introduced each of them.

"Crimson Agila?"

"Yes, I'm an adopted son of the guildmaster from adventurer's guild." He told them.

"I see," Roman and Hilion nodded and also told their names.

The empress made a clap on her hands after everyone was able to know each other. The next second, a group of maids came in, serving different kinds of foods.

Yman and the others were surprised. Only Rea, who had a usual unsurprised face. She probably expected it already.

Even Hilion and Roman did not expect that the empress prepared a grand meal for them.

"Uh… erm… your majesty, I think it was too grand for us…" said Roman Hammerhelm.

"Fufufu…" the empress chuckled. "Don't restrain yourself, Roman."

"Okay, thank you, your majesty," Roman cupped his hands at the empress.

Although he came from a prestigious family, as part of his training, he could only eat good foods when he achieved a breakthrough or when he accomplished something great. Like for example, taming the Lightning Mayhem beast. 

Unlike the Hammerhelm family, the Gustav family descendants were blessed with good foods. They could eat what they want. However, even Hilion himself found the meal prepared by the empress to be so grand.

"Uhm, your majesty, perhaps it will be a long conversation?" They suddenly heard a question, coming from Crimson.

The empress was a little surprised. "Oh my, how did you know, Mr. Crimson?"

"Because, your majesty, served the food beforehand."

If they were going to have a light conversation, tea would be enough. Same as him, Rea also believed it was the reason.

However, only Yman and Rea noticed it.

But Yman suddenly paused for a moment when he noticed the amused face of the empress while staring at him. A bead of sweat was visible at the back of his head as he wondered about the empress amused expression towards him.

It made him uncomfortable though, being stared at by the most influential person in the empire. However, the food was good, so sorry empress, no one could make him uncomfortable for long.

"Truly a smart man," Empress Eleanna thought inwardly.