Chapter 956: Alternate Timeline: The Royal Guests

The afternoon business hours were calmer than usual.

The loud crowds from morning had disappeared, leaving behind only occasional footsteps and the soft creaking of the wooden floors whenever customers wandered between weapon displays.

Kiara used the peaceful atmosphere to reorganize the showroom.

Apparently, according to Alucard, customers had been growing increasingly confused due to the ridiculous number of firearm models displayed in each section.

Some spent half an hour merely deciding between rifles that looked nearly identical to inexperienced eyes.

So Kiara simplified everything.

The unnecessary variants were removed and stored away.

For assault rifles, only the G36, the classic AK-47, and the M4 Carbine remained on display.

Simple.

Clean.

Easy for ordinary buyers to understand.

As for bolt-action rifles, Kiara selected only the Remington 700 ADL variant equipped with a scope and bipod, because even in her previous life, that model had possessed timeless appeal among hunters and marksmen alike.

The lever-action section was represented solely by the W94.

The Winchester 1894 had survived over a century of popularity in another world for a reason.

Rich nobles loved hunting almost as much as they loved bragging about hunting.

Kiara could already imagine wealthy fools posing dramatically beside dead spirit beasts while holding expensive rifles they barely understood.

A faint smirk tugged at her lips.

In the future, different future branches across the continent would carry different models instead.

That way, every Nexus branch would feel unique instead of identical copies stacked across cities like identical bricks.

Roughly thirty minutes later, footsteps descended the staircase.

Callista Frost, Serestia Phoenix, and Arceus Silver returned downstairs together.

All three wore smiles.

Callista and Serestia were delighted because they believed a new family member had entered their lives.

Meanwhile, Arceus simply felt relieved.

Relieved that at least some people from his old world had not abandoned him after everything that happened.

Still... behind that relief, another worry quietly lingered in his heart.

Lucian Storm, his best friend...

The moment Arceus remembered him, unease spread through his chest once more.

Now that it had become public knowledge that Lucian was the one who brought Vann Silver to stop the engagement with Jennifer Drake, House Storm might already be facing pressure from powerful factions.

But then again...

Daniel Storm was not Wester Silver. Even if House Silver suffered losses, Daniel would never sacrifice his son to save face.

That difference alone meant everything.

As these thoughts drifted through Arceus’s mind, Callista approached Kiara.

Her expression softened slightly.

"Kiara," she said gently, "it may not be my place to interfere, but I hope you will not confine Arceus within these four walls."

The statement sounded simple on the surface.

Yet everyone present understood the hidden meaning beneath it.

She was warning Kiara not to mistreat Arceus because she was in control of the household, or the fact that he was of Noble Blood.

Kiara immediately replied without hesitation. "Arceus is not my servant that I can dictate terms to him, Your Grace."

Her voice remained calm.

"He is a free person. He will decide for himself how he wishes to live. But I will be there to shield him if someone else tries to dictate his life."

The answer caused slightly different reactions among those listening.

The General and the Imperial Guards silently nodded in approval.

Callista herself looked pleased.

But Arceus...

He felt something strange tug at his chest.

He understood perfectly well that Kiara spoke that way because their engagement was merely an arrangement.

They were not truly lovers.

Not even close.

Still, a tiny part of him had unconsciously hoped for softer words.

Something warmer.

Something possessive in a comforting way.

Even a cliché statement like "I would never let anyone hurt him" might have made his heart feel lighter.

Instead, Kiara’s words sounded respectful...

Yet distant.

Like someone carefully drawing a line on the ground and refusing to step across it.

Arceus lowered his gaze quietly. He did not even understand why disappointment appeared at all.

Callista, however, remained unaware of his thoughts. She smiled warmly before continuing. "Arceus is family to us as well now, so do not forget to send an invitation to the Imperial Palace once the engagement ceremony is prepared."

That statement caused a slight twitch to appear near Kiara’s brow.

Family.

The word felt oddly uncomfortable.

No one here knew the truth regarding her birth.

No one knew the strange connection tying her to the Imperial Family.

After calming herself internally, Kiara simply nodded. "I understand."

Soon afterward, Callista and the others prepared to leave.

Only Serestia remained behind because her punishment and training at the store had not yet ended.

The royal carriage departed once more under military escort.

Nearly ninety minutes later, they finally returned to the Imperial Palace.

Yet just as Callista’s carriage approached the palace gates, it suddenly stopped.

Knock. Knock.

A hand struck the carriage door respectfully.

Callista opened it and found the General standing outside with a lowered head.

"I apologize, Your Grace," he said carefully, "but His Majesty requests your immediate presence to meet the Imperial guests."

Callista frowned immediately.

"Then why stop me here instead of escorting me directly inside?"

Her voice turned colder.

Stopping the Queen Consort at the palace entrance itself bordered dangerously close to disrespect.

The General quickly bowed deeper. "I apologize, Your Grace, but..."

He raised his eyes slightly toward the sky.

Callista followed his gaze upward.

Her expression changed immediately.

Descending slowly from above were three flying mounts.

At the center was a pure white Pegasus whose wings shimmered beneath sunlight like freshly fallen snow. Beside it flew two winged horses known as Mastos, an extremely rare hybrid breed from the Dragon Empire.

Even wealthy nobles rarely saw them in person because their breeding rate was pitifully low.

Each foal cost no less than a thousand gold coins.

Yet despite the magnificence of the creatures, Callista’s attention was fixed entirely upon the riders mounted atop them, especially one of them.

The moment they landed, displeasure visibly spread across her face.

Meanwhile, Alexander Phoenix climbed down from the Pegasus, looking absurdly pleased with himself.

"Dear, did you see that?" he said proudly. "The Pegasus accepted me without resistance."

The Emperor looked genuinely delighted.

For centuries, Pegasi had symbolized royalty itself.

There existed an old belief that they would never willingly obey someone unworthy of ruling others.

So naturally, Alexander Phoenix currently felt like a victorious child showing off a newly earned medal.

Unfortunately for him, Callista was not listening at all.

Her gaze remained fixed on the arriving guests.

Only after the two men dismounted completely did the Emperor finally notice his wife’s expression.

One of the guests stepped forward politely before bowing slightly.

"Greetings, Callista Frost," he said with a smile. "It has been quite some time."

The moment Callista heard that voice, the atmosphere changed instantly.

Her eyes turned icy.

The surrounding guards immediately sensed tension thickening in the air like invisible storm clouds gathering overhead.

"You have quite the courage to step inside my home, Ares Frost," Callista said coldly.

Her voice almost sounded like a growl.

"Why?"

She took a slow step forward.

"Is it because you finally entered the Legendary Realm that you attained confidence?"