The grand chamber was dimly lit, the flickering torches casting long shadows across the stone walls. The air was thick with unspoken tension as Reyon stood before Princess Julie, his posture relaxed yet exuding confidence. Around him, elite royal guards stood at attention, their hands resting on the hilts of their weapons, waiting for any sign of hostility.
The moment Julie saw Reyon standing there unrestrained, her sharp gaze snapped to the Knight Commander, a man clad in dark armor with a formidable aura.
"Why did you not bind him?" Julie's voice was cold, her authority unquestionable.
Before the Knight Commander could answer, Reyon scoffed. "Am I a criminal, Miss Julie?" he asked, his tone laced with amusement. "I saved the Duke and killed a criminal. What exactly makes me a criminal? And have you already forgotten our deal?"
The Knight Commander's glare sharpened at the way Reyon addressed the princess.
"Address her as Princess Julie, you commoner!" the Knight Commander snapped, stepping forward, his imposing frame casting a shadow over Reyon.
But Reyon merely smirked, unfazed. "And what makes you think I'm just a commoner, Knight Commander?"
"Hmph." The Knight Commander crossed his arms. "I did a thorough background check on you. You're just another orphan, a nobody with no lineage. The only reason I'm even listening to your blabber is because you're strong."
Julie exhaled sharply, clearly growing irritated. "Enough. Don't argue over pointless things." She turned to the Knight Commander. "You may go."
The Knight Commander hesitated. "Princess, are you sure you'll be alright alone with him? Even a peak 7th-circle mage fell at his hands, and he didn't even suffer a scratch."
Julie's eyes flickered with subtle surprise, but she masked it quickly.
"As I thought... he's dangerous." She thought to herself, studying Reyon more intently. "He doesn't even look over twenty, yet he's already this strong. Just you wait, Reyon. Once Berth is gone, you and the Classers will be taken care of next."
She straightened and crossed her arms. "Now, what are your plans for Berth?"
Reyon leaned against the stone pillar casually. "Do you want me to do everything? What are you going to do, huh? Weren't you the one who suggested the plan? Shouldn't you handle it?"
Julie's eyes narrowed at the challenge, but she remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"Now that Cyrus is dead, Berth has lost his right hand," Reyon continued, his voice even. "But he alone is fearsome enough. He can fight toe-to-toe with the Knight Commander, and he still has the Classers. If we engage him in direct combat, the casualties would be too high."
Julie exhaled. "I know that already. What do you need in return?"
Reyon's expression turned serious. "If the Knight Commander dies, the Kingdom of Elise will lose its only 8th-circle mage. The Royal Family of Brook Empire will see this as an opportunity to invade."
Julie scoffed. "Hmph. The Brook Empire? They don't even have a single 8th-circle mage. If not for that monstrous Phoenix Household—which alone has five 8th-circle mages—we would have conquered them in a single breath."
She tapped her fingers on the table before her, frustration creeping into her voice. "The only reason the Brook Kingdom can even call itself an 'Empire' is because of the Phoenix Family. If they have that much power, why haven't they just formed their own independent empire?"
Reyon's eyes glinted with understanding. "Miss Julie, you already know the answer to that. The Phoenix Household has to hold the Horizon Forest in check. If they weren't there, that slaughterer beast—Cerberus—would break free. If that happened, the entire continent could fall to beasts."
Julie sighed, nodding reluctantly. "You're right. That's why we respect the Phoenix Household. But the Brook Royal Family is taking advantage of that power. They demand tributes from the surrounding kingdoms, riding on the Phoenix Family's back."
Hearing this, Reyon's eyes widened slightly. "What!?"
Julie noticed the shock in his expression. "Why do you look so surprised?"
Reyon clenched his fists slightly. In his past life, he had always felt something was off about the Royal Family of Brook Empire. They were the first to disappear before the Dragon's rampage, but he never knew how corrupt they actually were.
"So this was the reason… the Brook Royal Family was taking advantage of their position, amassing wealth and power, exploiting the Phoenix Family's presence while they could. No wonder they vanished before the great calamity."
Julie studied his expression but didn't press further. "But that's a problem for another time. Right now, our real hurdle is Berth."
Reyon nodded, collecting his thoughts. "Miss Julie, listen carefully. I'll handle subduing Berth."
Julie's brows furrowed. "What? Do you even know what you're saying?"
She leaned forward, her piercing gaze locking onto his. "Berth is one of the only seven 8th-circle mages on this continent. I know you're strong—you defeated a peak 7th-circle mage—but he's on a completely different level."
A smirk played on Reyon's lips. "Are you… worrying about me, Miss Julie?"
Julie scoffed and turned her head away. "Hmph. Who's worried about who? If you want to die, then that's your own problem. I won't stop you." She crossed her arms. "Tell me your plan."
The flickering torchlight danced across their faces as they stared at each other. The weight of the coming battle loomed over them, unspoken yet suffocating.