Tyran stood on the stone pavement waving to the crowd with a broad smile on his face as he was called upon by the announcer of the knighting ceremony.
The day had finally come, Royalties and prime ministers were seated immediately behind the Emperor's seat and behind them candidates that had completed for the position but only one had been selected.
"And to the candidate who emerged in first position!"the announcer paused while he stared at the crowd from above.
The air was filled with loud thuds of pounding hearts as many held their breaths in anticipation and hope their respective candidates would be chosen.
"...Zero Jager!" the announcer's voice boomed,causing loud mumurs to erupt from every corner,clearly a few of them had watched him mess up during the exams and majority had been expecting to hear a different name,'Kaphias'.
"How is that possible!..Kaphias performed better."a prime minister whispered into his king's ears.
"Quiet!"the king snapped "This is not a matter just any one can decide".
Chief Knight Zero reluctantly walked to the balcony and bowed to the royalties before waving at the crowd with a frown.
"What is that look?..he doesn't appear happy about it"he heard a candidate say."Shhhhh!!! We are in the presence of the Emperor and his kings,even Kaphias hasn't uttered a word".another replied.
Zero watched Tyran approach him with a flower woven crown and a gold medal but what irked him the most was the smirk on his face.
"To the one who showed both resilience and strength, fairly topping over all candidates in the examination I offer my heartfelt congratulations!"the Emperor muttered and Zero bowed respectfully before lowering his head to received both presents then he watched Tyran spread out his hand for a hug.
A hug?from him?,the person he loathed most in the world.
As their eyes met for a second too long every instinct in him screamed to step back but instead he stood frozen,his jaw clenched and fist tightened as the space between them disappeared.
His heart beat a little to fast as Tyran's chest pressed against his then the emperor stepped away,the smile hadn't disappeared,the smile that should never be on that face in the first place.
Tyran took a step forward and leaned in
"Why doeth your heart race in excitement young Knight?...for a position you worked hard for"he whispered and Zero thought he was being mocked.
"Of cos your majesty"the chief Knight bowed but this time his head was raised with curved lips,a smile laced with something cold underneath,his eyes calculating.
An attendant handed him a scroll which he took and opened,it's contents struck him.
'A pledge'
His gaze drifted to Tyran face,he was being tortured and he could tell the emperor was enjoying this.
There was no doubt about it,this had to be his doing but why?
What other reason could it be except Fiona's letter.
But he had given him copy written by Fiona's corpse with the same handwriting had he somehow found out it was fake?
"I...Zero Jager swear on my life to serve and protect his imperial majesty,to stand by him and protect him even at the cost of my life...To"
'what gibberish!'he paused to prevent himself from saying what crept through his mind then he cleared his throat and continued.
"To stand by him sheilding him from all who oppose him,to offer my chest to arrows directed at him and now my life becomes one who lives for the Emperor,my life is now his".
Zero clenched his teeth in rage as he finished,handed the scroll back to the attendant and bowed on one knee with both arms outstretched to recieve the sword of the emperor's Knight.
For some reason,his hand trembled as he stared at the fancy sword with Delvin's emblem on it's scabbard and handle,it was the exact same type Gerald had weilded.
Memories of the dead knight came flooding in as he slowly walked backed to his seat with the sword in hand,he could feel the cold stares on him but his eyes remained on the seat he was approaching.
"And in second and third position...Khaphias Stent and Athena"the announcer called out and both approached the balcony.
As Khaphias walked on and through the spiteful eyes he locked with Zero the chief Knight braced himself for what was to come.
Unlike the other Knight selection,the scores weren't announced but the Khaliphas had topped second in the written exams and emerged winner in the horserace and swordfight.
They both recieved their medals and returned to their seat then a voice suddenly erupted from the crowd.
"The imperial prince!...we want to see the no faced prince!"
"The late empress bare no child,we have been decieved all these while"came another voice.
"His imperial majesty would never lie to us"
"Show us the imperial prince then..let us confirm with our own eyes"
"I heard he's a monster"
"I heard he is cursed"
"He is no demon"Came another voice followed by a loud gasp from the crowd and chatters erupted from every corner.
"We want to see the imperial prince of there is one!"a semonio shouted from the crowd.
"Yes we will see with our own eyes"another said and a few chorused."SHOW US THE PRINCE! UNLESS THERE IS NONE!"
In a short while many fists were raised is the air with everyone screaming the same thing.
"Show us the prince!!!!..unless there's none!!!"
Tyran smiled to himself as he got to his feet and immediately the crowd fell silent.
"What is this you all speak to my face...that my seed do not exist?"Tyran shut his eyes and quickly sent Ren a telephathic message.
"It was my decision to keep him locked in with reasons best known to me but the empress did bare me a son before her demise". Tyran paused and the door in the hall flew open.
The young prince held everyone's gaze as he appeared in the doorway,the room stilled was now filled with slackened jaws and parted mouths with heads turning in his direction and on a few faces was a mixture of awe and disbelief while some simply admired the otherworldly beauty infront of them.
Eyes followed as he walked towards his father, his hand in General Rengyotsu's with every step they took seemingly appearing to echo louder than it should.
The air shifted as Tyran carried Ramses on his body into view and a thousand eyes stared in awe,a thousand lips were shut,no one could look away.
"Delvin!!...Your imperial prince...Prince Ramses!".Tyran announced and all knees fell with heads stricking the ground in reverence.
"Hail Prince Ramses!... Delvin's true heir,hail Prince Ramses!"the crowd chorused.
Tyran returned back to his seat while General Ren resumed a position behind throne guarding his two sons but the one with silver hair still held everyone's gaze in the hall and for the ones that were obstructed by the back of his towering seat,their eyes remained afixed on the seat patiently awaiting to get a glimpse of him each time his head popped out from the sides of his chair.
Some had heard the rumours but aside his silver hair there was nothing different or abnormal about him except the strong intimidating amount of magic energy emanating from him which was unusual for a child.
Ramses cooed as Ruel pressed on his cheek,giggling as he did then he returned the action clumsyly before gently blocking Ruel's hand coming for his eyes while letting out a soft whimper to show discomfort,his lips trembled as the first cry began to form but his father's glare sung his mouth shut.
Ruel's hand had either been pulling on his hair or playing with his face ever since he saw him and he was already getting tired of it.
Tyran picked him up and Ramses curled up against him,on his lap,leaning into his chest,his head rising and falling with each breath he took while patting on his hair.
The fact that everything was going according to plan stirred a part of him that almost got his feet moving to the triumphant music his humming in his head.
He could never mistake the tension and confusion that hung in the air the moment eyes saw the prince,he yearned to give them more of it.
Tyran got to his feet and raised both hands.
"And because this is such a memorable day,I shall celebrate this day with a banquet and every participant in the exams will be awarded a thousand tales of Gold"He announced and hands jammed as joyful screams erupted from the crowd.
Tyran grinned and while he watched a few commoners quietly shove their way away through the crowd towards the gates.
He nodded to General Ren who nodded in return,he had gotten the message and vanished from sight and Tyran turned to face those seated in the hall but everyone was calmly seated,no one had moved or appeared suspicious.
He established a telepathic link with king Max before taking both his son's hands.
"Max...I'll leave the rest to you".