"Princess Neryssa, is that you?"
That old voice was familiar. Her words caught the attention of the three of them causing them to stop. Neryssa turned back slowly, excitement bubbling in her heart.
"Grandfather!!" She called joyously.
She watched her steps as she ran towards the old man on a white royal robe. The man was evidently older than Torvald but he had this influential demeanor.
"How I've missed you so much, my little butterfly." He complimented and waved his hands through her hair.
"Butterfly?" Nico chuckled inwardly.
Neryssa was flustered, the embarrassment evident in her face. She drove her small fists into her grandfather's guts and he pretended to acknowledge her attacks by making a defeated face.
"No one calls me that anymore." She protested but her grandfather shrugged.
He proceeded forwards to acknowledge Torvald and Nico while Neryssa held his arm joyfully.
"Nico, meet my grandfather–"
"Lancelot Windcrest." Torvald intercepted her and slowly approached him.
Tension suddenly began to rise. Nico could feel the killing intent that was being emitted by these two gladiators. From a glance, one would believe Lancelot was just a regular old man.
Lancelot could tell that the kids were getting crushed by their dangerous Aura.
"Torvald Eryndral–" Lancelot's voice was no longer the playful one he used with Neryssa.
"The self proclaimed outcast."
The words landed on Torvald like a boulder. This was the worst place for them to go at it, especially not in front of the children.
"Retirement doesn't suit you Lancelot. Or were you unable to restitute your past faults?"
Neryssa was bewildered. No one had ever talked to her grandfather the way Torvald did. Her grandfather was the former supreme king of the four kingdoms but after his son, her father got married, he stepped down and became a General.
Were they friends? Acquaintances? Or archenemies?
"Sharp tongued as always." Lancelot approached Torvald and walked past him with Neryssa still holding his arm.
Torvald didn't bow or acknowledge him; instead, he turned back and placed his palm on Lancelot's shoulder.
"I returned your granddaughter in one piece. We shall take our leave now."
Torvald's decision forced Lancelot to turn back sharply. Neryssa too was shocked by this sudden change of atmosphere. Her heat was thudding really fast. She signalled to Nico to try and convince Torvald.
Nico got the signal but the pressure that Torvald was emitting silenced him.
"I don't think the kids are pleased with your decision, Torvald." Lancelot held a rather displeased countenance.
Torvald couldn't tell if he was being serious or if he was just trying to extract information from him. Either way, staying here wasn't the best idea.
Torvald opened his mouth to speak but Nico intercepted,
"I believe you should both put your differences aside just for tonight. For the princess's happiness."
Lancelot was impressed. His countenance lit up in an instant.
"The kid seems to understand the situation, unlike someone." Lancelot teased, ignoring the fact that Nico had just spoken out of turn.
The two guards standing on either side of the gigantic entrance door pushed it open as soon as Lancelot approached and they bowed their heads in reverence as he proceeded through.
Neryssa unbuckled her grip from Lancelot as soon as she saw her parents. They were communicating with the three other kings and their queens. She sped through the crowd of attendants, bolting into her mother's arms.
"Mother!!" She called loudly attracting the attention of many.
The question, 'so this is the supreme princess?' began to ring in the mouths of many.
Her father couldn't hide his happiness. He knelt down to her height and placed his palm on her shoulders.
"How have you been?" He asked, trying to stop the tears from falling freely.
Although he was the king, his wife was less sentimental than he was and she knew just how to withhold her emotions.
"Have you been eating well? Who brought you home?" He asked, still admiring her. She had grown into a beautiful girl in just three years.
"Darling, one at a time." She bent down, adjusting her royal attire to maintain her balance.
Neryssa pointed to Torvald and Lancelot who seemed to still be throwing angry glances at themselves. Nico wasn't with them.
"I'll be back." She said and ran back, heading towards Torvald.
"She really has grown, hasn't she?" Her mom asked but her husband was still staring proudly at his daughter.
Neryssa reduced her pace as soon as she approached Torvald. Lancelot intercepted her, diverting her attention towards the crowd.
"Where's my little butterfly headed?" He teased.
"I'm looking for Nico." She said and raised her head to look at her grandfather. Despite his old age, his height hadn't shrunk yet.
"That boy." Her grandfather said, holding a disgusted look.
"I don't like him." He concluded and folded his arms.
"I don't care!" She yelled and drove her first into his guts again before speeding off to search from Nico.
Her grandfather was the only person that ever made her feel alive. Not like her parents were different but since they were always away from home, they were terrified that their only daughter would get swayed by outsiders.
They made a rule that she would never leave her room only during important days or whenever they were available. The only exception was when her grandfather was around.
He would play with her despite her age to make her feel better. He was like a friend she never had.
Neryssa was prepared. Her return wasn't to continue live like a prisoner and she was ready to let them know.
She stopped running.
There he was. Nico was resting on the balustrade at the balcony.
"There you are." She said, attracting Nico's attention. She walked to join him, standing really close to him.
"This is one hell of a view." Nico commented and Neryssa chuckled lightly.
"It's not like I get to see it everyday." She replied and placed both her arms on the balustrade. She took a quick glance at Nico but he seemed to be engulfed in what he was looking at.
His countenance was serious also.
"I wonder how the next three years will be." She said and let out a sigh.
She was obviously referring to the next time they'd be seeing each other again. This made Nico think about it too. He turned to look at her.
"You'll be fine." He gave her a reassuring smile and placed his palms on her shoulders.
"It's not like–"
THOOOOOOM!!!
An explosion carrying fierce wind was heard.