Razeal walked at the front, his hands bound tightly by a rope unlike any ordinary restraint his left arm secured fully, while the other was fastened awkwardly at the elbow, where the rest of his right arm had been severed. The material shimmered faintly red under the sunlight, covered in scale-like patterns that shifted as though alive. This was no rope, no simple shackle it was a relic used only by Dragonwevr captains, designed to hold beings with monstrous strength. Its weight dug into his wrists, pressing down with mana and aura sealing pressure, but he showed no discomfort as clearly he doesn't have any mana or aura to begin with. His head was raised, his stride steady, as though he were a dignitary on parade rather than a prisoner.

Beside him, Ranguard shuffled forward, his own wrists bound by the same robe. His head was lowered, crimson hair covering part of his face. His expression twisted between humiliation and dread. Every step felt heavier than the last, not just because of his injuries but because of the eyes boring into him from every direction.

Behind them, Kael walked with calm, deliberate steps. The towering commander's presence was undeniable, his aura pressing down on everyone within range like a mountain. In his arms, the paralysed Nancy rested against his chest, her pale skin framed by her long ice blue hair's. Though her body was stiff, her eyes remained open, Pupil's darting desperately between sky, and Kael. She was alive, unharmed, yet trapped forced to watch events unfold with no ability to intervene.

knight flanked Kael behind, his polished armors gleaming. Behind them, another knight suddenly reappeared with a ripple of air, the one who had been sent to inform the Duchess. His boots clicked against the stone as he fell into step without hesitation.

"Did you inform the Duchess?" Kael asked, his voice level, eyes still fixed forward.

"Yes, Lord Commander," the knight replied immediately. "Her Grace has been notified. She commanded that the boy be held without harm. She also warned that this could be part of a deeper plot. She ordered you escort the accused to the Supreme Court directly. She herself will notify the Imperial Empress. Her words were clear: this matter is of the utmost seriousness."

Kael gave a curt nod. "Good."

No other words passed his lips, his expression unreadable. He had already anticipated this response. He knew the Duchess's way of thinking well.. restraint before judgment, patience before action. Rage might boil in her heart, but the head of Dragonwevr was as sharp as any blade. She would not risk escalating matters until every angle was accounted for.

Thus, instead of flying directly to the Supreme Court in secret, Kael led them through the streets, on foot, in full view of the public. It was deliberate, a calculated display. The sight of Nancy in his arms, still and motionless, alongside two bound men.. one an outsider criminal, the other a Dragonwevr guard was enough to spark a storm of whispers among the crowd.

The crest of the Dragonwevr family on the knights' armor only confirmed it further. People gasped, others clutched their mouths, and soon murmurs spread like wildfire.

"Isn't that Lady Nancy?" someone whispered.

"She's… unconscious? No.. look at her eyes, she's awake. What happened to her?"

"And look.. That Rap....No i mean that criminal. I knew he'd cause more trouble!"

"What did he do now?"

"Wait, isn't that the guard from the family itself? Why is he bound too?"

"He must've betrayed them. Or been bribed. It makes sense."

Speculation twisted into rumor, rumor hardened into conviction. To them, the answer was obvious. Razeal was already infamous. He had been accused of trying to defile the saintess herself. His name was smeared across the empire's streets like filth. Why should this case be any different?

And Ranguard.. his posture betrayed him. His head hung low, his face pale and fearful, shoulders trembling as though drowning in shame. To the watching eyes, he looked like a man consumed by guilt. They didn't know it was fear of death. They didn't know it was despair at being caught in his own web of lies.

Meanwhile, Razeal walked like a king in chains. His head high, his back straight, his lips curled into a small smile. He didn't flinch from the crowd's eyes. He welcomed them. Every sneer, every whisper, every finger pointed at him only made his smirk widen.

Whispers turned to mutters. Mutters turned to curses.

"How dare he look so proud?"

"He tried to harm Lady Nancy and still walks with his head high? Shameless!"

"Kill him here! Why wait for the court?"

Hatred burned in their eyes, but Razeal just ignored it. Dumb people he thought

Kael marched on, his steps measured. The crowd parted before them but never truly dispersed, trailing after the procession like a tide that refused to ebb. Dozens became hundreds, hundreds swelling into a sea of faces, all watching, all whispering, their judgment sharp as knives.

Time went on

And finally after ten long minutes of the humiliating march through the capital's streets, the path finally opened before them.

The Supreme Court.

A towering structure of pale stone and obsidian pillars, its architecture carved to resemble the wings and claws of dragons themselves. It loomed like judgment incarnate, its gates massive enough to swallow whole armies. The sight alone silenced the crowd's whispers for a breathless moment, awe and dread mixing in the air.

Razeal's smirk widened as his dark eyes lingered on the gates. Finally. The stage is set.

But before they could reach the steps, the sky trembled.

BOOOOM!

A deep sound like a thousand drums erupted from above, rattling the very air. The crowd gasped, heads tilting upward in unison. Even Razeal, Kael, and the knights raised their eyes.

A ripple of blue light spread across the heavens like a vast wave, racing outward in every direction. The capital froze. The ripple expanded, pulsing once, then again, and with each pulse the world grew darker.

Then, shadows.

Colossal shadows stretched across the city as if the sun itself had been devoured. People's bodies stiffened, their breaths caught in their throats. For high above.. so high it seemed the sky itself was breaking thousands, no, millions of dragons filled the horizon.

Their wings spanned mountains, their scales gleamed with impossible colors.. sapphire, crimson, black, gold. Their very presence drowned the capital in primal fear. The sky churned under their weight, clouds scattering before them as their roars echoed faintly, shaking rooftops and bones alike.

The ground itself trembled.

The crowd broke into a storm of whispers:

"D-Dragons!"

"So many! Saints preserve us…"

"Is the Dragonwevr family declaring war?! Why else would they summon an army of this size?"

"War? Here? In the capital?!"

Panic rippled through the masses. Parents clutched their children. Merchants dropped their wares and bolted. Yet none dared flee too far.. not when the dragons above seemed capable of burning the entire city to ash with a single command.

The meaning was clear to everyone. Only one family in the entire empire commanded dragons of this scale. Only one bloodline ruled over the most ancient of beasts.

The Dragonwevr.

Was this retribution? For Lady Nancy?

Kael's voice cut through the panic, steady and commanding:

"Keep walking."

His tone carried authority like iron, the voice of one who expected obedience. Even Ranguard, trembling and pale at the sight of the draconic legion, forced his legs forward. Razeal tilted his head back, whistling low under his breath.

Well, isn't that too dramatic. he thought, amusement flashing in his eyes. His smirk grew broader. All this… for me? Tch. Figures. The protagonist's family never does anything small.

He rolled his shoulders slightly, ignoring the goosebumps prickling at the base of his neck. He could almost feel the weight of those thousands of eyes.. beast and human alike fixed on him. Yet he just continue walking on as if none of it mattered.. which actually doesn't, his grin irritatingly bright amidst the suffocating tension.

Nancy, limp in Kael's arms, could only stare at the sky. Her heart pounded violently in her chest, though her body remained frozen. She had grown up knowing the Dragonwevr's power, but seeing it.. millions of dragons blotting out the heavens was another matter. She was feeling many emotions some good and bad good because.. She could see how much she matters.. All that for her? And bad for as it might be going wrong way. Razeal wasn't the culprit who tried to defile her afterall. She wanted to scream, to tell them to stop, to tell them this wasn't what it looked like. But then again she couldn't. Irritation burned her eyes as she realized she was powerless to stop what was coming.

The crowd grew restless. Some fell to their knees in reverence or fear. Others shouted prayers. A few brave souls whispered curses under their breath, terrified at the possibility that this was not a show of force, but a prelude to war.

And then

BOOOOM!

A thunderclap of impact shook the street. Dust and rubble scattered as a small crater formed just paces ahead of Razeal and Ranguard. Everyone flinched back, the crowd stumbling in shock.

From the crater rose a woman, tall and terrible, crimson hair flowing like a living flame behind her. Her long red robe rippled with unseen power, lined with threads of black that shimmered like molten metal. Her face was pale, cold, utterly devoid of expression. Her crimson eyes glowed faintly, cutting through the dust as easily as a blade through flesh.

She hadn't even bent or even staggered from the fall just stood tall, commanding, the earth itself seeming to bow under her presence.

The Duchess.

Arabella Dragonwevr.

The wildest in all of history.

Gasps erupted from the crowd. Instinctively, many took several steps back. Mothers pulled children behind them, soldiers and guards of court themselves stiffened where they stood, their hearts hammering. Even among dragons, Arabella was infamous.. unpredictable, ruthless, untamed. A woman whose fury had once leveled entire battalions in a single night.

Her arrival was confirmation. This wasn't some small matter Or maybe any accident and definitely wasn't a misunderstanding. This was real. And very, very serious.

"All this… for a single him?" someone in the crowd whispered hoarsely.

"Not just any boy," another spat. "That's Razeal. He tried to defile the saintess. Now Lady Nancy too? Of course the Duchess would come!"

"I wish she kills him now."

The whispers swelled, blending into a sea of voices. Hatred burned in their eyes as they glared at Razeal, who.. infuriatingly only grinned wider.

Kael inclined his head slightly, his expression still calm, but the faintest glimmer of respect flickered in his gaze. The Duchess had come herself.

Nancy's heart thudded painfully. Mother…

Arabella moved forward deliberate, and quiet no aura leaked from her body, no murderous intent radiated outward. She walked as though the weight of her presence alone was enough to suffocate the world. No one dared breathe too loudly, not even Kael, who stood tall behind Razeal and Ranguard.

Razeal tilted his head as he watched her. His eyebrows rose slightly. He expected her to be furious fire, rage, maybe even a storm of violence. Instead, she was silent so silent it felt weird.

To his surprise, she passed him without even a glance or even acknowledge him. It was as if he were nothing more than the wind.

Kael, steady as always, bowed slightly and stepped forward. "Your Grace," he said, his voice firm but respectful, as he gently transferred Nancy into Arabella's arms.

Arabella accepted her daughter with both hands. Her crimson hair spilled down her back like molten fire, contrasting against Nancy's snow-pale face. She adjusted Nancy's strands of hair with one delicate motion, then lowered her gaze.

For a long moment, she simply stared into Nancy's eyes. Expressionless. Silent. Then, finally, she spoke.

"I am here," Arabella whispered. Her voice was soft, almost fragile, but each syllable struck like steel.

That was all it took. Nancy's tears, frozen until now, spilled freely, streaking down her paralyzed face. Her eyes trembled, her body limp in her mother's arms, but her heart finally found release.

Arabella did not stop the tears. She let them fall, watching with a gaze that seemed both distant and unshakable. She raised her free hand and gently pressed Nancy's eyes shut.

"Rest now," she said. "Mother will take care of everything."

The words were simple, but in that moment they were absolute. Nancy's trembling stilled. Her tears continued, but her mind surrendered to those words like a child to a promise.

Only then did Arabella turn. Her gaze shifted from Kael to Ranguard.

Kael bowed again, his voice even, professional. "The boy from the Virelan family admitted openly that he intended to rape her," he said. "But I believe he is somewhat lying so i also apprehended Lady Nancy's guard, who behaved suspiciously. I recommend both be put to trial, where truth can be drawn without guilty left free."

Arabella's crimson eyes narrowed, her face still unreadable. She turned her attention fully onto Ranguard.

The moment her gaze fell upon him, his entire body stiffened. His lips trembled, his scales seemed to tighten across his skin. He bowed, his voice cracking, "Y-Your Grace…"

But Arabella ignored him completely moving her gaze to Razeal.

Razeal, standing casually with his hands bound in crimson-scaled restraints, smirked back at her. His dark eyes met hers without hesitation or even fear.

Arabella's voice was low, calm, yet sharp as a blade. "Better pray that you are lying, boy. Because believe me.. if even a shred of this is true, I will erase you from this world. Even if I must sacrifice my family, I will see turn you into something you never could dream of. Also whatever game you think you are playing will not end in your favor." Her voice was plain, but cold.

Razeal didn't react much, only shrugged his shoulders. She was completely different from how she'd been yesterday.. so silent, so expressionless. Honestly, it felt strange even to him. It was like she'd become a completely different person. A totally different presence, he thought.

****

Inside the Supreme Court

The grand doors opened with a groan, and the air shifted.

The "court" was unlike any hall of justice Razeal had ever seen. Crimson banners lined the high walls, embroidered with dragon crests that shimmered faintly with enchantments. Black marble pillars rose like mountains, each carved with draconic runes that pulsed faintly with light. The air was thick with authority, as if the very building itself demanded submission.

A red carpet stretched the length of the chamber, leading up the steps to an platinum throne. And up above the throne.. she sat.

Nerissa Gwon Valentine.

The Imperial Empress.

The strongest being alive, and the strongest in recorded history.

She appeared no older than her early thirties. Long platinum hair spilled down her back, cascading like a river of moonlight. Her eyes, pale platinum as well, seemed to pierce straight through the soul. She wore no crown, no need for one the throne itself bent to her presence.

Her posture was elegant, one long leg crossed over the other, arms resting lightly on the throne's arms. Her lips curved into a faint smile as looking at all this, Smile neither warm nor cold, but just carried with amused interest.

Beside the platinum throne of the Empress stood Celestia.

Her long silver platinum framed her face like a veil of moonlight, her expression composed yet betraying the faintest trace of exasperation in her eyes. She did not speak, but her gaze fell on Razeal with a quiet weight. Her eyes rolled ever so slightly, the kind of look only someone who had already dealt with his nonsense more than once could give. One day. Just one day of freedom, and already he's caused this much chaos.

Before Razeal, the Supreme Court chamber opened in full view.

At the foot of the plantinum throne, four smaller thrones were placed along the descending steps two to the left of the crimson carpet and two to the right, arranged to mirror judgment and witness.

Seated there now were the empire's pillars:

Maximus Luminus, the current patriarch of House Luminus.

Seraphina Faerelith, matriarch of House Faerelith.

Arabella Dragonwevr, matriarch of House Dragonwevr.

And

Marcella Virelan, second-in-command of the Virelan family. With the family's matriarch and young heir absent, her authority here was absolute.

The weight of their combined presence pressed on the chamber like an ocean crashing against a ship.

Ranguard stood in the center, his hands bound, his body trembling. Sweat rolled down his temple despite the cold, his draconic physique instinctively reacting to the psychological pressure that threatened to crush him. The proud strength of a dragon was reduced here to a flickering candle before a storm.

What have I gotten myself into…? His heart thundered against his chest, every beat screaming fear. I should never have doke that. I should never have… His knees nearly buckled.

Beside him, Razeal stood straight as if nothing were happening.

The oppressive aura that crushed Ranguard simply slid off him like water. So this is what fear resistance from Dao-killing gets me, Razeal thought. Guess it wasn't useless after all.

His eyes darted across the chamber, studying each face in turn. Maximus, Seraphina, Arabella, Marcella… and then the platinum throne above them all.

His lips almost twitched. What the actual fuck is this lineup? World ending war or something?

He had expected something serious, yes. He had expected consequences, punishment, maybe even threatens to execution. But this? The presence of not just the ducal pillars but the Imperial Empress herself? It was insanity.

This woman doesn't appear even when wars break out. And now she's here, in front of me, over this little incident? He shook his head internally, his smiles sighingly. The plot is shattered beyond repair. She wasn't supposed to show up until near the middle or end… and here I am, face to face with her already. How Lovely.

The silence in the chamber deepened. No one spoke. not even Arabella, who had every reason to roar. All eyes turned, waiting for the single voice that carried the authority of the world.

At last, Nerissa leaned forward.

She rested her chin lightly on her fist, supported by her elbow upon the armrest of her throne. Her platinum eyes, calm yet piercing, gazed down upon Razeal with quiet curiosity. The faint smile on her lips curved just a little more.

When she spoke, her voice was soft but carried effortlessly through the vast chamber.

"You have become quite an interesting person, nephew," she said. "How did you gain so much development in so little time?"

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Thanks for reading, everyone! Sorry for being so ridiculously busy these days. Just know the author is doing his best and never slacking off. Hope you all understand.

And yes.. please don't forget your daily rent: Power Stones and Golden Tickets!

And alao apologies not eveb able to reply to comments.. Ill check then tonight as got time tday

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