Grey remained kneeled, waiting for the King or Queen to speak. Seconds ticked by, and the silence droned on.
'Are they examining me or testing me?' Grey thought. There was no logical reason besides those that would permit silence to last for so long in the royal court.
Finally, after a good 10 seconds, the King spoke.
"You may rise." Grey heeded his words, rising to face the King and Queen, his hand still on his chest. However, he made sure never to raise his head, keeping it level, even if it meant not fully seeing them. For some reason, looking up or down on royalty was disrespectful.
"Please, raise your head. There's no need to follow etiquette when it's just the 3 of us." The Queen ordered politely.
Immediately, Grey looked around the room, finding the door closed and the elf who introduced him gone. He looked back and raised his head, taking in the sight of the King and Queen.
The King had black hair with green tips, green eyes, and a face dissimilar to Lucas'. He had a diamond face, a straight nose, and a smooth jawline. He sported his hair in a man bun, letting the excess fall down to his nape. He had a full beard that matched his face nicely.
The Queen had blonde hair with red tips, orange eyes, and a heart-shaped face. Her hair was wavy, going down to her waist, and she wore a crown braid.
They both wore royal attire, the King in a navy suit with epaulettes and a sash, adorned with gold. The Queen wore a dress in white and green, with many jewels, and several branch designs across it.
But, what drew his attention the most was their crowns. They wore simple crowns made of gold, a few gems adorning them, but nothing too fancy.
"Grey, you stand before King Matteo Novis and Queen Tyana Novis. Do you know why?" The King spoke.
"No, your Majesty. However, if I were to guess, it is due to either the Royal Duels or Princess Aurora." Grey almost referred to Aurora by name, but felt it best to add her title too.
"Your presumption is correct. We've brought you here to ask about your intentions. You see, it's not every day that we get another race participating in the Royal Duels. Most of the time, we stick to our own race's matters. So, why are you here?"
"I have been made aware that there is a problem that will delay Princess Aurora from her education at The Island. I am here to ensure that it doesn't. However, I am unsure what the problem is, so I decided to participate in the Royal Duels." Grey said simply. He had no reason to lie.
"I see. But you are aware that that is none of your business, right? Besides, how sure are you about your source?"
"I am aware that it isn't truly my place, however, I feel that if my intervention was unnecessary, my source wouldn't have asked for it. There is more than what meets the eye with them. Far more than there should be." He stated.
"And about their validity, I'm 95% sure."
'However, if he's wrong here, I know that there would be no point listening to him in the future.' Grey listened to Kim Jaehyun because he seemed special, and he wanted to learn the reason why he was so, in case it could help him. Therefore, this was the perfect test. If he proved himself right, Grey would know that Kim Jaehyun's specialness was real, and would have a reason to learn more. However, if he was incorrect, Grey would know that he had no reason to listen to him again. It only proved that his specialness wasn't real, and they were just paranoid.
"I see. Well then, after winning the duels and gaining my daughter's hand in marriage, what do you intend to do?" The Queen asked, choosing not to go further with the source. Grey clearly didn't understand them either, so there would be no point in asking.
"I will be annulling the engagement, your Majesty. I have no intention of getting married, yet at least. I have a goal that I need to accomplish, and as such will put my full effort just to reach it. Even this journey was taken solely as it was a boon for me." The journey had gotten him a breathing technique that would make him stronger faster, and a potential ally.
"So you say. Well, if you were to accomplish that goal, would you be open to marriage with my daughter?" The Queen was aware that the relationship between Grey and Aurora was little more than friendship, with her daughter being intrigued by Grey's mysteries, but she was also aware that their relationship could easily blossom. Not only would Grey's talent potentially pass on, but she was sure that he would treat Aurora well. It was not often her daughter spoke highly of someone.
"I apologize again, your Majesty, but I can't answer that. I don't know what the future holds. Princess Aurora and I are friends, nothing more, so for now, no. However, I can't deny that she is kind, beautiful and funny. Especially her Ice Queen act; that's hilarious." Grey said, laughing as he thought about the times when Aurora would let her act slip.
'Aurora said he was bad with emotions, but I expected worse. At least he knows that she is his type.' The Queen thought. She had sworn to herself not to involve herself in her daughter's affairs, but Grey was too good to pass up on. She would only meddle a little.
"Since we've gotten that out of the way, why don't you stay for the night? As the soon-to-be winner of the Royal Duels, the least we can do is host you." The Queen offered.
"Thank you, your Majesty, but I already have accommodation. There is no need." Grey denied the offer, eager to go home and rest. The tournament was over for the day, the second half taking place just the next day, and he had used about half his Mana in flashy attacks. All were good reasons to go rest.
"Yes, but I insist. Besides, it's always a good idea to accept what royalty says, isn't it?" The Queen said, a small glint in her eyes.
'She's up to something, but any more rejection is disrespectful. I have little choice.' Grey thought, spotting the presence of her hidden intentions.
"Of course, your Majesty. I'd love to."
Hearing his words, the Queen stomped her heel, sending out a wave of Mana that reached the door. Seconds after, it swung open revealing Anette.
Grey bowed to the King and Queen, and walked away, reaching Anette. Anette stood still, watching as he walked to her when she spotted the Queen giving her a wink.
'Understood.' She would have nodded or saluted, however that would have alerted Grey.
Once he reached her, they both took off and headed towards the rooms.
The corridors were long and winding, just like before, but there was less and less decor as they moved through them. About halfway through, however, the quantity of decor began to pick up again, signaling they were reaching an important area.
A side route appeared, heading further into the castle at an incline, and Anette went up the passage. Grey followed, his attention enraptured by the paintings that sat on the walls.
"So, where are we going? This seems like an important area." Grey spoke up. In the beginning, the paintings were impersonal. Regular artworks of forests, hills, and the sea, but as they went further, they began to get personal. It started with the previous royal families, then the current royal family, and then onto pictures of a certain elf. One with black hair and orange eyes.
'Are we?' Grey thought, putting 2 and 2 together. 'The Queen's hidden agenda, the photos of Aurora, there's no way right?'
However, it seemed true. The closer to the destination they got, the more embarrassing the photo. Eventually, when they stopped, Grey found his vision in a photo of Aurora as a toddler, with a bowl of spaghetti on her head.
'Haha!' Grey found himself laughing at Aurora's expense, but he couldn't help but have a single question on his mind.
'She'd never allow this,' He thought back to Aurora. Although he knew it was an act, he felt that her Ice Queen demeanor couldn't be too far from the truth, so there was no way she'd let them hang up photos of her like this. 'Hell, even if she was super laidback, she still wouldn't allow it. I know I wouldn't.'
Knock Knock!
Grey heard a knocking sound and saw Anette standing by a door.
"Wait a second, I'll be there!" He heard a feminine voice. One he knew well.
He looked at Anette, pleading. 'Just take me to my room!' His eyes begged. He and Aurora were friends, and nothing else, so he was sure the Queen didn't intend for him to sleep in her room, but for her to play a prank on Aurora like this...
'I'm the one who'll face the initial outburst.' Grey shuddered. He had once played a prank on his mother, led by Lucas. That night had been a terrible one for him, and the next one was horrible for Lucas. 'Women are scary.' Was what he concluded that day.
"Coming!" The door swung open, revealing a disheveled Aurora, a large smile on her face, and a small chocolate stain on her lips.
"Anette!" Aurora hugged Anette, oblivious to Grey. Suddenly, Anette cleared her throat, pointing to Grey.
"Her Majesty asked that I bring him here."
Aurora turned to look at whom Anette was pointing at and then froze in horror.
"GREY!?"