The Five: The Fight for the Imperial Throne

Chapter 26: Ufaira City

"What's? You think I'm gonna do something crazy like that because my mom's dead, are you healthy, Zidan?" Sena asked in a slightly angry tone to Young Duke Verita.

"Ekhem, it looks like you two are very close." Said Luca who felt ignored by the Young Duke Verita and Sena.

"Geez, I'm sorry Luca, I forgot that you and your brother are here too. Right, Zidan, me, sister, Miss L'Oreal, and Princess Lea are childhood friends. We spend a lot of time with that." Sena explained briefly.

"Master, Miss, it's time to come in. Madam's funeral is almost about to begin." Said Lily who told the four of them to come in and call the servants to replace their clothes because of the smell of sunlight.

"Alright, we'll be right in." Sena said as she rushed inside with Luca, Alice, Zidan and Lily following them from behind.

After they entered the mansion and changed into black clothes the four of them immediately gathered in the hall, where the corpse of Duchess Broglie who was inside the coffin had been arranged in such a way by the butler, who was the one who was the victim, Philip and the head lady, Lily.

Then not long after the upper and lower middle level nobles also came during the funeral ceremony of Duchess Broglie.

During the handover procession of the Red Spider Lily and the prayer, everyone cried, even when His Majesty Emperor Vettel and his extended family came and paid their last respects to Duchess Broglie for the services and sacrifices he gave for the prosperity and security of the Harvest Empire for 25 years.

"May Helena De Broglie always be by the side of the Goddess Stacia forever." Speech of the Supreme Priest in attendance at Duchess Broglie's Funeral Ceremony.

Late in the afternoon, after finishing the coffin containing the body of Duchess Broglie was washed away in the Marion Sea where the bodies of all the dead were buried there, after being washed away, the Sky Night Troop immediately released a fire-given arrow as a sign that Duchess Broglie had left for all eternity.

Everyone's tears still flowed when they saw that Duchess Broglie's coffin was burned by a fire-given arrow at the end.

After all the funeral procession was completed all the existing nobles returned immediately except for His Majesty Emperor Vettel and his family, Young Duke Verita, Grand Duchess Yuuki, Grand Duke Everest Family, and Duke Paddington Family. They all gathered in the living room to talk about the matters that existed in the Empire.

"Baginda, according to the information I got from the spies, which I placed in the Marquess Glazer area there was a rebellion in the border area between Ufaira City and the Kingdom of Cussons. And the rebellion has been going on for 15 days." Said the Young Duke Verita starting the conversation.

"Mhmmm... Then how did the Marquess Glazer respond to the rebellion?" Ask the Emperor.

"There was no counterattack from the Marquess Glazer's side. He just looks at it without doing anything, and the casualties are increasing day by day, Your Majesty." Young Duke Verita explained.

"Hmm. alright then Young Duke Verita, Duke Broglie, and Grand Duchess Yuuki and their entire army will be going to Ufaira City tomorrow morning. Then pass on my message to the Marquess Glazer to come to Berkouli Palace immediately." Saying His Majesty the Emperor.

"Tomorrow morning?! Honey, are you sure? How about another week? They all have to prepare their gear and so on." Said Her Majesty the Queen to her husband.

"Aahs... All right, three days from now you all have to leave for Ufaira City, I hope that's enough for you." Saying His Majesty the Emperor.

"Good, Sire. Thank you very much." Duke Broglie, Grand Duchess Yuuki, Young Duke Verita, Grand Duke Everest and Duke Paddington said.

After the meeting, the Imperial Family, His Majesty the Queen, and Princess Lea, stayed at Duke Broglie's residence because it was very late. Her Royal Highness Princess Quinella, Prince Michael, and Princess Ellie return to the Palace.

The next morning after they had all had breakfast Duke Broglie, Eugeo, and Sena drove the Imperial Family out while Count Castina, Coutess Castina, Alice, drove the Imperial Family out, and Luca had to come with the Imperial Family to talk about things related to Alice who was the 'Lighted Holy Girl' which has been told in a prophecy that there will be one daughter who has golden-yellow hair and sky-blue eyes that will save the world from evil and shine a light on the world from darkness.

Arriving at the Imperial Palace, Berkouli Palace...

"Welcome, Your Majesty the Queen and the Princess." Said the Chief Servant of Berkouli Palace who welcomed their arrival.

"Hmmm.... Your Majesty, sorry but they...." Said the butler who felt unfamiliar with the four people standing right behind His Majesty and the family.

"Ah. oh they are my friends, introduce them to the Castina family. He was the head of the Count Castina family, Rydin Scoot De Castina, and next to him was Jeremiah Chrysanthemum De Castina, a De Castina, then the two children who were behind their house were Alice Schubert De Castina and Luca Arendo De Castina." Said His Majesty the Emperor introducing the family of Count Castina.

"Greetings Count Castina, meet me is the butler at Berkouli Palace, I am Ayase Chuuya, the second son of Count and Countess Chuuya." The butler introduced himself.

"Let's take you to the guest room. Grace, please move their things to the guest room immediately." Ayase.

"Okay, butler." Grace said as she carried the luggage of the Count Castina Family to the guest room.

Count Castina's luggage was brought to the guest room by Grace. Ayase takes them around, after getting tired of walking around they go back to the guest room.

"Well.... I didn't expect that we would be staying in the Imperial Palace right now." Said Luca who felt happy and agitated at the same time.

"You're right, Luca. But why would His Majesty want to take us to this Imperial Palace huh?" Alice asked curiously.

"So, how about we just ask Mama and Papa?" Said Luca while jumping from his bed.

"That's a good idea, let's go." Alice said as she followed her sister, Luca.

"Luca."

"Alice." Shouted Princess Lea greeting the two of them.

"Greetings to the imperial star, may the blessing of the Goddess Stacia always be with you." Alice and Luca said at the same time.

"Eeeii, you don't need to be that formal with me. Just call me 'Lea' like that." Princess Lea said.

"Well, if that's what you want, Lea." Said Luca while smiling gently.

"Owh, yeah... I saw you guys were in such a hurry, where do you want to go? Can I come with you?" Asked Princess Lea while holding Luca's hand.

"Ah, it's me and my brother want to meet with His Majesty and our parents, the Princess." Luca explained.

"Meet my father? What's up?" Asked Princess Lea while tilting her head.

"We just want to say hello to Your Majesty, Lea." Luca explained.

"Hmmm... All right, come with me. I have something to talk to my father about." Said Princess Lea while walking in front of the brothers.

A few minutes later...

"Dad." Said Princess Lea as she pushed open the door of His Majesty's Harvest.

"Oh, forgive me Mr and Mrs Castina." Said Princess Lea as she walked into Her Majesty's study.

Mr and Mrs Castina nodded her head as a sign of "it's okay." To Princess Lea.

"Lea, what are you doing here?" Ask the Emperor.

"Luca and Alice want to meet dad." Princess Lea explained.

"With me? All right tell them to come in. Rydin, Mia you guys stay here, maybe there's something the two of them want to talk to you about, too." Said His Majesty while tidying up his desk.

"Okay, Sire." Said Mr and Mrs Castina.

"We greet the Imperial Sun, may the blessings and protection of the Goddess Stacia always be with you, Your Majesty." Said Luca and Alice greeting His Majesty.

"thank you. I know what you guys want to ask. So without further ado I will tell you all, the reason I brought you to this Imperial Palace, 1. I know Alice has incredible powers. 2. You guys are my closest friends, so I want to protect you too. And the 3rd. Looks like Lea, my daughter likes your son, Rydin." Said His Majesty while observing the behavior of his daughter from earlier.

"D-dad!!" Shouted Princess Lea reflexively.

"Haha. Isn't that right, Lea? I know that by looking at your attitude and mannerisms from yesterday." Said His Majesty teasing his daughter.

"W-did dad spy on me from afar?" Princess Lea asked a little suspiciously.

"Spying on my own daughter? There's no way I would do such a shameful thing and if your mother knew for sure I'd be outraged by it." Said His Majesty laughing so as to melt the slightly tense atmosphere earlier.

"So you already know about Alice's powers, Your Majesty?" Ask Count Castina.

"Yes, I saw her in the books of the messengers of the gods, and said that there would be a daughter with sea-blue eyes, and golden yellow hair will come and save this world from the darkness of evil that envelops at his expense.' I didn't believe it at first, but after hearing the story directly from you and Alice, I realized that the prophecy was true and would happen in a few years." Saying His Majesty the Emperor.

"No, that's impossible!! I won't let Alice sacrifice herself even if it's for this Empire though!!" Shouted Countess Castina while tightly hugging Alice.

"Calm down, Mia. The prophecy is not necessarily happening anytime soon, and even if it really did happen I would protect Alice and everyone, including my own family." Said His Majesty the Emperor trying to appease Countess Castina.

"Haha... All right then. Please take care of Alice when the prophecy happens...." Countess Castina.

"Well, I promise, Mia." Said His Majesty sure.

"But... If anything happens to Alice, I won't forgive you. Remember that, Vettel!!" Countess Castina said a little threatening to His Majesty.

"All right, all right, I promise, Mia." Saying His Majesty the Emperor.

After His Majesty promised to protect Alice, Countess Castina felt a little calmer than before.

"Speaking about the appointment, how about we have an engagement for Lea and Luca?" Ask His Majesty the Emperor to the Lord and Lady Castina.

"D-dad!" Pinta Princess Lea was shocked when she heard what her father said.

"That's a good idea, Your Honor. How about we have their engagement after the expedition to Ufaira City is over?" Count Castina gave his opinion.

"Hhmmm, that's not a bad idea. All right, please, you set the date later, I'll ask the priest." Said His Majesty feeling a little satisfied and relieved.

"All right, Sire." Count Castina.

And meanwhile in the residence of Young Duke Verita, there was a guest who came to visit to help Young Duke Verita pack up.

"Zidan, are you sure about this? I'm afraid that something bad will happen to you when you arrive." Sena said worried about her childhood friend.

"You don't have to worry, Sena. Grand Duchess Yuuki, Grand Duke Everest, Duke Paddington and Duke Broglie will take care of me, especially if you forget that I am the 22nd Integrity Knight and the 6th genius in using the system call." Zidan bragged in front of his childhood friend.

"Haha. alright. I love you, Zidan." Sena said with a smile and kissed her right cheek and hugged her body.

"Cause? Yeah, I love you too. Take care of yourself and your health, don't forget to always tell me." Zidan said as he hugged Sena and walked away leaving her.

The day after the order from His Majesty to go on an expedition to Ufaira City dropped, the Young Duke Verita, Duke Broglie, Grand Duchess Yuuki, took off, Grand Duke Everest and Duke Paddington also departed with their respective troops numbering about 4 core troops and 2 reinforcements.

On the way they saw terrible conditions, corpses scattered everywhere, houses were charred and destroyed, and all that was heard was the sound of the cries of those who mourned the bodies of their families.

"Oh my God, let's see that! What a terrible sight. How can a city be like this? What does the Marquess Glazer do every day?" Asked Grand Duchess Yuuki who was riding her beloved horse while feeling disappointed with the Marquess Glazer.

"Don't know, but did you guys know that Marquess Glazer was a playboy?" Asked Young Duke Verita who was riding his horse as well.

"St! Be careful when you talk. Yeah, I know that, too, and that's a common thing to talk about in high society." Grand Duchess Yuuki said, but just as Grand Duchess Yuuki spoke like that a huge fireball came charging towards the five of them along with her troops.

"Review, there's an attack!!" Shouted one of the troops who realized the attack.

Instantly everyone stepped aside and prepared to fight back.

"Prepare for position! We have an unknown guest." Shouted the Young Duke and Verita to the entire army.

"Don't let your guard down, watch around!" Grand Duchess Yuuki's words commemorate the entire army.

"There!" Shouted one of the soldiers who saw a pack of wolves and people carrying some weapons.

"Everyone is ready to fight!!" Shouted Duke Broglie at the entire squad in a spirited state.