Everyone stared in disbelief at the sheer stupidity of the boy.
The same boy who had shattered the witness platform now stood before the Empress with a rebellious glare.
The royal guards immediately raised their weapons and took aim.
Before they could fire, the herald interrupted.
"Her Imperial Majesty has ordered all hostile actions to cease."
The guards froze.
What would happen now?
Yash stared at Pratik in complete shock.
He had expected Pratik to do something reckless.
But this?
Even this had exceeded his expectations.
Pratik glanced at Yash and flashed a proud smile.
Idiot.
The very next moment, Yash leaped down from his platform and kicked Pratik square in the face, sending him tumbling backward.
[Pratik]: What was that for?!
[Yash]: How can you act like an idiot in front of the Empress?!
Yash shouted.
"He's the one talking?"
That exact thought crossed Grimori's, Mala's, Kel's, and Lila's minds simultaneously.
[Pratik]: Are you seriously okay with such a cruel punishment? Shouldn't you be receiving a reward instead?
[Yash]: This isn't Earth! Gretoling laws are—
[Herald]: That's enough. The punishment is hereby postponed. By order of Her Imperial Majesty, this court session is now adjourned.
Huh?
Things escalated way too quickly.
That thought passed through Grimori, Mala, Kel, and Lila's minds.
The courtroom slowly emptied.
*
Two hours later...
Pratik, Yash, Grimori, Mala, Kel, and Lila sat on the rooftop of one of the tallest buildings in the capital.
Calling it a rooftop hardly seemed accurate.
It was more like a garden suspended in the sky.
The garden stretched across nearly five hundred meters.
Yash and Pratik sat with their backs turned toward one another.
Neither seemed willing to break the silence.
Perhaps they were still angry.
The others exchanged uncertain glances.
[Pratik]: Why haven't we left yet? I don't want to spend another second on this planet.
He crossed his arms and frowned.
[Yash]: Then hurry up and leave if you want to go so badly.
He frowned right back.
Things were getting worse.
[Pratik]: I wish I never had to come back here.
[Yash]: I hope you never come back.
Okay.
Now it was definitely worse.
Yash lifted his head toward the sky.
The twin suns of Greto drifted farther apart as evening approached.
His expression softened.
Pratik remained stubborn.
Honestly, he could be more childish than an actual child.
Even so, there was a hint of regret hidden beneath his anger.
[Pratik]: If I ever do come back...
He paused.
[Pratik]: I hope I don't run into a certain someone.
His voice had become noticeably quieter.
He avoided eye contact.
[Yash]: I wonder if I'll even be here by then. I might leave for Gurukul.
For a brief moment, sadness crossed Pratik's face.
Then he smiled again.
Mala, Grimori, Kel, and Lila exchanged relieved smiles.
The conflict was resolving itself.
There was no need to interfere.
Then...
Someone arrived.
Everyone immediately sensed an overwhelming presence.
But it wasn't hostile.
It was simply...
Imposing.
The Empress slowly approached.
Yash's eyes widened.
For the first time, he actually looked nervous.
Pratik, meanwhile, slowly crawled backward.
Seriously?
What kind of protagonist abandons his best friend at a time like this?
He was definitely going to hell.
Chandrika stopped directly in front of Yash.
She was tall.
Even Mala was shorter than her.
Yet her height only added to her commanding presence.
[Yash]: I-I... I didn't... I was just...
He was actually stuttering.
Then something completely unexpected happened.
The Empress fell to her knees and wrapped her arms around him.
"You had me worried, you stupid child."
She smiled.
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
[Yash]: I'm... I'm safe, right?
He tried to sound composed.
He tried to appear strong.
Yet tears had already begun gathering in his own eyes.
Behind all the masks...
Behind all the intelligence...
Behind the calculations and schemes...
There was still a child.
And that child needed warmth.
Mala and the others smiled.
Meanwhile, they quietly dragged a tearful Pratik away from the scene.
Because the person embracing Yash wasn't an Empress.
She was simply his mother.
[Chandrika]: Promise me you won't leave without my permission ever again.
[Yash]: Yes, I—
He suddenly narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
[Yash]: I'm not stupid enough to make promises like that.
A small smile appeared on his face.
[Chandrika]: It seems I can't fool you after all. You're exactly like your father.
[Yash]: But you still won't tell me who he is. That's not fair.
[Chandrika]: I'll tell you when the time is right.
She smiled.
[Chandrika]: And I'm certain that you'll be the one to bring him home.
[Yash]: Then I'll wait for that day.
He jumped down from the rooftop and disappeared into the bustling capital below.
Chandrika slowly stood.
[Bhaskar]: Haven't you become a little too soft?
A familiar voice spoke.
Bhaskar stood beneath a sprawling banyan tree.
Beside him stood his elder brother, Tej, casually eating chips.
[Chandrika]: It's been a long time, Brother Bhaskar. Thank you for keeping an eye on Yash and his friends.
Her voice was respectful.
Her expression remained composed.
[Bhaskar]: I don't care about that.
He folded his arms.
[Bhaskar]: I simply couldn't tolerate the fact that someone managed to target the royal bloodline of Greto so easily. After what happened to Raveena, I—
[Tej]: That's enough, Bhaskar.
Silence followed.
Both Chandrika and Tej lowered their heads.
[Bhaskar]: I'll be more careful with my words next time.
Regret lingered in his voice.
[Chandrika]: It wasn't your fault. Even I couldn't do anything back then. We lost one of our own.
Her voice became colder.
[Chandrika]: And now someone has dared to target the royal family again.
[Tej]: Chandrika...
Suddenly, the plants around them began to wither.
Flowers lost their colors.
Leaves curled and died.
The entire garden started fading.
[Bhaskar]: It seems you haven't lost your fangs after all.
Chandrika's face had completely changed.
Her crimson eyes burned with fury.
Her very gaze felt lethal.
[Tej]: Calm yourself.
His voice became more serious.
[Tej]: You could destroy this entire planet if you lose control. This isn't our era anymore. People have become fragile. Your unrestrained rage alone could kill innocent people.
Gradually, her expression softened.
The garden stopped decaying.
Her composure returned.
[Bhaskar]: That punishment...
He smirked.
[Bhaskar]: You planned to sever Yash's index fingers so he couldn't use Heavenly Gates to escape.
He continued.
[Bhaskar]: And the imprisonment was meant to keep him from training. Without becoming stronger, he wouldn't be able to leave the home planet.
Chandrika shot him an annoyed look.
[Chandrika]: That's correct.
Bhaskar laughed.
[Bhaskar]: Those are some very naive thoughts.
He shook his head.
[Bhaskar]: That boy didn't inherit your personality.
He pointed toward the distant city.
[Bhaskar]: He's already taken after his father. Your husband, to be precise.
Chandrika immediately looked away.
[Tej]: You shouldn't bring that up, Bhaskar.
He sighed.
[Tej]: Whatever conflicts you may have with him, he's still Chandrika's husband. The Emperor of Greto. And Yash's father.
Bhaskar huffed.
[Chandrika]: Things might have been different if he were here.
Her voice was firm.
[Chandrika]: But that won't change my judgment.
Tej and Bhaskar exchanged glances.
[Chandrika]: The people who tried to harm my child...
The temperature around them dropped.
Her eyes turned cold.
[Chandrika]: They'll soon face my wrath.
To be continued...