Royal Dinner

Nizara sat in his room, staring blankly at the wall. "There's something wrong with me," he murmured to himself. "But I don't know what it is. That voice inside my head... it somehow helped me and let me use a power I've never used before. My magical energy rose significantly."

His mind drifted to the Commander's words: "That's normal for those who experienced a Second Awakening. That magical element is your true and most powerful element that you will possess, but it also will tell us whether you possess Dark or Light Magic."

Nizara continued to speculate about his powers. "Seems like I have to find out my true Magical Element first. Then I'll learn more about my powers."

Meanwhile, the Black Squad and Thalia prepared to set out for their final destination, Arcadia Kingdom. This time, Nizara chose to ride a horse rather than stay inside the carriage with the Princess. Thalia, watching him from a distance, whispered to herself, "I wonder if Nizara is okay? He went through a lot during our time in Elarindor Village."

Their journey continued, and they finally arrived at the gates of Arcadia Kingdom. Captain Zane addressed the gatekeepers, "Your Majesty Princess Thalia has arrived."

The gatekeepers responded, "Understood, Sir. We will open the gates."

Nizara, observing the surroundings, thought to himself, "This place seems a bit different compared to Villanova Kingdom." As the gates opened, his eyes widened in shock. "What the actual hell is going on? This place is too modern, and it looks like Tokyo!"

Captain Zane explained, "Arcadia Kingdom is much more modern compared to the other kingdoms. It's also the youngest kingdom in the world."

Nizara marveled at the sight. "This place looks so similar to my hometown! The scent of food, the people dressed in fancy clothes, and these tall skyscrapers!"

After some time, the Black Squad arrived at a big, modern, and golden palace. Nizara, still in awe, exclaimed, "Who the hell owns this house? This must cost a lot of money!"

Princess Thalia stepped out of the carriage and answered, "My sister and her husband."

Nizara turned to Thalia, surprised. "Your sister?"

Princess Thalia smiled warmly and held Nizara's hand. "I'm here to meet my sister. Let's go meet her, okay?"

Nizara nodded, feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension as they walked towards the palace together.

As they entered the grand palace, the Black Squad and Princess Thalia were greeted by a butler who bowed deeply. "Welcome, Your Highness, and esteemed members of the Black Squad. It is an honor to have you here. Please, follow me, and I shall escort you to Her Majesty, the Queen."

With practiced elegance, the butler led them through the opulent corridors. Thalia glanced at Nizara and said, "Let's go." They soon arrived at the Throne Room, where Queen Milana Von Valenwood sat beside her husband, the King of Arcadia Kingdom. The butler excused himself and left the room.

Thalia knelt and said, "It's been a long time, Your Majesty."

Milana's face lit up at the sound of her sister's voice. She ran toward Thalia, embracing her tightly. "I've missed you, Thalia!"

Thalia, taken aback for a moment, hugged her sister back. "I missed you too, Milana."

Nizara smiled at the touching reunion and gently wiped Thalia's tears. "You're tearing up, Thalia. Let me wipe them off you."

Milana stared in disbelief at the tender interaction. "Thalia, you've changed?"

Thalia responded, "Oh, I forgot to tell you. Nizara here is my boyfriend."

Milana gasped, "Boyfriend!? You have a boyfriend now?"

Thalia nodded. Milana's eyes filled with tears. "Finally, you've started to see men differently."

Thalia smiled. "I do still hate men, but not Nizara, Captain Zane, Leon, nor Kai. They've all been so respectful and thoughtful towards me, as have Selene and Kaila."

Milana approached Nizara, holding his hands. "Thank you very much, Nizara. I hope you'll find the utmost happiness with Thalia."

Nizara bowed slightly. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I'll protect her from any kind of danger, even if it costs my life. You should thank Kael instead, as he convinced me to date your sister. Ultimately, it was my feelings that led me to be with her."

Milana smiled warmly. "You're such a sweet boy."

The room felt lighter with the warm exchange, and the Black Squad members, witnessing the wholesome interaction, felt a renewed sense of purpose and camaraderie.

After the warm interaction, the butler led the Black Squad to their rooms for the next three days. As they walked away from the Throne Room, Milana stopped Nizara in his tracks.

"Nizara, would you be willing to join us for the Royal Dinner?" Milana asked.

"A Royal Dinner?" Nizara queried.

Milana smiled. "The Royal Dinner is a special event where all the wealthy and distinguished people are invited as guests."

"Would that include Force leaders within this Kingdom?" Nizara inquired.

Milana chuckled softly. "There are no Forces within this Kingdom, Nizara."

Nizara looked puzzled. "No Forces within this Kingdom?"

Milana began to explain. "Listen well, Nizara. Our kingdom's system of adventurers is deeply intertwined with our societal structure. At the top is the ruling class: the King and Queen, who are the sovereign rulers, followed by the royal family, including princes, princesses, and other royal relatives. Then there are the noble houses, powerful families that hold significant influence and lands within the kingdom. Our military is composed of the Royal Guard, elite soldiers tasked with protecting the royal family and the capital, the main army, divided into various divisions such as infantry, cavalry, and archers, and special units like the Black Squad, tasked with special missions and covert operations.

Next, we have various guilds and organizations. The Adventurers' Guild provides quests and support to adventurers like yourself. The Merchant Guild controls trade and commerce, while the Mages' Guild governs the use and study of magic. Finally, we have the commoners. Villagers and farmers live in rural areas, providing food and resources, townsfolk reside in towns, engaged in various trades and crafts, and merchants and traders facilitate trade within and outside the kingdom. This intricate system ensures the prosperity and stability of our realm, with each part playing a vital role."

Nizara nodded, impressed. "It's a pretty interesting system. But you want me to attend the dinner?"

Milana smiled warmly. "I do want you to join the dinner since you're now part of the Royal Family."

Nizara sighed. "I guess so."

At 8 PM inside the Royal Palace, all the guests had arrived. The palace was filled with the finest food, and the best servants and cooks were on hand. Nizara waited in his room, donning a Royal Family Uniform, acknowledging his new status due to his relationship with Thalia Von Valenwood.

He muttered to himself, "I better not mess up anything. I'll just introduce myself to anyone who approaches me, eat dinner, and then leave."

He then heard a knock on his door. Opening it, he saw Thalia in a stunning white dress. He blushed slightly as Thalia asked, "What do you think? Do I look pretty?"

Nizara replied, "More than pretty. You look like a goddess."

He turned away, thinking to himself, "She looks too pretty. People will start to question how we got together in the first place."

Thalia walked over, gently styling his hair. "Now you look more handsome," she said. Locking her arm with his, she continued, "Let's go, the guests are waiting."

Nizara smiled. "Let's go then."

In the meantime, some of the guests inside started to ask Milana, "Where is Princess Thalia? Is she not joining the dinner?"

Milana replied reassuringly, "Don't worry, she'll be here in a minute."

The guests included members of three prominent noble families: the Ashfords, the Blackwoods, and the Ravenscrofts. Among them were Young Lord Adrian Blackwood, known for his keen intellect and strategic mind; Prince Cedric Ravenscroft II, renowned for his valor and leadership; and Julian Ashford Junior, whose charm and diplomatic skills were unmatched. These families held significant influence and were pivotal to the kingdom's politics and society. Despite their differences, Young Lord Adrian Blackwood, Prince Cedric Ravenscroft II, and Julian Ashford Junior shared a common desire: each was eager to win the hand of Princess Thalia Von Valenwood, captivated by her grace, intelligence, and the prestige such a union would bring.

They were all in a conversation about how to convince Thalia to marry them. Young Lord Adrian Blackwood, with a smug expression, began, "Clearly, Thalia will appreciate a man of intellect and wit. My ability to engage her in meaningful conversations will win her over."

Prince Cedric Ravenscroft II scoffed, "Engaging in conversations? What Thalia needs is a protector, a leader who can keep her safe. My valor and strength will show her who the true choice is."

Julian Ashford Junior chuckled, "You both underestimate the power of charm and laughter. Thalia deserves to be happy and cherished. My attentiveness and ability to bring joy to her life will undoubtedly make her fall for me."

Adrian retorted, "Charm can only go so far, Julian. When the novelty wears off, what will you have left to offer?"

Cedric interjected, "And your intellectual discussions, Adrian? In times of crisis, words are useless without action. Thalia needs someone who can act."

Julian smiled confidently, "Well, gentlemen, we'll see which method truly captures Thalia's heart. May the best man win."

As their conversation ended, the butler announced, "Princess Thalia has entered the room!"

Thalia walked with confidence, her dress and looks surprising everyone in the room, but the most surprising moment happened when people saw Nizara by her side, Thalia locked to his arm. The three noblemen stood in stunned silence as the news of Thalia having a boyfriend spread through the room.

Young Lord Adrian Blackwood was the first to break the silence, his voice incredulous, "A boyfriend? Who could possibly be worthy of her?"

Prince Cedric Ravenscroft II, his eyes narrowing, muttered, "We need to find out who this man is. No one has mentioned any suitors of significance."

Julian Ashford Junior, his usual charm replaced with a steely determination, added, "Let's go and ask him ourselves. We must see what this boyfriend is made of."

Together, they approached Nizara, who was standing nearby. Adrian, his tone a mix of curiosity and challenge, asked, "You there, what is your name?"

Nizara, meeting their gazes calmly, replied, "My name is Nizara."

Cedric, unable to hide his skepticism, questioned, "And what makes you think you're worthy of Princess Thalia's affection?"

Julian, his voice laced with a hint of disdain, added, "Yes, tell us, Nizara. What do you offer that we cannot?"

Nizara responded, "That's an interesting question, but you shouldn't get the answer from me, but rather from the Princess herself."

Julian asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Nizara explained, "It was actually the Princess who fell in love with me first, and even asked me to marry her."

All three of them were shocked, realizing it wasn't Nizara who approached her first, but rather Thalia herself. Nizara then walked over to Milana and asked, "What was that about just then?"

Milana chuckled, "Those are the noble families' new leaders. They came here probably to propose to Thalia, but they didn't expect her to have a boyfriend."

Nizara chuckled, "Hah! Seems like I was right with my speculation."

Milana asked, "What speculation?"

Nizara then said, "Kael told me beforehand that this would happen."

*Flashback*

Outside a bar, Kael was smoking as Nizara stared at the beautiful night sky. Prince Kael turned to Nizara, his expression serious. "Nizara, in the Arcadia Kingdom, there are three noble families that hold great importance and power. The Ashford family, known for their exceptional military strategy and prowess, oversees the defense and security of our kingdom. The Blackwood family, renowned for their unparalleled wealth and influence, manages our economy and trade, ensuring our prosperity. Lastly, the Ravenscroft family, masters of diplomacy and intelligence, handles our relations with other realms and gathers crucial information to keep us ahead of our enemies. Each family plays a vital role in maintaining the balance and strength of Arcadia."

Nizara asked, "Why are you telling me this?"

Kael replied, "The whole purpose of Thalia going to the Arcadia Kingdom is to attend the Royal Dinner as a representative of the Villanova Kingdom."

Nizara then said, "So, what does that have to do with me?"

Kael continued, "You might end up meeting the new leaders of the three noble families. Adrian Blackwood, Cedric Ravenscroft II, and Julian Ashford Junior. Those three are all scumbags, so you better be careful."

Nizara asked, "Sure, but how are they scumbags exactly?"

Kael said, "Those three would do anything to marry my little sister just to get money in their hands. I've seen their true personalities many times, especially when I was young." Kael then threw his cigarette away and said, "Nizara, please marry my sister."

*End of Flashback*

Nizara then said to himself, "Yeah, don't worry Kael, I'll take care of your sister."

Milana asked, "Kael told you what?"

Nizara replied, "Don't worry about that Milana, just enjoy yourself."

Nizara then walked off, saying, "I need to find out more about these noble families."

*To Be Continued*