It was breakfast time in the Imperial Palace.
The entire Royal Family had gathered in the Royal Dining Hall, seated around an enormous polished table carved from ancient white oak.
Golden chandeliers hung above, their light reflecting off crystal glasses and silver plates arranged neatly before every seat.
At the head of the table sat a man in his middle fifties.
He was Emperor Albeit Aragon.
His appearance was strikingly similar to General Don's.
Their sharp brows, strong jawlines, and commanding presence made their relation obvious at a glance.
However, the Emperor's expression was cold.
Very cold.
His brows were slightly furrowed as he slowly stirred his tea.
The entire table was silent.
Even the clinking sounds of spoons and plates were absent. Servants moved cautiously along the walls, placing dishes down as quietly as possible.
Everyone present knew this expression.
It meant the Emperor was not in a good mood.
Even the princes sat straight, avoiding unnecessary conversation.
The princesses whispered nothing.
The concubines watched quietly.
Then suddenly—
A lazy, provocative voice echoed from the entrance.
"Hey oldie… why does your face look like someone spat on it?"
The entire hall froze.
Several princesses gasped quietly.
One servant almost dropped a plate.
But the Emperor…
The Emperor's cold face suddenly lit up with a wide smile.
"DON!"
He stood up immediately and walked toward the entrance.
General Don had just walked in, completely relaxed, hands behind his back as if he were entering a tavern rather than the royal dining hall.
Behind him stood Keyla.
The Emperor stopped halfway, his eyes landing on her.
He looked her up and down.
Then he smirked teasingly.
"Ai… where did you pick such a perfect flower?" he asked with a grin.
"It's far too pretty to be in your rough hands."
The women at the table instantly stiffened.
Several of the concubines looked at each other nervously.
The Emperor already had two wives and six concubines.
Was he planning to add another woman?
But Don suddenly laughed proudly.
"Hah! This is the most precious flower anyone could ever pick."
He placed a hand on Keyla's shoulder.
"This is the apple of my eye."
"My daughter."
"Keyla Aragon."
Immediately the tension at the table vanished.
The women visibly relaxed.
Several of them even smiled.
Keyla stepped forward calmly.
She knelt on one knee, placed her sword vertically between her palms, and bowed respectfully.
"Keyla Aragon greets Your Majesty."
The Emperor laughed warmly.
"Get up already, child!"
He reached down and pulled her up himself.
"No need for such formalities with your old uncle."
"You are family."
He led her toward the table.
"Come, both of you sit."
"Breakfast is still on."
He placed Keyla in a seat beside the Crown Prince, then returned to his own seat with clear excitement.
The atmosphere around the table instantly became lively.
Don suddenly clutched his chest dramatically.
"Hah! This poor old man ran all the way here without breakfast."
"I'm starving…"
"But there isn't even a plate in front of—"
Keyla rolled her eyes.
"Come on now, old man."
"Isn't tea considered breakfast?"
Don scoffed loudly.
"That's for you youngsters."
"Old men like us can't survive on tea alone."
He turned toward the Emperor.
"Right, brother?"
The Emperor nodded immediately.
"Ai! Exactly!"
"Tea? That's just water!"
The two old brothers burst into laughter.
Keyla shook her head with a small smile.
Then the Empress spoke.
Her voice was gentle yet dignified.
"A dazzling beauty indeed."
Everyone turned to look at her.
The Empress studied Keyla carefully before asking warmly,
"What should I call you, child?"
Keyla smiled politely.
"You are beautiful as well, Your Majesty."
"I am Keyla Don Aragon."
The Empress nodded approvingly.
Then she turned to Don.
"Brother-in-law… where did you find such a wonderful child?"
"Is she from this kingdom?"
Don puffed his chest proudly.
"This proud man picked her up from a group home."
"I trained her personally for ten years."
Then he grinned mischievously.
"I'm sure she could beat any of your sons to the ground."
"In fact let me tell you— my daughter here is the best ar—"
"Papa."
Keyla cut him off immediately.
"What's there to boast about?"
"Check your old bones and find yourself a wife."
"Give me some brothers already."
Don's forehead wrinkled.
"Ei! You little child!"
"My ears will fall off if you keep saying that!"
He crossed his arms stubbornly.
"Even if I marry, I'll only have daughters."
"Boys are too much of a headache."
Keyla stared at him in disbelief.
"Are you even listening to yourself?"
She sighed dramatically.
"I need to change fathers."
"You make my head hurt."
Don burst out laughing.
"Hahaha!"
"You've said that two hundred times already!"
"But you still haven't changed fathers!"
"You love me too much!"
The table erupted with laughter.
Servants began bringing dishes to the table.
Roasted meats.
Fresh bread.
Honey.
Fruits.
Steaming bowls of porridge.
Finally, the First Prince spoke politely.
"Lady Keyla, allow me to introduce everyone."
"I am Prince Sage, the firstborn."
He gestured beside him.
"To my right is my second brother Prince Damis."
He pointed toward Keyla.
"Seated beside you is my third brother, Crown Prince Eris."
Across the table he gestured again.
"That is my fifth brother Prince Kahrl."
"Next to him is my fourth brother Prince Lahan."
"Near the Empress sits our youngest brother Prince Elec."
He then gestured to the four young girls.
"These are the princesses: Asia, Amber, Lucia, and Cara."
"And their mothers."
"And of course… the Empress, my mother."
"And our stepmother, Lady Earis."
Keyla stood again politely.
She placed her sword against her chest and bowed.
"It is a pleasure meeting you all."
The Second Prince Damis smiled slightly.
"It is a pleasure meeting you too."
"But I must say…"
"Growing up, your name was anything but pleasant to our ears."
Keyla blinked in confusion.
But the Emperor and the princes all smiled knowingly.
She decided not to ask.
The meal continued peacefully.
Until suddenly—
Keyla looked toward the Emperor.
"Your Majesty… you are not being fair."
The entire table froze.
Even the servants stopped moving.
The Emperor raised an eyebrow.
"I don't understand."
Keyla leaned forward slightly.
"Of course you don't."
She pointed at him.
"You have two wives and six concubines."
Then she pointed at Don.
"But you left my father's old bones alone."
"That's not fair."
The princes looked at each other in shock.
Keyla continued calmly.
"You could have used an Imperial Decree to give him a wife."
She tilted her head slightly like a child asking for candy.
"Right?"
The Emperor slowly turned his head toward Don.
Don immediately panicked.
"Don't look at me like that!"
"You definitely won't do that!"
"Right?"
The Emperor ignored him.
He looked back at Keyla.
Her expression suddenly changed.
Her sword crossed in her arms.
A cold smile appeared on her face.
The Emperor narrowed his eyes.
Then he asked slowly.
"…Are you threatening me?"
Everyone turned toward her.
Keyla answered without hesitation.
"Yes."
Several princes nearly choked.
She looked straight at the Emperor.
"Give my father a wife in two weeks."
"Or I'll fight you."
The Emperor's eyes widened.
"You'll fight me?"
The entire royal family stared at her in stunned silence.
"Yes, I will."