Chapter 99: A Draught of Chaos and Destiny

A short while later, inside a tavern in the city, thunk! Phew! Cleo slammed her empty ale mug onto the table with force.

"Another!"

She raised her empty mug, turning toward the bartender, who looked completely baffled. Cleo had just chugged five glasses in a row and was now ordering her sixth.

"Hey... hey... Cleo, you’ve had way too much to drink," Dion warned, trying to stop her.

"Yeah... look, even the bartender is hesitating to refill your glass," Luna added, leaning in beside Cleo.

"Give me a break, it’s still the middle of the day and you’re already hammered. Get it together," Aria chimed in, looking annoyed.

"It’s fine... keep going Cleo! I’ll match you shot for shot!" Sheila yelled, raising her own glass. She had clearly chugged down just as much and was keeping pace right alongside Cleo.

"How am I supposed to stay sober after what happened at the palace?! Hic! Leave me alone," Cleo slurred. "Refill it... hurry!" she barked at the bartender. "Do you have any idea how lonely I’ve been all these years? No one ever talked to me... I never had a real family... It was just me and my uncle... and he was always so stern with me... Hic! I’m sad, okay?! So let me drink... I’m feeling happy... sad... miserable... all at once... Hic! Hehehe." She turned back to the frozen bartender. "Come on, pour it! Stop giving me that look and just fill it up, hurry!" Cleo demanded.

"Let it all out, Cleo! I’m pissed off at my stepbrother and stepmother too... Hic!" Sheila added. "Top mine off too!" she shouted at the bartender.

"Okay... okay... I hear you, just please quiet down and stop making a scene," Dion pleaded, turning red with embarrassment as he tried to calm Cleo and Sheila down.

The bartender picked up Cleo and Sheila’s mugs, turned around, opened the tap on the ale barrel, and filled both glasses to the brim. Dion, Luna, Aria, and Mei watched the spectacle, shaking their heads in defeat. Meanwhile, Sheila, who had been sitting at the far end, staggered off her stool, squeezed past Luna, and slid onto the seat right next to Cleo. She threw an arm around her shoulder and clinked her glass against Cleo’s. Luna migrated over to sit next to Mei instead.

"Well... at least one of us isn’t worrying about a single thing and is eating in total peace," Mei remarked, staring toward the bar counter ahead.

Dion, Aria, and Luna followed Mei’s gaze. Gina was sitting placidly on the bar counter, her tiny hands clutching a massive, greasy boar leg. She looked utterly delighted as she chewed away, her little face covered in sauce. Sensing their eyes on her, Gina turned her head.

"Kyuu?" she chirped.

"Never mind... just enjoy your meal in peace. We’ll go for a walk right after this," Dion said, waving his hand to let Gina get back to eating.

"Okay, Papa," a little girl’s voice resonated softly in all of their heads.

"So while King Araki, King Alexius, and my father are in their meeting, we just have to wait for their decision before we can go home?" Aria asked.

"Looks that way. Though not home... we’re heading to the ruins in the East Land," Mei clarified.

"Ah right... I meant the ruins in the East Land. My bad, slipped up," Aria corrected herself.

"Works for me either way. Honestly, I’m pretty comfortable here, hehe," Luna added casually.

"Of course you are. You’re comfortable anywhere, you airhead," Aria snickered back.

"Ha! What did you just call me? You tiny brat princess," Luna shot back.

"Give me a break... stop arguing, you two. The real issue is they can’t finalize anything until the King of Northgard joins the summit, right?" Dion interjected.

"Exactly. That’s why we have no idea how long we’ll be stuck in this kingdom," Mei noted.

"Leave it to me! I’ll go back right now and drag that bastard over here by his neck... Hic!" the tipsy Sheila declared, leaping up from her seat before Mei promptly urged her to sit back down.

"I’m coming with you, Sheila... Hic!" the drunk Cleo chimed in, standing up as well before Aria yanked her back into her chair.

"Would both of you please sit still and stop drinking? We’re drawing stares from every single patron in this tavern because of how loud you’re being," Luna scolded them both.

Dion looked around the room, and sure enough, the local tavern patrons, mostly locals with a few traveling adventurers, were all staring at them. The locals looked visibly displeased, as if silently thinking, "Why are these outsiders coming in here causing a scene, and why aren’t the Shadow Hand guards stopping them?" They all wore similar restrained expressions, keeping polite by staying quiet.

Dion could only offer an awkward chuckle, turning back to his mug, which he had barely taken a single sip from since they arrived.

"While we wait, why don’t we visit the West Land first? I’ll let my father know we’re taking a short trip over there," Mei suggested, offering a middle ground.

"Hell yeah! Count me in! Let’s try the booze over there!" Cleo and Sheila cheered together, holding their glasses up high.

"You two are strictly banned from drinking any more! You’re making a complete fool of yourselves and ruining our reputation!" Aria snapped, thoroughly exasperated.

"Ooh... count me in! When are we leaving? I want to go," Luna chimed in, casually chugging the rest of her drink without thinking.

"Hey... Luna!" Dion’s face drained of color as he watched Luna swallow the ale.

Gulp. Thud!

The tavern suddenly fell dead silent. Luna collapsed face-first onto the wooden table, her empty glass rolling across the wood and knocking into a plate, making Gina jump in surprise. Dion dragged a hand down his face, knowing all too well what happened whenever Luna touched alcohol. Aria broke out into mocking laughter at Luna’s expense, while a thoroughly exhausted Mei simply shook her head.

"Hehehe... she’s totally wasted," Sheila giggled with a massive grin.

"Hehehe... turns out Luna can’t handle her liquor at all," Cleo added, grinning just as wide.

"Give me a break... who even gave her ale?! I usually order fruit juice for her," Dion grumbled, stepping over to Luna, who was now snoring loudly against the table with a goofy smile plastered across her flushed red face.

He carefully turned her around, hoisting her limp body onto his back. With a firm grunt, he stood up, carrying Luna piggyback style, before turning to look at Mei.

"Mei, please handle the bill and grab Gina. Aria, take those two drunks. Let’s head back to the inn," Dion instructed.

"Alright... come on, granny, muscle girl, we’re going back," Aria said, hauling Cleo and Sheila to their feet.

Aria wrangled the two drunken girls, who were still shouting and singing at the top of their lungs, keeping them in line as she followed Dion out the door with Luna on his back. Mei picked up Gina, who was still gnawing on her meat, and turned to the bartender.

"How much do I owe you?" Mei asked in the local language.

"That’ll be 2 gold and 12 silver total," the bartender replied, his eyes lingering on Gina, who was cradled in Mei’s arms while casually munching away on a boar leg.

Mei set Gina down briefly to pull out her coin pouch, placing the exact payment on the counter before scooping Gina back up.

"All set. But please, try not to bring them back here next time," the bartender said with a polite smile.

"Understood... sorry for all the trouble we caused," Mei replied with an embarrassed smile, bowing slightly in apology before turning to hurry out of the tavern with Gina. Gina remained completely unbothered, happily chewing her food as the tavern patrons whispered among themselves in their local dialect.

***

Meanwhile, inside the mirror chamber within the palace, two of the four large communication mirrors glowed bright. King Lamberd had joined Kenzo and Alexius, who quickly brought him up to speed on the entire situation. As the explanation progressed, Lamberd’s expression grew increasingly tense. Once they finished, he finally spoke.

"I understand. Thetor will grant permission for them to break the seal and approve Eredor’s decision to grant them access to the ruins," Lamberd stated. "However, there is one thing I must ask you two."

"What is it, Your Majesty Lamberd?" Kenzo asked, flanked by Haruto.

"Speak freely, Lamberd," Alexius added.

Lamberd paused for a moment, turning to glance at Evelyn, who had been standing at his side. They exchanged a brief whisper, and Evelyn nodded before stepping out, leaving Lamberd alone in the chamber. Once the door clicked shut, Lamberd turned back to the mirror screen.

"Alexius... did you just betroth your niece to... Dion von Oswald... the son of Derian von Oswald?" Lamberd inquired.

"Indeed. He is the current lord governing the domain that once belonged to your former aide," Alexius answered.

"And Kenzo, you betrothed your daughter to him as well?" Lamberd pressed.

"Correct, Your Majesty Lamberd. Just like Your Majesty Alexius, I have arranged for my daughter, Mei, to marry Dion," Kenzo confirmed.

"Hmm... I see," Lamberd mused.

"Wasn’t your third daughter previously engaged to your aide’s son?" Alexius asked.

"She was. But after Derian and his wife were murdered by bandits, I annulled the betrothal. At the time, I wanted the Kingdom of Thetor to form a political alliance with the Kingdom of Northgard to prevent border disputes," Lamberd explained.

"And how does that stand now? Northgard hasn’t even answered our summons. Besides, there’s something intriguing about the five women accompanying Dion, aside from your third daughter, Kenzo’s daughter, and my niece," Alexius pointed out.

"Indeed. The daughter of the late King Victor of Minatheras, and the daughter of the late King Bord of Northgard," Kenzo added.

"Hoho... truly? In other words, every single rightful heir and royal bloodline on this continent is currently gathered around him? Now that is fascinating," Lamberd remarked, his face brightening suddenly.

"Then I assume you understand our intentions?" Alexius asked.

"Yes... I will officially reinstate my third daughter’s betrothal to Dion von Oswald, son of Derian von Oswald," Lamberd declared.

"Then we are all in agreement," Kenzo stated.

"Indeed. Five kingdoms, united as one grand family within a single domain," Alexius added.

"Just as was prophesied thousands of years ago," Lamberd chimed in.

"All that remains... is figure out how to deal with Northgard," Kenzo concluded.

The three monarchs fell quiet, each lost in thought. Their eyes drifted toward the fourth mirror, the one intended to connect them with the Kingdom of Northgard, which remained dark, showing no signs of life.