Bastion and the girls rode their carriage back from the Shadow Wolfkin village, passing the dukedom's border walls as they made their way toward Diamondhart Castle. Along the journey, Elyra used Shadow Recall to return ahead to the castle and prepare for their arrival, only to return moments later with news.
"Master, you have received a summons," Elyra said, handing Bastion a letter.
The document bore a summons to Aurenthal, issued personally by Queen Aurelia, convening a Royal Council of the Crown, composed of the Queen and the realm's dukes. The summons required each duke to provide a full report on the state of their dukedoms since their appointments over a decade ago. Basically, it was a wellness check.
"It seems we'll be going to Aurenthal for more than just to broker a deal with the Empire," Bastion said, handing the letter to Seraphina, who read it over.
"Oh, yay! I get to meet with Aurelia again. I wonder how she's doing?"
"Probably still bubbly," Lilia commented. "She doesn't seem like the type to concern herself with the opinions of others."
"Will I be going as well?" Ariel asked.
"You can do whatever you like," Bastion said. "I'm the only one who is required to go. Seraphina wants to visit her friend and probably meet up with her younger brother, while Lilia will want to check up on her parents. Why? Is there somewhere you want to go?"
"Oh, I've always wanted to go to Aurenthal to see the Adventurers' Guild headquarters. Also, I heard there is a Royal Hawkmen Tower there, where all the Hawkmen in the kingdom live."
"Not all Hawkmen live there," Lilia said. "It's more a place for the Hawkmen who are loyal to the crown to stay, so someone like you probably wouldn't be allowed to enter."
"Someone like me?" Ariel said, almost offended. "A half, you mean?"
"No," Lilia said incredulously. "Someone who doesn't directly work for the royal family."
"Oh… sorry," Ariel said apologetically.
Bastion sensed Ariel had a bit of a chip on her shoulder over being a half-demihuman. As far as he was concerned, he considered her aesthetically perfect, but it seemed she was more conscious of her race than he had thought. Perhaps she had faced some trouble while she was an adventurer.
"Ariel," Bastion said gently. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No, it's nothing," she said, looking away. "It was just my mistake."
"Ariel," Bastion said more firmly. "If you're going to be a part of this family, you need to know that you can trust us, from life-threatening emergencies to the most inconsequential of problems. I'm not forcing you to reveal your secrets or your deepest fears. I just want you to know you can trust us if you ever need to talk."
Ariel sighed, understanding the meaning behind Bastion's words. She was now part of this harem party, for better or worse. It would be best to start off with trust rather than keeping mundane secrets. Besides, this really wasn't that big of a deal anyway.
"It's nothing, really. I was just made fun of a lot by adventurers for being half."
"Are you sure it isn't because you turned them down when they asked you for sex?" Lilia asked insightfully. "I mean, you're very pretty, so you probably get asked a lot, and you said you've never had sex before Bastion, so…"
"Maybe, but it's something different adventurers keep saying, so I figured there was something wrong with being half."
"What do they say exactly?" Seraphina asked. "I can't imagine anyone seriously insulting you just for having wings."
"They called me birdbrain…"
Bastion narrowed his eyes in thought. Ariel had been quite naive and fearful the first time he met her. It was possible she really was birdbrained when she first joined the Adventurers' Guild. She was a sheltered noble girl, after all, so she probably asked plenty of basic questions before she understood how adventurers worked.
"They also get annoyed by my wings," she continued. "I've heard them complain each time they pass me by."
"Does this still happen often?" Bastion asked.
"Not recently, no, but I think that's because I've built up a reputation as a solo adventurer."
"Is it possible they were complaining because you were naïve when you first started? You were a noble girl who was quite sheltered, even by most nobles' standards, after all. You also mentioned they were annoyed by your wings as they passed you, so perhaps you were forcing them to give you a wide berth, or dust was falling from them and getting in their eyes."
"Now that you mention it, it started right when I first became an adventurer, but it has significantly lessened over the years. As for my wings, I do remember smacking quite a few people in the face when I first started. I wasn't used to crowds yet," Ariel said with a blush.
"There you go!" Lilia said. "The problem wasn't because you were half. It was because you were sheltered."
"That doesn't make me feel any better," Ariel said with a chuckle.
"If it's still bothering you, come join me when I visit my parents," Lilia offered. "They're long-time adventurers, so they would know how half-demihumans are actually treated."
"I'd like that. Thanks," Ariel said, reaching for Lilia's hand.
Their carriage ride continued until they reached Diamondhart Castle by evening. They then spent the next month and a half sorting through their spoils from the underground cavern. There were a lot of resources for them to work through, except for Ariel, who instead focused on training her stats and skills, as she didn't have a production job like the others.
A week before the Royal Council was held, they traveled to Aurenthal together before separating. Lilia and Ariel went to Lilia's parents' villa, funded by the magic crystal Lilia had gifted them, while Bastion and Seraphina proceeded to the palace to join the other dukes for the meeting.
In a waiting room outside the audience chamber, Bastion and Seraphina waited for the other dukes to arrive and for the meeting with the queen to begin. The room was long and austere, with polished marble floors, tall arched windows, and tapestries lining the walls, giving it a formal, ceremonial atmosphere. The pair were seated on a comfortable sofa set, a table before them laden with tea and biscuits served by the palace attendants.
The door they had entered through suddenly opened as Cyrus walked in, his face brightening when he spotted Seraphina. Behind him came Emberlyn, his personal guard, dressed in heavy armor, her expression calm but alert as she scanned the room, only to relax at the sight of Seraphina.
"Serphina," Cyrus shouted before rushing to her to give her a big hug. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, little bro," she said, returning the hug.
"I missed that little nickname of yours as well. You haven't called me that since we were kids," Cyrus said before finally letting go and turning to Bastion. "It's good seeing you again, Bastion."
"You as well, Cyrus."
The two pairs sat comfortably in the room, sharing stories of their adventures, the challenges they faced while governing, and any exciting news they had. Apparently, Cyrus's first wife, the daughter of a trusted count, had already given birth to a son.
"You work fast, little bro," Seraphina said, impressed while Bastion smiled wryly.
"I can't help it," Cyrus said with a heavy sigh. "Once I heard about the debt, I couldn't wait to start having children. I married three of the most eager daughters offered by the nobles under me and have been busy ever since. It took five years for Mary to become pregnant before she allowed me to be with the other two. Now, one of them is expecting another child."
"You'll have an army of children by the time you reach Rank 2," Seraphina said with a chuckle, genuinely impressed.
"What about you? No plans for any children yet?"
"No," Bastion answered. "We're focusing on reaching Rank 2 before discussing it."
"How far along are you? It's only been a decade. You shouldn't be anywhere near level 120 with how horrid the Rank 3 dungeons are."
"I'm level 185."
Cyrus and Emberlyn's eyes widened. It was one thing to breeze through the Apprentice rank with their significant advantage in stats and classes, but Rank 1 was an entirely different matter. They would have to defeat entire armies to eventually reach Rank 2. Even with their talents, that wasn't something that could be rushed.
As Cyrus was about to speak, the door opened and Damian entered, accompanied by Celia, his main wife, who was a Tigerkin dressed in tight leather armor.
"Bastion, Cyrus, it's been a long time," Damian said, nodding to Seraphina and Emberlyn.
"Damian, good to see you," Bastion replied, holding out his hand.
The two shook hands, their grip tightening far beyond reason. Damian's expression slowly shifted from confident to shocked. Bastion was crushing his hand with raw strength alone, without any detectable mana or signs of using Reinforce. It was clear that Bastion's level was far higher.
"So it's true that you fended off a stampede from the Great Forest alone. You've gotten stronger."
"And so have you," Bastion said. "Level 120?"
"130. I split my status points into Strength, Agility, and Vitality."
"You're a Steel Warrior with already exceptional defenses, so that's understandable."
"You'll have to regale me with how you pulled it off. I've been slaughtering mountain bandits, kobolds, and earth elementals by the hundreds, but reaching Rank 2 seems to be getting farther and farther."
As Bastion was about to answer, a herald announced that the Queen was ready to meet them.
"Another time perhaps," Bastion said as they made their way into the throne room.
Upon entering, they were met with the familiar sight of the Goddess of Brilliance's massive sacred statue. Sitting upon their thrones beneath it were Aurelia and Toby in regal clothing, their faces serious as the dukes were announced and presented.
Finally, after Damian and his wife were introduced, Aurelia ordered, "Guards, leave us. This discussion is private."
When the guards had left, announced by the heavy doors closing behind them, Aurelia jumped from her throne, rushed to Seraphina, and dove into her arms.
"Seraphinaaa… I missed you!"
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