1274 A Looming Disaster

That day, the light coming from the newly born single sun seemed to be suppressed. Animals in the forests panicked as if the apocalypse was nigh.

The powerful awakeners in the celestial rankers had a stifling feeling in their chest as if someone was grabbing their hearts and about to rip them apart.

They contacted whoever they could. Their fellow celestial rankers, the scientists, the scouts. They eventually came knocking on Alison's door.

"Miss Secretary, something is wrong! Something…terrible…"

It was an old man in his twilight, who served humanity all his life was given a second life by Varian. He chose to keep his old appearance but he's easily going to survive for a few more hundred years.

Alison heard that the old man was now training students and managing a few orphanages.

Widely known for his composure, that veteran now looked at her shaking eyes and trembling fingers. Panic had overcome this man and struck him deep.

The worst part. He didn't even know what he was fearing so much.

He just knew. It was something so overwhelming that it could take away everything he held dear.

Rubbing her forehead, Alison explained. "Sir Modu, do not worry too much. We are just… receiving a few guests at the border. What you're feeling is their aura."

"A-Aura can do something like this?" Modu pointed to the sun through the window.

It wasn't visible to normal people but powerful celestial rankers like them could feel it.

The sun was shaking unusually as if someone was pushing it again and again. In fact, its actual distance from Earth was varying abnormally.

According to the scientists he contacted, it was as if something had been pushing the sun and pulling it back, like a child moving a ball to and fro.

"The sun…" Alison took a deep breath, her voice showing confidence her heart didn't have. "Is something his majesty could manipulate with ease. He fused the two suns into one. Compared to that, this isn't that big of a deal, is it?"

"You're right. You're right!" Modu seemed to have found a reason to convince himself and nodded repeatedly.

Telling himself everything was going to be fine, the old man left the office.

"Looks like it can't be hidden after all," Alison pursed her lips and decided to word a letter to all the celestial rankers.

Then, she decided to convene a personal press conference to distract the crowd who were also feeling something was off.

"Working away another day of my life," Alison shook her head and sighed. Then, she looked out of the window, into the far recess of space, beyond the edge of solar system. "Boss, please don't fail in the job and kill us all."

— — — — —

While Alison worried about his condition and performance, Varian was having the time of his life watching things he never thought were possible.

Three military fortresses, each the size of Earth's moon, circled around a purple vortex. The purple light reflected off the walls of the fortresses.

A solemn silence permeated the surroundings, even the sound of breathing was curtailed.

Finar waited on a sky-blue fortress, its color just a tad darker than his skin. Unlike his usual arrogance and over-enthusiasm, there was a deep reverence on his face.

Placing his hands together, he waited.

With her usually spread-out hair tied up into a bun, in a ceremonial dress, Ashley waited on a green fortress, a tad lighter than her skin. There was no haughtiness in her eyes, only worship and hope.

She even spread her wings and bent them at a certain angle in a show of respect, waiting.

The most surprising was Edison.

This aloof man who didn't even bat an eyelid at any time was kneeling.

Kneeling.

In the most humble posture, wearing clothes that looked more like a servant's and less like an assistant's, Edison knelt.

There was a fanatical expression on his face, far surpassing the respect and reverence shown by his peers.

It was madness.

"…Are all royals like this, man?"

Far away to be out of sight but not too far away to be out of surveillance was a space manor.

A beautiful prison prepared by the envoys for Baldur. If they were to not take any action against Varian, he'd have to remain there until the expedition finishes.

Staying in house arrest wasn't a pleasant thing. But Baldur reasoned it was infinitely better than having the former princess go berserk over the death of her husband and slaughter the crown prince candidates.

Even though he didn't like him, he didn't want his brother-in-law to die and sadden his sister.

With a sacrificial mentality, Baldur endured loneliness and humiliation. But this guy…

Varian lay down on the sofa, his leg over the sofa's armrest, moving to and fro, as he watched the envoys on a huge virtual screen in the hall.

"Why are you here again?" Baldur took a few deep breaths and asked.

"Why else? The candidates are going to arrive. I have to make sure no harm comes to my civilization." Varian said those serious words while gnawing on fruit like a bandit.

Nom!

The crunching and chewing sounds rang in the hall and for a moment, Baldur wondered if this was her type.

The legendary princess who made history…found this damn man attractive?

'My sister liked that bastard and the princess this bastard. What's wrong with women, really?'

Baldur wanted to shout in indignation.

But he made a mental note to act like this in front of his crushes. Maybe, just maybe…

Not knowing that he pushed Baldur's love life into hell fire, Varian stood up with a smile. "If you don't mind, can you tell me a bit about the candidates? The more, the better. Isadora says none of the current candidates were even on radar during her time."

"…Sure." Baldur sighed in defeat.

"Come on, dude. Don't sound so down." Varian threw his arm around Baldur and said. "I know this tree girl called Maria. She's beautiful…though her personality is a bit questionable. But hey, she's beautiful. How about I introduce her to you?"

"Is that supposed to be a consolation?"

"Nooo! It's called friendship! Friendship!" Varian nodded vigorously.

"Maria is my sister's fiancee's fiancee. In other words, she and my sister are wives of the same man. That makes her my sister equivalent."

"…Ah, ahahaha." Varian gave an awkward laugh but quickly said with an energetic smile. "Do you like guys, there's this—"

"Fuck off, bastard!" Baldur laughed at Varian's ridiculousness and elbowed him. "The candidates, right? Prince Merov is.."

Baldur explained the origins, known accomplishments and the current positions of the candidates.

Prince Merov, the favorite—strongest, most talented.

Prince Rudolph, the orthodox favorite—supported by big names—who also happened to be Baldur's brother-in-law and the unlucky man who's engaged to Maria.

Finally, Princess Sonya. She's the oldest of the three. The least likely. But one halo allowed her to remain in the race—Younger Sister of Isadora.

"Wait, what…" Varian tilted his head in confusion.

"She never told you?" Baldur raised an eyebrow in doubt.

"Err, no way, she told me a lot of things." Varian waved his hand with complete confidence. "But no word about her being the princess candidates. Ahahaha."

The world stilled for a moment and three bright lights flashed.

"They're here." Varian and Baldur stood up at once.