The flight from just outside Crystal Lake to Rockwell City was several hours long, and the strong winds and cold temperatures had been sufficient to blow away Lucas’ sleepiness.

For now.

Touching down at the Royal Palace, the young boy hopped off Starlight, patting the giant bird in thanks before following a pair of maids who had been waiting there to greet him and Vanessa.

Lucas was taken to a guest room, stripped, washed, then clothed in uncomfortable formalwear, all of which he wanted to object to but really had no ability to.

Once he was prepared, he was again escorted to what he assumed was a reception room together with a now equally dressed-up Vanessa.

Arriving at the room, Vanessa knocked loudly and announced herself, "Commander Clark of the Golden Wings Legion, and Lucas, First Disciple of Marquess Celestina Balfour, reporting as requested."

From inside the room, a gentle, pleasant voice called out, "Enter."

Up until this point, Lucas still hadn’t been told who he was meeting with, only that it was someone important.

As for his Master, Celestina was apparently still in the Southern Province hunting the Saberclaw Raptors and would only appear tomorrow evening just before the Royal Summit.

When the large double doors before him were opened, however, and Lucas saw the woman who was sitting inside, he immediately understood.

Long silver hair tied up in an elaborate braid, limpid yellow-gold eyes that seemed to glow faintly, an innocent face that stood in sharp contrast to a sinfully alluring body, she was the spitting image of a certain beautiful princess Lucas was well acquainted with, only more mature and with a far less threatening air about her.

Technically, Christina was the spitting image of the woman before him, rather than the other way around, but Lucas wasn’t going to split-hairs over such minutia.

Stepping forward together with Vanessa, both of them got down on one knee, crossed their right fist across their chests, and lowered their heads, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

"Rise," Cynthia Morgan, Third Queen of the Rockwell Kingdom acknowledged gently.

Obeying the command, Lucas and Vanessa stood back up, but remained at attention, waiting for the other party to initiate whatever conversation she had in mind.

Seeing the rigidity in her old friend’s posture, as well as that of the young boy accompanying her, Cynthia smiled wryly before signaling to the maids to withdraw.

Once the doors were closed, and only 3 people remained inside the room, Cynthia leapt up from her seat and dashed over, pulling the other woman present into a hug as she cheered, "Sister Nessa! It’s good that you’re here!"

The shift in the atmosphere was so dramatic that Lucas’ jaw fell open slightly, his mind unable to catch up with what was happening in front of him.

Vanessa, on the other hand, was used to her little sister’s antics by now, and simply let out a sigh, "Your Majesty, we are not the only ones present, please comport yourself appropriately."

"Oh Nessa, just when did you become so uptight?" Cynthia pouted, finally letting go of Vanessa and turning her attention to the still dumbfounded Lucas, "Besides, there are no strangers here!"

"Uh... I beg your pardon, Your Majesty?" Lucas somehow snapped back to his senses and managed to ask, his confusion growing by the second.

Instead of answering, though, the Third Queen actually bent down and wrapped Lucas up into a tight embrace, pressing his face deep into her chest.

The wonderfully soft and elastic feeling that engulfed Lucas made his brain short-circuit for a moment, but upon rebooting, his face began to burn with embarrassment.

He was about to ’politely’ push this overly familiar woman away when something suddenly stopped him.

A slight wetness touched his cheeks, and a faint whimpering came from just above, causing Lucas to freeze in place.

Cynthia, at some point, had started crying, her body trembling ever so slightly as she gripped Lucas even tighter than before, seemingly unwilling to let him go.

Lucas’ mind raced, trying to figure out what the hell was going on while shooting a panicked glance towards Vanessa, hoping she could explain to him what was happening.

Why was the Third Queen of the kingdom hugging him while crying?

Had he done something wrong?

Had he done something right?

Had he done something he shouldn’t have?

Had he not done something he should have?

Needless to say, the young boy from Redwood Town’s head was spinning in circles, and the only other person in the room he could turn to for assistance had suddenly decided to take a vow of silence, avoiding meeting his gaze altogether.

Unable to figure out anything on his own, and receiving no help from Vanessa, Lucas gave up thinking altogether and simply decided to go with the flow, reaching up awkwardly with his own arms and returning the hug, patting the Third Queen gently on her back in an attempt to comfort her.

This gesture seemed to set something off in Cynthia Morgan’s head, or her heart, or both, causing her to tighten her grip even further, nearly squeezing the air right out of Lucas’ lungs.

The Third Queen may not have focused much on training and strengthening herself, but she was still a Complete Mid-Rank Initiate, so the amount of pressure she could exert through her seemingly delicate arms was actually quite astonishing.

It wasn’t until about 5 minutes later that things inside the reception room finally calmed down.

Lucas was now seated together with Vanessa on the comfiest couch he had ever sat on, while across from them sat the Third Queen who was still dabbing her eyes slightly.

Finally, when the Queen had managed to compose herself, Lucas hesitantly ventured, "Your Majesty... might I ask..."

"Oh my, please, just call me Aunty Cynthia!" The Queen cut in, a big smile flashing across her face, "After all you’ve done for my precious little Tina, we’re practically family already, Lucas."

Lucas gawked at this comment, uncertain how he should proceed.

It’s true that he had gotten closer to Christina over the past month-and-a-half, but he had no idea how her mother had found out about that, or why she would show such an emotional reaction towards him.

Fortunately, the Third Queen was eager to explain, "Since she left home, my stubborn daughter wrote me several letters, and each time she did, she made sure you mention her new friends."

"Ah..." Lucas suddenly understood, "Is that so... Your Majest..."

"Aunty," Cynthia insisted.

"Er, yes, A-Aunt Cynthia," Lucas responded awkwardly.

Seemingly savouring the taste of being called Aunt, the Third Queen flashed a pleased smile and nodded.

"At first, Tina didn’t have many nice things to say about you, Lucas, but as time passed, her attitude changed dramatically," Cynthia mused aloud.

Hearing this, Lucas tensed up again, wondering just what the violent princess had told her mothers about him.

Unbothered by the obvious stiffening of the young boy, Cynthia smiled warmly, in a way only a mother talking about her treasured child could, as she continued, "She started out badmouthing you, accusing you of cheating in your fight, then she began complaining about how you were constantly annoying her, but at some point, she started mixing in praise for your intelligence, then about how hard working you were, then about how brave you were... I’ve never seen that girl so interested in anyone before, much less a boy around her age."

"Uh... um... about that... I can explain," Lucas stuttered, trying to defend himself.

"Then, of course," Cynthia’s expression suddenly turned serious, "there was her mentioning how you fought together, how you faced a life and death crisis together, and how you risked your life to save hers."

Suddenly being hit with such solemn words, Lucas swiftly regained his composure and immediately shook his head vigorously, "I only did what anyone else would have done in that situation! Christina also fought bravely that night and protected me when I fell into danger! There’s no need for you to thank me at all!"

"No," the Third Queen disagreed strongly, "Many people say they will risk their lives for others, for their friends, for their family, but when that time really comes, few ever follow through. You risked your own life to save my daughter’s, even though you had known her for less than a month; that is a favour I can never fully repay you for."

Assuming a regal demeanor completely different from her previous casual air, Third Queen Cynthia Morgan met eyes with Lucas and declared unequivocally, "Young Lucas, if there is anything you ever need, anything at all, do not hesitate to ask it of me. I cannot promise you I will be capable of fulfilling it, but I can promise I will do everything in my power to grant your request."

Lucas wanted to continue arguing, but looking into the Third Queen’s eyes, he realized that despite their temperaments being very different, Christina and her mother shared the same unwavering stubbornness.

Understanding that trying to refuse here would be futile, Lucas straightened his back and smiled faintly, "Thank you, Aunt Cynthia. I also swear to you that as her friend, and her Senior Brother Disciple, I will do my best to help and protect Christina for as long as we both still live."