When Theo and the others entered the castle through the tamers, they were greeted by the butler, who promptly led them toward the emperor.

They walked in silence for a while, taking in every nook and cranny of the castle.

It was easily a hundred times grander than the barony, something anyone could tell from a single glance. The more Theo observed, the more he realized the value of decoration; how a dim corridor could be transformed into something majestic with a few right ornaments and carefully chosen furniture that matched it.

As they drew close enough, Theo spotted the group he had just left behind.

The four individuals, Garrick, Kaelor, Lysara, and Merek, were seated off to the side.

The first thing that caught Theo’s eyes was how properly Lysara was dressed for the occasion.

She was still dressed in white, but instead of lace, her gown was adorned with embedded gems. It gave her a refined, noble air, making Theo feel like she was a lot richer than he had thought.

"Young Master Theo!" she called out as soon as she saw him, rising quickly to greet him. She gathered her gown in her hands to avoid tripping as she approached him.

Theo smiled, watching her approach, before his gaze shifted to the one who still remained seated.

Merek, too, was dressed in attire that practically screamed his nobility, his hair neatly combed.

Theo only glanced at the man for a moment before turning his gaze away.

"You look beautiful, Miss Lysara," Theo said, offering his hand as he inclined slightly forward. She was shorter than him, and he preferred not to make that obvious again and again.

Lysara placed her hand on his palm before Theo lifted it slightly and pressed a light peck on it.

For a moment, Lysara simply stared into Theo’s eyes, dazed. When he slowly released her hand, she looked at him as though still caught off guard.

Theo moved toward the two others on the side, greeting them with a smile before interacting with them as well.

Suddenly, the massive gates to the side swung open, and everyone’s backs instinctively straightened.

Theo saw another butler move toward them before they were guided inside the hall where the emperor awaited.

Theo gave a brief nod to Clara and Elias before stepping forward, and they followed.

He walked at the same pace as Lucien, and together they were the first to take in the sight of the hall before anyone else.

The emperor sat upon a grand throne elevated atop at least ten wide steps. Older nobles lined the walls on either side, leaving a vast open space in the center for them to walk in.

They saw long drapes bearing the imperial crest cascading from the ceiling along the walls.

"Second heir of the Merrick Barony, Lucien Merrick, has entered."

"Ninth heir of the Merrick Barony, Theo Merrick, has entered."

The announcements echoed through the hall. Theo was accustomed to such formalities, but the ones behind them were all a little too panicked by the situation.

Kaelor’s shoulders were rigid with tension, while Garrick’s shoulders were too low.

Their suits were impeccable, yet their demeanor betrayed them.

Lysara walked upright, her gaze fixed on Theo’s back as though she were drawing comfort from his presence in this situation.

Elias and Lucien, on the other hand, were more used to such occasions. Still, this was the emperor of the entire kingdom. Though they had met him a few times before, they were far from being at ease.

Cassian wore a perfect poker face, just like the other two attendants, making it impossible to know what he was actually thinking.

Meanwhile, Merek stepped forward with a calm, arrogant air.

As the announcements continued, Theo glanced at the emperor and smiled.

The emperor couldn’t help but return it; the boy was just a little too bold.

When the older nobles noticed this, murmurs began to spread through the hall. But at the right moment, Theo dropped to one knee and lowered his head as soon as he was close enough.

The others followed suit. Lysara moved to Theo’s left and bowed, while Clara and Elias stood behind him. Lucien took position at his side, and the rest lined up to the right.

As the murmurs grew louder and seemed to be getting a little out of control, the emperor raised a hand. Instantly, the entire hall fell completely silent.

"Leader of the gate mission, Theo Merrick. Lift your head high," the emperor commanded, his tone far more serious than his usual one.

Theo raised his head, meeting the emperor’s gaze. The ruler sat with his head resting against his right arm.

"You have successfully led your team to victoriously complete the mission. The samples you and your team brought will be used for the betterment of the kingdom," he spoke, his steady voice making Theo remain still.

A brief pause followed.

"But during this mission, you and your team accomplished something... that was out of the ordinary. You brought the blood of a beast you knew was way stronger than any of you. The reports of the blood have already confirmed its origins."

The emperor spoke in a way that the attention of everyone in the hall was now fixed on Theo. The older nobles watched him with sharp anticipation.

"The blood has been confirmed to be of a core beast."

That single sentence brought a silence that Theo felt even in his spine. A heavy, unfamiliar pressure settled in the hall, something he couldn’t explain.

It wasn’t like the pressure that the baron exuded, but something deeper, more oppressive.

All the older nobles exchanged glances, first at the emperor, then at Theo, before looking at one another.

Within moments, whispers broke out again, quickly rising into heated murmurs that became a little too aggressive.

Theo could not understand a single murmur since the acoustics of the hall made the voices echo, twisting the noise into an incomprehensible mix of hushed whispers and shouts that felt like gibberish.

"And for this achievement, you and your team shall be awarded with honor and treasures," the emperor continued, extending his hands.

From the sides, robed attendants stepped forward, each carrying a cushion embroidered with gold.

Soon, they all came in front of everyone and knelt before the group.

"Everyone, raise your heads and accept this honor."