Leo d’Arc first travelled to the upper realm of heaven to meet with Themison to catch up with him and discuss, and both of them were on good terms with one another.

He then made his way to the large gates of the Nightingale’s family home in the royal realm. "Why did I even come to this place?" He questioned himself out loud while scratching the back of his head.

The gates opened onto the vast, same old courtyard. There was a wide, white-stoned path carefully laid out that led and circled a big luxury fountain in the centre. The path continued onwards to the grand steps that led to the oversized brown double doors of the Nightingale mansion. There were various paths leading in different directions throughout the courtyard, all of which were lined with a consistent, well-maintained hedge. There were, of course, smaller entrances to this huge mansion as well.

"This place never does change."

Standing in front of the fountain was a man with a large build, fully-suited in black knight armour. He had a large sword planted on the ground, and his dark cape with a purple lining blew in the wind.

Leo walked forward and stood right in front of this intimidating man.

"It seems you haven’t changed as well, old man." He said with a smirk on his face. "Do you wanna fight or something?" Leon then tapped the pointy chest plate with his knuckle, "Thought so old man." He then walked on but just then his path was blocked by the hefty-looking sword.

"Leo...my son. Be disrespectful to me if you must, but do not approach Onyx with that same attitude." A dark magical pressure exuded into the atmosphere and the source was the man in full armour. "I will not allow it!"

Many would fold under the pressure of the captain of the Nightingale’s family. The current black knight, and the father of Leo, Alphonse d’Arc. "Remove your sword from my path right now, Captain," Leo spoke with no hesitation in his voice, completely unfazed by Alphonse’s tremendous pressure.

"My...let’s not fight amongst ourselves." A chilling voice and repeated claps came forth.

This man, who wore a black suit, walked forward slowly, "Put down your weapon, Alphonse."

The captain followed his orders and put his blade into the ground.

"Welcome Leo," Onyx said with a cold smile and closed eyes while his hands positioned themselves naturally behind his back.

"Tch." Leo d’Arc clicked his tongue with a nasty scowl on his face. "Let’s talk right here and now, I don’t plan on staying here too long after all."

"That’s fine by me...this isn’t an urgent matter. All I require is a reply to my offer-"

"-The answer’s no. There’s no way I’d work for you and become a mindless dog." Leo d’Arc glanced at Alphonse.

"I thought that would be your answer."

"Is that so? Well, if that’s all I’ll be heading back." Leo turned around and started to leave.

"Ah! How is your family Leo?" Onyx asked with an innocent-looking smile.

Leo turned his head over his shoulder pointing a fierce glare at him, "Onyx, you better be careful." Leo then departed from the Nightingale mansion, making his way back home.

"Careful, huh?" He then stretched out his arm, grabbing the air. "I will obtain everything I desire. Including you, Leo d’Arc."

Leo returned to his family, who were sitting around the dining table, in the middle of dinner. He swung open the door, "I’m back everyone!" He exclaimed in excitement, unfortunately for him his wife, Charlotte d’Arc, was very unhappy with Leo showing up late.

"Hehe~what time do you call this?" She asked with an intense glare and smile. The air around the house grew tense as if a frightening beast had appeared. She held a ladle and lightly smacked it in the palm of her hand repeatedly, awaiting an answer. The two daughters continued to eat, not making any eye contact with their mother or father.

"This food is really good, isn’t it dear sister?" Alice asked turning to Joanna.

"Haha! It really is my dear little sister."

Leo d’Arc once faced with that question knew he must answer carefully and cautiously or else all hell would break loose. His face became serious as the gears inside his head turned, "Gah! She looks really damm scary right now...Maybe I can give her a present to soothe her. Wait...like hell I have a present on me! Then what else? Is there any way I can get out of this situation?!" He thought to himself.

Charlotte stood up, approaching closer to the terrified Leo.

"That’s it! This is the only solution." An answer struck in his mind. He then immediately went on both his knees, while his wife towered over him. He looked up and used his ultimate technique-puppy eyes!

"Honey~you wouldn’t harm your cute husband, would you?"

"Hehe~I absolutely would." She replied instantly.

He then reached out his hands to his daughters, "Save me my daughters!"

"Did you hear anything my dear sister?"

"Why not at all my dear sister~"

Leo felt his collar being tugged on, "Let’s have a nice long talk upstairs, dear."

"Eek!" Leo was dragged upstairs and all the daughters could hear were the loud cries.

≡

Heaven,

Upper Realm,

Heaven’s Courtroom

Shortly after Leo departed the Nightingale’s residence

Themison banged his gavel to call attention to all the gods and goddesses attending today’s hearing. They all sat in this huge room in a semi-circular multi-layered seating formation, which faced the towering Themison. The seating arrangement was split down for the huge doors and the laid out wide and red carpet, which led to a stand where someone being accused or questioned would stand. At the front of the stand was a much larger stand that was appropriate for Themison’s grand size.

Currently in the stand of the accused was Onyx Nightingale, though he was the head of the royal Nightingale family and outranked almost everyone attending this session, this did not mean he was safe from receiving punishment.

Everyone attending murmured and then soon turned silent, all their gazes honed at Onyx and Themison.

"Onyx you stand here before all of us because of a crime involving the manipulation and control of humans."

"I see...so that’s what this is about." Onyx held a smirk together. "Then I have nothing to say except that these are false accusations and there is no proof of me doing such actions."

Themison frowned his forehead, "Onyx Nightingale, is it true that the black knight Captain is a human?"

"It is...However, I don’t see why this would be a problem now. After all, that designated spot has always belonged to the humans, or more specifically, the Arc family."

"I see, of course, I am aware of that. However, is it out of his own free will?" Themison inquired immediately, while stroking his beard.

"Of course."

"His son, Leo d’Arc has come forth with some troubling claims, that his father is under the influence of an ability you possess."

"That is a frightening claim, I really do not possess any ability of the sort." Onyx then flattened his hand onto his chest, "I am the head of the royal family, why would I even want control of the Arc family? Even more so, the Arc family and the Nightingale family have a long history of friendly partnership, it is absolutely unneccessary of me to control them and it saddens my heart that Leo would make such a claim."

"I am well aware of the relationship that the Nightingale and Arc family have, which is even more worrying considering that there are circumstances surrounding the death of Alphonse’s wife that were never reported and Alphonse himself never brought forward his wife’s death. Naturally, a husband would come report the death of his wife, unless something stopped him from doing so?"

"That is simple to explain, his wife had merely passed away from an illness and therefore was not worth reporting."

"Is there anyone who can attest that she died from natural causes?"

"Her husband." Onyx then clapped his hands, "Alphonse, can you confirm?"

Alphonse had been standing by the door throughout all of this silent, with his feet planted. He then walked to Onyx’s side and spoke, "Of course master, it is very much true that my wife died of a natural illness and therefore not worth reporting at all."

Themison gritted his teeth, he couldn’t deny him using Alphonse. "I see."

"I’ll say it again, there is absolutely no proof of me controlling Alphonse. Frankly, this whole session is a waste of my time because of some unfounded and vile claims."

Themison banged his gavel, "All in favour of punishing Onyx?"

There were only a few out of the many gods and goddesses, who raised their hands.

Themison banged his gavel, "Onyx Nightingale, I hereby declare you innocent and you are free to go!"

"Thank you Themison and all you gods and goddesses." He then looked up at the god of judgement, "Or should I really even be calling them gods, Themison?"

A vein popped out of Themison’s forehead and his eyes widened, "Onyx, why you-watch yourself, boy! You are far too young to be sly with me. How d-"

Onyx then bowed and quickly cut off Themison, "-It seems I have offended you, I apologise." He then walked out of the courtroom with Alphonse following closely behind him. Throughout all of this, he kept a smile on his face. Murmurs and whispers began amongst the gods and goddesses once Onyx left.

"Onyx Nightingale, you’d be insane to vote against him." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Hey, what do you think he meant by what he said?"

"It was obviously him insulting us, you know the royal families, always looking down on us."

"Wasn’t he kind of creepy?"

"It seems he didn’t do anything wrong! The only people who voted against Onyx must have some sort of grudge. Hah!"

"There’s something off about him! He was probably guilty. I’d bet he even killed his own father."

"Hey quiet down you idiot! You can’t be throwing accusations like that and it happened a long time ago now. Why even bring it up now?"