Roger and Eric first greeted Miri as their positions demanded that and then it was the turn of the hosts.

Ocean’s and Kai’s blood sizzled as they kept their heads bowed before Roger, their bloodline instinctively resisting the subservience even if it was for the show.

"It’s a great honor for us that we are graced by your presence Your Majesty and Your Highness." Ocean spoke.

"It’s an immense honor to be in your presence Your Majesty and Your Highness. I, Kai Ryujin introduce myself to the Sun and Star of Sestia kingdom." Kai spoke in the same tone as Ocean had.

Roger eyed both of them and pushed his wariness behind his mask of cordiality as he laughed.

"Raise your heads," he said and then looked at Kai who while standing beside Ocean looked exactly like him except for the mask.

"You told me he’s your nephew, Marquis, but even if I don’t look at your face but he resembles you."

Ocean chuckled placing his hand over Kai’s shoulder, "That may be because good looks and blue hair pass on through our bloodline, Your Majesty."

Just then the doors open again and the announcement is made: "Make way for the Moon of Sestia Her Majesty the Queen and the Stars, His Highness the Prince and Her Highness the Princess!"

Everyone bowed again except for Roger and Miri who both eyed Katherine and her kids with the look of concealed distaste. Katherine had her anger in control as she made her way to Roger, she and her children bowed before him and he nodded once. Carlos glared at Eric who stood beside Roger and then the three turned to Ocean and Kai who greeted them.

"Kai Ryujin," Katherine spoke looking down on Kai, Kai felt the air around growing slightly thick but it didn’t affect him too much. He glanced once at Ocean whose jaw was tight then he glanced at Katherine aka the Golden Serpent who was smirking darkly at him as if he was her prey. Kai could have scoffed but he maintained his composure.

This was the first time he was seeing her and her kids in person but he could understand why everyone around him hated them. It wasn’t even a prejudice as teh Golden Serpent had herself tried to suffocate him and they hadn’t even met before.

Kai could feel the condescending looks on him from the three and he only smiled wondering how far bad their future was going to be.

Katherine opened her folding fan looking at Kai, "He is quite a good-looking young man, Marquis. You should take good care of him, lest he faces the similar tragedy as you."

The ones who were on Ocean’s side when they heard this they flinched while the Queen’s supporters smirked. The ire was slowly starting to build and even Kai felt offended, and to everyone’s surprise, Ocean chuckled. Behind the surface though, his Dragon’s Presence wafted in the air around like an invisible beast circling the Queen and her children.

"I heed your advice, Your Majesty. Kai is very precious to me and I am willing to do anything to keep him safe."

There was an unmistakable hint of something dark and dangerous in Ocean’s tone when he said that, his eyes trained on Katherine without any hint of politeness in them. She also understood the meaning behind his words and smirked behind her fan despite the chills that ran through her entire body sending the goosebumps over her flesh. Colette and Carlos also felt the iciness but none could speak as they felt a strange pressure over them.

Colette had already felt the impact of Ocean’s Dragon’s Presence before and she was sure it was happening again.

Roger who was watching silently up till now broke the silence.

"You’re quite fortunate that your Uncle adores you so much, Kai." Roger said and Kai smiled at him.

"I am indeed, Your Majesty."

Roger eyed Kai, humming introspectively as he watched him, "You will surely grow up to be a fine looking young man. Besides, how old are you?"

Kai met his eyes without any arrogance in his expression and spoke politely, "I turn 14 this year, Your Majesty."

It was a lie for those who knew Kai’s original age, but in human terms, he was growing fast enough to be a teen so, it was better to announce his age to fit that.

Roger’s eyebrows jumped, "Then you are of age to attend the academy."

Kai smiled as he answered, "I have already graduated from the Oasis School, Your Majesty."

Now this wasn’t a lie, even though Kai was homeschooled yet, he had been enrolled in the Oasis School and despite not attending the classes he had passed all his exams with flying colors. He was a proud alumni of the school and the kids and the faculty already saw him as a genius who had graduated early.

Ocean took a step back as he saw Miri grabbing a glass of wine.

"Miri, don’t drink too much." He warned her and she smiled at him.

Colette and Carlos felt normal now and Carlos who heard of Kai’s education scoffed and stepped ahead sizing him up.

"Is that so? Then you must be also familiar with the philosophers like Timothy Hobson who famously said that humans are inherently selfish and driven by self-interest so, to secure peace and order, the individuals must subserve to an absolute sovereign who has absolute power." Carlos spoke testing Kai who maintained a composed smile, his eyes carried a strange depth.

"Indeed I have heard of him, he is a great philosopher of the time," Kai said and Carlos smiled triumphantly, Kai wasn’t naive enough to not notice what Roger was actually implying so without needing Ocean’s help he decided to handle this on his own.

"However, the nature of power also needs to be taken in account," Kai said, "power is a double-edged sword, giving full control to one might end up inviting a huge catastrophe over everyone. So, I believe philosopher Louis Johnson had kindly suggested that, everyone has their own natural rights, the right of life, liberty and even revolution in case it is for the greater good in case the sovereign turns into a tyrant."

At this point, everyone was looking at them noticing as how Kai was efficiently keeping up the conversation without any arrogance or pride but simple politeness and grace.

"The sovereign’s duty is to protect the indivdual rights and if they fail, citizens can overthrow it to form a new one."

His answer stunned everyone, and even Carlos for a moment while Ocean simply smiled with an expression of pride.

"Then are you suggesting that one should resort to treason if they think the King is wrong?" Carlos asked.

Ocean didn’t step ahead as he let Kai handle this, he was taught by the best after all.

Kai brought his hand up to his chest, "Treason is the crime of betraying one’s country by working against it or aiding its enemies, while a revolution is a movement to overthrow a government to establish a new system, Your Highness. A person’s participation in an effort that fails to overthrow a government might be legally defined as treason, whereas a successful revolution results in a new government."

The people listened aptly as the young boy countered the Prince’s words without any sense of nervousness or pride. Marquis Fairisles who was among the crowd smiled faintly to himself as he had taught Kai well.

Eric felt the pair of eyes on him and he snuck a glance at Miri who stood there looking at him with a glass of wine in her hand. Eric averted his eyes trying not to let it show that they were interested in each other.

The tension in the air was again broken by Roger who burst out laughing, "Your heir is as capable as you, Marquis Ocean. Have you personally taught him?"

Ocean smiled, "I won’t take the complete credit for this, Your Majesty. Since I was busy there were some capable and learned people who taught Kai."

"They taught him treasonous thoughts?" Katherine asked.

This time, Marquis Fairisles and Ocean themselves stepped ahead for this debate.

"Louis Johnson is a celebrated philosopher, Your Majesty. And our previous King His Majesty has personally praised and rewarded him for his ideas." Marquis Fairisles said.

"Indeed, since I heard His Majesty was a peace loving man who always thought about his people and departed the same ideals to our present King, isn’t that right, Your Majesty?" Ocean asked Roger.

"That’s true, apart from Timothy Hobson, both my father and brother preferred Mr Johnson’s theories." Roger confirmed making the Queen and Carlos fall on their faces with their point.

"A King who cannot protect his people is a coward and a sovereign who torments his people is a tyrant. Both are incompetent in leading a kingdom." Roger added the last blow while he looked at Carlos and Katherine.

It might as well have been his public declaration that he was not going to support Carlos or the Queen henceforth.

Regardless, Ocean was happy, the ball was as entertaining as he had imagined. Kai glanced up at him with a smile and Ocean smiled back patting his head gently.

"You did great." He spoke and Kai felt the sense of relief and happiness.

Eric also gave him a smile and curt nod along with everyone else who were on Ocean’s side. They could see that the Ryujin’s future was in capable hands.