Insect Tamer's Ascension

Looking at Lucien's face, Theo couldn't help but think of the situation as dire.

'High seat… royals… father…' Theo thought quickly. 'If father is there, maybe it's fine?'

"…I will be going then, elder brothers and sisters," Theo stated and took a step forward.

Suddenly, Lucien crouched down and whispered in Theo's face, "…Everything will be alright. Just, whatever you know about respect, have it as refined as possible."

Theo nodded and looked toward Clara, who had a panicked expression. Theo warmed his eyes for a second, sending a message for her to stay calm. Due to their bond, she understood it right away and nodded with a deep breath.

Everyone around acted as if Theo had done something either very good or very, very bad.

Theo started following the guard toward the left curved stairs.

Everyone who noticed Theo climbing the stairs looked at the situation with awe and dumbstruck expressions; a Baron's kid was going up to the nobles. It was unheard of except in some special circumstances.

When Theo finally reached the top, he found a small level adorned with gold and precious metals everywhere. There were three prestigious thrones in the middle of the level.

Out of the three thrones, two were large and of the same size, while the leftmost one was smaller.

There were three individuals sitting on the thrones, and Theo recognized one of them as the emperor of the kingdom.

Theo felt his stomach churning. Unexpectedly, he was standing in front of royalty for unknown reasons.

There were many more people standing around, talking and eating. The air was more arrogant and prestigious than it was below.

That was when Theo realized, in a span of mere seconds, that they were all Dukes and Marquises—the nobles truly at the top of the human hierarchy.

"Ninth son, Theo Merrick, has arrived," the guard announced in a polite and low voice, and everyone looked toward him.

Theo felt many gazes upon him, sharper than before. Whenever he looked at someone, they were staring at him as he walked closer and closer to the thrones.

Theo knew how to act in front of royalty; it was the last chapter of etiquette. For a Baron, a meeting with the royals was not a common occurrence.

He tried looking ahead at the people sitting on the thrones, as they seemed calmer than the others.

The one in the middle was the emperor of the kingdom. Theo realized this with every step he took forward. This was not like standing before the president of a country.

An emperor was a different breed. In Theo's eyes, if he made even a single mistake right now, he was most likely dead. Thoughts like this ran through his mind as he bid goodbye to everyone in a rather eerie way before. Their scared expressions did nothing to help.

Even from afar, Theo could see the emperor's pure golden eyes—they felt inhumanly elegant. His hair was blonde with a few strands of grey. The emperor seemed to be around his forties.

He wore a deep crimson robe embroidered with intricate golden patterns resembling dragons. A thick ceremonial sash, woven with jewels and royal insignias, rested across his chest, signifying his absolute authority. Over his shoulders, he wore a midnight-blue mantle lined with white fur, adding a sense of regality.

A fairly large crown adorned his head, with jewels embellishing every corner of its being. The crown seemed like it cost more than the most successful town of a nobility.

Everything about him screamed emperor. When Theo looked to the right side, he saw a woman the same age as the emperor. Seeing how she was sitting right beside him, she was undoubtedly the empress.

The empress wore an elegant deep-blue gown embroidered with silver and gold filigree resembling falling stars. A delicate white fur shawl rested over her shoulders, and a radiant sapphire tiara crowned her flowing raven-black hair, complementing her piercing icy-blue eyes.

On the leftmost side sat a kid wearing the same level of clothing as the other two. He looked a little older than Theo but no more than fifteen at best.

When Theo was finally near enough, he placed a hand over his heart and bent a knee to the ground in elegance and respect. His eyes were closed, and at that moment, Theo exuded confidence.

"Your Majesties, it is an honor to stand before you. I, Theo Merrick, offer my deepest respects."

The moment Theo's words echoed in the grand chamber, silence blanketed the high seat. The nobles standing nearby, once engaged in hushed conversations, now focused solely on him. The weight of their gazes pressed down on him, but Theo remained still, his posture unwavering, his breathing steady.

A pause followed, lasting only a few seconds but feeling like an eternity. Then, a deep, commanding voice broke the silence.

"Rise, Theo Merrick."

Theo slowly stood, keeping his gaze lowered but attentive, as he had been taught. He felt the emperor's golden eyes studying him.

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The emperor leaned slightly forward, resting his elbow on the armrest of his throne, his fingers tapping idly against his chin. "A Merrick child before me… That is rare." His voice was calm yet carried an unmistakable authority that made the air itself feel heavier.

Theo didn't respond. He knew it was not his place to speak unless permitted.

The empress, who had remained silent until now, shifted slightly, her gaze piercing yet unreadable. "A rare sight indeed," she mused, her voice smooth like flowing water. "Your father does not often bring his children into the presence of nobility, let alone before the throne."

Theo remained composed, though inwardly, he was piecing together the reason for this summons. His father, Aldric Merrick, had always avoided noble gatherings, let alone the High Seat. Why was Theo called here and not the oldest of the family, like Lucien? Did it have something to do with his taming abilities? Theo hoped it didn't, yet nothing else made sense.

The emperor spoke again.