Just as Grandpa Ben had instructed, Leon stayed in the study, sitting stiffly on the sofa. Soon Grandpa Andi came back and the three sat silently in the room.
Leon was mentally preparing himself for their scolding. He could feel the beads of sweat creeply rolling on his back. He never felt the nervousness of anyone's reprimand, mainly because he was still a part of the Imperial Family. But not towards these two grandpas.
Although he was now a legendary S class mage, he knew that he couldn't compare with these two in terms of wisdom and reputation. He himself had deep admiration and reverence towards the two legends.
Reuben Farauld, the Headmaster of the most prestigious institution in Seirende and one of the most renowned schools in the whole of Prasinos - the Farauld Magic Institute. He was also the current head of the Farauld Clan, the most scholarly clan in the empire. Their clan excel the most in research and educating the younger generation, honing them in the field of magic and even academics.
He was a S class mage deemed as the strongest and wisest mage in the Empire. He had educated the Emperor himself in his younger years. Even his son, Eugene Farauld who was presently the strongest war hero in the empire, was known as Leon's master in the art of war and magic devouring.
Andvari Forgeworn, the great master of the Forgeworn clan and the head of the Forgeworn Merchant Group. He was a master craftsman, a genius merchant and a Legendary Devourer. Although he was from the dwarven clan, he was not to be trifled with in the area of inventing products for sale and crafting magical weapons.
With his great talent and achievements, he was able to make the whole of Prasinos acknowledge the inborn talent of the dwarven race in crafting and forging, making the dwarves the main preference for weapon and magic item makers.
As a Legendary Devourer, one of his notable feats was participating in the Great Battle of the Blood Valley, along with Grandmaster Reuben and the late Emperor Idelfonso - the current Emperor Valentin's father, Leon's grandfather.
Together, they were the three Grand Masters of the Seirende Empire, Grandmaster Andvari, S class Devourer, Grandmaster Reuben, S class Mage, and Emperor Idelfonso, the legendary All Rounder, possessing the open paths constitution - a devourer, caster and summoner all in one!
These two grandpas were his late Grandfather Emperor's most trusted comrades and dearest friends! How could he not be nervous and take their words seriously?!
Meekly looking towards the two grandpas in front of him, Leon couldn't help but gulp out of nervousness. He reminded himself that no matter what he would take a humble stance and honor these two grandmasters words.
"Sigh…" looking towards the guilt-ridden third prince, Grandpa Andi couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh. This young man was indeed Old Ide's grandson, so impulsive!
"Tsk tsk.." Grandpa Ben also seconded Grandpa Andi's reaction thinking of the same thing. He casted a quick look towards Grandpa Andi as if saying, 'what are we gonna do?'
Hearing their expression of disappointment Leon became so nervous that his heart beat faster, it kept pounding like the sound of the drums in a battle. He wanted to let out a word of apology but he couldn't do so.
"First of all Old Andi, can I just say that I am really proud of our young Eli?!" Grandpa Ben suddenly commented with a lively tone. His eyes shining bright for the pride he felt for Eli's feat.
"Hmm.." Grandpa Andi also nodded in agreement, as he looked towards Leon with an inspecting look on his face, showing a tinge of contained satisfaction towards the third prince.
'Huh? What are they talking about?' Leon was confused about the conversation of the two grandmasters.
"Who would have thought that the mysterious father of young Eli's little one was none other than a member of the Imperial Family?!" Grandpa Andi continued.
"Indeed! I was worried that some trash man would come to find Eli and claim as the father of the little one.. An imperial prince.. Not bad, not bad!" Grandpa Ben agreed with his old friend.
"The third prince was fortunate to be Eli's prospective husband!!!" The two kept bickering whilst chuckling.
'Why do I feel like my identity has been looked down upon?'
Leon figured out the conversation as he continued to observe the two grandmasters being proud of Eli's 'achievement' of having him as the father of their child-to-be. His brows kept twitching as he heard the praises of the grandmasters towards Eli.
Grandpa Ben looked towards the flabbergasted Leon, and said "You must be wondering why we think that you are the one who is fortunate to be involved with Eli.."
Leon froze. Indeed, he expected to be treated the other way around. As the prince of the great Seirende Empire, he was convinced that his identity as a prince was enough for any lady to consider him as a good husband candidate despite his unstable political power and reputation as a war freak.
But now, it seemed like the two grandmasters value Eli more, and it was not because of personal emotions, but a grounded reason.
"But before that, let me address first the issue at hand, let us take this slowly." Grandpa Ben suddenly turned from a jovial mood to a stern one.
"Your highness, third prince, pardon my language.."
"I wanted to let you know that you have been too impulsive.." He continued.
Leon, finally realizing that they started to get into the matter, had replied in turn,
"Indeed, Grand Master Andvari, Grand Master Reuben, I have no excuse for this, I am embarrassed as much as I am guilty of this."
His head hung low in dejection, he stared towards his hand that was resting on his lap. This hand had earlier patted Eli's head, he felt her whole body trembling as she was crying in confusion and disappointment with herself.
"You all know how I have lived. Upon seeing her carrying my own flesh and blood, I had hope."
"Hope that I can finally feel the warmth of a family, a nice and normal family.."
"Warmth I had long desired ever since I was sent to the borders to bathe in blood.."
"Warmth after the last time my beloved Grandfather Emperor gave me a pat on the head.."
"I was impulsive, I indeed came without a plan."
"Grandmasters, I ask for apologies and for your guidance."
He bowed his head as he said these words in a pleading tone. The cold barbaric blood prince had been bowing too much today, all because of the desire to feel some warmth.
"Sigh," The two grandmasters felt sympathy towards the third prince.
They also knew of how this prince had lived. The prince was forbidden to show affection towards his Queen Mother and Father Emperor, in order to completely portrait himself as the Barbaric Blood Prince.
This was also the same with his parents, especially the current Emperor Valentin. He forbade himself to show any kind of affection towards his son and the Second Queen in order to keep them safe from the opposing aristocratic families from the Empress and the First Queen.
This family of three, can only show their affection and longing for each other in the Emperor's Secret Chamber, where no one but the three of them have access. For the third prince, who was sent to the cruel battlefield at a very young age, these abrupt and sneaky family moments were not enough to wash away the cold he felt every time he went to a battlefield.
Thus, he was starving for familial love.
"Grand Masters, believe me when I say, I only wanted to protect her by staying at my side…"
"I am sure that you have already figured out by now that she was the Asani I rescued four years ago - the Asani of the Riverfort," the prince continued to explain.
"She was rescued from her captor, after over ten years of merciless experimentation. We managed to rescue her, and retrieved records worth more than a decade. Only two people were able to access these up until this day, yours truly and my Father Emperor."
"Hmm, that was also agreed by me and His Majesty.." Grandpa Ben nodded in agreement as he continued.
"The information tied with young Eli, the Riverfort Asani, was an extremely confidential matter. I myself have refrained from getting involved in this matter as I am not confident that the information will be safe in my institution."
"However, the situation had changed upon getting physically involved with Eli, third prince.." Grandpa Andi commented with deep worry in his eyes.
"Indeed, that is why even though the information about her was confidential, all I can say right now there was a high possibility of being tied up with The Spectre."
"I knew it!" Grandpa Andi exclaimed, he was so agitated that his little body actively stood abruptly from the sofa.
"The day of Eli's appearance in Silvertown, my apprentice, Randel, along with young Eli's contracted beasts had defeated some mercenaries we suspect to be hired by The Spectre." Grandpa Andi continued, as his fist was clenched hard, his whole body trembling with anger and concern.
Leon had a cold look in his eyes and said,
"We have also observed suspicious people that were roaming around Silvertown, especially in Argentum, looking for pregnant women these past few days. Eighty percent of them were confirmed to be part of The Spectre, we eliminated them on the spot."
The three men all had a sharp look in their eyes.
Danger, immense danger is waiting ahead of Eli's path. They went silent for a long time. Each of them were thinking of ways on how to protect Eli moving forward, now that they already have an idea on who the enemy was.
"It was only last night that we were able to finally extract relevant information from all those that were captured. The Spectre had two agenda. To find an Asani and to abduct enough pregnant women." Leon continued.
"I can understand why she was targeted because she was an Asani.. But why because of the fact that she was pregnant?" Grandpa Andi asked in confusion, he also knew of this information as they had extracted the same information on the mercenaries captured by Randel, Baobao and Wisey.
Leon looked towards the two grandmasters with a sharp and cold look in his eyes.
"It was because The Spectre had been the ones who regularly received the captor's report about the experimentation."
"This means that whatever information I have confiscated four years ago has already been known at their side all this time."
