The five of them kneeled after getting close.
It was the audience hall but compared to Circinus Kingdom, it is simpler in style. Though elegance could still be seen with the ornaments surrounding them.
But they don't have the time to admire the place for they can already feel the pressure from the person sitting above them.
Archibald Simon Blakewell, the current king of Antlia Kingdom.
He is in his mid-forties with silver gray hair and blue eyes.
Silver gray, they should have known.
Silver gray hair is the hair of the royal family, no other actually received that hair, only the Blakewell royal family. This hair coming from the first queen of Antlia Kingdom, Almira Blakewell.
But the five of them ended up having the same thoughts, Julian is the crown prince but his hair was white and not silver gray.
Despite that, they didn't dare have their minds wander around. The one in front of them was the king, someone who is among the strongest in the kingdom.
"I heard that you were supposed to be arriving at an earlier time," Archibald started.
No one could hear anything in his voice, whether he is mad or not.
"Yes, we should have been brought here by the guards, your majesty," Luna replied.
"And those guards? I also heard some commotion. Where are they?"
"Are you going to reward them, your majesty once you see them?" Luna actually asked.
The other four were stunned but did not show it on their faces. Luna's emotions are all over the place, it seems that she is still being bothered by something else.
Even Archibald raised an eyebrow.
"Why do you think so?" he still asked.
"Because they made it difficult for us who was disrespectful towards the two princes."
"I am not childish," he replied.
"I see, your majesty."
Archibald furrowed his brows, "It seems that I will need to bring them punishment for making things difficult for the savior of the crown prince. But I assume you will pay for the damages your actions incur?"
Luna lowered her head more, "We understand, your majesty. We apologize for our actions."
As compared to the king of Circinus Kingdom, Luna actually felt remorse while talking to Archibald. Even after snapping just a few moments ago.
She can actually feel reverence as well towards him despite their short exchange and her meeting him for the first time.
It was strange but he has this presence that will make one respect him. Something she had not felt when it comes to the king one thousand years ago and the king right now of Circinus Kingdom.
Archibald could see that this person is a reasonable one just that she seemed to have woken up at the wrong side of the bed.
It was his people that caused her and her team's action. They have not done anything and they were already treated this way.
Archibald gestured for Maxwell, who was also there, to take action to those palace guards.
Luna glanced at Maxwell and was silently in disbelief that Archibald is really taking action even though those are palace guards while she and her team are outsiders.
"My son was saved by you. He was in such situation because of his own stubbornness. This much is enough for you to gain respect from the people," Archibald commented noticing the look she had.
Luna stayed quiet.
"Now, shall we get to the main point of today?" he finally said.
He looked at each of them.
"I heard about your injury and that is what caused the injury on Gabriel's eyes. What do you think about it?"
"I think we are not at fault about it, your majesty."
"Why is that?"
"Because I have warned the second prince about looking into us, your majesty. If he had not followed my words then that is no longer my responsibility."
Archibald nodded his head.
Most of the people will just apologize even though they aren't actually the one at fault. They'd apologize just because they are the princes.
"What if you have known that they are the princes of this kingdom?"
"My answer will remain the same, your majesty. I would give them a warning and if they don't follow then there is nothing I can do about it."
"Very well… is what I want to say. But the nobles are being adamant on giving you punishment for hurting the prince."
Luna pursed her lips. They knew that this is inevitable.
Even though everything was not in purpose, people would react this way because Gabriel is a prince while Astral are adventurers who are commoners.
"I have heard of the capabilities of your group. Can you all give me your names?"
Each of them introduced themselves.
"Lady Preshea, I shall have you work in the potion and healing department of the kingdom."
"I… understand, your majesty."
"Sir Aaron, I shall have you work in training the princess of this kingdom."
Aaron raised his head while blankly looking at him.
Archibald did not show it but he is actually feeling helpless. When the princess heard that Aaron could fly, something wind ability users would be able to do once they become stronger, she was adamant that he will teach her.
'She is stubborn and spoiled. She is throwing tantrums about learning how to fly,' Archibald sighed inside.
He looked at Aaron, waiting for him to answer.
"I... I understand, your majesty," Aaron ended up answering.
But he was truly bewildered by this arrangement.
"Sir Richard, I shall appoint you guard of lady Florence Longhurst. You shall be escorted to their residence and you will know your job once you arrive."
"I understand, your majesty."
The more he appoints them, the more it felt strange. It seems that from the get go, a job was already made for them.
"Your... majesty, I wish to speak."
"Go on."
"We accept punishments but these arrangements... are we being tied to the kingdom, your majesty?"
Luna looked at him in the eyes as she asked this.
"No, I told you I understand that everything unfolded because of my children and that we are simply appeasing the nobles. These arrangements are made in accordance with the things I heard about Astral. And, this arrangement has its own time limit."
He looked at each of them, "One year. If you all do this properly then I can shut those nobles up that you have served properly for the small injury my son has gained."
Commoners are to be imprisoned and condemned even killed for the small injury of a royalty. One year is reasonable enough for what happened.
It is not that Julian or Gabriel wished to talk about what happened but some soldiers who were in the main gate that night, caused gossips to spread and that is how things came to be.
"Thank you for your benevolence, your majesty," Luna sighed in relief.
They had just left a kingdom that tied them down all their lives. Being tied again in another kingdom by the royalty, they would surely retaliate.
Luna looked at the rest and they smiled at her in return.
To be honest, him calling them with "sir" and "lady" was proof enough that Archibald knows how to respect his people.
And even being pardoned for wreaking havoc in the palace's vicinity.
This king was already completely different from the kings in their memories, whether a thousand years ago or now.
Archibald noticed the relief in their faces and understood what Julian told him the day before.
These five left Circinus Kingdom with loathing in their hearts.
He had heard a lot about Astral from Julian.
Especially the part where their cores are cracked but it seems that the pain it brings is something they are used to. That these five were trained in a torturous manner, but as to why they remained adventurers, it is a mystery.
He asked Julian to bring them over even without Luna but his son actually asked him to let them rest more. Even if it's just a day, a rest will still be a rest.
That is why he waited until Luna wakes up before calling for them.
It is not always that his eldest son would show such attention towards others. So, he had Maxwell look into this group and found that they are well known by many especially in Circinus Kingdom where people started treating them as heroes.
Archibald knew that Harland must have been seething in jealousy. And understood that it is the reason why this group left that kingdom.
After all, Harland loves acting like the good king he is but most of them from Antlia Kingdom knew what Harland's real face is.
"As for you Sir Spencer, I will appoint you trainer of the knight trainees."
Spencer blinked, "I… I understand, your majesty."
Palace guards are knight trainees, and at this moment even these people are looking down at them. Julian had complimented him after their last spar and would even ask him for another spar from time to time before their arrival in this place.
It seems that the king wants the people to see their capabilities, for them to prove themselves rather than letting them be known just through words of mouth.
"And you young lady…"
Luna waited patiently for what she was supposed to do.
"I appoint you the trainer of the crown prince."
"I understand, yo- WHAT?!?!"
Archibald raised an eyebrow. Luna cleared her throat.
"I apologize. But the crown prince? I am going to train the crown prince, your majesty?"
"Yes. His ability that is. I heard that you have saved him a second time by pointing out his mistake in handling his ability."
Luna had no choice but to agree. This is her punishment after all, much better than the punishment in her mind.
Like her head being under the guillotine.
"I shall accept, your majesty."
Archibald nodded his head, "You are all dismissed. You will be staying in the house where you are brought first. This will be some kind of supervision during your punishment period. As for you, Sir Richard, someone will pick you up in a while."