In the study, six people gathered together. 

Nathaniel was still wearing his uniform and was standing imposingly near the door. The combination of his cold pale ruby eyes, almost silver hair, and white garb made him look otherworldly. He definitely caught the scrutiny of the other people with him.

A brown-haired man with restless green eyes stood just beside Nathan, occasionally whispering things to the former who ignored him in return. Eon would even stare straight at the rest without shame and without being discreet about it either. It gave the others a favorable impression of him.

The one sitting casually on the sofa, after observing both Nathan and Eon who had just arrived, voiced his opinion.

“I can’t believe there will be a day that we will be called to gather like this.” 

He popped open the button on the neckline of his chamberlain uniform. The usual sternness he dons as a senior royal official who manages the royal household was gone, replaced with a carefree attitude. Aside from being the palace chamberlain, his other identity is also Kite, a silver wing.

“Normally, we act separately and individually,” he added.

“This is probably related to the conquisitors.” A woman in a maid uniform occupied the other sofa, sneering. “Those bastards…”

With her inconspicuous appearance, no one would believe that this seemingly ordinary maid is actually an elite guard, Crane. She looks so ordinary she blends in with the other palace maids so well and gathers information while looking so. But don’t be fooled by her as she is a chameleon, changing faces as she would with dresses to fit undercover missions.

“Or it could be the saint,” another person interjected. It was Hawk who was dressed in black garments from head to toe. He acts as the emperor’s shadow and was the one who rushed to Lukas to summon everyone as per the emperor’s order.

“You are always around his majesty after all so you must hear all kinds of secrets,” A young man with a scholarly aura commented. He adjusted his monocle when it slightly slid off and smiled friendly at Eon who was staring at him with interest.

The said man is called Harrier, also a practicing imperial physician and the imperial doctor’s assistant. So of course, Eon would recognize him, hence, the blatant gaze he was getting.

Hawk snorted, “Don’t we all?”

His remark received a collective chuckle from the rest. After all, he wasn’t wrong. 

Kite squinted at Nathan and Eon.

“And you two must be the newbies…”

Newbies because it wasn’t that long ago since they joined the ranks. And since the four of them are a few years older than both of them as well.

“I’m Condor, nice to meet you!” Eon immediately introduced himself excitedly and gave them a salute.

Four pairs of eyes then slid to Nathan.

“White Crow,” was his simple answer.

‘A man of few words…’ was their shared opinion about him.

Kite glanced at both Nathan and Eon respectively.

“I see the two of you most of the time, so you are also a member of the silver wings huh.”

Harrier smiled lightly, “That’s the current captain and vice-captain of the royal brigade. I honestly could not guess that they are also one of us,” he then stared at Nathan— “Well, it shouldn’t be surprising, they are both the young geniuses swordsmen after all.”

It’s also unprecedented for two people in the same division to be admitted. Normally, it’s one per department, just like them. And not to mention Lukas, the captain of the silver wings, is also the general of the royal army. So there’s three of them now that came from the knights.

“Oooh, they have nice positions~” Crane marveled before glancing at Hawk teasingly, “Meanwhile this guy right here acts like a ghost, hah!”

“It must be lonely and boring to be you,” Kite jeered as well.

Hawk frowned and glared at the two.

“Tsk. Shut up.”

He felt somewhat awful and hurt because it poked straight to his heart. He was accustomed to following the emperor every day like the loyal shadow that he is and could only materialize during the night and relax a bit. True as they say, his job is the loneliest so he’s easily offended.

Kite then turned his attention back to them.

“So you two must have never met the captain, right?”

Crane interjected, “No, they already did. If they are from the knight division, they have definitely already met him.”

“Ah, you’re right,” Kite nodded thoughtfully.

“They certainly did. Multiple times,” Hawk affirmed.

Eon heard their exchange and got even more excited.

“You mean the Falcon? I want to meet him! Who is he? Did we really meet him already?”

His barrage of questions amused the rest of them. They are like looking at a puppy who is so excited to meet his master, wagging his tails energetically. A few of them suddenly missed their pets.

Nathan had a premonition and he doesn’t quite get if it’s good or bad. He knew that Lukas is one of the silver wings as revealed before and Lukas is not here right now,  and the only person who has not arrived yet is the Falcon. 

That means…

The door creaked open and Lukas came in. He looked at the people present and nodded perfunctorily.

“Good, you’re all here.”

“Captain!” The four saluted. 

The picture was quite odd, given that they are all people of different professions giving a standard military salute to one other person who is also a duke. 

Eon gawked while Nathan pursed his lips. 

‘Called it…’ Nathan thought to himself.

Lukas naturally looked at them who were standing isolated at the side.

He saw Nathan’s complicated expression and he doesn’t know but it brought a strange amusement to him. It just kind of remind him of Nadia’s face when she’s troubled.

Maybe that’s the reason? Lukas pondered for a bit.

The side of his lips then lifted to a lazy smile as he met those familiar pale ruby eyes.

“‘Sup.”