A faint smile touched her lips. Not the soft, kind sort. No. It was the type that said: it's going to be fun to punish you, mortal.

"Amon Vale," she spoke softly. Her voice flowed like velvet, warm yet commanding. A tone that could soothe and punish in the same breath.

Amon stiffly stood and bowed so low his forehead nearly kissed the table.

"G-Good morning, Your Majesty!"

Celestia's lips curved a fraction more, amused.

"You seem… rested."

Amon could feel sweat forming. Rested? Sure. If being chased by monsters, falling through portals, being saved by royalty, and then coming back to "resting" counted, then yes.

"…Y-Yes, Your Majesty," he managed, voice cracking just a little.

Celestia walked toward her seat, her aura so overwhelming that even the air felt heavier.

But just before she sat, her eyes flicked to him again — sharp, knowing.

"We will speak now."

Amon almost collapsed onto the chair.

I am so unbelievably doomed.

Selena gently pushed his plate toward him, whispering softly, "Relax."

Relax?

RELAX?

He wanted to cry.

Still, he forced a smile, trembling as he picked up his fork.

"Y-yeah… right… relax… easy…"

His hand shook so hard the fork clinked against the plate like it was possessed.

Across the table, Queen Celestia lifted her tea with serene elegance, as if this entire palace wasn't about to witness a boy's soul leave his body.

The royal breakfast officially began.

And for Amon, so did the countdown to judgment.

The servants moved with precise movements, serving delicious breakfast to the three of them.

"How are you, Selena? Is everything okay at the academy?" Celestia asked while sipping her tea.

"Everything is well, Mother…" Selena continued.

Both daughter and mother talked about daily life. How they were. They looked more like sisters than mother and daughter.

Meanwhile, Amon remained silent, eating his breakfast. He was getting chills.

'What did she do with those two knights? They were so careless and fell asleep. Are they still alive?' Amon couldn't tell.

Celestia's gentle conversation faded, her voice trailing off like the final calm before a storm. She finished her tea, set the cup down with a soft clink, and slowly turned her gaze toward Amon.

The hall seemed to exhale.

Amon froze mid-bite, his spoon hovering halfway to his mouth like time itself had stopped.

Celestia rested her chin lightly on her fingers, eyes narrowing slightly, crystalline and unreadable. Expressionless.

"Amon Vale," her voice lowered, smooth but cold enough to turn bone into ice, "what," she paused, letting the silence suffocate him, "should I do with you? How dare you enter that room."

Amon choked on air.

Selena blinked, confused, then realization struck like lightning. Her head snapped toward him, eyes widening.

"…What did you do last night?" Selena asked, voice a mix of disbelief and panic. Her emotionless and cold face crumbled.

Amon opened his mouth. Nothing came out. His soul attempted to escape again.

'Okay Amon, calm down. She knows everything. She saved me last night. She won't punish me. Maybe she's bluffing.'

He forced a laugh. A weak, trembling, "I am definitely not guilty" laugh.

"I-I mean… haha… last night? Uhh… I slept?" Amon tried to lie Selena, eyes darting everywhere but at Celestia.

Celestia didn't blink.

"Oh?" she hummed, tone colder. "You slept. Interesting."

Her fingers tapped the table once, slow and ominous.

"And here I thought," she continued softly, "you were… exploring forbidden chambers and entering unknown teleportation arrays."

A fork slipped from a servant's hand somewhere, clattering loudly in the silence.

Amon's heartbeat sounded like war drums.

Selena's expression shifted from shock… to dread… to fury.

"You did WHAT?!" she whispered sharply, leaning closer and grabbing his sleeve. "Amon, only the trusted people of my mother can enter it. Why would you—"

Amon whispered back in panic, face pale. "It wasn't my fault! I was dragged inside by a monster—"

Even though he was afraid. One thing was sure. Amon got to see lot of different expressions of her today.

The moment "monster" left his lips, Celestia's gaze sharpened. She smiled dangerously. She wondered why this boy was lying after telling her the entire truth last night.

"A monster?" she repeated, voice soft but deadly. "It was you who entered the chamber and then put your hand inside it and got dragged inside by the monster."

Amon gulped.

Great. Now I've made it sound worse.

Selena's grip tightened. "You were attacked? You went to that ancient city? Why didn't you tell me—!"

Celestia raised a hand slightly. Silence fell instantly.

Her voice was low, calm, terrifyingly controlled.

"Amon Vale, you trespassed into a highly restricted chamber, nearly got killed, and encountered something you should not have. You saw something you should not have."

The air grew colder.

"What," she asked again, eyes locking on his, "do you believe your punishment should be?"

Amon's soul screamed.

His lips trembled.

"…A-apology breakfast? With extra tea?" he squeaked.

Even Selena face-palmed. She can't believe that he still have guts to say that.

Celestia stared at him.

Then,

A faint, dangerous smile curled her lips.

"Oh, little boy…" she whispered, voice soft as velvet and twice as cruel.

"You truly do not value your life, do you?"

Amon froze.

Selena leaned toward her mother quickly, voice tense. "Mother. Please, he didn't understand what he was doing. He's… reckless, but not malicious."

Celestia's gaze softened slightly at her daughter's plea, but her attention stayed fixed on Amon.

"We will discuss this further," she declared, final and absolute, "in private."

Amon felt his vision blur.

Private. With her.

He was finished.

Goodbye world. Goodbye breakfast. Goodbye future.

And yet—

Celestia lifted her cup again, utterly calm.

"Finish your meal," she ordered. "You will need strength."

'Strength for what?'

Amon shakily lifted his spoon again, hand trembling so badly the soup nearly spilled.

Selena sighed, whispering with a mix of worry and exasperation;

"…You idiot."

Amon could only nod weakly.

'At least I should enjoy my meal. This food is delicious. Good before getting punished,' Amon thought with a small smile.

He knew he wouldn't die. But he couldn't tell what punishment she would give him.

She wouldn't lock him in prison, right? Or torture him?

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