Together

Chapter 50

It was the day before they were to go off to the border of Fiore and the Northern Empire and on that day, something troublesome arrived. Or should they say, someone? Caught up in the excitement, Kouen, Koumei, Kouha, Kougyoku, and Lucy had forgotten that the King of Sindria, Sinbad, would be visiting.

"The King of Sindria, Sinbad, has arrived!" the servants outside the palace declared.

Countless maids, servants, and soldiers lined the outside of the palace, welcoming the guests from Sindria. The red flags of the Kou Empire were blowing proudly in the winter air while Kouen, Koumei, Kouha, and Kougyoku were standing outside, waiting for Sinbad's arrival. Hakuei and Hakuryuu were on diplomatic duty in Caelum though they, too, wanted to be there to greet Sinbad and the others.

Kouen had an irksome look in his eyes and his usual scowl was even grimmer as he looked at Sinbad. Koumei and Kouha were silent but they were sweating. Kougyoku had a calm appearance but inside, she was screaming. Sinbad walked on proudly as he waved towards the servants that greeted him.

"Sin," Ja'far whispered to him. "Please don't wave!"

"It's not a bad thing is it?" Sinbad whispered back.

"As a King, you should be aware of your social status!" Ja'far reprimanded him. "Besides, right now you're on political duty."

"Fine, fine," Sinbad smiled in reply.

Sinbad's visit to the Kou Empire was accompanied by his usual comrades: Ja'far, Masrur, Sharrkan, and Yamraiha. But, there were three extra people that tagged along and they were none other than Alibaba, Aladdin, and Morgiana. The three of them looked around them and the extravagance of the welcoming. They looked up and saw the Ren siblings standing there, each with a grim expression.

"Oh, it's Kougyoku," Alibaba waved.

Kougyoku caught his wave and smiled a bit, waving her hand. "Alibaba-chan."

"Hey, Uncle Sinbad, was it really okay for us to come with you?" Aladdin went up and asked.

"It's fine," Sinbad laughed. "Moreover, bringing you here would be quite enjoyable. It'll be fun to tease that man up there."

Ever since Sinbad claimed Aladdin back, Kouen had been in a sour mood. Seeing him bring him back only made him give off an even more intimidating aura. Happy, Carla, and Lily stood to the side in their human form, their ears and tails poking out. They saw the aura around the Ren siblings and never had they seen them so nerved.

The relationship between those two countries must be really bad, the three exceeds thought.

"Damn, why did we have to come here?" Sharrkan sighed.

"Because the Kou Empire called for us," Yamraiha answered. "Are you dumb in the head?"

"Hah?" he glared. "Having Masrur accompany him would be plenty enough. You old hag."

"What did you just call me?" Yamraiha glared at him.

"Now, now, Yam-san," Alibaba said, calming the two down.

"Really, you two?" Ja'far eyed them. "Get your act together. We're approaching."

They silenced themselves as they walked up the stone stairs to where the Ren siblings were waiting. Kouen glared at Sinbad while Sinbad just smiled in reply, waving at him. Koumei could feel his knees trembling and Kouha just wanted to run back into the palace. Though at the same time, he didn't want to because Aladdin was there. Kougyoku was ready to die.

"It's been a while, Ren Kouen, Emperor of the Kou Empire," Sinbad greeted.

"Likewise, King Sinbad of Sindria," Kouen said, bowing.