They bowed slightly, their gestures filled with reverence. "It's an honor to meet you in person, Phoenix Empress and Sky Dragon King."
Claudia, ever casual, waved her delicate hand dismissively. "That's old news, guests. I am now just a simple woman and a grandmother," she said, her soft voice laced with humor. Her lips curled into a faint smile as she added, "If you must be in awe of anyone, it should be my Grandson-in-Law, Aengus. He's the one who deserves your admiration now."
"Yes, that's true, Your Grace," Leon replied with a slight bow, acknowledging Claudia's words.
The three generals shifted their gaze to Aengus, curiosity evident in their eyes. They couldn't help but wonder what kind of magic or charisma their Emperor had used to convince the renowned Phoenix Empress to submit to him.
"Is it simply because he's the Grandson-in-Law?"
"Or is there a deeper truth we don't know?"
The rumors they'd heard about Claudia's strong and unyielding personality only fueled their curiosity further. However, they chose to keep their questions to themselves for now, unwilling to overstep their bounds in such an esteemed presence.
"Whoa! This little girl was the Phoenix Empress all along?" Drake exclaimed, his voice filled with surprise as he took in Claudia's youthful appearance.
Quin and Yona were equally taken aback, their mouths slightly agape. This was far from what they had imagined the legendary Phoenix Empress would look like.
Claudia's lips curved into a mischievous smile. "These brats," she teased, her voice playful yet sharp. "I'm older than all of you combined. Show me some respect."
The trio immediately grew nervous, realizing they had underestimated the little figure before them. "Oh, yes, yes! You're a most respectable elder!" Quin stammered, bowing slightly.
"Forgive our surprise, Your Grace. We meant no disrespect," Yona added hastily, her tone earnest.
Claudia chuckled, clearly amused by their reaction. "Relax, children. I'm not offended. But do remember, appearances can be deceiving," she said, her teasing tone softening into one of wisdom.
"Strange circumstances or not, what matters is harmony," Claudia said, her tone neutral but firm. "Tell me, Aria, do you treat my granddaughter well?"
Aria nodded without hesitation. "I do, Your Grace. Bella is not just my sister-wife but someone I deeply admire. I treasure her as family, and we share the same goal—to support and stand by our husband."
Vira stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Well, It's not an unusual situation, and if Bella is happy and Aria shows such sincerity, then who are we to object?"
Celeste, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. "I never expected such a dynamic in my daughter's marriage," she admitted, her tone lighter than expected. "But as long as there is mutual respect, trust and understanding, I have no complaints either."
Bella smiled at her mother's acceptance. "Oh, Thank you, Mother. That means a lot to both of us."
Aengus, who had been observing silently, finally stepped forward. "Thank you all for your understanding," he said, his voice steady and confident. "I will ensure that both Bella and Aria are always cared for and cherished. Their happiness is my priority."
His words seemed to resonate with everyone in the room, and the tension eased further.
"Well," Claudia said with a slight smirk, "it seems you've truly brought quite the storm into our family, Grandson-In-Law. But I must admit, you would be capable of handling them easily."
The group chuckled lightly, the atmosphere now much warmer.
"Generals, I have called you here to inform you that we will be relocating the majority of our army to this location," Aengus announced, shifting the topic to more pressing matters. "I will create the Spatial Gates needed to transport them all here at once."
The gravity of this announcement left the generals wide-eyed. Such a monumental task sounded almost unbelievable. However, seeing the seriousness in their Emperor's expression, they knew better than to question his words.
The scale of Aengus's power was truly something to marvel at. It wasn't every day that one witnessed someone capable of transporting millions of people through a Spatial Portal, crossing hundreds of thousands of kilometers in an instant.
"Yes, Your Majesty. We will begin preparations immediately."