Chief in Tensura

The princesses froze mid-chase as they blushed like...well like princesses. One clutched the hem of her skirt nervously, while the other quickly adjusted her hair, trying to appear composed.

The youngest prince, grinning mischievously, slipped behind a large chair, holding the socks behind his back like a criminal caught red-handed. Flashing an innocent smile as if he didn't do anything.

The Dagger Duchess narrowed her eyes, her sharp glare almost tangible. If looks could kill, I would have been pinned to the wall.

And then there was the Royal Champion. Her eyes locked onto mine, and it felt like she was appraising me.

For a moment, I felt like I had walked into the lion's den. But then again, this was nothing new for me.

"Uh… Merry Clashmas?" I said, hoisting the sack slightly with a charming smile.

The princesses giggled nervously, the youngest prince ducked further behind the chair, and the Dagger Duchess scoffed, her glare somehow growing sharper.

The Royal Champion raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. "You must be Santa's assistant," she said, her voice smooth yet authoritative. "I expected someone… older, or perhaps less... daring."

"Well," I replied, meeting her gaze with a confident smirk of my own, "age is overrated. Besides, I make up for it in charisma."

The youngest prince peeked out from behind the chair, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "What's in the bag?" he asked, his small hands clutching the wish socks tighter.

"Gifts," I said, hoisting the sack with a dramatic flair before setting it down. "But only for those who've been nice."

The room erupted with silent reactions.

The Little Prince froze, his mischievous grin melting into a panicked expression as if the weight of all his pranks had just caught up to him. His grip on the socks tightened, and he edged farther behind the chair, clearly reconsidering every life choice he had made till the day.

The princesses, on the other hand, lit up like holiday decorations, their excitement practically radiating. One clasped her hands together, her cheeks flushed with anticipation, while the other exchanged a quick, giddy look with her sister.

The Dagger Duchess, whose sharp glare had been drilling into me moments before, suddenly seemed to have changed in character. Her eyes softened with a glimmer of curiosity and anticipation.

Hehe, even if she tried to appear mature, she was still a young girl.

Then there was the Royal Champion. Her smirk widened ever so slightly. For all her stoic composure, the faint spark of anticipation in her eyes was undeniable.

"Nice, huh?" Azura said, her tone playful as she leaned casually against the wall. "That's a pretty high bar to clear in this palace. Care to share the criteria?"

I chuckled, opening the oversized sack Santa had handed me. "Let's just say Santa has his ways. He knows who has been naughty or nice. And trust me, this bag doesn't lie."

The princesses exchanged excited whispers, giggling like children. The Little Prince gulped audibly, shifting nervously, while the Dagger Duchess leaned forward slightly, her curiosity betraying her stoic face.

Azura, however, sauntered forward. Her movements were almost predatory, bordering seductive (That is new), and her piercing blue eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made it clear she wasn't here to play second fiddle to anyone.

"So," she began, stopping just inches from me and tilting her head slightly. Her voice dropped to a soft, teasing lilt. "What exactly does Santa have in that bag for someone like me?"

She was tall, but compared to me, she fell short. From this angle, I couldn't help but notice a hint of cleavage and the way her armor clung to her form. My gaze flicked upward before she could catch me, meeting her smirk head-on.

"That depends," I said, my tone casual as I slung the sack over my shoulder. "Were you naughty or nice this year?"

Azura's smirk widened, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Define 'naughty,'" she quipped, crossing her arms just below her chest, making a subtle but deliberate movement that made it impossible not to notice her figure.

I raised an eyebrow, refusing to rise to the bait. "Let's just say Santa probably wouldn't approve of flirting with his assistant."

Azura leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a sultry whisper meant only for me. "And does Santa's assistant mind? Or is he too much of a 'nice boy' to enjoy a little mischief?"

I held her gaze, fighting the smirk tugging at my lips. "I remember you," I said, steering the conversation back to safer ground. "Azura, right? Daughter of the Cannoneer. A genius warrior, or so they say."

Her feigned gasp of offense was almost convincing. "'So they say'? You wound me, Santa's helper. I thought my reputation was legendary."

"Legendary, sure," I replied, my tone teasing as I hefted the sack over my shoulder. "But reputations are earned, not inherited."

Azura's smirk deepened, the glint in her blue eyes sharpening. "Touché. And here I thought you were just some errand boy with a bag of gifts. Turns out there's a sharp tongue behind that holiday cheer."

"Let's just say I have my reasons for being here," I replied cryptically, matching her smirk with one of my own.

She stepped back, crossing her arms as if considering me anew. "Mysterious and sharp-tongued. You are full of surprises."

"I aim to please."

Azura's expression shifted, the mischief in her eyes intensifying. "Well, if you need help for your reasons, maybe I can help you. I am the warrior princess, after all, but only if you can give me what I truly want, not from the bag but from you. Can you?"

The challenge hung in the air, her teasing tone laced with genuine curiosity.

I tilted my head, playing along. "That depends. What exactly does someone like you want from Santa's assistant?"

She leaned in again, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Let's just say I'm more interested in the man than the gifts."

I couldn't help but chuckle, shaking my head slightly. "Careful, Azura. Flirting with Santa's assistant might land you on the naughty list."

Azura's laugh was rich with amusement. "Oh, I have been on that list for years. But maybe this time, I'll make it worth your while."

She was trouble, no doubt about it. But there was something magnetic about her boldness, her playful energy a stark contrast to the reputation and strength she had. It was clear she enjoyed testing boundaries, and I couldn't deny I found it entertaining.

But I had not come here for flirting, "Maybe some other day; for now, I have gifts to distribute." I said opening the bag and summoning the socks from the Little Prince's hand.

Opening it, I raised a brow at the princesses' reading the request aloud. "We need a prince of the clash, with strength rivaling Dad's (apparently both were identical looking but the daughter of Blue and Red Emperors), and he will treat both of us equally and with love."

The princesses' faces turned beet red, rivaling the outfits they wore; a metaphorical steam rose from their heads as everyone's eyes were now on them, but they looked at me as if I was their gift!

"Ahem, I need to talk to the Emperors in this particular case." As the expression of hope turned into disappointment, it hurt my heart full of benevolence seeing such beautiful flowers deflating.

'Maybe I should sacrifice my 'purity' to fulfill their wish.' I thought, sometimes I am surprised by my generosity.

The Dagger Dutchess' had a smug smile, but it quickly turned into panic as I looked at her and then I opened the golden socks and glanced at the wish written in elegant handwriting. Clearing my throat, I read aloud, "A plushie of Crow, someone who won't call me princess, and a tower of my own in the Royal Arena."

The room fell into an awkward silence. Then, a snort came from Azura, who was clearly trying to suppress her laughter. The Little Prince openly giggled, and the princesses, still red-faced from their own wish being exposed, now looked relieved that attention had shifted.

The Dagger Duchess, however, looked like she wanted to crawl under her chair. "Wh-what are you talking about, Santa's assistant?! Why would I—why would anyone ask for a Crow plushie?!" She tried to glare at me but she looked more cute with how red her face was.

I raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "Well, it's right here in your handwriting, Duchess. And I must say, the tower idea is pretty ambitious. Not a bad wish, actually. Do you plan to host duels or just enjoy the view from the top?"

Though I knew she wanted to fight as a defense, who was I to give her satisfaction?

Her glare could have sliced through steel. "I never wrote that!" she snapped, but the blush creeping up her cheeks betrayed her.

Azura, still smirking, leaned closer to me. "Careful, assistant. You are playing a dangerous game with Kara. She might just put a real dagger in your back."

I shrugged. "If I had a gold coin for every time someone's wanted to stab me, I would have owned this entire palace by now."

The Duchess's sputtering was interrupted by the Little Prince, who tugged at my sleeve, his face full of mischief. "What about my wish, Santa's assistant? Did I get what I asked for?"

I reached into the sack again, summoning another set of socks. "Ah, let's see… A lifetime supply of elixir and someone who can finally beat me at the Royale Tournament."

The prince grinned proudly. "See? I'm not as greedy as the others."

I chuckled. "Ambitious, though. A lifetime supply of elixir? You planning to start a war?"

His grin widened, but before he could respond, one of the princesses spoke up. "Wait a minute! How did you get our wish from his socks?"

"Magic," I replied nonchalantly, though even I was wondering about the logistics. The sock-swapping must have been Santa's doing, though for what purpose, I had no idea.

What Leo didn't know was that he was the centerpiece of a subtle conspiracy orchestrated by the Emperors themselves. The twins' wish for a prince with strength rivaling their fathers wasn't just a coincidence, it was a carefully planted idea. As the Clash King, his power and influence made him the perfect candidate to unify their bloodlines.

Even the Duchess's wish for a tower in the Royal Arena was tied to this scheme. If he joined the Royale Tournament which he will, he could easily grant her that wish, further solidifying his ties to the youngest generation and the Royal Empire. Of course, Leo remained blissfully unaware of all this, instead focusing on the chaos unfolding around him.

Azura leaned back, clearly enjoying the show. "Well, assistant, it looks like you have got your hands full. But don't worry," she added with a wink. "I'm sure you will find a way to make everyone happy." Her voice was laced with innuendo, which Leo didn't understand at the right time.

Leo smirked, shaking his head. "Yeah, because that's definitely my job." Unaware of the the double meaning of the sentence.

As he looked around at the room's chaotic mix of blushing princesses, a flustered Duchess, a mischievous prince, and a smirking Royal Champion, Leo couldn't help but feel like he had just walked into a carefully laid trap. But hey, if Santa wanted him to play along, who was he to argue?

~~~~~~

We will learn in detail in next chapter.

Drop the Pics

Royal Champion - Azura, Daughter of the Cannoneer Deidara, who is cousin of Red. (Red Emperor)

Princesses- Looks similar but one is daughter of Blue and one is daughter of Red.

Dagger Dutchess- Kara, niece of Blue King.

Little Prince- Nephew of Red and Blue King

Royal Ghost- White, Father of Blue and Red.

Santa

Blue- Blue Emperor

Red- Red Emperor