The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] Chapter 1168: His Time

Killian froze and muttered internal expletives that would have shocked his most conservative ancestors.

"If you’re not busy," Jax continued cheerfully, "you might want to look?"

As though understanding the request perfectly, the worker obediently backed away, panning exactly where Jax had gestured.

Incidentally, or probably subconsciously,

The wider angle somehow managed to include even more of Jax.

"It’s pretty neat, isn’t it?" Jax said cheerfully, pointing toward the expanding hive. "You can get a better look once you’re back."

"..."

"..."

Killian briefly entertained the increasingly appealing notion of allowing the floor to swallow him whole.

Unfortunately...

The redhead happened to notice that the unnecessarily hardworking bee had once again centered him perfectly within her field of vision.

The redhead laughed and it was to the tune of Killian’s soul quietly packing its belongings.

Surely...

Surely it couldn’t get any worse.

"Oh!"

Jax’s eyes lit up as another thought struck him.

He looked directly at the little worker bee, or so Killian hoped. Maybe... just maybe, those eyes weren’t trying to see all the way through to him.

But then that tank continued—

"You can look at me properly later, too. It’ll be easier when the view isn’t moving around."

"!!!"

Hah!

The eldest Nox silently swore beneath his breath before squeezing his eyes shut.

Gods.

That guy really needed to stop saying things like that with such an inexplicable level of shamelessness.

Just how?!

Killian was going crazy as he tried to cope with his mind.

Around the conference table, worried whispers immediately began spreading.

"The Chief really has been carrying an incredible burden lately..."

"I’ve never seen him like this."

"Maybe he returned to work too soon."

"..."

"..."

Killian heard every single word.

Which only made him want to swear even harder.

Could everyone please stop making it weird?!

Can’t anyone see that he was already trying his absolute best to remain a functioning member of society?!

Well, apparently, the universe couldn’t have cared less about any of that.

Because just when Killian thought surviving the rest of the workday would already be challenging enough, they suddenly heard the unmistakable sound of hurried boots pounding against the floor outside.

It started faintly.

Then louder.

Then much, much louder.

Even before the source reached the conference room, Killian was already developing a profound dislike for the sound and what it usually meant.

Sure enough, the heavy doors flew open with enough force to slam against the wall.

An employee rushed inside looking thoroughly out of breath, his complexion so pale that several people instinctively wondered whether the Capital had just come under attack. He didn’t even stop to compose himself or offer the usual greetings.

"Chief!" he blurted out between hurried breaths. "Everyone... they’re here, and they won’t take no for an answer!"

The room immediately fell silent.

"What?"

Killian’s question came almost automatically.

The employee swallowed before answering as quickly as he could.

"It’s the twins!" he exclaimed. "And they’ve brought an entire battalion of supporters with them! I tried turning them away like we always do, but this time they came together with a crowd of citizens." His expression turned increasingly helpless the more he spoke. "They’re demanding an actual answer this time and are definitely weaponizing tears!"

__

Killian could already feel a headache settling in, and honestly, he was beginning to think that his earlier crisis had been the preferable problem to deal with.

Sure, accidentally being subjected to questionable thoughts had been momentarily mortifying and a bit too stimulating for his heart.

But at least it hadn’t filled him with the sort of disgust he was currently feeling while watching the live feed from the department lobby, which was rapidly turning into one enormous farce.

Projected before them was a sea of raised holographic tablets, looking somewhere between protest placards and oversized fan signs as a crowd composed mostly of younger citizens gathered around the two Aerun princes.

Clearly they managed to work their magic on these unfortunate people.

Lyrian and Cyrion Luxastra were, unsurprisingly, dressed far too elegantly for what was supposedly an impromptu visit, all while wearing expressions so pitiful they could’ve earned awards for their performance.

To make matters worse, a media crew had somehow already arrived.

The twins spoke gently into the cameras, carefully choosing words that painted themselves as nothing more than concerned suitors.

"Someone like Lord Killian wouldn’t simply disappear without reason," Lyrian said with visible worry. "We’re merely concerned for his safety."

"We simply wish to know why he’s being kept away from everyone," Cyrion added, sounding every bit as distressed.

Behind Killian, someone finally broke the silence.

"How should we respond, Chief?"

Gone was the flustered official from earlier.

Without realizing it, Killian’s expression had steadily darkened into something that made several people instinctively sit a little straighter in their seats.

Finally, he spoke.

"We’re resuming the meeting."

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

"Have everyone return to their seats."

He looked toward the attendant.

"I’ll personally provide our unexpected visitors with the explanation they’re looking for."

"..."

Outside, the crowd continued chanting Killian Nox’s name while the Aerun twins repeatedly urged everyone to settle down, gently insisting they didn’t wish to create a disturbance.

A commendable performance.

Especially considering they were the very ones who’d orchestrated the entire spectacle after realizing their plans weren’t progressing because Killian had genuinely vanished from public view.

Then, just as another chant began rising from the crowd, one of the attendants stepped forward and cleared his throat.

"The Chief of Staff has sent a response."

Almost instantly, the twins brightened.

Killian’s projection appeared above the lobby, deliberately framed to include part of the conference room behind his turned seat. A shoulder here. An arm there. Enough to make it abundantly clear that he was in the middle of an official meeting without exposing the identities of anyone attending.

The twins visibly lit up. They didn’t think he’d say something live.

More importantly, they were surprised to see such an appealing image.

"!"

For someone rumored to be so ill he couldn’t even report to the work people joked he’d long since married, Killian certainly looked remarkably healthy.

They had barely begun preparing their greetings when Killian spoke.

"Your Highnesses."

His expression remained unreadable.

"As much as I appreciate your concern, I’m afraid it would be inappropriate for Killian Nox to entertain private matters while acting in his capacity as the Empire’s Chief of Staff."

"Ah, but it’d only take a bi—"

"As of this moment," Killian continued without missing a beat, "every minute of my available time is on the Empire’s dime. In fact, I’m already starting to owe them, seeing as we’ve interrupted a meeting that was scheduled long before today."

His tone never rose.

"I’d hate for my absence to cause even more concern, so please allow me to reassure everyone that I am merely occupied with my duties while making up for time lost during my recuperation."

Whispers immediately spread throughout the lobby.

The twins, meanwhile, looked visibly irritated before quickly rearranging their expressions into practiced concern once more.

"But then..." Cyrion began, sounding almost desperate. "When will everyone finally get to see you?"

Only for Lyrian to subtly stop him.

Apparently...

At least one of them had realized they weren’t winning today.

Killian simply nodded once.

"For matters concerning my office, kindly coordinate with my assistants regarding available schedules."

He paused.

"But if Your Highnesses are seeking Killian of House Nox..."

His gaze remained perfectly level.

"I’m afraid that may prove difficult. At present, I have very little time for anything outside my responsibilities."

For perhaps the first time in quite a while, the twins genuinely felt as though someone had looked down on them.

The pressure behind those perfectly measured words was enough to make both instinctively tighten their jaws, though years of etiquette prevented either reaction from reaching the cameras.

Unfortunately for Killian...

The heirs of House Luxastra weren’t accustomed to walking away empty-handed.

Recovering first, Lyrian offered a graceful smile.

"Then we certainly understand, My Lord."

He inclined his head politely.

"In that case... we may at least expect your attendance at the upcoming Mecha Licensure Examination?"

Silence.

Even Cyrion found himself impressed.

It was a clever question.

Either Killian declined and appeared unsupportive...

Or he admitted he’d be there.

The twins could already feel victory within reach.

Then Killian answered.

"I will be attending."

The corners of Lyrian’s lips almost lifted.

"And watching over my family."

Bingo.

The twins exchanged the faintest look of satisfaction.

Killian, meanwhile, had to resist the overwhelming urge to scoff.

Who ever said his family would ever include two particularly obnoxious, allegedly geriatric Aeruns?