The Martial Unity

"Indeed," The Emperor nodded. "Although young and inexperienced, she possessed the forbidden technique of the Eye of Prophecy. In return for the technique in her Martial Art, I offered the Silas Clan a powerful Sage-level artifact that would aid in obscuring them even further. And thus, an exchange occurred."

He smiled. "She was pregnant with you even before we bade the Silas Clan farewell and returned to the Kandrian Empire…"

His smile grew sorrowful. "And that was when things took a rough turn."

"…What happened?"

"She grew revolted and disgusted at the toxic, poisonous relationships within the Royal Family," The Emperor heaved a sigh. "Princes and princesses plotting and scheming each other's downfall and deaths. Scheming to one day ascend the throne after I died or abdicated it. Anybody who bore the blood of the royal family was in danger of being targeted to eliminate competition."

"…Like what happened to Rajak," Rui realized.

The Emperor nodded. "Indeed. You might think that what happened to him was special, but really, it's rather tame compared to what has happened and what does happen."

Rui's eyes sharpened at those words.

The Emperor shook his head, heaving a sigh. "She sought to distance herself away from me. She refused to let her baby become embroiled in the venomous and hateful conflicts between the members of the Royal Family. I tried my best to convince her, but she demanded that I abdicate the throne and leave Kandria with her forever if she wanted us to remain together as a family. However, so long as the crown rested upon my head, she deemed that it was a threat to her growing fetus."

"And you chose the crown." Rui narrowed his eyes.

The Emperor heaved a sigh. "I had truly come close to abdicating. Maybe I would have, had I had just a little bit more time. Unfortunately…"

His voice grew grave. "…Time I didn't have, for that was when true disaster struck."

The air grew a few shades darker.

Rui narrowed his eyes. "What happened?"

her to accept the medical intervention of the Royal Doctors of the Royal Court, but she refused. She did not want her existence to be alerted to the princes and princesses who would undoubtedly learn of her and her baby should any Royal asset come into

as his expression

temper that day. I said things that I now

guilt churned in the

That you would grow up with the love of a family that

of her for walking away from me and refusing my aid. However, I never

sorrowful smile returned

a woman who was once a trafficked orphan, determined to offer a loving home to orphans that she had been

at Rui. "That was

as the Emperor recounted the tale that had gone on to shape

Lashara accepted

matter for my wide set

eyes. "Hide the truth from me until you

of resentment echoed

was not pleased about the emotional rollercoaster that the Royal Addressal Ceremony had

sigh. "I did not forget about you. I have never forgotten

demeanor grew

peered

forgot about you, watching your miraculous life with more pride than I ever thought I had. I even actively protected you before you became

voice trailed off as he murmured

Rui's eyes furrowed with uncertainty. "I don't follow

"…Then I suppose it would be better to show than

a moment, nothing

Rui frowned, wondering if the Eternal Dream disease accelerated mental decline. "There's no one else

Oh, but there was.

familiar Realm of power unfolded behind

as he felt a titanic surge of pressure