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?"

that no force in the world could save her life, refusing any help. I desperately begged her to accept the medical intervention of the Royal Doctors of the Royal Court, but she refused. She did not want her existence

as his expression grew

day. I said things that I now can never

and guilt churned in the depths

oath from me." The Emperor breathed in shakily. "That you would grow up with the true love that every child deserves. That you would grow up with the love of a family that she and I were unable to give you. That you would never be preyed on

was truly resentful of her for walking away from me and refusing my aid. However, I never forgot the

returned

An orphanage created and run by a woman who was once a trafficked orphan, determined to offer a loving home to orphans

at Rui.

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

you made it so that Mother Lashara accepted

matter for my wide set of competencies," The Emperor shrugged

recently?" Rui narrowed his eyes. "Hide the truth from me until you needed me? And then reveal the truth to me alongside the entire

of resentment echoed in

about the emotional rollercoaster that the Royal Addressal

Emperor heaved a sigh. "I did not forget about you. I have never

demeanor grew solemn yet

eyes peered into

suffered from the tribulations life thrust upon you. Yet, I never forgot about you, watching your miraculous life with more pride than I ever thought I had. I even actively protected you before you became a Martial Artist, though I wonder if you even remember…it was so

voice trailed off as

do you mean?" Rui's eyes furrowed with uncertainty. "I don't

suppose it would be

a moment,

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

Oh, but there was.

of power unfolded behind

a titanic surge of pressure weighing down on