Emperor's Reckoning

As the upper-class part of the city was in hidden chaos, the situation in the palace was calm despite the incident. The banquet room that was half destroyed was already in the process of repairment, with the resources Luderia held, this kind of thing wouldn't even shake off their economy.

In the throne room, an old man with a royal garb was sitting on the throne. The room was wide and bright, the red carpet was stretched out from the royal seat to the entrance.

The old man had a wrinkled face that marked his life adventures. Though he may look weak, if one was careful enough to inspect him, they would now that he actually had entered a deep cultivation realm.

From his eyes, it was evident that the vigor he had once had in his youth was diminishing to a great amount. He had faced a much brutal yet beautiful life up to this point.

The old man let out a sigh as he faced two of his daughters kneeling before him. With a hoarse voice he said calmly, "As you know, your father might not live much longer."

The two princesses only knelt and faced the floor.

"Chloe,..." called the king.

Princess Chloe immediately stood up as she said with a slight bow, "Yes, royal father."

Despite facing the ruler of Luderia, her eyes were sharp and her body was calm. Was it because of family relations? Not even Princess Chloe herself knew.

The king looked at his youngest child before saying, "I will ask you one last time, are you sure you don't want to fight for the throne?"

He had asked this question more than he could count. This question usually ticked of the princess but this time it was different. She knew that this was the last time her father would ask her.

With a deep breath, Princess Chloe answered, "No royal father, I will not fight for the throne."

"The future that I seek is not in Deo, but in another. It might not be Mabia as well," continued the princess.

The king nodded to her answer. His persuasion had finally stop as he looked at her determining eyes. He knew that this child of his had talent that Deo could not contain, he knew that this child would someday, spread her own wings.

"Very well, then I will relinquish your title of princess."

His words sent a flash inside Princess Aelina head as she instinctively stood up. Princess Chloe, however, was calm and collected.

"Royal father! How could you?!" said Princess Aelina.

Relinquishing a title meant that her power in Luderia was stripped into that of a commoner. She will not be receiving any special treatment just like she used to be.

"Calm down my daughter," said the king calmly as he slowly blinked his eyes.

"I believe this is also your sister's wish, she is about to soar the skies, we cannot burden her with a title such as a princess of a downtrodden world," continued the king.

"But!" Princess Aelina wanted to refute but her brain didn't come out with anything.

The king chuckled as he saw his daughter's expression, "Don't worry, I'm only relinquishing her title, that didn't mean that I have stopped being her father."

Princess Aelina had a shade of red since she seemed to misunderstand the situation.

"Thank you, royal father," said Princess Chloe as she took a bow once more before leaving, "Goodbye... father."

"Oh, one more thing Chloe, I will give you one piece of advice," The departing Chloe halted before turning around.

"Don't be like your oldest sister," said the king with a tinge of emotion.

"En, I won't," answered Chloe as she disappeared from the spot and headed to the gate connecting to Mabia.

"This advice is also for you Aelina," said the king as he averted his gaze to his daughter.

"En, I know, father," nodded Princess Aelina in response.

The king slowly gripping the throne's armrest as he said with a hint of guilt, "I did wrong, I did wrong to that young man years ago."

"Royal father, please stop blaming yourself," said Princess Aelina with concern.

He shook his head, "If if only I realized it sooner..." before he looked at the distance.

"It was all older sister's fault... if she had not cheated, she would be in the world of the living," said Princess Aelina in an attempt to ease his father's sadness.

"No, I had my part of the blame as well, without knowing the cause I attacked that young man out of anger for losing my daughter. Being betrayed by your lover, then being betrayed by your own kingdom that you pledge your loyalty to."

Princess Aelina took a deep breath before saying, "Father, we have found the zither that mother left us."

*crack

The king accidentally put too much force in his grip and cracked the armrest made of gold, "A-are you certain my daughter?"

He looked at her daughter's eyes as he was determined to know the truth.

Princess Aelina nodded, "Through the rumors and timeless investigation, I sent a couple of girls to the designated place and they have found it, in fact, they were in the banquet yesterday."

"Are they one of the victims in the accident?! We need to reimburse them at once!" said the king as his old body suddenly stood up from the throne.

"Calm down, father, they are not one of the ones that fell to the ocean," said Princess Aelina with a smile after seeing his father back on his feet.

"There is just a bit of a problem," continued Princess Aelina with wryly smile.

"A problem?" asked the king with a confused look.

"Yes, a problem, though it's not severe," said Princess Aelina before she explained, "The two girls did found it and it even made an appearance in the banquet yesterday, sadly I wasn't there when it happened..." she blushed as she recalled the event she had with a certain young man prior the incident.

*cough

She let out a light cough to retain her calmness albeit a tinge of red still visible running across her cheeks. "According to the witness that missed the fall, the zither was held by a young man."

The king raised his eyebrows as he asked, "T-this young man, by chance, is his name, Sean?"