Reva didn't seem surprised and gave a light bow as she said in a restrained tone, "Royal father, is there any reason for this sudden visit?"
With his hands behind his back, Ruthren said, "Sudden? I barely even see you around the palace, and it's been like that for all these years despite you staying within the palace. Most of the time, you would either say you are cultivating or having an audience with the venerable one. Why does it seem like you are avoiding me or the others in this palace?"
Reva narrowed her gaze and said calmly, "I am sorry if that's how it seems like, royal father. I merely don't even notice the days passing, and as you know, I am very keen on receiving guidance from the venerable one that I don't get much time to do anything else."
Ruthren raised one of his brows, "Is that so? Then why do you stay back in the Xeton Ethereal Foundation these days? I heard you are personally giving some extra classes to a boy named 'Damien', one of the very few practitioners in history to have a lightning seed. I wonder what the extra classes are for when many speak of him as a shocking genius."
Ruthren's tone had no undulations and seemed extremely calm. However, Reva could feel his sharp gaze on her as if it was probing her mind.
Her heart didn't ripple as she answered in a composed tone, "It's because he lacks in some other areas and requested me to help him. As his teacher, I couldn't ignore him."
Ruthren's eyes narrowed as he nodded, "Fair enough. But there is no need to rush yourself, trying to cultivate to higher realms. You are already the strongest of your generation, and no one can ever surpass you."
Reva shook her head as she said, "No, there's one another person at least as strong with me without much difference in our ages."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Ruthren let out a scoff, "You are talking about Triton from that failure of a rebel organization? He is just someone they desperately nurtured to act as a rival to you. But he is not blessed by a god, and even if his cultivation is higher than you by a few levels, you could easily crush him in a fight. But unfortunately, you don't seem very interested in battles, nor have I ever seen you even having a combat with someone. I guess that's why I can only rely on your elder brother for the tournament."
"First brother is still under close doors cultivation, right?" Reva asked as her eyes frowned slightly.
"Yes, he is. Since he is even older than you, at least he should catch up to you, or I would be very disappointed. After all, he would be participating in the tournament for me because of the age limit," Ruthren said with a placid smile.
Reva tried not to show any needless expressions on her face and said, "But royal father, why are you trying to make the Celestial Princess as your queen consort? Isn't she too young to be one?"
With a veiled smile, Ruthren looked at Reva and said, "You have no idea what she is. And I believe if people truly understood her potential, then the other empires might even go to war just to obtain her. Of course, even if a war broke out, I wouldn't worry too much."
Reva was inwardly surprised to know that Ruthren wasn't eyeing Lily for any simple reasons. She wondered what it could be.
Ruthren continued as his gaze turned nostalgic, "Besides, her beauty doesn't even lose out to yours. You know how I haven't felt any love towards my current consorts like how I loved your mother and"—he turned his gaze over to the ocean—" even to this day, my heart feels empty for not having her by my side."
Reva moved her hands behind as she clenched them tightly, hearing his words, and tried her best not to look at him.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Ruthren went on, "I feel like the Celestial Princess would be able to fill the void in my heart. And you would also gain a new younger mother. I hope our family can become complete soon enough."
After a brief moment of silence, Reva said in an impassive tone, "Royal father, it's time for me to go. My class would be starting soon."
Without turning his head, Ruthren gestured with his hand, "Hmm, you can go."
However, as soon as she left, he mumbled with an indifferent smile, "What a pity, Reva."
Later in the imperial treasury room, Ruthren was walking among the vast riches and precious resources laying about when a man in his thirties with a handsome face, a mustache, and sky blue hair, dressed in an artful golden robe entered the treasury.
Without turning back, Ruthren said, "Ximir, do you bring any news for me?"
Ximir gave a deep, respectful bow and felt very nervous inwardly as this was the first time Ruthren ordered him to visit him in the treasury.
The imperial treasury was only allowed to a select few, those of whom were mainly people belonging to the imperial family or grand elders.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})He wondered why an elder like him was called here within the treasury itself, and his eyes still couldn't recover from the shock after seeing such wealth and riches surrounding him.
Although he knew how wealthy his empire was, he had never seen how much it had amassed over its long history.
He could see that the treasury extended for at least tens of kilometers and many chambers within it, which probably held even more riches and treasures.
With just the wealth around him, Ximir could guess that one could even leave for tens of thousands of years without any income.
He tried his best not to show any nervousness, but being personally called by the emperor was not something that happened every day, especially in such a place.
He replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, I bring no news as things have been looking good so far."
"Really?" Ruthren asked in a terse tone as he turned around to look at Ximir.
Ximir gulped as he said, "Yes, Your Majesty."
"Ximir, do you know why I trust you so much despite being only an elder yourself?" Ruthren asked meaningfully.
Ximir was surprised hearing his words as he couldn't believe what Ruthren just said.
Ruthren continued without letting Ximir reply, "It's because you know how to do a job efficiently and because of your steadfast loyalty that has never failed me in all your years of serving me. I have seen you climb the ranks pretty quickly on your own with the ability to gather information very well, and that's why you caught my eye. I couldn't think of a better person to task with guarding my daughter. So, how's my daughter these days? How is she doing in the Xeton Ethereal Foundation?"
Ximir replied with raised brows, "Her Highness has been doing very well. I heard her disciples are very fond of her teaching, and they were able to understand all concepts very easily. I—"
"What do you think about that boy named Damien?" Ruthren asked as he interrupted Ximir.
Ximir had a confused expression as he pulled his brows together, wondering why Ruthren suddenly asked about Damien.
However, he replied directly, "Well, his talent is surely out of the world, especially with how he has the lightning seed as well. And based on his behavior in school, he seems arrogant but crafty and fearless. It also seems like something is going on between him and Valentina, the super genius and personal disciple of Alchemist Azrael. Even though I found it a bit surprising, I guess in the long run; they surely match each other well."
Ruthren questioned, "And do you think a person like him needs extra classes? I heard he is quite a genius in alchemy as well and can produce amber-colored flames. Everything is strange about him, and his background might as well be a cover. Someone from the Rong Empire can't be this powerful, or we would have known it before. Keep a watch on him, especially my daughter's interactions with him. I know you won't be able to know what's going on during the extra classes but just observe her daily activities and routines. Let me know if you notice something different than usual. You may leave now."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Ximir nodded as he gave a deep bow. He turned around and left with furrowed brows.
After Ximir left, Ruthren walked forward and entered a chamber as he passed through an ethereal lock.
There he saw a mirror made of moving water, and as he looked at it, he mumbled with a sigh, "Reva, why do you have to make things hard for yourself?"
