Narrow braziers enclosing each of the fourteen sandstone columns light up the entire throne hall and bathe it in an orange glow. The unadorned stones on the embowed ceiling dance in the flickering light while memorials and statues look down upon the oaken floor of this royal hall.
A malachite rug splits the entire room in half from the doors to the throne while burgee banners with burnished ornaments are on the walls. Between each banner hangs a small luster, all but a few have been lit and in turn, illuminate the mosaics of divine beings below them.
Wide windows are enclosed by curtains colored the same malachite as the banners. The curtains have been adorned with decorating tips and intricate embroidery.
A grand throne of stone sits beneath two overlooking statues of legendary beasts and is adjoined by four equally lavish seats for the royal highness' direct family.
The throne is covered in intricate engravings and fixed on each of the slim ears is a carved symbolic emblem. The soft pillows are a light malachite and these too have been adorned with adorned needlework.
Those awaiting to be heard by their royal highness can do so on the countless decorated, but somewhat uncomfortable iron benches, all of which are diagonally facing the throne. Those of higher standing can instead take a seat in the extravagant mezzanines facing the benches below.
And standing before such a grand throne was the emperor of the Far East Empire, Saeko's father, the emperor Michael Itsuki Ren.
He was walking to and fro, with his expression seeming as if he was in deep thought while at the same time expecting someone's arrival.
''Let's see how much I have progressed before he comes.'' His expression was that of anger when he talked about him. But this quickly disappeared after checking his status.
『[Micheal Itsuki Ren]
Rank 15 [Demigod] fr(e)ewebn(o)vel
Level 180
Class: Magic Swordsman
Age: 116
Male
Race: Human
Experience Value: ????
Magic Power: 8000/8000
Magic: Wind/Lightning
Attack: 6600
Defense: 6100
Agility: 5700
Intelligence: 3300
Luck: 3100
BP: 0
SP: 0
Gift: Enomaru
Skills: [Negation Level 8] [Hand to Hand Combat Level 7] [Presence Detection Level 10] [Wind Art Level 7] [Lightning Art Level 10] [Imperial Swordsmanship Level 10] [Sword Art Level 10]
Special Abilities: [Lightning Domain] [Lightning Wings] [Wind Zone]
Titles: [Hard Worker ] [The Awakened] [The Diligent] [Blessed] [Slaughterer]
''Not bad but I better work hard before that girl catches up to me.'' He said with a smile almost as if he was looking forward to that day quickly coming, there is a certain joy in imagining this.
However, this joy vanished when he felt someone's presence.
Soon enough, a gentle voice filled with respect traveled to Michael's ears, "Royal father, you asked for me?"
Michael slowly moved his eyes toward the large door and saw Itsuki Jr Ren coming in with a smile and respectfully bowing before him. His second son.
Michael crinkled his eyes as he scrutinized him from top to bottom. Itsuki Jr still didn't lift his head and maintained a calm expression. Still, inwardly he was trembling, feeling his father's gaze penetrate right through his bones.
"Hmph, still level 139, not even Demigod yet? What have you been up to since I told you to go into dungeons and only come back after you become Demigod? Wasting your time by playing around instead of focusing on level up right?"
Michael questioned as his gaze tightened.
Itsuki Jr's heart quivered from hearing his father's biting tone and didn't even feel as if he had enough strength to lift his head. His heart tightened, especially when he felt no love from his tone.
However, he still replied in a tone as calm as possible with his head still down.
"Forgive me, Royal Father...I—"
"Come here, you useless thing! Why are you hiding your face like a coward?"
Michael roared, seeing his son still standing with his head down.
The way he talked to Itsuki Jr was quite a contrast to how he usually talked with Saeko or to the crown prince, which was no less than that of a loving father.
The throne hall seemed to shake along with his roar and jolted Itsuki Jr's body sending a shiver down his spine.
The calm expression Itsuki Jr had before was already twisted into one of fear and apprehension. How could he keep up his calm expression in front of such a supreme existence that looked down upon every living being in the empire?
He listlessly lifted his head and walked towards his father, each of his steps as feeble as a child's, making one wonder if he was this scared why not do what his father told him to do?
Just as he got near to his father and stood before him, he saw him slowly walking towards him, each of his steps majestically echoing in the hall, but for Itsuki Jr, each of those steps seemed to be stepping on his heart.
His face was straight, but his eyes, even if he wanted to, were unable to meet his father's cold gaze. All he could look at was his feet while unable to calm his body down as tension wracked his nerves.
Michael said in a cold tone as he glared at his son's face.
"Do you think just because you are my son and happened to be the born royalty, your life is set? How foolish! People with fewer resources are stronger than you. Do you now understand how useless you are now?"
Itsuki Jr moved his gaze down in humiliation.
He replied respectfully, "Royal father, I am trying my best, but there can always be gifted geniuses that are fated to surpass the world itself like my sister and big brother. How can I hope to keep up?"
Slap!
Swoosh!
THUD!
A cold slap resounded in the hall, followed by the sound of flesh hitting the hard floor after a short flight.
"Ughhh…" He was suddenly slapped to the floor, making him groan in pain. Blood trickled down his lips while the right side of his cheek was completely red and swollen, distorting his handsome features. freewebnov(e)l
His body was uncontrollably shaking as he tried to lift body. Taking a slap, no matter how weakened from the strongest entity in the empire, was not something a normal man can survive.
Itsuki Jr could even feel that some of his bones seemed to be fractured, making it even harder for him even to move his mouth to talk.
"How disgraceful.''
Michael coldly uttered as he looked down at his son lying a few feet away, it took only a single step to go over there.
"You cannot hope to keep up? Is that how my son, the second prince of the second strongest empire in this continent, should talk? Even a wild dog has a stronger spine than you. Saeko is four years younger than you. But look at how different you are from her. Her rank is higher than you, already Rank 15 when you have yet to be Rank 14, I won't talk about your elder brother, the crown prince which only two years older than you.''
His eyes showed no pity or guilt at all seeing his second son lying down on the cold ground and continued as he lifted him by the collar.
"If you cannot hope to keep up, then should I quick you out, I was planning to give you three duchies to govern as a test, should I give them to your third brother?."
Michael seemed not to be joking when he said those words, he even added.
''You useless thing, you can't even match up to your sister, then how do you expect to match up to some outsider with such a weak spine?"
Feeling wronged, Itsuki Jr even started to tear up from all the pain and sadness as he mumbled, "My sister is a genius not meant to be compared with someone like me. I am only happy to have her surpass me.''
His tone contained a tinge of admiration despite being under the angry gaze of his father.
But his response only made his father curl his lips as he said.
"How convenient. A perfect excuse so that you can laze around as the second prince enjoying the luxury and resources you are getting because of being my son. It seems like you lack the right motivation. Then let me give you one."
Itsuki Jr face turned ashen as his features trembled in the apprehension of what he was about to say.
With a cold smile, Michael announced.
"If you do not break through to the rank level within a week, I will cut off my support, and I will also disown you as my son, I will send you to a rural county without a penny. If you don't want this to happen, you know what to do."
Itsuki Jr shivered upon hearing those words, he felt wronged, why would he have to suffer in a such peaceful environment? He resented everyone.
''Scram!'' Michael declared before kicking his son and sending him flying outside.
''What useless son. I hope he will understand before it's too late. This world is not peaceful as it used to be.'' Michael let out a short sigh.
Meanwhile, Itsuki Jr on his way back encountered one of his uncles.
''Greetings, royal uncle.''
''Do you want to get stronger? More than your elder brother and little sister?" His royal uncle said after accepting his greetings.
''Huh?" Itsuki Jr was shocked because the uncle inside his memory didn't behave like this but this doesn't matter as he said something that interested him.
''Yes, I want to get stronger.'' He declared and his uncle smiled creepily.
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