Aeren stood behind his father, watching as a carriage approached in the distance. He felt bored in this situation. His father had told him that some important people would be coming to the event and wanted to introduce all the members of the royal family. That's why Aeren had come along, though a man had piqued his interest and he wanted to see him; that's why he followed his father's command to come here.
"Brother, what do you think? Who could be important enough for two kings to come to welcome him?" Ellie stood next to Aeren, her elegance evident as she waited patiently, her eyes focused intently on the approaching carriage. She was more curious about the man than interested in conversing with Aeren, wondering who possessed the power to command respect from two kings at once. Unfortunately, she had no information about him.
Aeren turned toward Ellie, recalling an incident at the guild when he had returned from his adventure. Ellie had emptied the entire guild, leaving only herself and Qoria, waiting anxiously for his arrival. Anyone who attempted to enter faced her wrath; she had dispatched them without hesitation. Strangely, no one dared to challenge her. A few had tried to seek revenge, but before they could act, they perished without a chance to retaliate. As time passed, people began to realise the dangerous consequences of crossing her and stopped coming to the guild entirely. On the other side, Qoria had knelt motionless for days without lifting her head, sweat covering her body constantly.
One day, Aeren arrived and sensed that something was profoundly amiss in the guild. "Hmm, maybe I should go on an adventure and see how many differences I can find," he whispered to himself as he stepped inside cautiously.
The moment he entered, a flying knife was aimed directly at his head. Reacting quickly with preternatural speed, he dodged with ease. As Aeren sidestepped the knife effortlessly, Ellie approached him rapidly, about to punch him with full force. However, before her fist could reach him, Aeren's hand had already struck her stomach.
Bam!
She flew backwards from the impact violently, not dying instantly like the monsters he'd bested with a single punch. "Hmm, who are you?" Aeren said, sensing a familiar bond but unable to place her identity. Ellie was left blocked by a wall, while Qoria remained on her knees, simply observing the chaotic situation, trembling visibly.
"Shut up, you fucker!" Ellie retorted angrily, rage coursing through her as she felt the searing pain in her stomach. Aeren's nonchalance irritated her further intensely. She stood up slowly, staring at him hard, recognizing his usual face. It hadn't changed a bit, but she noticed he had lost strength somehow—though he could have killed her had he been in full form. Despite that loss, he was still remarkably strong even in his diminished state. Ellie contemplated him deeply, studying him intently.
Aeren examined her as well. He sensed a familiar bond between them, though he could not fully recall her identity. However, something in his bloodline hinted strongly at her identity. He also felt a trace of his own essence on her, faint yet enough to awaken his realisation completely. "Dear sister, why have you come to me?" Aeren asked politely, a genuine smile gracing his face as he looked at her.
Ellie was taken aback by his unexpected words. Her eyes widened in complete disbelief; she could hardly believe what she had just heard. Aeren spoke to her as if he were a true prince, someone she had never seen or heard speak in such a manner before.
"Are you alright, brother?" she asked, doubting her own senses, still reeling from his courteous words.
"I'm alright," Aeren said flatly. "You haven't answered me." He looked at Ellie, questioning her directly about the reason for her unexpected visit.
"Hmm, I came to pick you up, ordered by Father," Ellie replied, calming herself carefully despite the anger still bubbling beneath the surface. She controlled her emotions and met Aeren's gaze steadily, revealing none of her inner feelings. 'He's still the same, even though his conversation has changed a little.'
As Aeren pondered his adventure and return to the royal palace, he reflected deeply, 'What should I do? Should I go with her, or continue exploring this place? I can learn about my empire in the capital as well. I could embark on new adventures there, and there's nothing left for me to discover in this small city. It wouldn't be useful.'
Realizing that he had gained everything from this place and discovered nothing particularly new, Aeren decided to return to the capital. He sensed that he might encounter something genuinely different there. Coincidentally, he noticed Qoria still kneeling and remembered the guild card he had forgotten. He decided to take his card before leaving.
"Very well, we will return home," Aeren said to Ellie, then walked over to Qoria. As he approached her, he looked down at her silently.
"Why are you here? We're leaving, not staying," Ellie said, puzzled by his deliberate actions.
"Hey, lady. Give me my card," Aeren said coldly, ignoring Ellie completely as he addressed Qoria. She looked up, her eyes meeting his, and saw that he showed absolutely no sympathy.
Ellie stood beside them, confused by their cryptic conversation, the silence around them palpable and heavy. Qoria sighed in relief, genuinely glad to have an excuse to rise from her painful position.
"Prince Aeren, your card is in the office. I'll get it for you," Qoria replied eagerly, her desire to stand up growing for multiple reasons. She wanted to leave desperately, having been trapped there for at least a week, with no one coming to save her from Princess Ellie's relentless presence. She had attempted to escape several times, but each effort had been thwarted completely.
Aeren observed her closely, reading her easily. "Well, go get it for me," he commanded.
"Yes, Prince Aeren," she exclaimed, excitement lighting up her face as she sprang to her feet and hurried eagerly toward the office.
Aeren and Ellie watched her retreating figure disappear. "You've become soft, Brother," Ellie whispered, glancing meaningfully at Aeren.
He continued to gaze after Qoria before turning to Ellie and replying softly, "Do you really think so?"
A heavy silence fell over them as they both reflected on each other's words, understanding the profound unspoken meaning behind them.
***
"Hmm, a man with multiple women," Aeren responded to Ellie's earlier question. He understood instinctively that only a man with several women could gain the genuine support and respect of two kings. In contrast, a solitary man like Aeren would forever be viewed as a potential villain in the eyes of those kings. Aeren knew with certainty that no king would appreciate his philosophy or his relentless pursuit of true reality. Even if he revealed his profound insights, they would be completely overwhelmed by it. They had always been as they were because they had never experienced the actual reality that Aeren had.
"HAHAHAHAHA, brother. Don't speak nonsense," Ellie laughed loudly at Aeren's words, turning back toward the carriage as it approached closer. She was deeply sceptical of Aeren's claims, dismissing them as absurd. However, her disbelief turned to shock as she saw three women emerge gracefully from a single carriage, with a commanding man leading them. Her mouth fell open in genuine astonishment as the reality hit her powerfully. "How!" she thought, denial creeping slowly in. She had never imagined that people like them could rise to a position where they commanded respect from two powerful kings. She had always believed that those who had multiple women lacked the time or desire to look beyond worldly pleasures entirely.
"HAHA, I told you," Aeren chuckled lightly, genuinely enjoying her surprise. He believed that whenever someone gained strength or power, they were likely to attract multiple partners naturally. Their mindset shifted fundamentally, often consumed entirely by worldly desires, and they became fixated on preserving their elevated status in increasingly dangerous situations, oblivious to their surroundings and the true reality they lived in.
Aeren had his own profound experiences, but he lost all desire the moment he chose to free himself from the enticing things surrounding him. While he had chased his own reality relentlessly, that pursuit was what ultimately set him apart, allowing him to stand alone and look down upon the others.