And with that blunt statement, the fragile silence shattered.
"What? You knew?"
There was a genuine, awkward pause between them. The older man seemed genuinely confused that his elaborate facade had been seen through so easily.
He sighed deeply.
Shedding the weak persona, he straightened his broad back and took his seat with proper posture.
At that precise moment, he looked exactly like the man who truly ruled an empire—not the degraded, shaking version Cruxius had watched a second ago.
Cruxius just shook his head in mild disappointment.
He casually pulled up a chair and took the seat across from him, resting his elbows on his thighs. He observed his father return to his usual, imposing self. There wasn't even a hint of embarrassment on the old man's face for putting on such a cringe-worthy display.
"Yes… and stop being so dramatic. Just tell me everything, Dad."
