Rui watched as she vented out her rage, hatred, and frustration wordlessly. He couldn’t be moved by words, and considering that not even a day had passed since his father’s death, it was fair that she got to curse him for it. It was too much to ask that people move on from this tragedy on the sa day as the tragedy.
By the ti she was done, she was out of breath and sweating.
Her face was flushed red as she leaned forward, gasping for air with deep breaths. Then, she fell back into her chair with exhaustion, listlessly staring at the ceiling with an apathetic expression.
"All done?" Rui raised an eyebrow. "I hope that made you feel better. We still have things to discuss."
"There’s nothing left to discuss." Her voice was reduced to a whisper. "If you have decided to take the throne, then... the Kandrian Throne War is already over. The others just haven’t realized yet."
She gazed at Rui with a dark expression.
"Try not to destroy the Empire."
She got up with visible effort, stumbling as she stood up.
"Stop."
She froze just as she was about to take a step away. Rui’s ethereal voice bore heavily on her body and mind, almost as if he could exert control directly over her mind.
"I told you, we still have so things to discuss."
She slowly turned to him with an exhausted expression, seemingly devoid of any care for anything.
Yet, she heeded his words, simply taking a seat opposite her.
"Let begin by addressing the actual criticisms that exist underneath all the hatred, venom, and rage you have expressed," Rui remarked with a tone of composure. "The simple reality is that, even if you have chosen to phrase it in the most provocative manner possible, there is truth to what you have said. I am, in so ways, ’a boy smitten with Martial Art.’ I’m just so good at it that I’m the most powerful being on this continent."
She stirred at those words as a hint of surprise erged in his eyes. She either expected him to snap back with a witty retort that obscured the actual source of the hatred that his half-sister had for him. Still, just because he accepted the criticism did not change anything.
"However, that wasn’t because I half-heartedly accepted responsibility and then failed to uphold the responsibilities I agreed to," Rui remarked. "From the very beginning, after our father was healed and returned to the throne, I told him that I wanted nothing more to do with politics anymore. At the ti, I was very sick of it from the previous throne war and wanted to dive back into Martial Art. I only saw it as a shackle and a prison back then."
She huffed lightly. "And you expect to believe that you have changed, after all these years?"
"I have changed my mind," he reaffird with a thoughtful tone. "These recent events had... caused to decide to take responsibility and steer the nation even if I hated it. But then a conversation with a friend showed that I didn’t have any reason to hate it in the first place. My understanding of what entailed responsibility, and what it actually was, was limited. I now see that..."
He gazed at his ethereal hands. "...that responsibility can beco a great source of power and growth. I will not beco an Emperor like our father. He dedicated every waking mont to ruling Kandria. It was the essence of his identity."
Her eyes sharpened as they regained so life. "...Then what kind of emperor do you want to beco?"
"...I want to beco an Emperor whose strength becos the strength of his people and his nation," Rui replied with a thoughtful tone. "Up until now, I have only contributed to the Kandrian Empire in two ways: Offering miracle Martial services like breakthroughs or fighting on the battlefield with my power against Kandria’s enemies. However..."
He turned towards her with an expression of certainty. "I do believe that there are more sophisticated ways of applying Martial power for the good of a nation, especially in tis of peace. I want it to beco so that the stronger I beco, the stronger the Kandrian Empire becos. I want the responsibility to fuel my power, and my power to fulfill my responsibilities. My contributions will be very different from those of my father, but if I succeed in deploying my power to produce the most prosperity I can, then I believe that I can beco an Emperor to match that of our great father."
Her eyes sharpened fiercely. "Bold words for soone who has inflicted as much pain on this nation as you have. You expect to believe that you have changed your mind and suddenly have beco all responsible and mature? After all these years and decades? I just don’t believe you. Your words are not enough. Actions speak louder than words, and your actions spit on your words."
That was indeed a problem.
Unfortunately, it was a problem that didn’t have a solution.
Three days were not enough to change the opinions of the higher-ups that were based on decades of his behavioral patterns. Indeed, he had begun to take steps in the right direction by taking charge of the Royal Funeral Committee and personally clearing up the remains from the tsunami, but it was simply not enough to cause a one-eighty u-turn in people’s minds.
People did not change their opinion that quickly on just about anything.
"I don’t expect people to instantly believe , but... the actions I have taken are ant to help people at least give a chance," Rui remarked. "After seeing how conscientious I have beco, there are those who will want to give a chance."
"I don’t," she coldly retorted.
"That’s because you hate my guts." Rui heaved a sigh, shrugging lightly. "Nothing I can do about that for now. But..."
He smiled. "The others do not hate as you do. Most Martial Sages still have a net-positive opinion of . I led them into battle in the Central Highlands of the Beast Domain for years and, later, into victory against the Eldritch Chira. I have built a personal rapport with all of them and have their trust and camaraderie."
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