Princess Ranea’s expression grew less fierce as she pondered his words. Indeed, the Martial Sages had been so attached to Rui and the group in general that they were unwilling to leave the Kandrian Empire after returning from the Beast Domain for a while. It was what allowed the Emperor of Harmony to perform his little coup detat over the Panama Continent.
While it was true that Rui had not done himself any favors by disappearing for a year, Martial Artists were also ultimately fundantally Martialocratic; even if they were loyal to a nation or a ruler, they respected power more than anything.
She stole a glance at the Martial Sage diagonally behind her. While she herself had been stunned, she hadn’t missed their reactions. It had not been a negative reaction, even though they had pledged their loyalty to her.
"Not that I strictly need anybody’s support," Rui remarked casually. "I am the King of Beasts and Emperor of Sea Monsters. I could crown myself Emperor right now if I wanted, but I value harmony. I wish to ascend the throne harmoniously and properly, earning the support of the various stakeholders of the Kandrian Empire, like a proper ruler rather than a tyrant."
She huffed, shaking her head. "Good for you, then you don’t need , do you? What could you possibly have to discuss with ? Just crush the Kandrian Throne War before the storm gets bigger and ascend the throne. I still hate your guts, but for the sake of the nation, I hope your earlier words were the truth and that you do intend to be a responsible ruler."
"I do, and I have plenty to speak with you." Rui smiled. "For instance, I want you to beco part of my administration and join my faction. When I beco Emperor, and it’s ti to assign new people to each of the ministries, I want you to continue as the Minister of Mariti Affairs."
Her eyes widened. "...What?"
It was an unprecedented request. Every prince and princess had their own administration with officials planned for each of the ministries. Each prince and princess had their own candidates for Minister of Mariti Affairs once they took over. Even Princess Ranea herself did have a person for that, since she couldn’t occupy that role if she beca Empress.
Princes and princesses did not choose easily, for they needed to be extrely trustworthy individuals who were extrely loyal to them. The idea of asking other princes and princesses to beco a part of this cabinet of ministers was just unthinkable.
It would be an insult under any other circumstance, but the power gap between herself and Rui was so enormous that it was instead a complint.
"I could find my own person," he remarked. "But... they would not be as suited for it as you are. You are passionate about the ocean and the sea. About the seafaring and mariti activities. You love our navy with all your heart, don’t you?"
He could sense it with his mind sense. Regardless of her flaws and shortcomings, her commitnt to the oceans was completely real and strong, stronger than anybody else’s.
"On top of that, you are experienced and competent at managing it," he remarked. "After all, our father entrusted you with it, which ans that there is nobody more competent and loyal to the nation for the role than you."
He beckoned her with an outstretched arm. "What do you think? Will you join my faction? Ah..."
A sheepish smile cracked at the edge of his mouth. "It’s just in this faction, at the mont. I’ll find so folks to fill it up by the ti the funeral rolls around. I might actually just cannibalize other factions for now. I rember how annoying building a faction from scratch was in the first Throne Wars. I don’t have ti for that. I need to win this throne war at the soonest, the very mont we pay our father respects and the funeral ceremony is completed."
She simply stared at him with a stunned expression. "You... are you serious?"
"Completely," he replied with a composed tone.
"...I hate you, you are aware of that, right?"
"Of course. But I don’t hate you," he remarked. "Even though you did try to kill ."
Her expression darkened. "I will not apologize for that. There is a reason it is called the Kandrian Throne War."
"I didn’t ask you to apologize for it." He shrugged. "I asked you to join my faction and remain as the Minister of Mariti Affairs. It doesn’t matter if you hate . Our relationship is irrelevant."
"The relationship between the Emperor and his cabinet of ministers is everything," she coldly growled. "A good emperor maintains absolute trust between himself and his people. Our father embodied this principle to the highest degree, and it is part of the fundantals in our faction-building training. Then again, you’ve never gone through that because you grew up in an orphanage."
"It’s important because one person has harsh limitations," Rui remarked. "But I don’t have those limitations. My power cos from within . Even if you hate , I can still read your mind. I can foresee the future itself. I don’t need to have a good relationship with you. Besides..."
He directed a pointed gaze. "Are you the type to allow your emotions to impede your service to the nation and to our mariti affairs?"
She stiffened at those words.
"I will not repeat myself." His arm remained outstretched. "Make up your mind right here and right now. Consider your options carefully. You know you can’t beco Empress, but I’m giving you the opportunity to remain as the head of our naval matters. Would you rather throw any of that away because of your personal hatred for ? Just when the Kandrian Empire’s destroyed seafare affairs need your help the most?"
She gritted her teeth. "Emotionally blackmailing like this is nasty."
"But it works, doesn’t it?" He smiled with a hint of amusent. "And, all said and done, you know my logic is irrefutable. So make your choice. Even my arm can get tired being held up for this long."
That was a lie.
She heaved a sigh, shaking her head with a defeated expression before accepting his beckon with her soft, dainty hand.
"Fine." She gazed deep into his ethereal eyes with a solemn determination. "I accept your offer. I will rebuild the mariti and seafaring sector of our Kandrian Empire from scratch under your rule, and I will personally bear witness to your regi as Emperor and judge whether your conviction was real or fake, dear brother."
Rui smiled as they shook hands.
"Welco to the faction, dear sister."
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