Blonde hair, blue eyes, young, and that familiar⦠face?
All the surrounding voices fell silent in an instant. Even Second Prince Garfield and Fourth Prince Luke looked shocked.
Lex the Greatâs pupils contracted abruptly. Feeling the increasingly strong bloodline sense in his mind, he slowly stepped forward.
âArthurâ¦â
Chen Ruiâs heart beat faster when he heard the name called out by Lex the Great, and a sense of intimacy spread in his heart. Many incomplete memory fragments hidden in the depths of his mind began to be more complete and coherent little by little.
His eyes were slightly red. This was an innate bloodline imprint. Even if the memory was merged after the rebirth, it could not be eliminated.
âMy sonâ¦â Lex the Greatâs voice trembled slightly. No matter whether he was the ruler who controlled power and peopleâs minds before, at least at this moment, he was just a father.
This sentence confirmed the speculation in almost everyoneâs mind. They were all moved. This was shocking news - The third prince who had been missing for several years, the controller of the Golden Estate, Arthur. Roland!
Chen Rui took a deep breath. He already suppressed the boiling emotion as he bowed to Lex the Great, âYour Majesty, Iâm back.â
The name âYour Majestyâ was not a deliberate separation of Chen Rui, but it came from Arthurâs memory.
Lexâs eyes twitched slightly, but he had no doubt at all. He sighed, âGreat, at least you are back.â
On the other hand, Cardinal Gralin couldnât hide the surprised expression on his face. The future âHoly Childâ Arthur of the Holy Church, is actually the prince of the Dragon Bright Empire!
Joanna and In a also came into realization suddenly. They understood something more. Third Prince Arthur was precisely the âRichardâ that Samuel had always been loyal to. The 2 women had witnessed Richard defeat the titans and the 3 powerhouses like Orc Kings. Therefore, Third Prince Arthur was a peerless and powerful being!
However, even if Samuel didnât instruct them, the 2 women would not say much. In the desperate situation where Samuel was disowned from the family and Joanna left the family, it was the third prince who came forward and said, âSamuel is not the Black Death Followerâ, completely defeating Garfieldâs vicious means.
Next to Lex, the Government Administration Councilâs dean (equivalent to prime minister), Old Kovax, bowed and said loudly, âYour Majesty, please forgive my bluntness, His Highness Arthurâs identity is no trivial matter. Moreover, he has been missing for so many years. Should we check his identityâ¦â
âNo need, my bloodline sensing talent canât be wrong! At this distance, no transformation technique or illusion can fool me. Just like Iâve insisted that heâs not dead all these years.â Lex looked at Chen Rui, â My gut tells me that heâs my son, Arthur. Although⦠itâs quite a drastic change.â
âAnyone who has lived in an unfamiliar and dangerous place for 7 years will inevitably change. Otherwise, he would have been eliminated.â The person who said this was not only âArthurâ but also âChen Ruiâ.
Lex heard the heartfelt feelings of these 2 sentences, and he nodded slowly, âI can understand.â
âYour Majesty,â Chen Rui quickly pieced together Arthurâs more complete memories, and pointed to his head lightly, âActually, Iâve lost part of my memory. Fortunately, I havenât forgotten the most important things, such as⦠Your Majesty.â
Lex glanced at Old Kovax, who was hesitant to speak, âIs there anything else to question?
When Old Kovax heard the coldness contained in this sentence, he lowered his head and said, âNo more.â
Based on Chen Ruiâs current experience, it could be seen that Old Kovax did it on purpose - He was not deliberately fighting against him, the third prince who had been missing for many years. On the contrary, this was actually a tacit play with Lex, further affirming the identity of âArthurâ and putting an end to everyoneâs doubts.
It was no fluke that Old Kovax was able to stand on the Government Administration Council for decades as the top minister.
Fourth Prince Luke had the quickest response, âThird brother! 7 years! Youâre finally back!â
âArthur! My brother.â Garfield also seemed surprised and happy, âItâs really you! I never thought that Samuel would actually be your subordinate! Itâs just that Iâm surprised by Samuelâs strength and weaponâ¦â
âEnough.â Lex glanced at Garfield. âThis is the end of Samuelâs matter. Arthurâs return is the biggest celebratory event for the royal family. Everything else will come later.â
âYes.â Garfield lowered his head with a thick haze in his eyes.
The trial ended in an unexpected and miraculous turn. Compared with the result of Samuelâs innocence, the return of the third prince, Arthur. Roland, who had been missing for 7 years, was the most important news.
The Royal Highness Third Prince was once the controller of the most prosperous Golden Estate and the favorite prince of Lex the Great. However, he mysteriously disappeared 7 years ago and only appeared until today.
For 7 full years, no one knew where the prince went and what he experienced. The only thing that was certain was the authenticity of the identity of âArthurâ, which Lex the Great had made known to the entire empire.
Dragon Bright Empire Royal Palace.
âArthur, remember this Lagoon Blue Garden? Your motherâ¦â Lex the Great expressed a nostalgic expression, âIkrina likes to bring you here most.â
In Chen Ruiâs consciousness, the image of a blond woman faintly appeared. Her face was a little blurry, but the feeling of kindness was very clear. In his memory, this kind of kindness left the young âArthurâ early, just like his parents on Earth. For a while, sadness flooded his heart, but he didnât speak.
Lex the Great was silent for a moment and patted his shoulder. Lex was very tall, and he looked less than 40 years old. Chen Rui was a lot shorter when he stood next to him. At this moment, the man who tapped on the shoulder did give Chen Rui that familiar feeling of âfatherâ, just as Arthur remembered it.
However, Chen Rui knew very well that Lex was not only a father but also a powerful ruler. Back then, he stepped on his brotherâs corpse to stand out from the brutal palace struggle and ascended the throne as the emperor.
The Great Emperorâs means and courage were known to all. They could be seen in the absolute domination of the Dragon Bright Empire today. The more excellent the ruler, the more ruthless he was. Once the rule was really threatened, family affection was just a superfluous bond that could be cut off at any time (exceptions were very few).
Not to mention the stories such as the calamity of witchcraft, the Xuanwu Gate Incident, and the candle shadow and the sound of an axe, Chen Rui couldnât help but feel pitiful because of his personal experience with Raizen and his 3 sons.
âTell me, my son, what have you been through all these yearsâ¦?â
âYour Majesty, do I need to repeat it again? I was lost in a mysterious place, and also lost a lot of memory. I canât remember specifically for whom or for what reason. After a near-death experience, I luckily survived and got the inheritance strength of an ancient civilization in the end.â
âJust this?â Lex frowned.
âYes, Your Majesty.â
âYou still hate me?â Lex slowly removed the hand from Chen Ruiâs shoulder, âBecause of that woman? You havenât called me âRoyal Fatherâ or⦠father since then. â
That woman? The rift between father and son? Chen Ruiâs mind moved and shook his head, âI donât remember a lot of things. Sorry, Your Majesty. Maybe I need time to adapt or maybe it will take a long time to adapt.â
Lex glanced at him pensively, âSome things are better not remembered. What is going on with you and the Holy Church?â
Finally got to the point? Chen Rui said indifferently, âMy ship encountered the cardinal who was besieged by the Black Death Followers at sea, then my guardian that I inherited from the ancient civilization defeated the Black Death Followers. Following that, I heard Samuel was framed, so with the help of Gralinâs strength, we came to Yerodisha to clear Samuelâs innocence.â
âYour guardian is indeed very powerful. He has surpassed Saint.â Lex said with a solemn expression, âSo⦠you could return to the palace a long time ago, but you never did so. If it wasnât for Samuel, you probably wouldnât show up in front of me now?â
âNot exactly. The real reason I havenât appeared is because of the test of inheritance of ancient civilizations. I canât be distracted.â Chen Rui had prepared what to say earlier, âSamuel and I met by chance during a test, and I got his help and allegiance.â
Lex was noncommittal as he asked, âSamuelâs strength is also derived from the strength of the ancient civilization?â
âThatâs right, he got the inheritance of a guardian on his deathbed.â Chen Ruiâs answer was very particular. The inheritance of âdyingâ meant uniqueness.
âHow many guardians are there in total?â
â6. In addition to Samuel, Paglio and Dodo who were in the hall that day, there are 3 ladies, 2 of them are⦠my wives.â
âWives?â Lex the Great frowned, then he eased his brows again, âThatâs good as well, lest you get along with⦠However, despite their status as ancient civilization guardians, they can only be concubines at most. Your legitimate wife is Princess Landbis, the pearl of the Blue Glory Empire.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âI have no interest in Princess Landbis at all. I believe she feels the same way as I do.â Chen Rui shrugged.
âIt has nothing to do with interest. You are the prince of the Dragon Bright Empire. She is the princess of the Blue Glory Empire. This marriage has been delayed for 7 years, and for this I have been under great pressure from the Blue Glory Empire. Now that you have appeared in public, you have to marry Landbis!â Lexâs voice gradually became stern.
âEven if I resist with all my might?â Chen Rui asked rhetorically.
âYou donât have a choice.â Lexâs tone became resolute, âThis is a national matter of the 2 empires! Not your overbearing private matter! There is no room for negotiation!â
âNow I understand why I called âYour Majestyâ.â Chen Rui was not as furious as Lex imagined, but he looked calm and bowed slightly, âThen, Your Majesty, Iâll leave first.â
âI havenât dismissed you yet!â Lex stared at Chen Rui tightly. The deterrent light in his eyes gradually brightened, âYour estate has been taken care of by Garfieldâ¦â
âIt doesnât matter. Everything follows Your Majestyâs arrangement.â Chen Rui ignored Lexâs oppressive gaze and turned to leave.
After walking a few steps, he stopped again without looking back, âWhat I have inherited is the ancient alchemy civilization. Samuelâs weapons are derived from this. Now the doubts in Your Majestyâs heart should be almost cleared. By the way, as for a certain lady at the Shion Palace, Your Majesty does not need to hold her under house arrest, I have my own discretion.â
Lex raised his brows slightly as a different expression flashed across his eyes. He let Chen Ruiâs figure disappear without a trace.
After a long time, the ruler lowered his head, looked at the sole reflection in the lagoon, and muttered something.
âIkrina, did you see that? My son has grown up.â