Aditya plans his future with Freya and Rin, discussing his upcoming role as emperor and potential relocation. Later, he meets his uncle, Wahid, who inquires about his marriage plans. Aditya confirms his intention to marry once threats are eliminated, and the goddesses agree. Wahid expresses his support and asks about the number of future wives, to which Athena reveals there are currently eight.
“That’s a significant number,” Wahid exclaimed, utterly astonished. Even maintaining a peaceful and balanced coexistence with his two wives presented a considerable challenge. Minor issues frequently escalated into major conflicts, leaving him perpetually striving to appease both parties without igniting misunderstandings.
Before permitting him to take a second wife, Harrington had imposed a single, non-negotiable condition: absolute equality in the treatment of both wives, regardless of the circumstances. If he were to purchase something as trivial as a hair ornament for one, an identical item of the same quality and value had to be acquired for the other. No disparity, no favoritism – every action, every decision, had to be a testament to fairness.
This was no mere simple rule; it was an integral part of Harrington’s philosophy, a principle he held in the highest regard. His conviction was that any man who chose to have multiple wives must shoulder the profound responsibility that accompanied such a union. Under no condition should any wife feel marginalized or perceive that the other was favored. He understood that even the slightest imbalance could erode trust, and once shattered, trust was an irrecoverable loss.
“Aditya is incredibly caring towards all of us. One might logically assume that with eight of us, he couldn’t possibly allocate sufficient time to each. It sounds plausible from an external perspective, but the reality is quite different.”
“Actually, it’s the complete opposite. Aditya dedicates a substantial amount of his time to us, consistently ensuring that no one feels overlooked. He orchestrates this balance in a manner that’s difficult to grasp without witnessing it firsthand.”
“And the peculiar thing is, he’s constantly offering apologies, claiming he isn’t spending enough time with us, despite it being entirely untrue. I can state with absolute certainty that none of us has ever felt neglected or less valued than the others. He treats us all with absolute equality.”
Upon hearing these words, Malakor Harrington swelled with immense pride for his grandson. This was precisely the affirmation he had yearned for. He held no objections to his descendants marrying hundreds of wives, provided they possessed the capability to dedicate adequate time and extend fair, equal treatment to each of them.
“Aditya, have a bite of this.” At that precise moment, Wahid’s first wife stepped forward, a tray laden with homemade delicacies she had personally prepared held in her hands. Without a trace of hesitation, Wahid selected a small plate, extending it towards Aditya, offering a morsel of food with a gesture as natural as breathing.
Initially, Aditya felt a twinge of awkwardness. Being fed by another man, particularly one of Wahid’s stature, was an unfamiliar sensation, and for a fleeting moment, he was unsure how to respond. However, this discomfort dissipated rapidly as he began to comprehend the profound sentiment behind their actions.
Here, he wasn't being treated as an Emperor, nor even as an adult. He was being cherished and doted upon as if he were their own child. The way Wahid and the others gazed at him, the tender manner in which they interacted, made it undeniably clear that to them, he was akin to a beloved son.
Such was the overwhelming affection directed towards him that Harrington, who had been anticipating an opportunity to sit beside his grandson, found himself perpetually thwarted. The elderly patriarch could only occupy a single seat on the sofa opposite Aditya. Observing the scene unfold filled him with a complex blend of paternal pride and a subtle, unspoken frustration.
More than once, Harrington attempted to find the opportune moment to draw nearer, to engage in conversation, to inquire about certain matters, to simply share some time with his grandson. Yet, invariably, just as he perceived an opening, someone else would swiftly occupy that space. His nephew, accompanied by his two wives, remained in close proximity to Aditya throughout, engrossed in conversation, sharing laughter, and keeping him thoroughly engaged.
They were far too devoted to relinquish their position. Resigned, Harrington could only remain seated, observing the heartwarming interactions, occasionally emitting a soft sigh as he awaited his turn, a turn that seemed perpetually out of reach. Though he uttered no complaints, his profound eagerness to connect with his grandson was palpable; for the time being, however, he had no alternative but to wait patiently.
Witnessing the entire tableau, Boris couldn't suppress a chuckle. Who could have imagined such a vibrant and lively atmosphere surrounding his grandson? The entire Harrington family radiated an undeniable aura of pure joy upon reuniting with Aditya after so many years.
‘My foolish son is exceptionally fortunate to have married into this family.’ Of course, Boris kept this thought entirely to himself. It was Alen who had first fallen deeply in love. At that time, he held the position of Crown Prince, and upon realizing the depth of his feelings, he approached his father to discuss marriage. He was determined to wed the daughter of the Harrington family. Boris himself had personally journeyed to meet Malakor to broker the arrangement, but Malakor displayed no deference to his imperial status. Utterly disregarding the fact that he was addressing the Emperor, he flatly refused the proposal without the slightest hesitation.
Malakor's reasoning was straightforward; he refused to let his daughter become a pawn in political schemes. He viewed such a marriage as nothing more than a transaction, selling his child for power and influence, and he was adamant about preventing it. Regardless of who made the request, even if it were the Emperor himself, his decision remained unchanged.
However, circumstances evolved. Alen persisted, and eventually, he captured her heart. Once it was evident that their affections were genuine, uncoerced, and free from political motives, Malakor saw no reason to obstruct their path. This was no longer a matter of political expediency but a true union between two souls. Witnessing this, he readily gave his approval, and within a few years, they were married.
"Life was difficult for you, but it is about to become even more challenging," Aditya stated, looking at Malakor.
"Perhaps it will be the most arduous trial you will encounter in life," Boris concurred silently with Malakor's sentiment.
Having presided over the Celestial Dragon Empire for over twenty millennia, Boris possessed an unparalleled understanding of the perils inherent in such critical junctures. Superficially, Aditya appeared to hold the dominant hand in the ongoing civil conflict. An increasing number of influential figures were aligning with him, and his authority was rapidly expanding.
Yet, Boris was acutely aware that Ren should not be taken lightly.
Regardless of outward appearances, Ren still commanded formidable backing. All the National Treasures remained steadfastly loyal to him, a fact alone that rendered him exceptionally perilous. Furthermore, the extent of the Organisation's clandestine assistance to him from the shadows remained a complete unknown. Beyond the boundaries of the Celestial Dragon Empire, Ren also boasted numerous potent allies and deep-seated connections of his own.
"Each of the National Treasures possesses the might to single-handedly alter the course of an entire engagement. And Ren commands the unwavering allegiance of every one of them. This presents our most significant hurdle to achieving Victory," Aditya affirmed with solemnity.
"Is there no viable strategy to persuade the National Treasures to adopt a neutral stance? Perhaps to keep them entirely removed from the civil war... or even to sway them to our side?" Aditya had pondered this very question for an extended period. It continually occupied his thoughts, lurking in the background whenever he contemplated the war's future trajectory.
This wasn't born from fear of the National Treasures. Even though each one wielded sufficient power to decisively influence a battlefield's outcome, Aditya harbored no apprehension about confronting them. Deep within, he possessed the conviction that, given ample time, he would inevitably discover a method to engage and surmount such disparities in strength.
Nevertheless, despite these convictions, Aditya favored the prospect of preserving their lives over extinguishing them. To him, the National Treasures were more than mere individuals; they were the very bedrock and paramount weapons of the Celestial Dragon Empire. Should even half of them be decimated during the civil strife, irrespective of the ultimate victor, the Empire would sustain catastrophic damage to its collective might. The recovery from such a grievous loss would prove exceedingly arduous. In truth, it could require over a millennium for the Celestial Dragon Empire to fully rebound from such devastation.
Not to mention the immeasurable resources that would inevitably be expended.
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A brief chapter, as time constraints prevented its full completion.
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