Chapter 146: Judgement
I let out a slow breath as I looked at the three of them—Cecilia, Seraphina, and Rachel. Each of them had their own expressions, filled with emotions they probably weren't used to revealing so openly. Their eyes bore into me, waiting for what I had to say.
It was time I put everything on the table, no more dancing around their feelings, no more pushing them away.
"I... I've been thinking a lot about what all of this means," I began, my voice clear yet softer than usual. "And I know I've made mistakes. I've tried to distance myself, to push you all away, because I thought it would be easier that way. But it wasn't fair—not to you, and not to me."
I turned to Cecilia first, her crimson eyes focused and filled with a mix of challenge and something softer. "Cecilia, you've been nothing but honest with your feelings for me. And I kept pretending I didn't see it, ignoring what was right in front of me. I'm sorry for that."
Her brows furrowed, but there was a glint of hope in her gaze as she nodded slowly, as if to say she understood.
Then, I faced Seraphina. Her crystalline blue eyes looked up at me, uncertainty swimming in them. "Seraphina... I know I've made you feel like your feelings were unimportant. That wasn't my intention. But I realize now that not acknowledging how you feel was the same as denying it outright. You deserve better than that."
She bit her lower lip, blinking quickly as she looked away, her fingers nervously fidgeting. But she didn't turn away from me completely, which was something.
Finally, I turned to Rachel. She had already opened her heart to me, laid her vulnerabilities bare, and I owed her the same. "Rachel, you've helped me see what I was doing. You helped me understand that I can't keep running away from the emotions and connections I have in this world. You deserve someone who sees you for who you are—and I do. I promise I won't push you away anymore."
Her eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, I saw the raw hope in her gaze—hope that maybe, just maybe, I was serious this time.
I took a deep breath, looking at all three of them. "I'm not going to pretend that I have everything figured out. But I do know one thing: I'm not going to push you away anymore. I'll treat your feelings with the respect they deserve. You all mean more to me than I've allowed myself to admit."
Cecilia folded her arms, her expression softening as her lips curved into a smirk. "Took you long enough, Arthur."
Seraphina glanced up at me, her cheeks tinged pink, but she smiled—a real, genuine smile that reached her eyes. "I guess... I can accept that," she murmured.
Rachel, though, stepped closer, reaching for my hand once more, her eyes locked on mine. She didn't say anything, but her smile spoke louder than words—a smile that was no longer a mask, no longer a shield, but something real and warm.
I felt a weight lift off me, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a sense of clarity. I had no idea where this path would lead us, but I knew I wanted to walk it together with them.
No more walls, no more distance. It was time to move forward—together.
But, of course, I wasn't expecting the next day to be even more chaotic.
And for all this to happen.
Seven of us were seated around a round table.
Rachel, Seraphina, Cecilia, and myself, all on one side.
And then the other three.
Alastor Creighton, the King of the North. Quinn Slatemark, the Emperor of the Slatemark Empire. And finally, Mo Zenith, Sect Leader of the Mount Hua Sect and King of the East.
I had never met Mo Zenith before today, and I doubted I had left a good impression. The first time he saw me, I was already entangled in the affections of his daughter, Seraphina—who he loved dearly. In his eyes, I must have looked like a player, hopping between noble daughters without a care in the world.
Oh, and as if that wasn't enough, I also happened to be the disciple of Magnus Draykar, his most hated rival.
My master had managed to make enemies out of nearly every Radiant-ranker in the world. But Mo Zenith and Arden Windward? They loathed him the most.
The silence around the table was thick enough to cut with a blade, the air heavy with unspoken tension. I could practically feel Quinn Slatemark's gaze on me—sharp, like a hawk watching its prey. Mo Zenith, on the other hand, looked at me with an expression that could only be described as mildly annoyed curiosity. Alastor? He simply looked resigned, as if the entire situation was both inevitable and profoundly irritating.
"So, Arthur," Quinn finally spoke, breaking the silence, his deep voice echoing slightly in the grand room. "I hear you've been making quite the impression among our daughters."
His tone was deceptively light, but I knew better. He wasn't here for small talk, and neither were the others. I could feel Rachel stiffen slightly beside me, her eyes narrowing at her father's implication.
I straightened up in my seat, meeting the Emperor's gaze head-on. "I have no intention of misleading anyone, Your Majesty," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "My respect for Rachel, Cecilia, and Seraphina is genuine."
Mo Zenith let out a low hum, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair. "Respect, huh?" he mused, his eyes studying me as if trying to see through to my soul. "I wonder if you understand what it truly means to earn respect, boy."
Seraphina shifted beside me, her eyes flashing. "Father, Arthur has always treated me with respect," she said firmly. "He's never done anything to hurt any of us."
Mo Zenith raised an eyebrow, giving his daughter a long look. "We'll see about that," he muttered.
Alastor let out a sigh, his expression one of exasperation. "Enough of this." He glanced at me, his eyes softening slightly. "Arthur, I trained you because I saw potential in you. But I'll admit, I didn't expect things to escalate to what Quinn is implying—especially not so soon."
My brows furrowed, and the three princesses beside me looked equally surprised by Alastor's statement.
Quinn sighed, rubbing his temples as if this entire discussion was giving him a headache. "Honestly, it's not like I expected this to become such a tangled mess," he said, shaking his head. "But let's face it, polygamy isn't exactly uncommon among the nobility. In fact, it's fairly expected when it comes to strengthening alliances."
Rachel's eyes widened slightly at Quinn's bluntness, her gaze shifting between me and the other two princesses. Seraphina seemed almost embarrassed, her face flushing, while Cecilia, ever bold, crossed her arms, giving her father a challenging look.
"That doesn't mean we don't have a choice, Father," Cecilia retorted, her tone firm. "None of us are here just for alliances. Our feelings are real, and that's what matters."
Quinn gave a half-smile, clearly amused at his daughter's defiance. "I never said you didn't have a choice, Cecilia. But remember, every choice has consequences. And that applies to Arthur, too."
"After all, you three are still princesses," Alastor added, his gaze shifting between the three young women. "None of us are seeking alliances through your marriages, and you're not the heirs either. But do you understand the possible implications of all three of you being with the same man?"
The gravity of Alastor's words weighed on the room, and I understood exactly what he was pointing out.
It was absurd. The sheer amount of influence that would be concentrated in my hands if I were to marry all three of them—princesses from different powerful factions—was almost unfathomable.
Honestly, they were skipping quite a few steps here, going straight to the idea of marriage. Especially when we weren't even officially dating.
I let out a small breath, gathering my thoughts. "Look, I think we're all getting a little ahead of ourselves. Right now, all I want is to take this one step at a time. We're still figuring out our feelings and where we stand. Marriage... that's something for the future, if we even reach that point."
Rachel glanced at me, her expression softening a little, and she nodded. Seraphina, her cheeks still a bit pink, gave me a small smile, while Cecilia looked like she was about to argue, but then thought better of it and nodded as well.
Quinn gave a small nod, his amusement replaced by something more thoughtful. "Fair enough, Arthur. Just remember that every step forward will be watched closely. This is not just about emotions; it's about power and influence, whether you like it or not."
I met his gaze steadily. "I understand, Your Majesty. I'll handle this with the seriousness it deserves."
There was a moment of silence before Mo Zenith, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke, his eyes fixed on me. "And as for my daughter... don't think this changes anything, Arthur. You may have convinced Alastor and Quinn, but I'm not so easily swayed."
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